Weapons Tops Box Office as Jaws Re-Release Wins Weekend

A slow Labor Day weekend sees a mid-budget horror film reclaim the top spot while a 50-year-old classic demonstrates lasting appeal against two fresh releases.

Weapons Tops Box Office as Jaws Re-Release Wins Weekend

Weapons returns to No. 1 on the Labor Day box office with 10.2 million in the traditional weekend and about 12.4 million including Monday, adding to a domestic total of 134.6 million and a global haul of 250 million on a 38 million budget. The 50th anniversary re-release of Jaws earned 8.1 million for the weekend and 9.8 million over the four days, proving the shark still draws crowds from year to year. New titles Caught Stealing and The Roses opened in the three and five spots, with 7.8 million and 6.4 million, respectively, underscoring a softer market for first-time releases. The four-day holiday frame overall brought in roughly 86 million, and the summer season finished with domestic revenue of 3.67 billion, down from 2024 and well behind 2023.

The results highlight a market that leans on legacy titles when overall attendance is softer. Jaws shows that nostalgia can outpace newer crime thrillers when competition is steep, while Weapons proves a mid-budget genre film can still perform during a sluggish stretch. The landscape suggests studios will prioritize proven appeal over high-risk debuts as the fall slate nears. Looking ahead, the industry must balance marketing spend with audience demand, as streaming competition and higher ticket prices pressure ticket-sale momentum.

Highlights

The fall slate will reveal if this pattern of legacy draws can power a stronger season.