After a $117.6 million domestic start and promising word of mouth from its opening weekend, it looked like "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" could at least be a step in the right direction for Marvel Studios after two years of inconsistent box office returns.

It could be a close race for first place at the box office as "Freakier Friday" and "Weapons" target similar debuts.

Disney's highly anticipated Freakier Friday and Warner Bros.' and New Line's critical darling Weapons are headed for a lively late-summer showdown at the box office in what could be a boost for two genres that have struggled on the big screen - comedies and horror.