Box Office Update: "Weapons" Dominates Over "Freakier Friday" as Summer Season Winds Down
As the summer blockbuster season approaches its conclusion, Warner Bros. and New Line’s horror film "Weapons" is taking the lead at the box office, outperforming Disney’s "Freakier Friday." With impressive opening numbers, both films are off to a strong start.
"Weapons" debuted with an impressive $18.2 million from 3,202 locations on Friday and during preview screenings. The film, featuring state-of-the-art IMAX and premium large format screenings, began its theatrical run with select previews starting Thursday afternoon at 2:17 PM—exactly the time when the film’s plot kicks off with a mysterious event involving a group of children. The ensemble cast includes notable talents like Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.
This R-rated original has exceeded pre-weekend projections, which estimated around $30 million for its opening weekend, and is off to a promising start, given its $38 million production budget. The film marks a significant leap from writer-director Zach Cregger’s previous work, "Barbarian," which opened at $10 million in 2022 but later garnered $40 million thanks to strong word-of-mouth. Cregger, a founding member of the sketch group The Whitest Kids U’ Know, has quickly established himself as a notable voice in horror filmmaking. Following a bidding war, New Line secured "Weapons," and their confidence in the project has paid off, marking another summer box office victory for Warner Bros.
Critics have applauded "Weapons," and it has received an encouraging “A-” grade from CinemaScore, a notable achievement for a horror film, which usually tends to score lower. This positive reception suggests that "Weapons" will continue to resonate with audiences in the weeks to come.
In second place, Disney’s "Freakier Friday" also had a solid opening, earning $12.7 million from 3,975 locations across Friday and previews. While "Weapons" benefitted from IMAX screenings, "Freakier Friday" is showcased in other premium formats. This comedy sequel, which reunites Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis from the beloved 2003 remake, has the potential to surpass its pre-weekend projections of $27 million to $30 million. With a production budget of $42 million and positive reviews, the film has kicked off well, bolstered by an “A” grade from CinemaScore, signaling strong prospects for the remainder of the summer season.
In third place, Disney’s "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" brought in an additional $4.5 million on Friday, representing a 62% drop from its previous week’s earnings. Now in its third weekend, this Marvel Cinematic Universe entry is on track to reach a total of $229 million in North America by Sunday. Although it recently surpassed "Captain America: Brave New World" at $200 million to become the seventh-highest domestic release of the year, it remains the 26th highest-grossing MCU film in North America, reflecting a trend of diminishing returns for Marvel titles.
Universal’s "The Bad Guys 2" claimed fourth place, adding $3 million on Friday and projected to earn $10.7 million in its second weekend, down 51% from its opening. The animated sequel is expected to reach a domestic total of $43.7 million within its first 10 days, compared to its predecessor, which earned $44 million in the same timeframe.
Finally, rounding out the top five is "The Naked Gun," the last release from Paramount’s previous management before its acquisition by Skydance. The comedy featuring Liam Neeson added $2.3 million on Friday, aiming for $8.4 million over the weekend, which would be a 50% decline from its opening weekend, bringing its domestic total to $33 million.
In addition, Angel Studios launched the fantasy comedy "Sketch" in 2,006 locations on Wednesday. After a successful premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last year, the film has grossed $3.2 million so far, likely landing in the tenth spot for the weekend.
As we continue through the summer movie season, both "Weapons" and "Freakier Friday" are set to capture the attention of audiences, showcasing the diverse offerings available in theaters.
