‘Weapons’ and ‘Freakier Friday’ Ignite August Box Office

Horror delivered the jolt exhibitors wanted. Warner Bros.’ Weapons opened atop the domestic chart with an estimated $42.5 million and roughly $70 million worldwide, a muscular start for an original title that positions the film as August’s pace-setter and extends 2025’s genre winning streak. With a reported sub-$40 million budget and strong premium-format uptake, the math looks friendly for legs—especially if word-of-mouth holds through late-summer weekdays.

Counter-programming did its job, too. Disney’s Freakier Friday bowed to about $29 million domestically, giving families a PG option while horror feasted elsewhere. The sequel’s nostalgia hook (Curtis/Lohan back in the mix) and a broad rollout set it up for steadier day-to-day play than the front-loaded genre rival, and Disney’s marketing machine is already teasing post-theatrical beats to keep attention on the brand.

Bigger picture, August just found its rhythm. A clear four-quadrant split—date-night scares vs. family comedy—should buoy concession-friendly weeknights, and the Weapons/Freakier Friday one-two punch could steady a summer that’s whipsawed between breakouts and soft spots. Watch second-weekend drops, premium-screen allocation, and back-to-school calendars; if the holds are gentle, studios may finally have the late-summer momentum they’ve been chasing.