Theater counts: Freakier Friday maintains its hold as the widest release

August 21, 2025

Entering its second weekend, Weapons once again claimed the top spot at the domestic box office, bringing in over $24 million. The thriller outpaced its closest competitor by a comfortable $10 million margin and made quick work of Nobody 2, which debuted in third place with a modest $9.25 million. Although several new titles hit theaters this weekend, none appear poised to disrupt the current box office hierarchy.

Leading the weekend’s new arrivals is Relay, a thriller starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James, opening in 1,483 theaters. The film follows a world-class “fixer” who specializes in facilitating high-stakes payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals threatening to expose them. When a mysterious message arrives from a new client seeking protection, his carefully controlled world begins to unravel.

Also opening in wide release this weekend is the latest from Focus Features with the release of the neo-noir black comedy, Honey Don’t. The movie follows Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator, who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Directed by Ethan Coen, the film stars Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Evans. Honey Don’t will start out in 1,317 locations.

Returning to North American theaters is Ne Zha 2, the Chinese animated blockbuster that has earned an astounding $2 billion globally since its release in January. With a production budget of $80 million, the film now aims to gain traction in North America, re-releasing in 2,228 locations.

Among the weekend’s wide releases, Freakier Friday continues to hold the distinction of playing in the most theaters, despite dropping 300 locations in its third weekend. The comedy remains widely available in 3,675 theaters. Close behind is Weapons, which added 181 venues and now plays in 3,631 theaters. Occupying the next tier are Nobody 2 and The Bad Guys 2, nearly tied with 3,282 and 3,277 theaters, respectively. Rounding out the top five is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, now in its fourth weekend and still showing in 3,190 locations.

Looking ahead to next weekend, three new entries will hit theaters. Most notably, Jaws returns to the big screen for its 50th anniversary, expected to play in approximately 2,800 theaters. Also debuting is Caught Stealing, a gritty crime thriller set in 1990s New York, launching in an estimated 3,000 locations, while Searchlight Pictures’ The Roses will open in around 2,500 theaters.

Filed under: Theater Counts, Jaws, Fantastic Four, Freaky Friday, The Bad Guys, Nobody, Ne Zha, Chris Evans, Steven Spielberg, Aubrey Plaza, Riz Ahmed, Lily James, Margaret Qualley