Weekend Box Office: Weapons Still No. 1

The late-summer box office battlefield saw clear winners and losers as Warner Bros.’ original horror thriller “Weapons” maintained a firm grip on the top spot while Universal’s action sequel “Nobody 2” stumbled in its debut. In a weekend that dipped below $100 million for the first time in 13 weeks, “Weapons” delivered a strong $25 million sophomore frame despite a 43% drop – outperforming industry expectations and demonstrating remarkable audience retention for the Josh Brolin-led film. The horror feature has now amassed $89 million domestically and $148.8 million globally, positioning it for continued dominance in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, “Nobody 2” failed to ignite audience interest, opening to a tepid $9.25 million – far below its predecessor’s $14 million pandemic-era debut. The Bob Odenkirk-led sequel attracted an older demographic (59% over 35) and earned mixed reactions despite an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The result marks another franchise disappointment for Universal following recent underperformers.

How Do Horror Films Maintain Box Office Momentum?

The success of “Weapons” demonstrates how effective word-of-mouth and strategic screen expansion can counteract the steep second-week drops typical of horror releases. By adding 248 screens while maintaining a robust $7,246 per-screen average, the film achieved what few horror titles manage: a sub-50% sophomore decline. According to Warner Bros.’ distribution data, Saturday viewing surged 29% from Friday – a key indicator of positive audience buzz. The film’s sustained performance echoes New Line Cinema’s “Final Destinations: Bloodlines,” which followed a similar trajectory to $138 million domestically last year.

Industry analysts note that “Weapons” benefited from several strategic advantages:

• Minimal direct competition in the horror-thriller space
• Strong social media engagement around its ensemble cast
• Premium format screenings accounting for 35% of grosses
• International markets like the UK ($8.3M) and Mexico ($5.5M) overperforming

Why Did Nobody 2 Fail to Resonate With Audiences?

The disappointing opening of “Nobody 2” reveals several franchise pitfalls. Despite Universal’s marketing push emphasizing the return of Bob Odenkirk’s “ordinary hero,” audiences showed limited interest in a follow-up to a film that originally grossed just $57 million globally. The sequel faced multiple headwinds:

• Four-year gap since original film diminished urgency
• Oversaturation of similar R-rated action comedies
• Limited star power beyond Odenkirk
• Conflicting tones in marketing materials

Demographic data reveals additional challenges: the audience skewed heavily male (68%) and Caucasian (52%), failing to expand beyond the core fanbase. Despite Sharon Stone’s addition to the cast, exit polls indicated only 41% of viewers would “definitely recommend” the film according to CinemaScore’s post-screening surveys.

Notable Box Office Milestones

While “Weapons” dominated, several other films crossed significant benchmarks:

• Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” reached $247M domestic, surpassing “Doctor Strange”
• DC’s “Superman” became the fifth highest-grossing DC film domestically ($340.9M)
• “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” shattered records in Southeast Asia with $17.5M openings
• “Jurassic World Rebirth” crossed $332M domestically in its seventh week

Next Weekend Forecast

With no major releases scheduled, “Weapons” appears poised for a third week atop the box office. The only newcomers are Ethan Coen’s comedy “Honey Don’t!” and Ron Howard’s survival thriller “Eden” – both tracking below $5 million openings according to industry projections. Exhibitors report strong pre-sales for the September 5th release of “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” which could reinvigorate the late-summer box office.

The sustained success of Weapons proves original concepts can thrive alongside franchise tentpoles when executed with vision and marketed effectively – a hopeful sign for theatrical exhibition as summer winds down. With its impressive hold and global traction, this horror thriller demonstrates that compelling storytelling remains cinema’s most powerful weapon. Check local showtimes to experience the film driving this box office resurgence.

Must Know

What is the current worldwide gross for Weapons?
As of August 18, “Weapons” has earned $89 million domestically and $59.8 million internationally, bringing its global total to $148.8 million. The UK leads international markets with $8.3 million, followed by Mexico ($5.5M) and France ($4M).

How does Nobody 2’s opening compare to the original?
“Nobody 2” opened significantly below its predecessor with $9.25 million versus the original’s $14 million March 2021 debut. The sequel’s performance is particularly disappointing given the first film’s successful transition to streaming platforms during the pandemic.

What percentage drop did Weapons experience in its second week?
“Weapons” experienced a 43% decline from its $44 million opening weekend – a stronger hold than many horror films typically achieve. Most comparable titles in the genre see 50-65% second-week drops according to The Numbers research.

When will Weapons be available on streaming?
Warner Bros. has not announced digital release plans, but industry standards suggest a theatrical window of 45-60 days. Based on its box office performance, a late September or early October streaming debut on Max appears likely.

Which major films are approaching box office milestones?
Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” ($247M) should surpass “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” ($259.7M) next week. DC’s “Superman” ($594.5M global) needs just $7M to overtake “Justice League” as the fourth highest-grossing DC film worldwide.