Theater counts: Tron stays on top, widest release locked for second weekend

October 16, 2025

Despite a softer-than-expected debut, Tron: Ares claimed the top spot at the weekend box office, pulling in $33.24 million. The sci-fi sequel outpaced fellow newcomer Roofman, by a wide margin, beating it by $25 million. But Tron: Ares may have only a brief reign, with a fresh new franchise poised to challenge the champ and shake up the domestic box office this weekend.

New this weekend is the 1980’s-set supernatural horror sequel, Black Phone 2. Set four years after the events of The Black Phone, Finn, now 17, is still haunted by his trauma of being abducted by The Grabber. Now his 15-year-old sister, Gwen, begins experiencing frightening dreams, receiving calls from a mysterious black phone, and seeing visions of three boys being stalked at a remote winter camp called Alpine Lake. Drawn to the scene, the siblings must face a killer who, though dead, has grown more powerful and terrifying than they ever imagined. The film’s predecessor scored just over $90 million over its 13-week run back in 2022. Mason Thames returns as Finney, while Ethan Hawke makes his return as The Grabber. The latest feature in The Black Phone franchise will start out in 3,411 theaters.

Also opening in wide release this weekend is the latest from Lionsgate with their supernatural comedy, Good Fortune. Making its theatrical debut in 2,990 locations, the film contains a solid list of Hollywood favorites, including Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, and Sandra Oh, among others. Directed by (and starring) Aziz Ansari, the film follows a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel who meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.

Launching in 2,088 cinemas this weekend is Truth & Treason. The drama is based on the true story of Helmuth Hübener, a heroic teenage resistance fighter who fearlessly formed a resistance group with his friends Karl and Rudi after witnessing the arrest of his Jewish friend by the Nazis in Hamburg, Germany.

Just in time for the Halloween season, The Nightmare Before Christmas returns to theaters once again. The Tim Burton–penned animated fantasy musical first debuted in October 1993 and has become a perennial favorite, enjoying multiple re-releases over the past two decades. Now playing in 1,425 theaters, the beloved classic is set to add to its impressive $93 million lifetime gross.

Making its way into 1,350 movie houses this weekend is the action-packed animated feature, Pets on a Train. The movie follows a crew of animal bandits who embark on a fairly routine scam, only to find themselves caught up in a high-tech, professional train heist. It’s up to Falcon, a petty thief raccoon, and Rex, a righteous police dog, to save the animals stuck onboard this high-speed runway train. The film has earned just over $5 million from overseas markets, including $2+ million in its native country of France.

Rounding out the top five this weekend is the reigning box office leader, Tron: Ares, which holds steady with its full launch count of 4,000 theaters. Channing Tatum’s Roofman takes third place, expanding slightly with eight additional locations for a total of 3,370 theaters. Meanwhile, One Battle After Another continues its strong run, looking to build on its $57 million domestic total as it plays in a solid 2,532 venues nationwide.

Looking ahead to next weekend, three new wide releases make their theatrical debut: Regretting You, set to release in approximately 3,200 theaters, the Bruce Springsteen biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, and Chainsaw Man—The Movie: Reze Arc. The latter is set to open in approximately 2,800 theaters. We will update the other releases as they are reported.

Filed under: Theater Counts, Tron, The Black Phone, Ethan Hawke, Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, Tim Burton, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Mason Thames