‘Halloween’ tops box office for second consecutive week

Despite soft landings for the weekend’s new wide releases, there’s a new all-time record for October grosses buoyed by the stellar performances of “Halloween,” “Venom” and “A Star Is Born.”

October has seen a recordsetting monthly total of $786 million in ticket sales, besting the $757.1 million earned in October 2014. Universal’s “Halloween” sequel, now in its second weekend, added $31.4 million in the U.S. and Canada for a cumulative $126 million.

In second place, Warner Bros.’ “A Star Is Born” added $14 million in its fourth weekend for a cumulative $148.6 million.

At No. 3, Sony’s “Venom,” also in its fourth weekend, added $10.7 million for a cumulative $187.1 million in ticket sales.

The studio’s “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween” came in fourth, adding $7.3 million in its third weekend for a cumulative $38.1 million.

Rounding out the top five, Lionsgate’s “Hunter Killer” opened with $6.7 million. The military thriller stars Gerard Butler as a U.S. submarine captain leading a team of Navy SEALS to rescue the Russian president as the threat of an international catastrophe looms. Directed by Donovan Marsh, the film also stars Common and Gary Oldman.

Another newcomer, Universal Pictures’ spy comedy “Johnny English Strikes Again,” opened at No. 12 with $1.6 million. The final new release of the weekend, Pureflix’s “Indivisible,” opened with $1.5 million.

Next week, Fox opens the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Paramount releases the comedy “Nobody’s Fool” and Buena Vista debuts the live-action adventure “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.”