Zach Cregger’s new horror movie Weapons is coming to theaters on August 8, 2025. The film features Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Alden Ehrenreich in a chilling story about missing children and a town’s dark secrets.
Release Date and Theatrical Run
Weapons will hit U.S. theaters on August 8, 2025, with international releases starting two days earlier on August 6. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling distribution, and the film will be available in IMAX for a bigger scare. Originally planned for January 2026, the release was moved up after strong test screenings.
The movie will stay in theaters first, with no confirmed digital or streaming release yet. Following Warner Bros.’ usual pattern, a digital release could come later.
Plot and Mystery
The story begins when 17 children from the same elementary school class vanish at exactly 2:17 a.m. Security footage shows them walking away with their arms outstretched, leaving no clues. Their teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), becomes a suspect, but the mystery goes deeper.
Zach Cregger told Entertainment Weekly:
“That mystery is going to propel you through at least half of the movie, but that is not the movie. By the midpoint, we’ve moved on to way crazier stuff than that.”
The film shifts between timelines and characters, with unexpected twists. Cregger wrote the script without an outline, letting the story unfold as he went.
Cast and Characters
The movie has a strong lineup:
- Josh Brolin as Archer Graff, a desperate father searching for his missing son.
- Julia Garner as Justine Gandy, the teacher at the center of the mystery.
- Alden Ehrenreich as Officer Paul Morgan, a cop with a complicated past with Justine.
- Benedict Wong as Principal Marcus.
- Amy Madigan as Gladys Lilly, aunt of the only child who didn’t disappear.
- Austin Abrams as James, a troubled thief.
Other actors include June Diane Raphael, Toby Huss, and Cary Christopher as Alex Lilly, the lone surviving student.
Behind the Scenes
Cregger, known for Barbarian (2022), wrote and directed Weapons. The film was in high demand, with studios like Netflix and Universal competing for it. New Line Cinema won the rights with a $38 million deal, giving Cregger full creative control.
The movie is influenced by Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, with multiple storylines connecting in unexpected ways. Cregger called it “a bigger, weirder movie” than Barbarian.
Marketing and First Look
Warner Bros. has kept the plot under wraps, releasing only cryptic trailers. The first teaser showed eerie footage of children leaving their homes at night. A second trailer dropped on July 29, 2025, with a spoiler warning, hinting at a shocking mid-movie twist.
A fake news website, MaybrookMissing.com, adds to the mystery with fictional reports. Some fans think Weapons might share a universe with Barbarian, but Cregger hasn’t confirmed this.
Early Reactions
Early reviews are positive, with CinemaBlend calling it “one of the best horror films of 2025.” Critics praise its unpredictable structure and terrifying scenes.
“The finale is unequivocally one of the most magnificent things I’ve seen on the big screen in recent years,” wrote CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg.
With its gripping mystery and strong cast, Weapons is set to be a major horror event this summer.
Also read: Netflix’s Hit Crime Drama ‘Untamed’ Officially Renewed for Season 2 After Record-Breaking Debut
