‘Weapons’ Continues Box Office Reign as ‘Nobody 2’ Stumbles with $9 Million Debut

LOS ANGELES – The late-summer box office slowdown has arrived, with New Line Cinema's horror-thriller Weapons easily securing the top spot for a second consecutive weekend with an estimated $25 million. Meanwhile, Universal’s new action sequel, Nobody 2, was the sole wide release but failed to make a significant impact, opening to a lackluster $9.1 million.

The weekend’s overall box office receipts totaled approximately $94 million, marking the second time this summer that the domestic total has dipped below the $100 million threshold, according to industry reports from Deadline. This performance underscores a typical cooling-off period in August as audiences await the fall movie season.

Horror Hit Holds Strong

Weapons, the buzzy horror film from director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), demonstrated remarkable staying power. Its second-weekend take of $25 million represents a mere 45% drop from its impressive debut—an exceptionally strong hold for a genre film, which often sees declines of 60% or more. The film's continued success is being attributed to strong critical reviews and positive word-of-mouth, pushing its domestic total to nearly $90 million in just ten days.

The film’s performance provides a bright spot for Warner Bros. and the theatrical market, proving that original, well-received horror can still draw significant crowds and sustain momentum beyond its opening weekend.

‘Nobody 2’ Fails to Ignite

In stark contrast, Nobody 2 stumbled out of the gate. The sequel, which sees Bob Odenkirk reprise his role as the unassuming suburban father with a violent past, opened below its modest expectations. The $9.1 million debut is a disappointing figure for Universal, especially given the cult status and positive reception of the 2021 original.

While the first Nobody opened to a smaller $6.8 million, it was released under vastly different circumstances in March 2021, when the pandemic severely limited theater capacity and the film was simultaneously available on premium video-on-demand. Analysts had projected the sequel would build on the original's fanbase, but the opening numbers suggest it struggled to attract a wider audience or generate urgency for a theatrical viewing.

The film’s C+ CinemaScore indicates a mixed reception from moviegoers, which may hinder its ability to gain traction in the coming weeks. For a mid-budget action film, this opening poses a significant challenge on its path to profitability.

A Quiet End to a Turbulent Summer

The divide between the weekend’s top two films paints a clear picture of the current theatrical landscape: high-concept, must-see events continue to thrive, while films perceived as more conventional or less essential are struggling to break through. The overall market dip to $94 million signals that the summer blockbuster season, which saw massive hits like Twisters and Deadpool & Wolverine, is officially winding down.

Other films filling out the top five this weekend included holdovers from earlier in the summer, all of which posted single-digit grosses. The industry is now looking ahead to the fall festival season and a slate of autumn releases to reinvigorate audience attendance. Until then, theaters may face several more quiet weekends as the seasonal transition takes hold.