LOS ANGELES — Two movies aimed at wildly different audiences — both examples, at least on paper, of what many cinephiles insist is wrong with Hollywood — became instant blockbusters over the weekend, pushing theaters to an October ticket-selling record.

“Venom,” starring Tom Hardy as a fanged superhero, and the bittersweet romance “A Star Is Born,” this time with Lady Gaga in the lead role, each exceeded the prerelease expectations of box-office analysts by roughly 30 percent. Superhero fatigue? No evidence. Nobody wants to see a remake of a remake of a remake? Think again.

For all movies in release, ticket sales at North American theaters totaled roughly $174.5 million, a record for a weekend in October, a month when moviegoing tends to be relatively light. According to comScore, which collects box-office data, the previous high-water mark for an October weekend was in 2015, when “The Martian” helped Hollywood generate total domestic ticket sales of $163.5 million, after adjusting for inflation.

“The box office prospers and expands when there are diverse options,” said Phil Contrino, director of media and research for the National Association of Theater Owners. On Oct. 19, Hollywood is expected to serve up another smash: Analysts say that “Halloween,” with Jamie Lee Curtis returning in a lead role, will arrive to at least $60 million in opening-weekend ticket sales.