LOS ANGELES — As the summer box office season winds down, the film Weapons surged back into the spotlight, securing a strong $10.2 million in earnings during its fourth weekend in theaters. This resurgence comes after the brief success of Kpop Demon Hunters the previous week, marking a notable Labor Day weekend performance for the horror film.
What Happened
Directed by Zach Cregger, Weapons has shown remarkable staying power at the box office, continuing to generate impressive numbers in its fourth week. The film’s success during the holiday weekend further demonstrates its ability to captivate audiences. Despite a competitive summer season, Weapons’s performance is one of the highlights, especially considering that this year’s box office is expected to end just shy of last year’s totals.
Meanwhile, the 50th anniversary rerelease of Jaws—Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1975 classic—continues to resonate with audiences, earning $8.1 million across 3,200 theaters. The rerelease lands in second place for the weekend, proving that well-crafted storytelling endures through the years. According to Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst, the continued success of Jaws is a testament to the power of timeless films and a reminder of their ability to draw audiences back to theaters.
Box Office Performance and Trends
The overall summer box office is projected to reach approximately $3.7 billion, falling just short of last year’s figures. However, it will not meet the pre-pandemic goal of $4 billion. As Dergarabedian noted, despite the high quality and strong promotion of several films, the competition was fierce, and not every film found the traction it needed.
Highlights of the summer season included early releases in May like Thunderbolts and Lilo & Stitch, but the latter part of summer saw a noticeable slump in the box office despite successful releases such as Weapons. The season appears to be ending cautiously, with some films struggling to maintain momentum.
New Releases and the Top Performers
Newcomer Caught Stealing, starring Austin Butler, debuted in third place with $7.8 million. Set in 1998, the film follows a bartender pulled into a criminal underworld. Freakier Friday, a family-friendly comedy, followed closely in fourth place with $6.5 million, while The Roses rounded out the top five with $6.4 million.
Other notable releases include The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which earned $4.8 million, and The Bad Guys 2, bringing in $4.7 million. Superman, another early July release, earned $2.6 million, showing a decline in performance as the summer wound down.
The Top 10 Films by Domestic Box Office Earnings
As the summer movie season wraps up, here are the top 10 films by domestic box office earnings:
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Weapons – $10.2 million
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Jaws (1975) – $8.1 million
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Caught Stealing – $7.8 million
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Freakier Friday – $6.5 million
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The Roses – $6.4 million
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps – $4.8 million
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The Bad Guys 2 – $4.7 million
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Superman – $2.6 million
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Nobody 2 – $1.8 million
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The Naked Gun – $1.8 million
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
