Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody 2, the long-awaited sequel, has opened in third place at the domestic box office as Zach Cregger’s horror-comedy Weapons continues its commanding lead in its second weekend. Weapons achieved an impressive $25 million from 3,450 theaters, marking a modest 43% drop, solidifying its status as a formidable opener in its genre.
Despite a high audience ranking on Rotten Tomatoes at 89% and a B+ CinemaScore, Nobody 2 is projected to gross around $9.3 million from 3,260 locations, falling short of expectations. Its global total currently stands at $14.2 million.
The original Nobody film emerged in the pandemic era, debuting to $6.8 million and later achieving a commendable $68 million domestic run. The modest budget of Nobody 2, reported at $25 million before marketing, suggests that Universal is not overly concerned, especially as the film transitions to premium VOD within three weeks.
In comparison, Weapons continues to perform strongly, contributing to an early global total of $148.8 million, with an overseas drop of only 33% to $18.4 million, following its initial investment of $38 million for rights acquisition.
Disney’s family comedy Freakier Friday, reuniting Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, also saw success, securing $14.5 million for a total of $54.9 million domestically after a 41% drop this weekend. Its worldwide total hits $86.3 million against a production budget of $42 million to $45 million.
Nobody 2 isn’t the only new title making waves, but it stands out as the top contender. Spike Lee’s film Highest 2 Lowest, featuring Denzel Washington, is debuting selectively ahead of its early September release on Apple TV+, yet initial reports indicate a lackluster performance at the box office despite its prestigious pedigree.
In stark contrast, Lionsgate Premiere’s Americana, featuring Sydney Sweeney alongside Paul Walter Hauser and Halsey, is struggling significantly. Opening in 1,123 locations, it earned a disappointing estimated $500,000, landing at sixteenth place. This film has garnered critical acclaim but took over two years to reach theaters following its premiere at SXSW 2023.
Notably, Americana fell short even against a rerelease of The Grateful Dead Movie, which performed better with an estimated $550,000 over the weekend, aided by special Imax screenings. Despite these figures, industry insiders do not view Americana as a failure; rather, its release strategy is considered aligned with Lionsgate Premiere’s focus on targeted audience engagement and home entertainment.
Directed by Tony Tost, Americana has been overshadowed by recent media controversies surrounding Sweeney, following a viral misinterpretation of a marketing clip. The film’s relatively low marketing budget, paired with its release in a contentious climate, raises questions whether the ongoing buzz could have inadvertently heightened its visibility.
As for upcoming content, Sweeney’s filmography is set to expand with Ron Howard’s period thriller Eden and entries at the Toronto Film Festival, keeping her prominently in the spotlight.
Back in the box office top 10, Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: The First Steps has stabilized in its fourth weekend, finishing with $8.8 million and a total of $247 million domestically since its release. Meanwhile, DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2 solidified its spot with $7.5 million, crossing the $100 million threshold globally.
The summer’s big-budget titles also remain competitive, with Jurassic World Rebirth leading the pack with $828.5 million worldwide, followed closely by Superman at $594.5 million and F1: The Movie nearing the $600 million mark.
Among international releases, Indian films such as Coolie and War 2 are showing strong performances domestically, with Coolie earning $2.4 million and War 2 achieving $1.7 million this weekend.
Updated: Aug 17, 8:15 a.m.: Revised estimates.
Aug 18, 12:30 p.m.: Additional updates on domestic and international figures.
This story was originally published on August 16 at 10:27 a.m.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.
