"Firearms propel WB's box office dominance, claiming the number one spot in North America with earnings of $43.5 million"
In the ever-evolving world of entertainment, the impact of streaming platforms on theatrical film performance is becoming increasingly significant. This week, the box office saw a fascinating mix of new releases and established franchises, with streaming revenue often surpassing initial box office returns.
Leading the pack was the action-packed movie "Weapons," which debuted one place ahead of Disney's "Freakier Friday." Despite Disney's rise arguably impacting the theatrical performance of some films, as audiences know they will get to see the films on the platform several months down the line, "Weapons" managed to impress with an estimated $43.5 million in North America, surpassing initial estimates. The film, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, is a horror-mystery about the unexplained disappearance of schoolchildren.
"Weapons" received an A CinemaScore and earned $6.2 million from Imax screens, accounting for 15% of its overall box office. The weekend generated an estimated $131 million in North America, marking a strong start for the film.
Meanwhile, Disney's "Freakier Friday" opened with an estimated $29 million, with females comprising 67% of ticket-holders. Disney executives anticipate solid holds for "Freakier Friday" until the end of August, as there are no major female-skewing films scheduled.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) also made a significant impact with "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." The movie delivered a stripped-down plot and earned strong reviews. Although the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps is expected to grow into the MCU and will return in Avengers: Doomsday next summer, Disney/Marvel Studios reduced the number of locations for the film to 3,600 in its third weekend. Despite this, the movie has managed to cross $434 million worldwide, with expectations of reaching $475 million.
In the realm of independent films, Angel Studios' Sketch broke into the top 10 in its debut weekend, earning $5 million from 2,157 sites. Neon's Sundance horror acquisition Together starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco added $2.6 million, with a cumulative gross of $17.2 million.
The current impact of streaming platforms on theatrical film performance is significant. While theatrical box office remains important, many films, including those initially considered underperforming, find renewed financial success and audience engagement through streaming platforms. Services like HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, and Paramount+ have lengthened their theatrical-to-streaming windows to about 95 days, indicating a more deliberate separation but recognition of streaming as a key revenue channel after theatrical runs.
In 2025 market dynamics, big franchises and sequels dominate theatrical charts, but streaming's role complements this by capturing additional financial gain and audience segments, sometimes salvaging mid-tier film profitability. While "Weapons" was not specifically cited among top box office reports or streaming breakout hits, it is very likely influenced by these industry-wide trends where strong streaming performance can offset or boost a film’s overall success beyond what its theatrical release achieves.
In summary, streaming platforms are a dominant, ongoing revenue source often exceeding theatrical revenue. Films now have a longer theatrical window before streaming release—about 95 days. Success measures combine both theatrical and streaming earnings to reflect a film's true financial footprint. Action movies and franchises lead box office, but streaming extends audience reach and revenue potential across various genres, potentially including films like "Weapons."
Movies-and-TV, as a part of the wider entertainment industry, are increasingly benefiting from streaming platforms, with their revenue often surpassing initial box office returns, as demonstrated by the success of "Weapons." Streaming services, such as HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock, and Paramount+, have extended the theatrical-to-streaming window to about 95 days, recognizing streaming as a crucial revenue channel beyond the theatrical run.
