Warner Bros.’ original horror release “Weapons” is on course to dominate the North American box office with an estimated $40 million-plus debut after scoring $18.2 million on Friday, including Thursday previews, across 3,202 locations. The Zach Cregger-directed film cost about $38 million to produce, earned an A- CinemaScore and attracted an audience that was 65 percent male and 72 percent aged 35 and over. Worldwide ticket sales through Friday stand at $29.7 million. Disney’s body-swap comedy sequel “Freakier Friday” is expected to land in second place with roughly $30 million for the three-day frame, following a $12.7 million Friday from 3,975 theaters. Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Bad Guys 2” is projected to add about $10 million, lifting its domestic haul to $36.1 million. Paramount’s reboot of “The Naked Gun” is set to collect about $8.4 million in its sophomore session, a 50 percent drop that will push its North American total to $33 million. Angel Studios’ family feature “Sketch” is opening softly at around $2.5 million. The robust launch for “Weapons” extends Warner Bros.’ winning streak in 2025 and underscores the continuing appeal of mid-budget, R-rated horror titles. With production costs kept in check and solid audience word-of-mouth, the studio appears well positioned to convert the film into a profitable franchise against a crowded late-summer release slate.