{"id":135091,"date":"2025-08-10T19:29:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T19:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/135091\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T19:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T19:29:11","slug":"weapons-beats-freakier-friday-in-battle-for-top-spot-at-the-box-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/135091\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Weapons&#8217; beats &#8216;Freakier Friday&#8217; in battle for top spot at the box office"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 It\u2019s August, and horror and humor came to play. <\/p>\n<p>In a month that\u2019s long been known to let edgier movies thrive, Zach Cregger\u2019s <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/weapons-zach-cregger-julia-garner-interview-ec3d19f0b6f27d3f8bedd2cbebed91d5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highly anticipated horror film \u201cWeapons\u201d<\/a> did not disappoint, topping the box office during its debut weekend with $42.5 million domestically from 3,202 theaters. It made $70 million internationally. <\/p>\n<p>The film\u2019s success also handed its distributor, Warner Bros. Pictures, the seventh No. 1 opening of the year, and became the studio\u2019s sixth film in a row to debut with over $40 million domestically. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFreakier Friday,\u201d <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/movie-review-freakier-friday-lohan-curtis-8e0196e582b34d39a425d3c82722f3eb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Disney\u2019s chaotic sequel<\/a> to the 2003 classic, \u201cFreaky Friday,\u201d took the second spot during its premiere weekend, earning $29 million in 3,975 North American theaters. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis return, this time for a double body-swapping between the mother-daughter duo and Lohan\u2019s teen daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter.<\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-a70000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from &quot;Weapons.&quot; (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754854150_611_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n<p>Viral marketing tactics, coupled with strong social media word-of-mouth, boded well for both films\u2019 success, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for the data firm Comscore. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe top two films could not be more different, and that\u2019s what makes this weekend so appealing for moviegoers,\u201d Dergarabedian said. \u201cBoth are perfectly tailored for their audiences to react in real time over the weekend to these films and then post on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWeapons\u201d transports audiences to the small town of Maybrook, where 17 kids up and leave their homes at 2:17 a.m., leaving bewildered parents in their wake. The town is left to navigate the lingering effects of trauma through <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/weapons-movie-review-zach-cregger-91a1d69131662b1a95258b36bc01b4b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">horror, paranoia and a touch of existential humor.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film is Cregger\u2019s follow-up to his solo directorial debut with the 2022 genre-bending horror, <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/barbarian-film-reviews-entertainment-movies-jordan-peele-5d84ad96fc73f1ef7d872571583c609b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cBarbarian.\u201d<\/a> That critically-acclaimed film had a slower start and smaller budget, but still topped the charts during its premiere with <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/entertainment-movies-los-angeles-9c75a389261127d49f0b30c9d2f60e26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$10 million domestically<\/a> and made a splash in the genre.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWeapons\u201d generated a lot of buzz for its strong reviews (95% on Rotten Tomatoes). <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-c20000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from &quot;Weapons.&quot; (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754854151_786_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Internet\u2019s exploding right now between Friday and today. You just see that people are having a great time with it,\u201d said Jeffrey Goldstein, president of Global Distribution for Warner Bros. \u201cIt starts with an exceptional movie, an exceptional marketing campaign, and the date was exceptional too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The success of the comedy-horror double premiere meant <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fantastic-four-first-steps-movie-review-marvel-931c00920bcbf53fa6bb3d937fc8a3bb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cThe Fantastic Four: First Steps\u201d<\/a> surrendered its two-week run in the top spot and landed in the third position, bringing in $15.5 million domestically. The superhero movie enjoyed a strong <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/box-office-fantastic-four-4710db7c6f7d0145d968714f35a79ba8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$118 million debut<\/a>, but <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/box-office-fantastic-four-bad-guys-d7fd2c122415f5787fb3855b047a8e83\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stumbled in its second weekend.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/bad-guys-2-movie-review-ba5be573514f46a5530d79bc6b997830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cThe Bad Guys 2,\u201d<\/a> which got a healthy start at the No. 2 spot during its premiere weekend, came in fourth place, earning $10.4 million domestically. <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/naked-gun-review-liam-neeson-leslie-nielsen-a23cf490b9539faadba57c9c06443639\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cThe Naked Gun\u201d<\/a> had a similar fate, reaching the fifth position with $8.4 million in North American theaters. <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/jurassic-world-rebirth-movie-review-808ee52a1f23efafb43e147dacc9feb4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cJurassic World Rebirth,\u201d<\/a> which came in seventh this week, is expected to hit $800 million globally by Monday, according to NBC Universal, <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/jurassic-world-rebirth-box-office-d587adf9f2c12e29ec01802c5b7cfb1f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">following a successful run in theaters.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Warner Bros. started off slow this year, but made a comeback with the box-office hit, <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/film-box-office-minecraft-movie-3d2887d1d272a12767f0703eb77c629d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cA Minecraft Movie,\u201d<\/a> which opened with $157 million domestically. Since then, movies like \u201cSinners,\u201d \u201cSuperman\u201d and now, \u201cWeapons,\u201d have found success. <\/p>\n<p>    <a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-d20000\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from &quot;Weapons.&quot; (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754854150_611_\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher in a scene from \u201cWeapons.\u201d (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)<\/p>\n<p>Read More<\/p>\n<p>The studio set \u201ca blueprint to how to create a perfect summer lineup,\u201d Dergarabedian said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWeapons \u201dalso joins a stream of successful horror movies this year, its opening numbers coming in just behind <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/box-office-33cc888ccc792fbe280eb865b375b99c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cFinal Destination: Bloodlines\u201d<\/a> and <a class=\"Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement\" data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/sinners-minecraft-box-office-410d755a95b5b2022c362aece9b7c07c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cSinners.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Top 10 movies by domestic box office<\/p>\n<p>With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:<\/p>\n<p>1. \u201cWeapons,\u201d $42.5 million.<\/p>\n<p>2. \u201cFreakier Friday,\u201d $29 million.<\/p>\n<p>3. \u201cThe Fantastic Four: First Steps,\u201d $15.5 million.<\/p>\n<p>4. \u201cThe Bad Guys 2,\u201d $10.4 million.<\/p>\n<p>5. \u201cThe Naked Gun,\u201d $8.4 million.<\/p>\n<p>6. \u201cSuperman,\u201d $7.8 million.<\/p>\n<p>7. \u201cJurassic World Rebirth,\u201d $4.7 million.<\/p>\n<p>8. \u201cF1: The Movie,\u201d $2.9 million.<\/p>\n<p>9. \u201cTogether,\u201d $2.6 million.<\/p>\n<p>10. \u201cSketch,\u201d $2.5 million. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 It\u2019s August, and horror and humor came to play. In a month that\u2019s long&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":135092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[2122,64,276,1144,171,57,15460,81522,53845,53,81521,21951,61,67,132,68,9827],"class_list":{"0":"post-135091","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-arts-and-entertainment","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-comedy","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-general-news","14":"tag-jamie-lee-curtis","15":"tag-jeffrey-goldstein","16":"tag-lindsay-lohan","17":"tag-movies","18":"tag-paul-dergarabedian","19":"tag-trending-news","20":"tag-u-s-news","21":"tag-united-states","22":"tag-unitedstates","23":"tag-us","24":"tag-zach-cregger"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115006129008689639","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}