'Weapons' Leads Box Office for Second Week—Compare to Horror Classics

Box Office Performance of Horror Films in 2025

Zach Cregger’s horror film “Weapons” continued to dominate the domestic box office, securing the number one spot for its second weekend. Despite a 40% drop from its opening weekend, the film still managed to earn $26 million, which was higher than projections from Box Office Pro. This strong performance highlights the film's appeal and the effectiveness of its marketing strategy.

“Weapons” also generated impressive revenue from previews, earning $5.7 million. This outperformed early screenings for other 2025 horror hits like “Sinners” and “Final Destination Bloodlines.” The film, starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich, opened with a solid $43.5 million. However, it fell short of the opening weekends of “Sinners” and “Final Destination Bloodlines,” which grossed $48 million and $51.6 million respectively.

“Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, ended up with a total of $278.5 million domestically, while “Final Destination Bloodlines” earned $138 million over its theatrical run. These figures underscore the success of these films and their impact on the horror genre this year.

Second Weekend Performances of Other Horror Films

The second weekend performances of other horror films varied significantly. “Final Destination Bloodlines,” the sixth installment in the franchise, saw a sharp decline, dropping 62% to only $19.3 million. In contrast, “Sinners” maintained a stronger position, with a modest 4.8% decrease to $45.7 million. This resilience indicates the film's lasting popularity and audience engagement.

Background on “Sinners”

“Sinners” marked Ryan Coogler’s first original story after his success with established franchises such as “Creed,” “Black Panther,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The buzz surrounding the film helped it surpass “A Minecraft Movie,” one of the most successful family films of the year. Additionally, the film's score and soundtrack achieved chart positions, further contributing to its success.

“Weapons” benefited greatly from a viral marketing campaign. Warner Bros. released a two-hour-plus clip of "found footage" on YouTube, and the campaign included an early Internet-inspired website that provided information about the disappearance of 17 fictional children depicted in the film. This unique approach captured the attention of viewers and contributed to the film's strong performance.

Other Films This Weekend

This weekend, “Freakier Friday,” a comedy starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, took the second spot at the domestic box office, earning around $14.5 million. The film experienced a 50% drop in its second weekend. “Nobody 2,” the sequel to the 2021 action film featuring Bob Odenkirk, earned approximately $9.2 million on its opening weekend. This was a slight improvement compared to the original film's earnings before the end of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” remained in fourth place with $8.8 million in sales, marking a significant drop from its $117 million opening in July. This decline highlights the challenges faced by films that do not maintain consistent audience interest.

Surprising Fact About Sydney Sweeney

Despite the recent controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney's ad for American Eagle, which caught the attention of President Donald Trump and led to a surge in the retailer's stock, her film “Americana” did not perform well at the box office. The crime drama, acquired by Lionsgate and given a limited release, received middle-of-the-road reviews from critics and barely made an impact, earning only $500,000 from 1,100 theaters. This outcome illustrates the unpredictable nature of box office success and the influence of external factors on film performance.