Weapons: Zach Cregger's Low-Budget Horror Film Scores Big, Surpasses The Fantastic Four
Weapons Movie: 2025 is turning out to be a banner year for horror in world cinema, and Zach Cregger's Weapons has emerged as the latest genre sensation. Following in the footsteps of earlier hits like Sinners, the chilling and haunting film not only won over critics but also set the global box office ablaze with its stunning debut.
Over its opening weekend, Weapons earned an impressive $42.5 million domestically (North America), easily claiming the top spot. In doing so, it outpaced fellow new release Freakier Friday, Lindsay Lohan's comedy which collected $29 million in the US and Canada.
Where Weapons truly distinguished itself was in its worldwide appeal. While Ryan Coogler's Sinners dominated North America but stumbled overseas, Weapons had a strong international start. It brought in $28 million from overseas markets, pushing its global total to $70 million in just three days. This made it the highest-grossing film worldwide over the weekend, beating Freakier Friday and even Marvel's big-budget The Fantastic Four: First Steps, both of which earned $30–35 million internationally.
The feat is even more remarkable considering Weapons was made on a modest $38 million budget, meaning it has already reached break-even in its very first weekend.
Minimum marketing worked for Weapons
Industry experts say smart marketing was key. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, noted that viral campaigns and social media buzz propelled both Weapons and Freakier Friday. 'The top two films could not be more different, and that's what makes this weekend so appealing for moviegoers," he said. 'Both are perfectly tailored for their audiences to react in real time and then post on social media."
What is the story of Weapons?
Set in the eerie small town of Maybrook, Weapons follows a chilling mystery: at 2:17 a.m., 17 children simultaneously leave their homes without explanation, leaving parents shocked and desperate. The town then spirals into a web of paranoia, trauma, and even moments of dark existential humour.
With a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and opening numbers trailing only Final Destination: Bloodlines and Sinners, Weapons cements 2025 as a horror flick and proves the genre's ability to dominate both screens and conversations worldwide.
First Published:
August 11, 2025, 09:53 IST
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