New Horror Film ‘Weapons’ Dominates Box Office, ‘Freakier Friday’ Finds Strong Audience.
Los Angeles, CA – The summer movie season is heating up with a pair of new releases that are shaking up the box office charts. The horror film Weapons has claimed the top spot, while Disney’s highly-anticipated legacy sequel, Freakier Friday, has secured a solid second place. The strong debuts for both films signal a competitive and diverse movie-going landscape.
Weapons, an original horror title starring Josh Brolin, landed a significant opening day haul of $18.2 million on Friday, easily taking the No. 1 position. Industry analysts project that the film could achieve an opening weekend gross of over $30 million. The positive reception has been a talking point, with many viewers praising its unique premise about 17 children who mysteriously run away on the same night. Brolin, who plays the father of one of the missing children, recently spoke about the film’s ability to stand out in a crowded market. He noted the struggle to find engaging content on streaming services and expressed confidence that Weapons delivers the kind of compelling cinematic experience audiences are seeking. The film’s early success has been attributed to its critical and audience acclaim, with it receiving a rare “A-” CinemaScore for a horror film.
In a close second, Freakier Friday is proving to be a worthy comeback for its star, Lindsay Lohan. The long-awaited sequel, which reunites Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, grossed $12.7 million on its opening day. Experts predict a weekend total of up to $32 million, a strong performance for the family comedy. Curtis shared insights into the two-decade gap between the films, explaining that the timing was a crucial factor. “There was no possible way we could have done a sequel to Freaky Friday until Lindsay was old enough chronologically to be the mother of a 15-year-old,” she told USA Today. The sequel’s success is a testament to the enduring nostalgia for the original and the chemistry between the two lead actresses.
Meanwhile, other films in the top five continue their runs. Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps dropped to third place in its third week, earning $4.5 million on Friday. The film saw a notable 66% decline in its second weekend, prompting Disney CEO Bob Iger to address its performance. He highlighted the challenge of introducing these well-known but newly-reimagined characters to a new generation of moviegoers. In fourth place, the animated family comedy The Bad Guys 2 took in $3.07 million. The sequel has performed well since its release, already surpassing the global box office of Pixar’s 2021 film Luca. Rounding out the top five is The Naked Gun, which earned $2.37 million. The legacy sequel, starring Liam Neeson, is having a respectable run and has already become Neeson’s highest-grossing film of the decade.