Here are the top three films that dominated the U.S. box office during the week of October 9 in previous years:
1 Year Ago (Week of October 10, 2025)
1. Tron: Ares – Disney’s science-fiction sequel, starring Jared Leto, opened at No. 1 with $33.24 million domestically. Its futuristic digital world and established franchise recognition attracted audiences, although the opening fell short of blockbuster expectations.
2. Roofman – Channing Tatum starred in this crime comedy-drama inspired by the real-life exploits of fugitive Jeffrey Manchester. The film debuted in second place with $8.11 million, offering moviegoers a character-driven alternative to science-fiction spectacle.
3. One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson’s action-thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio earned $6.80 million in its third weekend, securing third place. Its combination of political satire, action, and an acclaimed ensemble helped sustain theatrical interest.
10 Years Ago (Week of October 7, 2016)
1. The Girl on the Train – Emily Blunt starred in this psychological thriller adapted from Paula Hawkins’s bestselling novel. It debuted at No. 1 with $24.54 million, benefiting from the book’s popularity and audience interest in suspenseful mysteries.
2. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Director Tim Burton’s fantasy adventure, starring Eva Green, earned $15.14 million in its second weekend. Its imaginative characters, distinctive visual style, and young-adult literary following kept it in second place.
3. Deepwater Horizon – Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell starred in this dramatization of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil-rig disaster. The film collected $11.53 million in third place, drawing audiences interested in survival stories and real-world heroism.
20 Years Ago (Week of October 6, 2006)
1. The Departed – Martin Scorsese’s Boston-set crime thriller, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, opened at No. 1 with $26.89 million. Its acclaimed performances and undercover-police storyline generated substantial adult-audience interest.
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning – This horror prequel explored the origins of Leatherface and his murderous family. Opening second with $18.51 million, it capitalized on the franchise’s established audience and the approaching Halloween season.
3. Open Season – Sony Pictures Animation’s family comedy featured the voices of Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher. It earned $15.63 million in its second weekend, securing third place through continued family attendance and broad theatrical availability.
30 Years Ago (Week of October 11, 1996)
1. The Ghost and the Darkness – Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer starred in this historical adventure about man-eating lions terrorizing railway workers in Africa. The film opened at No. 1 with $10.32 million, narrowly leading a competitive weekend.
2. The First Wives Club – Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton headlined this comedy about three divorced women seeking revenge. It earned $10.19 million in second place, demonstrating remarkable staying power during its fourth weekend.
3. The Long Kiss Goodnight – Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson starred in director Renny Harlin’s action thriller about an amnesiac discovering her dangerous past. It opened third with $10.18 million, just behind the weekend’s two leaders.
40 Years Ago (Week of October 10, 1986)
1. Crocodile Dundee – Paul Hogan’s Australian adventure-comedy continued its remarkable American success, earning $10.56 million in its third weekend. The fish-out-of-water humor and Hogan’s charismatic performance helped the film retain first place.
2. Peggy Sue Got Married – Francis Ford Coppola directed Kathleen Turner and Nicolas Cage in this nostalgic fantasy-comedy about revisiting high school. It opened second with $6.94 million, appealing to audiences through romance, humor, and reflections on missed opportunities.
3. Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Whoopi Goldberg starred in this espionage comedy about a computer operator who becomes involved in international intrigue. Its $6.01 million opening secured third place, benefiting from Goldberg’s growing popularity and comedic appeal.
50 Years Ago (Week of October 8, 1976)
1. Marathon Man – Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier starred in John Schlesinger’s suspense thriller involving a Nazi war criminal. Opening in early October, the film eventually earned approximately $28.2 million domestically, establishing itself as a significant commercial success.
2. Burnt Offerings – Karen Black, Oliver Reed, and Bette Davis appeared in this supernatural horror film. Contemporary weekly box office records identified it as the October 6 chart leader, reporting $683,100 from sampled theaters rather than nationwide weekend earnings.
3. Alice in Wonderland – This adult-oriented musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s fantasy remained prominent in contemporary theater samples. Historical records identify it as the October 13 weekly chart leader, although its exact October 8–10 national weekend gross remains unverified.