Reowned director Zach Cregger, best known for his hit horror film Barbarian, is back with Weapons. Starring Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich, Weapons grossed nearly $40 million in its opening weekend, surpassing industry expectations.
Meanwhile, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps has hit a rough patch. In its second week in theaters, the film saw a drop at the box office and faced backlash from audiences. Despite its star-studded cast, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, the movie now faces grim box office prospects.
The underperformance of Fantastic Four appears to have benefited Weapons, as well as Disney’s Freakier Friday. In the U.S., audience interest has shifted toward these films, with the two titles expected to bring in a combined $70 million during their opening weekends. This trend highlights growing interest in original movies, particularly in the horror genre.
Horror continues to have a big year, with notable releases such as Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Danny and Michael Philippou’s Bring Her Back, Michael Shanks’ Together, and Zach Lipovsky & Adam B. Stein’s Final Destination: Bloodlines all making waves in 2025.
More interestingly, Weapons also caught the attention of acclaimed horror filmmaker Jordan Peele, who reportedly made an offer to buy the script. However, the project was ultimately picked up by New Line Cinema, a Warner Bros. label.
With hits like F1: The Movie, A Minecraft Movie, and Superman, Warner Bros. is shaping up to be one of the year’s top-performing studios at the global box office.
