Labor Day Box Office Generates Little Heat as New Movies Fail to Ignite Spark

Two new films opening nationwide this weekend failed to draw a large enough audience to top the box office.

Instead, the Warner Bros. horror film Weapons was No. 1 in its fourth weekend of release, after earning an estimated $10.2 million between Friday and Sunday and a projected $12.4 million for 4-days, Comscore reported.

Actor and comedian Zach Cregger wrote, directed and produced the film starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Toby Huss, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan. Since it opened on Aug. 8, the movie has earned $132.3 million.

Universal’s 50th anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) took second place with $8.1 million for 3-days and an expected $9.8 million for the 4-day holiday weekend.

Opening in third place was original crime caper Caught Stealing starring Austin Butler. The film from director Darren Aronofsky rang up an estimated $7.8 million Friday to Sunday, and $9.5 million for the 4-day weekend, Comscore reported.

The Sony Pictures release played in 3,578 locations across the U.S. and Canada for an underwhelming average of $2,187 per location.

Also Read: Shaboozey Details ‘Crazy Experience’ Writing Song for ‘The Long Walk’ Soundtrack

Outside North America, Caught Stealing debuted with $5.4 million from 48 markets, bringing its global total to $13.2 million, per Comscore.

The film follows a bartender who finds himself in a dangerous struggle to survive in the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City. The cast also includes Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Matt Smith, and Bad Bunny.

The thriller received high marks from critics, with an 84 percent score out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes. Moviegoers were less generous and gave it a “B” CinemaScore in exit polling.

Freakier Friday was fourth with $6.5 million Friday to Sunday in its fourth weekend in theaters. The date, the Disney sequel starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan has earned an estimated $80.5 million domestically.

This weekend’s other newcomer, The Roses debuted with a projected $6.35 million Friday-Sunday and an estimated $8.0 million for the 4-day holiday weekend.

The adult comedy is a reimagining of The War of the Roses, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The Searchlight release opened in 2,700 locations for a per theater average of $2,352.

While it did not make the Top 10, a re-release of Prince – Sign O’ The Times on IMAX screens earned $1.7 million for 3-days and a projected $1.9 million for the 4-day holiday weekend.

The summer movie season officially ends this weekend. Comscore reported movies generated $3.6 billion domestically this summer. That’s less than the expected $4 billion and down 2 percent from summer 2024, when Marvel’s billion dollar blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine closed out the summer.