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Under the glow of a slow Labor Day frame, Weapons clawed its way back to the top of the domestic box office with an estimated $10.2 million over the three-day weekend. Taking a nostalgic second place was Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, whose 50th anniversary reissue pulled in roughly $8.1 million as audiences came out for a theatrical bite.
It was a quiet holiday slate overall, with new releases like Caught Stealing and holdovers such as Freakier Friday filling out the rest of the top five, a sign that event programming and legacy titles still carry more box office muscle than crowded new release calendars right now.
For studios, the weekend was another reminder that nostalgia and sharp counterprogramming can flip a slow marketplace. For theaters, it showed that even an aging title with the right marketing can still spark surprise crowds.
Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing debuted in third place at $7.8 million ($9.5 million across the four-day). Despite strong reviews (84% Rotten Tomatoes), audiences were lukewarm, giving it a CinemaScore “B.” Disney’s Freakier Friday followed with $6.5 million, while Jay Roach’s The Roses opened softer with $6.4 million.
Overall, the holiday weekend grossed $86 million, down 19% from last year’s Marvel-fueled haul. Summer wrapped at $3.67 billion domestically, slightly below 2024 and notably behind 2023, as sequels and thrillers struggled to deliver the box office spark Hollywood was banking on.
Why Weapons is performing so well at the box office
Weapons keeps biting as the Zach Cregger horror reclaimed the number one spot over Labor Day, a sign that audiences are still up for original genre fare when it is done right. Critics and audiences both handed Weapons glowing badges of approval. The film currently sits with a near-universal critic score on aggregator sites and an unusually strong cinema score for a horror title, evidence that positive early reviews and word of mouth have translated into ticket sales.
The movie also feeds into social buzz. Specific scenes and a memorable line have gone viral, fueling curiosity and repeat viewings. That kind of memetic lift is gold for a mid-budget genre picture, especially when paired with strong editorial coverage and interviews.
Timing helped too. Labor Day is historically a softer frame and Weapon’s hold showcases how counterprogramming and nostalgia playbooks work, especially with older titles like Jaws reissued alongside it. With limited true blockbuster competition, Weapons could dominate the conversation.
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Bottom line: Weapons combined critical cachet, creator trust, shrewd marketing, and viral word of mouth at an opportune time. The result is a rare modern example of an original horror film turning cultural buzz into sustained box office returns. In short, the film gives moviegoers something real to argue over. If the momentum holds, expect streaming deals, franchise chatter, and even whispers of a prequel.
Weapons is now in theaters.
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