The first weekend of September will be a quiet one at the box office as all the big fall film festivals gear up to premiere a whole slew of awards contenders featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest heavyweights. Venice is happening now, then Telluride this weekend, then Toronto next week. Later in the month we have Fantastic Fest, followed by the New York Film Festival in early October. Nevertheless, these are busy times. But there are still new movies arriving in theaters, with this weekend bringing us a few scares and an all-star thriller. Let’s take a closer look …
What’s the Scoop: From the director of Snakes on a Plane comes this PG-13 horror flick that looks to mash the killer shark movie with the cabin in the woods movie for a flick about a bunch of kids who get a lot more than they bargained for when they take a trip to a
lake house full of horrors.
Why It Might Win the Weekend: The PG-13 and 3D elements may help the film considerably since it widens the audience and raises the ticket prices. Plus, everyone loves a good shark hunt, right?
What’s the Scoop: This Blair Witch-style movie claims its footage is from a failed (and secretive) Apollo 18 mission to the moon that was never talked about because of all the crazy things that went on during it. Is this the real reason why America never returned to the moon?
Why It Might Win the Weekend: Found footage horror films have found a lot of success ever since Paranormal Activity resurrected the genre and made some big-time money at the box office. Perhaps Apollo 18 will tap into a little of what helped that film launch a successful franchise.
Why It Might Win the Weekend: Since the film dances between time periods, it gives filmmakers a chance to use six different actors, and the studio a chance to market six different names, like Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Tom Wilkinson and more. The more the merrier?
Here's a nice little espionage thriller about a trio of retired Mossad agents who are called back into the "business" when new revelations regarding an old case surface.
My Prediction: Man, the last two weekends I’ve voted against The Help and that film won both times. I know, I know, I should probably go with The Help, but there’s just no way I see it winning another weekend. I’m throwing darts at the wall for this one, folks, and going with Shark Night 3D for the win.
My Pick of the Week: It’s Labor Day Weekend and the summer is over. Go have some fun! Go get wild and crazy! Go see A Good Old Fashioned Orgy!
Now it’s your turn to sound off – which film do you think will win the weekend box office?
Erik is a leading movie commentator who has worked for outlets such as AOL Moviefone and Movies.com.
Special Offer
Get the Street Fighter Collector's Pack for one movie ticket to Street Fighter, plus an Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and a Lenticular Collectible.
*Street Fighter Collector's Pack is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and a Lenticular Collectible will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Arcade Machine Tin Popcorn Bucket and Lenticular Collectible shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/street-fighter-collectors-pack
Get The Knockout Bundle and receive one I Play Rocky movie ticket or one Rocky 50th Anniversary movie ticket, and one Rocky Popcorn Bucket!
*The Knockout Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Staircase Popcorn Bucket will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Staircase Popcorn Bucket shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/the-knockout-bundle
Get the Godzilla Minus Zero Collector's Print Bundle and receive one ticket to Godzilla Minus Zero and a Collectible Print!
*Godzilla Minus Zero Collector's Print Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The collectible print will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the collectible print shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://store.fandango.com/products/godzilla-minus-zero-collectors-print-bundle
Get 1 free ticket instantly when you join FanClub with your Godzilla Minus Zero ticket order.
The ‘Godzilla Minus Zero – 1 free ticket FanClub Promotion' offer (the “Offer”) begins 5/6/26 and will run for a limited time. Offer valid for new FanClub members only. To be eligible, you must subscribe to a 1-month paid FanClub membership ($9.99 per month + tax) when purchasing tickets Godzilla Minus Zero on the Fandango website or mobile app, and Offer will be automatically applied at checkout. To redeem the Offer, you must complete checkout while an eligible FanClub membership is in your cart and Offer is applied. Offer valid in the U.S. only (excluding U.S. territories and where prohibited by law); void where prohibited. Adjustments to prior purchases not permitted. Taxes may apply. Offer may only be redeemed once per person. Fandango reserves the right to withdraw or modify this Offer at any time, in its sole discretion, and without notice. Additional terms and conditions apply, including Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies.
Get the Whalebucket Bundle and receive one movie ticket to Whalefall, a Whale Popcorn Bucket, plus the first chapter of the bestselling book Whalefall!
*The Whalebucket Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie ticket is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. Popcorn not included. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Whalebucket will begin shipping in October. Please use a physical U.S. address where the Whalefall Popcorn Bucket shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions https://redeem.fandango.com/products/the-whalebucket-bundle
Buy a ticket to Clayface and get a 30-Day Free Trial to DC Universe Infinite Ultra!
Limited time offer. Log in to your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 9:00am PT on 10/7/26 and 11:59pm PT on 11/1/26 and purchase at least one (1) ticket to see ‘Clayface’ at a participating Fandango theater. Purchaser will receive a post purchase email containing one (1) DC Universe Infinite Promotional Code (“Code”) that is good for one (1) 30-day free trial to DC Universe Infinite Ultra (“DCUI”) with sign-up for a paid DCUI Ultra Monthly subscription. Code expires, and must be redeemed by, 11:59pm PT on 5/1/27. Code is one-time-use only. Free trial offer may be redeemed only once per person and cannot be combined with any other promotional or free trial offer for DCUI. After the free trial period ends, your paid membership will begin at the then-current rate (currently $12.99/month), plus applicable taxes, unless you cancel before the end of the free trial period, and your subscription will automatically renew at the then-current rate plus applicable taxes on a recurring basis, unless you cancel before the applicable renewal. Subscription fees are non-refundable. To cancel or prevent the automatic renewal of your subscription, log in to your DCUI account, go to Settings and click “Cancel” under the Subscription tab. DCUI is not intended for children. Code has no cash value and is non-transferable. You must have, and be logged into, your Fandango account to receive a Code. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to Fandango's terms and policies, at http://www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies. Redemption of the Code and DCUI subscription are subject to DC Universe Infinite’s Terms of Service, at https://www.dcuniverseinfinite.com/terms.