Hollywood audiences have spoken loud and clear: deliver gripping, original horror and they’ll show up in record numbers. This past weekend, Weapons — the latest horror creation from director Zach Cregger — slashed its way to the top of the box office, raking in an impressive $42.5 million domestically from 3,202 theaters and $70 million globally.
Released by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film marks the studio’s seventh No. 1 opening of 2025 and the sixth consecutive movie to debut above $40 million domestically. It’s also the second original horror hit to reach No. 1 this year, following Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which opened in April with $45.6 million. With a glowing 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Weapons has already outpaced Cregger’s 2022 cult hit Barbarian ($40.8 million domestic).
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, “Horror movies that get great reviews, that are super buzzy, like Weapons, can do extraordinarily well at the box office.”
Why the Weapons Box Office Success Matters
The success of Weapons reflects a growing trend — original horror films, when backed by strong storytelling and marketing, are performing as well as, or better than, big franchise entries. In an era dominated by sequels and superhero epics, horror has found a profitable niche that appeals to both critics and audiences.
The film’s viral marketing push, coupled with fan-generated buzz on TikTok, Instagram, and X, fueled its opening weekend. Early audience reactions praised its tense atmosphere, clever narrative twists, and unexpected scares.
Freakier Friday’s Strong Showing Adds Variety to the Box Office
In second place, Disney’s Freakier Friday — a sequel to the 2003 Lindsay Lohan–Jamie Lee Curtis hit — grossed $29 million from 3,975 North American theaters. This installment doubled the body-swap chaos, involving not just the mother-daughter duo but also Lohan’s teen daughter and her soon-to-be stepdaughter.
The contrasting tones of Weapons and Freakier Friday gave moviegoers “something for everyone,” according to Dergarabedian, proving that diverse offerings can drive overall industry revenue.
Full Top Five U.S. Box Office Results
Weapons – $42.5M (Domestic), $70M (Global)
Freakier Friday – $29M
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – $15.5M (Total Domestic: $230.4M)
Bad Guys 2 – $10.4M
The Naked Gun 4 – $8.37M
What’s Next for the Box Office in 2025
The combined performances of Weapons and Freakier Friday boosted the total 2025 box office to $5.6 billion, up 7.6% from last year. As summer winds down, analysts are predicting even bigger numbers from Disney’s upcoming heavyweights — Zootopia 2 (November 26) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19).
Warner Bros., buoyed by Weapons’ triumph, is expected to continue investing in original, high-quality genre films that blend critical acclaim with commercial appeal.
The Weapons box office win is more than just a horror success story — it’s proof that audiences are hungry for originality, strong storytelling, and cinematic surprises.
You Must Know:
Q1: What is the total global box office for Weapons’ opening weekend?
Weapons earned $70 million worldwide in its debut, with $42.5 million from U.S. theaters.
Q2: How does Weapons compare to Zach Cregger’s Barbarian?
It has already outperformed Barbarian, which earned $40.8 million domestically during its entire run.
Q3: What other horror film topped the box office this year?
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners claimed No. 1 in April with $45.6 million.
Q4: Which film came second to Weapons this weekend?
Disney’s Freakier Friday took second place with $29 million in domestic earnings.
Q5: How has the 2025 box office performed compared to last year?
Overall revenue is up 7.6%, totaling $5.6 billion so far in 2025.
