The box office this weekend was full of surprises, popcorn excitement, and just enough drama to keep film fans buzzing until next weekend. Leading the charge? The gritty horror flick Weapons and the delightfully chaotic body-swap comedy Freakier Friday. And oh boy, did they deliver some eyebrow-raising numbers. Let’s dig into the details, shall we?
‘Weapons’ Sets the Bar High
First up, the reigning champ of this weekend’s box office, Weapons. This twisty horror thriller about missing kids crept its way to a $42.5 million domestic debut. Not bad for a film that cost around $38 million to make! With a cast that includes Julia Garner (yes, she’s back and stealing every scene!), Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich, Weapons will likely cement director Zach Cregger as the Hollywood horror whisperer.
Critics have already given this one plenty of love, but what’s worth noting is that it’s the latest in Warner Bros.’ recent streak of wins—including Superman and Freakier Friday. Clearly, the studio dipped into their magic bag of tricks to recapture audience attention after a less-than-stellar start to 2025 (Mickey 17, anyone?).
But the secret weapon (get it?) behind Weapons’ success? That healthy “A-” CinemaScore and some killer word of mouth. Don’t be surprised if this one pulls in steady earnings over the next few weeks.
‘Freakier Friday’ Hits Fans Right in the Nostalgia
Moving on to the movie that feels like it was tailor-made for streaming TikToks of moms and daughters bonding. Disney’s Freakier Friday sequel brought in a solid $29 million this weekend. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reuniting? Genius. The film rode the nostalgia wave beautifully while giving us the chaotic comedy chaos we didn’t know we needed.
Here’s the kicker—for a film with a $42 million budget, Disney really leaned into marketing family fun and humor. The payoff? An “A” CinemaScore, meaning moms, dads, teens, and anyone who’s been in a bizarre parent-child squabble are eating it up. It also benefitted from some strong Latin American numbers, with Mexico leading the charge. Pro tip for Hollywood studios moving forward? Get your talent to show up at press junkets and red carpet events. The love Mexico City gave this film was unmatched.
Break-ups Happen, Even at the Box Office
Then there’s The Fantastic Four, which topped the charts just a few weeks ago before taking a dramatic tumble. Marvel certainly knows how to launch big, but the superhero flick saw a harsh 60% drop this weekend, bringing in just $15.5 million. From its opening $117.6 million debut to slow-burn disappointment this week, the “fantastic” part of this box office run appears to be receding faster than you can say “multiverse drama.”
It’s not a complete failure with its $230 million domestic total, but let’s face it; Marvel exhaustion is real, folks.
The Rest of the Pack
Universal’s The Bad Guys 2 took home $10.4 million, holding steady with a 53% drop. Meanwhile, The Naked Gun reboot, starring Liam Neeson (still baffled by that casting) and Pamela Anderson, notched $8.3 million, bringing its North American total to $33 million.
One fun little surprise this weekend? Faith-based fantasy comedy Sketch managed to pick up $2.5 million in its box office debut. Hey, niche audiences need love too.
