Spider-Man leads box office while Onslaught struggles

Harper Cole 09/05/2026

The cinematic race for the top spot is heating up, with a superhero blockbuster battling an epic classic for the crown in the domestic box office. As the weekend drew to a close, Spider-Man: Brand New Day was firmly in the lead, narrowly trailing Star Wars: The Force Awakens by a razor-thin margin.

The superhero sequel is demonstrating incredible staying power, tracking toward a robust 17.25 million weekend gross. With projections for the Labor Day holiday adding another 22 million, the film is poised to hit a staggering total of about 922 million. This puts it tantalizingly close to Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ total of 936 million, setting up a thrilling race for the highest-grossing film of all time.

Running the marathon is the venerable epic, The Odyssey, which secured the runner-up position with a solid 16.4 million weekend haul and a domestic total of 588 million. Despite the slight gap, The Odyssey is on a clear trajectory to surpass the 600 million mark by next week, proving that timeless storytelling still commands massive audiences.

While the heavyweights battled, a few other titles managed to hold firm, proving that not every blockbuster needs a massive opening. The surprising Coyote vs. Acme managed to hold its nerve, dipping only about 23% to 11.5 million for the weekend, accumulating a total of 37 million.

Meanwhile, the indie horror scene continued its ascent. The low-budget hit Buddy is proving to be a cult favorite, expected to add nearly 9% this weekend, bringing in a 5.9 million weekend gross and signaling a major win for roadshow distributors like Roadside Attractions.

On the other side of the coin, some newer releases are finding it harder to capture the masses. The Mark Wahlberg-led By Any Means opened with a modest 7 million, but it faces stiff competition. Similarly, A24’s Onslaught struggled with audience reception, logging a 2.3 million for the four-day weekend and earning a notably poor CinemaScore rating, suggesting a disconnect with the viewing public.

Lionsgate’s Fall 2: Deadpoint also saw a slower start, pulling in about 2.7 million.

In a final reminder of cinematic nostalgia, the re-release of the classic anime Akira is holding strong, on track to gross a healthy 3.5 million over the four-day period. The box office landscape remains fluid, but the competition between established franchises and emerging hits promises a spectacular outcome in the weeks ahead.