Box Office Battle: ‘Freakier Friday’ and ‘Weapons’ Compete for Top Spot
Disney’s nostalgic sequel Freakier Friday and New Line’s mystery-thriller Weapons are going head-to-head at the late-summer box office, both aiming to dethrone Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: The First Steps from its leading position.
Weapons Shows Strong Preview Performance
Zach Cregger’s Weapons, boasting an impressive 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, secured a robust $5.7 million in previews. The R-rated thriller, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, could exceed its projected $25-30 million domestic opening weekend. New Line acquired the film for $38 million, including a $10 million payday for Cregger.
Freakier Friday Targets Nostalgia and Family Audiences
The Disney sequel, reuniting Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis after 23 years, earned $3.1 million in previews. With a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the $42 million production is tracking for a $28-31 million domestic opening. The film features a multigenerational body-swapping storyline and includes rising stars Julia Butters and Sophia Hammons.
Key Box Office Factors
- Weapons benefits from IMAX screen access and strong critical reception
- Freakier Friday leverages nostalgia and targets underserved female audiences
- Both films aim to prove theatrical viability for their respective genres