'Weapons' maintains top spot in second weekend, scaring off newcomer
'Nobody 2'
[August 18, 2025]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Weapons” scared its way to the top of the box office
in its debut and managed to stay there during its second weekend,
beating out “Freakier Friday” and newcomer “Nobody 2.”
Zach Cregger's horror film earned $25 million in 3,450 North American
theaters, a 43% drop from its first weekend. The highly anticipated film
benefited from strong audience reviews and social media trends to
attract large crowds.
“Freakier Friday,” which lost the battle for first place to “Weapons”
during its double premiere, maintained its second spot, bringing in
$14.5 million domestically. The films' staying power comes during a
slower box office weekend, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst
for the data firm Comscore.
Both films prevailed against “Nobody 2,” the R-rated action sequel. The
Bob Odenkirk-led film earned $9.25 million across 3,260 North American
theaters in its debut weekend.
“August came on strong last year, so it makes comparisons tough,”
Dergarabedian said, noting the box office success of movies like
“Deadpool and Wolverine” and the horror sci-fi “Alien: Romulus” that
premiered this time last year.
This summer is unlikely to hit the $4 billion benchmark but has provided
moviegoers a dynamic and diverse slate of movies, he said.
"I can’t find a genre that’s not represented or a demographic that
wouldn’t be attracted to one of these films out there," Dergarabedian
said. “It’s just that eclectic mix of films with appeal to every
demographic.”
“Nobody 2” follows the pandemic success of the first in the series,
“Nobody," which was released in 2021. In the sequel, Hutch Mansell, the
assassin-turned-nice-guy played by Odenkirk, returns to the big screen,
this time taking a much-needed family vacation that goes awry. The calm
weekend turns anything but as Mansell uncovers a corrupt town.
Jim Orr, president of domestic distributions at Universal Pictures, said
he hopes the movie's reaction scores — an 89% Audience score and B+
CinemaScore — point “to a long and successful run at the domestic box
office.”
[to top of second column]
|
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Cary Christopher
in a scene from "Weapons." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
 “The Fantastic Four: First Steps"
took the fourth spot during its fourth weekend in theaters, bringing
in $8.8 million domestically. The film stumbled at the box office
after its initially strong $118 million debut.
Another sequel, “The Bad Guys 2,” took fifth place with $7.5 million
during its third weekend in theaters.
Notably, Dergarabedian said, international movies made a splash in
the top 15 this weekend.
“Coolie,” an Indian action thriller, debuted domestically and
snatched the 10th spot, followed by “War 2,” another Indian action
movie, at No. 11. The domestic re-release of “Shin Godzilla," a
Japanese film that initially premiered in 2016, came in at the 12th
spot.
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors
in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and
Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
1. “Weapons,” $25 million.
2. “Freakier Friday,” $14.5 million.
3. “Nobody 2,” $9.25 million.
4. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” $8.8 million.
5. “The Bad Guys 2,” $7.5 million.
6. “Superman,” $5.3 million.
7. “The Naked Gun,” $4.8 million.
8. “Jurassic World Rebirth,” $2.9 million.
9. “F1: The Movie,” $2.6 million.
10. “Coolie," $2.4 million.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
