A Legendary Bite: 'Jaws' Rises Again

Fifty years later, Steven Spielberg's iconic thriller, 'Jaws', is making quite the splash at the Labor Day box office. This classic, celebrating its 50th anniversary, swam its way to second place over the weekend, demonstrating that old favorites still have a bite.

'Weapons' Holds the Top Spot

Leading the pack for the fourth consecutive weekend is Zach Cregger's surprise hit, 'Weapons', which raked in an estimated $12.8 million over the four-day weekend and $10.5 million for the traditional three-day period. This horror sensation, a triumph for Warner Bros. and New Line, is projected to finish with a staggering global total of $235.2 million by Monday.

A Quiet Weekend for Hollywood

While this Labor Day wasn’t the worst on record, it was certainly quieter than expected. 'Jaws' pulled in a respectable $9.9 million over four days, beating out new releases like Darren Aronofsky’s 'Caught Stealing' and Searchlight's 'The Roses'.

Box Office Blues for New Releases

Despite garnering solid reviews, 'Caught Stealing', featuring Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz, debuted in third with an estimated $9.6 million over four days from 3,578 theaters. Overseas, it added $5.4 million from 49 markets, for a total global debut of $15 million. Meanwhile, Disney's 'Freakier Friday' held firm in fourth with $6.6 million over the three days.

The Roses Join the Fray

Rounding out the top five is 'The Roses', a modern twist on the classic divorce comedy, which garnered $8 million over four days. Led by stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman, it also performed decently overseas with a $9.2 million opening from its first 41 markets.

Marvel's 'Fantastic Four' Breaks Records

Among other contenders, 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' secured sixth place, crossing the $500 million milestone globally, making it the top Marvel film of the year to date. In a market grappling with superhero fatigue, it outperformed earlier releases like 'Captain America: Brave New World' and 'Thunderbolts'.

A Summer to Forget?

As the summer season comes to a close, Hollywood is left reflecting on a tough box office, struggling to match last year’s disappointing figures. With total domestic revenue barely surpassing last year’s $3.677 billion, it’s clear that studios are facing significant challenges. Yet, amid the gloom, nostalgic favorites like 'Jaws' remind us why the magic of cinema remains timeless.