The new horror film Weapons ruled the weekend. It earned $42.5 million in the U.S. and Canada. Its global opening was about $70 million. That pace put it well ahead of the competition. 

Disney’s Freakier Friday opened in second with $29 million. Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps finished third with $15.5 million in its third weekend. The results show that crowds came out for both scares and laughs. 

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Why ‘Weapons’ Hit So Hard

The hook is simple and chilling. In the quiet town of Maybrook, 17 children leave their homes at 2:17 a.m. They vanish into the night. The film blends fear, paranoia, and dark humor as the town reels. Early reviews were strong, with critics putting it in the mid-90s on Rotten Tomatoes. 

This is director Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian (2022). That movie started small but became a hit. Weapons arrived with more hype and delivered a bigger opening. 

By the Numbers

  • Domestic opening: $42.5M.
  • Global opening (approx.): $70M. 
  • CinemaScore: A- from audiences. 
  • Premium formats: IMAX made about $8.1M worldwide, including $6.2M in North America. 
  • Studio streak: Warner Bros. scored its 7th No. 1 of 2025 and its 6th straight $40M+ opener. 

Top Movies: Weekend Snapshot

Rank Film Weekend (US/Canada) Notes
1 Weapons $42.5M Horror hit; strong word-of-mouth
2 Freakier Friday $29M Lindsay Lohan & Jamie Lee Curtis return
3 The Fantastic Four: First Steps $15.5M Third weekend; sharp weekly drop
4 The Bad Guys 2 $10.4M Animated family play
5 The Naked Gun $8.4M Comedy reboot holds top five

 

What Helped the Winners

  • Clear concepts: A scary, high-stakes mystery in Weapons. A comfort-food comedy in Freakier Friday. 
  • Social buzz: Both movies popped on opening weekend with viral chatter. 
  • Premium boost: IMAX and other formats pushed revenue higher for Weapons. 

Marvel Slips to Third

The Fantastic Four: First Steps fell to the No. 3 spot with $15.5M this weekend. Its domestic total climbed above $230M, while the global total passed $430M. The film also shed theaters week to week. 

The Market Keeps Climbing

The late-summer box office showed strength again. Industry trackers put the weekend’s U.S. total near $131M. Year-to-date domestic sales are up about 7.6% versus 2024. That points to a healthier big-screen year so far. 

Context: Horror’s Hot Streak

Weapons joins 2025 horror titles that opened well, like Sinners and the new Final Destination. Strong reviews, tight budgets, and premium formats help. When the story is sharp, audiences respond fast. 

Bottom line: people still love a good scare in a theater. And when studios give them quality choices, they show up.

Quick Facts Table

Item Figure
Weapons domestic opening $42.5M
Weapons global opening ~$70M
Weapons CinemaScore A-
IMAX share for Weapons $8.1M worldwide ($6.2M NA)
Freakier Friday opening $29M
Fantastic Four: First Steps weekend $15.5M

 

Takeaway: Weapons shows horror can still lead the pack. A clear concept, strong reviews, and premium screens made the difference. And because viewers had a comedy choice too, the whole market rose.

FEATURED IMG URL – https://www.cinematerial.com/movies/weapons-i26581740/g/uusdxd?c=1

Malin Rasmussen

About the author

Malin Rasmussen

Malin Rasmussen is a flight attendant with a zest for travel, culinary adventures, and wine. When she’s not soaring through the skies, Malin enjoys attending concerts and exploring new destinations. Her love for cooking and fine wines adds a rich, flavorful touch to her life. As a contributor, Malin shares her unique experiences and passion for travel and gastronomy, bringing our readers a delightful mix of stories and insights