This weekend marks the unofficial start of the “dog days” of summer at the box office. Despite initial expectations of a strong opening weekend, business is expected to be slow, with only one sub-$100M frame since Q2 and the total domestic box office projected to come in under $100M.
Leading the pack is Warner Bros.’ original horror film Weapons, which should maintain its solid word-of-mouth holdover. With a successful debut last week and positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, it’s likely to continue its winning streak. However, there’s a risk of a significant drop in its sophomore frame if the high end of the prediction range is reached.
In second place is Walt Disney Pictures’ Freakier Friday, which underperformed despite being the #1 comedy opening of the year. The film received positive reviews but struggled to live up to expectations, leaving Disney wondering how they can recapture their past success with sequels.
On the other end of the spectrum is Universal Pictures’ Nobody 2, which is expected to open in the single digits. Despite its solid reviews and action-packed trailer, the sequel faces an uphill battle due to the novelty of the original film’s lead, Bob Odenkirk.
Overall, this weekend will be a slow one for the box office, with the total domestic take projected to finish in the mid-to-high $70M range.
Source: https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-preview-weapons-locked-and-loaded-to-win-another-weekend