U.S. box office sales slip nearly 50% as September hot streak comes to an end

“Him” and “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” both had a lackluster opening weekend.

Neither a Jordan Peele-produced horror nor a Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell romantic drama were enough to continue the September hot streak at the movies. After back-to-back weekends that had films majorly overperforming, first “The Conjuring: Last Rights” followed by the anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” the North American box office slowed significantly.

Overall ticket sales were down nearly 50% from last weekend...