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The dog days of summer have settled in at the box office, and this weekend\u2019s returns are expected to reflect the seasonal slowdown. Warner Bros.\u2019 horror-thriller Weapons<\/em>, which surprised with a strong $43.5 million debut last weekend, is on track to hold its lead, with a second weekend gross projected at $25 million. Supported by stellar reviews<\/a>, an A-minus CinemaScore, and an expansion to 3,450 theaters, Weapons<\/em> is expected to pass the $90 million domestic milestone by Sunday, having already surpassed $100 million worldwide.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Universal\u2019s action sequel Nobody 2<\/em>, a follow-up to the 2021 sleeper hit starring Bob Odenkirk<\/strong>, is expected to make a modest splash with an opening between $9 million and $12 million. By comparison, the original Nobody<\/em> debuted with $6.8 million during the pandemic’s early recovery phase and went on to gross $27.5 million domestically. This time, Odenkirk\u2019s Hutch Mansell\u00a0is drawn back into his violent past after stopping a home invasion \u2014 igniting a series of events that uncover hidden secrets about both his wife Becca’s (Connie Nielsen<\/strong>) history and his own. While reviews for the sequel<\/a> have been solid, interest in the vigilante action flick is relatively muted.<\/p>\n More from Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Disney\u2019s Freakier Friday<\/em>, which opened last weekend at No. 2 with a strong $28.6 million, should hold that position with $10 million to $13 million in its second outing. The Lindsay Lohan<\/strong>\u2013Jamie Lee Curtis<\/strong> body-swap comedy has resonated with family audiences (earning an A CinemaScore), but its early success appears to be front-loaded after an impressive opening day. Still, light competition in the PG market should help the film remain a top-three contender this weekend.<\/p>\n The only other notable release is Spike Lee<\/strong>\u2019s Highest 2 Lowest<\/em>, launching in limited theaters across roughly 300 locations. This A24 crime drama, a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa<\/strong>\u2019s High and Low<\/em>, marks Lee\u2019s first collaboration with Denzel Washington<\/strong> since 2006\u2019s Inside Man<\/em>. The film also features an eclectic supporting cast that includes A$AP Rocky<\/strong>, Jeffrey Wright<\/strong>, and Ice Spice<\/strong>. Strong reviews<\/a> could pave the way for a broader rollout in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n Overall, the weekend is shaping up to be a quiet one at the box office, with revenues projected to fall below $100 million for only the second time since May, landing somewhere in the mid-to-high $70 million range. Holdovers The Fantastic Four: First Steps<\/em> and The Bad Guys 2<\/em> are expected to round out the box-office top five with $9 million and $6.5 million, respectively.<\/p>\n Nobody 2<\/em><\/strong> Highest 2 Lowest<\/em><\/strong> Here are Gold Derby’s predicted box-office rankings<\/a> for the top five over the Aug. 15-17 weekend:<\/p>\n 1. Weapons<\/em> Do you agree or disagree with those rankings?\u00a0Make your predictions right now<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 it’s fun and easy!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Best of Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Gold Derby’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\nNEW RELEASES<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Director:<\/strong> Timo Tjahjanto<\/strong>
Distributor:<\/strong> Universal Pictures
Suburban dad Hutch Mansell, a former lethal assassin, is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion, setting off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife Becca’s past and his own. The action comedy has a running time of one hour, 29 minutes, and is rated R. Nobody 2<\/em>\u00a0is certified “fresh”<\/a> with an 82 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “mixed” reviews compiled by Metacritic<\/a> resulted in an overall score of 59 percent.<\/p>\n
Director:<\/strong> Spike Lee<\/strong>
Distributor:<\/strong> A24
When a titan music mogul is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. The dramatic thriller has a running time of two hours, 13 minutes, and is rated R. Highest 2 Lowest<\/em>\u00a0is certified “fresh”<\/a> with an 91 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “generally favorable” reviews compiled by Metacritic<\/a> resulted in an overall score of 73 percent.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0Freakier Friday
<\/em>3. Nobody 2
<\/em>4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps<\/em>
5. The Bad Guys 2<\/em><\/p>\n