“Weapons” vs. “Freakier Friday”: Horror and Nostalgia Battle for Box Office No. 1 This Weekend

In one of the summer box office’s final showdowns, New Line’s horror thriller Weapons is going head-to-head with Disney’s millennial-nostalgia-fueled Freakier Friday — and the race for No. 1 is too close to call, with both films tracking for $30M+ debuts.

But industry insiders suggest Weapons may have the edge, with projections climbing toward a $35M–$40M opening, bolstered by strong presales, premium format bookings, and critical acclaim.

Weapons: A Chilling, High-Concept Horror with Buzz

Directed, written, and produced by Zach Cregger, Weapons is an enigmatic R-rated horror film that tells the story of schoolchildren who vanish mysteriously at 2:17AM, leaving their homes behind without explanation. With early screenings already underway, AMC reports presales outpacing 28 Days Later, which debuted at $30M.

The film stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, and Alden Ehrenreich, and is tracking strong across all audience segments, including men and women under and over 25. That’s a four-quadrant appeal that studios dream of.

• Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% Fresh

• Imax & PLF dominance: All Imax auditoriums plus most premium screens

• Theatrical footprint: 3,200+ locations

• Early buzz: Alamo Drafthouse held screenings on Wednesday; Thursday previews begin at 2:17PM — the same time referenced in the film.

New Line won a bidding war for Weapons with a package deal worth nearly $38M, beating out Universal. The film was originally slated for MLK weekend 2026, but was moved up thanks to glowing test scores.

Freakier Friday: Disney’s PG-rated Comedy Aims for the Heartland

Freakier Friday, directed by Nisha Ganatra, brings back Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis from the beloved 2003 hit, in a multi-generational body-swap comedy that’s expected to dominate in Middle America and among female audiences aged 17-34.

• Rotten Tomatoes score: 79% Fresh

• Presales: $3M heading into opening weekend

• Theatrical reach: 3,975 theaters, including 850 PLFs and 150+ DBOX/Motion screens

• Preview kickoff: Thursday at 2PM, with a 7PM event marking 22 years since the 2003 film’s debut.

This installment raises the stakes, swapping souls among a grandmother, mother, daughter, and step-daughter, promising unexpected twists and family-friendly chaos. The original Freaky Friday opened to $22.2M over three days and went on to gross over $160M worldwide.

Verdict: Horror or Heartwarming?

While Freakier Friday rides on brand recognition and nostalgia, Weapons is gaining traction through genre buzz, star power, and exclusive formats. With critical scores and audience interest tilting in its favor, Weapons may surprise with a breakout opening — potentially even crossing the $40M mark.