(L-R) 'Weapons' and 'Freakier Friday'Warner Bros./Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The box office is heating up this weekend with two very different films pulling strong preview numbers: an original horror thriller and a nostalgic family sequel. Weapons, the latest R-rated horror film from New Line and director Zach Cregger, is off to a chillingly strong start.
Early numbers suggest it has already crossed $5 million in preview screenings — and may climb higher by morning. Meanwhile, Disney’s Freakier Friday, the long-awaited follow-up to its 2003 body-swap comedy, is seeing $3 million in early earnings.
Both films have been tracking to open north of $30 million, but Weapons is now pacing slightly ahead.
A Scary-Good Start for Weapons
Weapons has emerged as a surprise summer contender. After drawing comparisons to New Line’s earlier horror entry Final Destination: Bloodlines, the film is now expected to at least match, if not surpass, that title’s opening.
According to insiders, Weapons could reach a low-to-mid $30 million debut, possibly more. Preview ticket sales already top the $4.7 million made by Sinners and may beat Bloodlines' $5.5 million.
The buzz isn’t just about the numbers — it’s about the reception.
The film is scoring an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 90% audience score. It’s the second-biggest horror ticket pre-seller of the year on Fandango, just behind Sinners. That’s no small feat, especially for a movie not based on any existing franchise.
Warner Bros. launched a clever marketing campaign, teasing viewers with eerie footage of children fleeing their homes at night — all set in a mysterious small town. The campaign kept plot details under wraps, fueling curiosity and early ticket demand.
Previews began on Wednesday with special Alamo Drafthouse screenings, and continued Thursday starting at exactly 2:17 PM — a time reportedly tied to a pivotal moment in the film.
Will Weapons Maintain Momentum?
Horror movies often frontload their earnings, drawing most of their audience on opening night. For Weapons to prove its staying power, it will need a minimal drop-off from Friday to Saturday.
Industry watchers will look for a dip between 12% and 14%. That’s the sweet spot shown by past hits like Us, Sinners, and Bloodlines. If Weapons falls within that range, it could break out beyond the core horror crowd.
For context, Us remains the king of original horror previews with $7.4 million. It later opened to $71.1 million over its first weekend.
Nostalgia Powers Freakier Friday
On the lighter side of the box office, Disney’s Freakier Friday is charming fans with a $3 million preview haul. That number places it just behind recent family-friendly openers like Mufasa: The Lion King ($3.3M) and Wonka ($3.5M).
The movie reunites Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, reprising their iconic mother-daughter roles 22 years after the original film’s release. The studio leaned into the nostalgia, kicking off Wednesday night previews at 7 PM — the exact time the original debuted back in 2003.
Full screenings began Thursday afternoon at 2 PM, lining up with the film’s family-friendly weekend strategy.
So far, critics are moderately pleased. Freakier Friday holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience reviews are still pending but will likely boost family turnout by Friday evening.
What’s Next for the Weekend?
With Weapons showing strong horror appeal and Freakier Friday attracting nostalgic families, this weekend’s box office is set for a lively showdown.
All eyes are now on the Friday-to-Saturday drop-offs — a crucial indicator for whether Weapons is a fleeting thrill or a lasting success.
Either way, the mix of thrills and laughs is drawing diverse audiences back to the theaters — and that’s a win for summer movie season.
