This weekend at the box office, action ruled the charts as new releases pushed their way to the front; meanwhile, a couple holdovers put up respectable numbers and refused to fade quietly.
Predator: Badlands Strikes Hard With a Dominant Debut
20th Century Studios’ Predator: Badlands stormed into first place with a strong $40 million opening weekend. That number tells you the franchise still has real bite; audiences clearly wanted a brutal and unapologetically violent sci fi experience. The film gave exactly that, and word of mouth is loud. The studio should be thrilled because this is one of the healthier openings the series has had in a long time and it proves the brand can still pull in crowds at the box office when given a shot of adrenaline.
Regretting You Continues Its Momentum in Week Three
Paramount’s Regretting You earned $7.1 million in its third weekend, which is a surprisingly sturdy hold for a drama in its later stages. The film has stayed afloat at the box office because viewers are connecting with the emotion behind it rather than the flashy spectacle. You can tell audiences are settling into it with consistency and its legs are better than the early numbers suggested. Studios often chase big tentpole returns, but a performer like this shows the value of strong engagement from its core demographic.
Black Phone 2 Still Rings Up Solid Numbers
Universal’s Black Phone 2 pulled in another $5.3 million this weekend in its fourth week. The thriller is losing some steam but that is expected; the fact that it is still placing near the top speaks to its staying power. Horror fans continue to show up and Blumhouse remains a reliable brand for consistent genre earnings. It has crossed into that zone where the studio can be confident the movie has paid off and then some.
Sarah’s Oil Finds an Audience in Its First Outing
A twenty first century political thriller is not always easy to sell yet Sarah’s Oil landed $4.5 million in its debut and that is not nothing. The film arrived with a quieter marketing push but curiosity and solid early reactions helped it carve out a respectable box office impression. It draws a mature crowd which tends to show up steadily rather than explosively. If it continues at this pace the studio might be looking at a slow burn success.
Nuremberg Opens With Modest but Noteworthy Results
Nuremberg arrived with $4.1 million, which positions it in the mid-tier of the weekend but is still notable for a serious historical drama. The film appeals to viewers who value substance over spectacle, so box office expectations were never sky high. Even so it is clear that the story has enough weight to draw in a thoughtful crowd. If awards chatter stirs in the coming weeks it could see a rebound.
Next Weekend Predictions
The big spotlight next weekend falls on The Running Man, which is tracking between $40 million and $50 million. I expect a $43 million opening. This is the kind of launch that will show whether Glen Powell can truly anchor a high-budget action film. If he hits those numbers, he cements himself as a bankable lead, not just a supporting star riding momentum.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t has far less reliable tracking but industry chatter points toward a mid-tier start. Realistically, it should land between $15 million and $20 million, and $18 million feels like the most grounded projection. The brand still has name recognition, although the energy around it has cooled over the years.
As always, we’ll check in next week.
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