FRIDAY AFTERNOON: New Line/Warner Bros’ Weapons can claim its third No. 1 weekend, though in its fourth frame, with a 4-day of $12M-$13M at 3,416 theaters, sending its running stateside cume to $135M by Monday. Weapons soon will topple the running domestic take of the original The Conjuring ($137.4M in 2013), and it’s already past 2016’s The Conjuring 2 ($102.5M) and 2018’s The Nun ($117.4M). New Line’s feature take on Stephen King’s It ($328.8M) remains both the studio’s and the industry’s highest-grossing horror movie at the domestic box office.
From left: ‘Weapons,’ Austin Butler in ‘Caught Stealing,’ Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Roses,’ Roy Schneider in ‘Jaws‘ and Peter Dinklage in ‘The Toxic Avenger‘
Warner Bros/Everett/Cineverse
Universal’s 50th anniversary release of Jaws is second at 3,200 sites with a Friday of $3.1M and a 4-day of $9.7M. That will put the lifetime running total on the 1975 Steven Spielberg film that started the tentpole era at $276.9M by Monday.
Sony’s Darren Aronofsky-directed Caught Stealing is seeing a Friday, including previews, of around $3.3M and a 4-day between $8M-$9M at 3,578 sites. The 3-day could potentially inch out the start of Aronofsky’s gonzo horror movie Mother! which opened to $7.5M back in pre-Covid 2017, and that was with a rare F CinemaScore.
Disney’s fourth weekend of Freakier Friday will see $8M over Friday-Monday at 3,475 after a $1.6M Friday and running total near $82M by EOD Monday.
Searchlight’s The Roses at 2,700 sites is seeing $2.2M today, including previews, for a fifth-place take around $7M+.
Heading into this weekend, per ComScore, the summer box office from first Friday in May until Thursday before Labor Day frame is $3.568 billion, even with last year. However, this Labor Day weekend will come up lighter than last year’s 4-day take of $110.2M with an estimated $75M. This will bring summer 2025 in at $3.643 billion, which when rounded is down 1% from last year’s $3.67B.
FRIDAY AM: Summer’s finale is getting underway with four wide releases — Sony’s Darren Aronofsky directed comedy caper Caught Stealing, Searchlight’s remake of War of the Roses, entitled The Roses, Universal’s 50th anniversary re-release of Jaws and Iconic Events’ reboot of The Toxic Avenger. None are expected at this point to topple New Line’s Weapons which will pop back up to No. 1 after Netflix’s theatrical flirt with last weekend’s box office; that Zach Cregger directed movie eyeing a fourth weekend of $11M-$12M over 4-days.
Caught Stealing did $1.2M in both 4PM Thursday previews and last weekend’s sneaks. The Austin Butler and Zoe Kravitz starring movie is expected to do north of $10M+ in four days at 3,578 sites. That preview figure is on par with such movies as House of Gucci ($1.3M which did a 3-day over Thanksgiving during post Covid 2021 of $14.4M) and August pre-Covid 2016’s War Dogs ($1.25M previews, for a $14.6M opening). The Aronofsky directed title cost $40 million net after New York City film tax incentives. Great reviews and audience score on Rotten Tomatoes respectively with 87% and 86%. Wouldn’t be shocked if it steals No. 1.
Universal’s 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is expected to do $5M over the Friday to Monday period at 3,200 sites including PLFs and Imax. The shark bit $950K in previews last night, I hear.
The Roses grossed $800K in total previews box office, including limited early access shows on Wednesday. The Jay Roach directed, Tony McNamara adapted redo of the Warren Adler novel, which was also the source material for the 1989 Danny Devito directed movie/David Mamet scripted movie, is looking at $7M-$8M over 4-days. It’s booked at 2,700 locations. The Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman starring title has bad reviews at 63% and a ho-hum audience score of 76%. Comps here for this title aimed at upscale older audiences are Black Bag at $850K which did a $7.6M opening and The Menu which posted $1M previews before a $9M opening.
We’re waiting on Toxic Avenger‘s numbers…
Rest of week’s top 5:
1) Weapons (NL/WB) 3,631 theaters, Thu $1.3M (-8% from Wed), Week $21.9M (-40%), Total $122.8M/Wk 3
2) KPop Demon Hunters Singalong (Netflix) No weekday play, 2-day box office $19M/Wk 1
3) Freakier Friday (Dis) 3,675 theaters, Thu $755k (-3%), Wk $12.6M (-40%), Total $73.9M/Wk 3
4) Fantastic Four: The First Steps (Dis) 3,190 theaters, Thu $546K (+3%), Wk $8.5M (-35%), $259.8M/Wk 5
5) The Bad Guys 2 (Uni) 3,288 theaters, Thu $466K (+6%), Wk $7.2M (-36%), Total $68.3M/Wk 4