The late-summer box office is gearing up for a highly competitive weekend as New Line’s mystery-horror Weapons and Disney’s family comedy Freakier Friday both target $30 million-plus openings in their domestic debuts. The showdown could dethrone Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: The First Steps from its number one position.
Weapons – Mystery-Horror with Critical Acclaim
Directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian), Weapons stars Julia Garner and Josh Brolin in a bizarre mystery involving the simultaneous disappearance of schoolchildren. The R-rated thriller has wowed critics, earning a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 81 Metacritic score.
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Preview earnings: $5.7 million
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Projected opening: $30M–$40M
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Advantages: Imax and premium large-format nighttime screenings
If estimates hold, this would surpass its original $25–$30 million projection and secure the top spot.
Freakier Friday – A Family-Friendly Sequel with Star Power
Directed by Nisha Ganatra, Freakier Friday reunites Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis in a multigenerational body-swap comedy. The PG-rated sequel builds on nostalgia from the 2003 hit while introducing a fresh twist.
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Preview earnings: $3.1 million
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Projected opening: Around $30 million
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Audience score: 94% on Rotten Tomatoes
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Critics’ score: 73% (compared to the original’s 88%)
The $42 million production is positioned to appeal strongly to women, teens, and millennial fans of the original.
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Other Box Office Projections
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The Fantastic Four: The First Steps – $16 million (Week 3)
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The Bad Guys 2 – $11 million
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The Naked Gun – $9 million
Gold Derby’s Predicted Weekend Rankings (Aug. 8–10)
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Weapons
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Freakier Friday
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The Fantastic Four: The First Steps
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The Bad Guys 2
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The Naked Gun
With strong buzz and solid early numbers, both Weapons and Freakier Friday are poised to dominate headlines, making this one of the most exciting summer box office weekends in recent years.
