In a remarkable turn at the box office, “Weapons” has cemented its position as a fan favorite by dropping just 43% in ticket sales during its second weekend, pulling in a robust $25 million. The R-rated horror film debuted with $43 million, and its sustained success defies the typical decline seen in the genre.
Rising to Sleeper Hit Status
“Weapons” is quickly becoming a sleeper hit, amassing $89 million domestically and $148 million worldwide in just two weekends. Produced for a modest $38 million, its profitability is buoyed by rave reviews and strong word-of-mouth. This marks Warner Bros.’ fifth consecutive triumph following films like “A Minecraft Movie” and “Superman.” The studio’s fortunes have notably turned around after a rocky start to the year with financial setbacks like “Mickey 17.”
New Releases and Box Office Competition
Universal’s action thriller “Nobody 2” made a modest start, debuting at No. 3 with $9.2 million in North America. Starring Bob Odenkirk, the film is a sequel to 2021’s “Nobody,” which saw a lower debut amid post-COVID cinema reopenings. Overseas, “Nobody 2” added $4.9 million, bringing its global total to $14.1 million. Despite its lukewarm audience scores compared to its predecessor, the film’s $25 million budget suggests it will still turn a profit.
Disney’s “Freakier Friday” maintained solid momentum in its second weekend, earning $14.5 million and bringing its North American total to $54.6 million. Meanwhile, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” continues to slide, securing the No. 4 spot with $8.8 million in its fourth weekend, although it has managed to surpass other recent Marvel releases.
Box Office Insights and Trends
“The Bad Guys 2” rounded out the top five with $6.9 million. The heist comedy has collected $56 million domestically. In sixth place, “Superman” added $5.3 million, pushing its North American total to $340 million. Meanwhile, “Americana,” starring Sydney Sweeney, opened poorly at No. 16, despite a notable cast and SXSW acquisition by Lionsgate.
Overall, the box office is currently 6.4% ahead of last year. However, the pace has been slowing, with early July figures showing a 16% lead over 2024. This slowdown suggests that reaching the $4 billion summer mark remains elusive.
“Alas, it’s not in the cards at this point,” remarks Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore. Nonetheless, the season has been packed with standout performances, leaving industry insiders optimistic about future releases.
