'Weapons' is the latest horror film directed by Zach Cregger, the director behind the hit Barbarian (2022). With its Thursday night premiere, the film grossed US$5.7 million. This figure is noteworthy, surpassing the previews of this year's most popular horror films and demonstrating audience enthusiasm ahead of its official release on Friday.
A Glimpse of 'Weapons'
Weapons , produced by Warner Bros., stars A-list actors Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Alden Ehrenreich. The story centers on the mysterious disappearance of 17 schoolchildren at 2:17 a.m. in a small town. Cregger's dark narrative approach and tense atmosphere have been hallmarks since Barbarian .
Linda (Julia Garner) is a teacher who loses one of her students in a school disappearance. She tries to uncover the mystery behind the incident, while tensions mount when a similar incident almost happens again. The storyline of Weapons shifts between the perspectives of the townspeople and the school, creating a puzzle that piques the viewer's curiosity.
Premiere Screening Results
In Thursday previews, Weapons earned $5.7 million. This placed it at the top of the list of highest-grossing films on its limited opening day. This figure surpassed the preview earnings of the year's top-grossing horror films, such as Sinners ($4.7 million) and Final Destination: Bloodlines ($5.5 million).
Weapons' preview earnings were only slightly behind 28 Years Later's ($5.8 million). However, 28 Years Later experienced a dramatic drop the following week, while Weapons received positive reviews and viral support. Compared to its closest competitor, Freakier Friday , which earned $3.1 million in previews, Weapons nearly doubled its lead.
Weekend Projections
Based on preview data, box office analysts predict Weapons will gross between $25 and $30 million in its opening weekend. This figure favors the film to top the US box office, beating rivals like Freakier Friday and knocking out other superhero films currently playing.
Weapons' main competitors this weekend are Freakier Friday , the Disney horror comedy sequel starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, and Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps , which underperformed. While Freakier Friday is projected to earn $27–30 million, Fantastic Four is expected to drop to third place with $18–20 million.
Supporting Factors for Success
Prior to its premiere, Weapons held a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, reaching 100% before dropping slightly to 96%. Reviews praised Cregger's sustained suspense and ability to build an atmosphere of psychological horror. This critical acclaim fueled audiences' interest in experiencing the thrilling action firsthand.
Impact on Career
The success of Weapons adds to Zach Cregger's impressive list of accomplishments as a modern horror director. Following Barbarian's shock in 2022, Weapons further cemented Cregger's ability to create suspense. Its financial success and positive critical reception also opened the door for Cregger's next major horror project.
Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Alden Ehrenreich received renewed attention thanks to Weapons . Garner, best known for the Ozark series, powerfully portrayed Linda, while Brolin and Ehrenreich added depth to the characters of the townspeople involved. The film's box office success is expected to lead to increased film and television roles for the trio.
Conclusion
Weapons scored a resounding $5.7 million in Thursday night previews alone. This puts it above the average for popular horror films this year and gives it a strong chance to lead the box office on its opening weekend. Positive reviews, a savvy marketing campaign, and director Zach Cregger's reputation were key factors in the film's early success. Now, all eyes are on Weapons to see if it can maintain its momentum and become one of the biggest horror films of 2025.
