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It's been another great year for horror, with Ryan Coogler's Sinners standing as a shining example of what the genre is capable of. With its blend of psychological tension, social commentary, supernatural dread, and killer score, the film has become a full-blown cultural phenomenon that made $365 million at the box office and has sparked serious Oscar buzz, incredibly rare for a horror film.

Franchise entries like Final Destination: Bloodlines and 28 Years Later have also delivered, proving there's still room for innovation within established horror worlds. Meanwhile, A24's Bring Her Back, from Danny and Michael Philippou, and The Monkey, written and directed by Osgood Perkins based on Stephen King's short story, also stand as examples of strong auteur-driven horror.

Weapons, from Barbarian director Zach Cregger, releases in theaters on August 8 and promises to be one of the best horror movies of 2025, and another strong auteur-driven title for the genre.

Director Zach Cregger says the cast of his Warner Bros. thriller Weapons was “totally rebuilt” after Pedro Pascal withdrew when repeated strike-driven delays collided with the actor’s 2025 schedule, including Marvel’s Fantastic Four.

The stoppages pushed filming from an intended early-2024 start into this year, overlapping with Pascal’s return to The Last of Us and other projects, prompting what Cregger calls a “domino effect” that left the production without its original lead.

Pascal had been set to play Archer, a father searching for his missing child, but the role now belongs to Josh Brolin, marking Brolin’s first foray into full-blooded horror and giving the film a new anchor just months before cameras rolled.

Industry reports say the overhaul continued as Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich boarded in April, while Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan joined in May, replacing earlier names such as Renate Reinsve and Brian Tyree Henry...

So the poster for the new horror film Weapons shows a bunch of kids running down a suburban street with the ad line saying: “Last night at 2:17 am every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark … and they never came back.”

Immediately I start thinking, “Yeah, a Children of the Corn or Children of the Damned kind of riff.” But look closer at the credits and the writer-director is none other than Zach Cregger, whose debut feature film Barbarian was one of the most impressive first films, as well as horror genre entries, I had seen in years. There was just something so unique and compelling about its “house of horrors” concept that grabbed me instantly, and I have been talking about it ever since its 2022 debut, and anxiously awaiting whatever Cregger had in store for us next.

The cast of the movie Weapons could have looked very different, but the Hollywood strikes caused a big change!

Director Zach Cregger is opening up about the original actors he set for his movie Weapons, including Pedro Pascal.

“I had a whole different cast for this movie. And then we had the strike, and then Pedro Pascal’s schedule threw us into turmoil. I had to recast the entire movie,” Cregger told Entertainment Weekly.

“This is what happens, right?” he added. “The strikes delayed us, and then when you delay, people’s schedules get conflicts, and then you’re back at square one. I bear no ill will towards anybody. We just kept getting delayed and delayed. It’s like a domino effect. So I had to start over again.”

Josh Brolin took over Pedro‘s role.

So, who else was almost in the movie?

Keep reading to find out more…...

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, “Weapons” director Zach Cregger confirmed the original cast of his upcoming horror movie included Pedro Pascal, Brian Tyree Henry, Austin Abrams and “The Worst Person in the World” favorite Renate Reinsve. Then came the Hollywood strikes, which delayed production on “Weapons” so much that Cregger was forced to recast from the ground up.

“I had a whole different cast for this movie. And then we had the strike, and then Pedro Pascal’s schedule threw us into turmoil. I had to recast the entire movie,” Cregger said.

“This is what happens, right?” he added. “The strikes delayed us, and then when you delay, people’s schedules get conflicts, and then you’re back at square one. I bear no ill will towards anybody. We just kept getting delayed and delayed. It’s like a domino effect. So I had to start over again.

Barbarian (watch it Here) writer/director Zach Cregger has assembled a strong cast for his mysterious horror project called Weapons, including Julia Garner (Ozark), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), Amy Madigan (Antlers), Austin Abrams (Euphoria), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), and Cary Christopher (Days of Our Lives)… and we’re going to have the chance to see that cast face the horrors Cregger has conjured up when Weapons reaches theatres on August 8th. With that date now just a few days away, a pair of clips have made their way online. They’re both focused on Garner’s character, and you can watch them at the bottom of this article.

Most details about Weapons are shrouded in mystery. It has been said that it’s “an interrelated, multistory horror epic” that’s tonally in the vein of Magnolia, and the...

It’s astounding to think about how Zach Cregger went from funnyman to magma-hot horror filmmaker, but here we are. His second film, Weapons, is only days from release. There’s not much to be said about what to expect, because like Barbarian, Weapons is a twisted tale of intertwining stories that ends with a bang. What is that bang, and is it the best for your buck? I’m not answering the first question, but I can give an emphatic “yes” to number two.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cregger to briefly chat about Weapons as part of the film’s press junket. We also had the chance to speak with actors Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Alden Ehrenreich, who all participate in Cregger’s latest nightmare. We talked about terrifying children, the fears of parenthood, and a host of other topics without giving anything spoiler-y away.

A great-looking horror movie is hitting theaters this week. Weapons is written, produced, and directed by Zach Cregger, the director who brought us the crazy movie Barbarian (2022). The film stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.

The plot follows: One night, 17 children—all but one child from Justine Gandy’s classroom—simultaneously wake up and run off into the night. Justine and the rest of the community are left questioning who or what is behind the children’s disappearance.

After the financial and critical success of his film Barbarian (2022), Zach Cregger began work on a new spec script titled Weapons. It has been described as a “horror epic” with a more “personal story” for the filmmaker, partly inspired by Paul Thomas Anderson’s film Magnolia (1999). A bidding war ensued after the screenplay was complete, with New Line securing the rights within...

If Sam Raimi was an obvious influence on Zach Cregger’s head-turning 2022 horror breakthrough, Barbarian, Stephen King’s imprint seems to be all over the writer-director’s more ambitious follow-up, Weapons. Framed as a true story, it measures the shockwaves in a community when almost an entire class of elementary school children vanishes at the same time one night. It’s even more reminiscent of King once a creepy figure in what looks like messy clown makeup starts making appearances. But any kinship with the master storyteller dissolves when the movie makes an abrupt swerve midway into witchy hag horror but fails to bolster that turn with compelling mythology.

In many ways, this is an expertly crafted chiller. It’s shot by Larkin Seiple with atmospheric style to burn, full of snaking tracking sequences that exert a mesmerizing grip, and it makes commanding use of a gut-churning score by brothers...

August 2025 is set to be a massive month for the horror genre, with icons like Jason Voorhees and the Alien franchise’s Xenomorphs making their return to the screen. A master of 1980s horror is also back with a brand new horror movie later this month, while a fan favorite found footage horror franchise takes over the big screen for the first time in its fifth and final outing.

And of course, even Troma’s cult hero The Toxic Avenger is back this month! It’s a month that’s absolutely full of exciting returns, with many familiar faces coming back into our lives.

Here’s all the new horror you don’t want to miss in August 2025…

Weapons – August 8

First up, Barbarian director Zach Cregger is back on August 8 with the release of his second horror movie Weapons, which has been compared to Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia and described as a “horror epic.

For as long as we’ve known about Weapons, writer-director Zach Cregger’s hotly anticipated follow-up to his 2022 blackly comic splatter sensation Barbarian, we have heard endlessly that it’s the supernatural horror genre’s epic equivalent to Magnolia––not exactly the most marketable elevator pitch, but one designed to make the average cinephile sit up and take notice. Cregger himself has done little to dissuade such comparison, citing PTA’s operatic Los Angeles drama as his biggest inspiration, and thanks to a mysterious marketing campaign, it’s arriving on screens shrouded in secrecy, coupled with only the vague promise of a bold vision from an emerging auteur. If knives do fittingly come out for Weapons, then it’s because Cregger has only nailed the sprawling, ambitious, genre-hopping nature of that ensemble drama without ever getting to grips with the emotions driving his flawed characters while, wherever possible, shying away from exploring their moral murkiness.

Several months ago, grainy video clips of small children running through the streets of a nondescript town with their arms outstretched were released online with little context except for the ominous URL MaybrookMissing.com and little more. The black-and-white footage, only a few seconds long, appeared in theaters and on various social sites, piquing the curiosity of moviegoers and horror aficionados who appreciated the Blair Witch-style mystery of it all. As weeks went by, audiences were fed tidbits of information about the film called Weapons, but the mystery widened and fear grew as more and more clips were released. Hot off the success of his previous film Barbarian, director Zach Cregger has become known for subverting audience expectations, and his latest head-trip horror film looks to be no different. With several terrifying teasers, trailers, and clips already out in the wild, his latest feature Weapons is building strong word-of-mouth...

The latest One Piece chapter 1156 has finally given a proper explanation of Rocks D. Xebec’s ultimate goal and the elements he requires to accomplish this goal. One of them is the Galleila, which might also have a connection to Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons in One Piece, which has the power to destroy the entire world.

For those who don’t know, Galleila was an ancient warrior group of giant shipwrights from Elbaph who were rumored to be frozen somewhere within the One Piece world. The fact that Xebec was looking for them means that he wants them to build some kind of a ship for him that could have helped him destroy the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

However, the only ship that would be strong and powerful enough to execute this would be Pluton. Thus, it perfectly fits with the ongoing developments, and even if Eiichiro Oda has not officially confirmed it,...

Weapons is poised to be the scariest horror movie of 2025, with director Zack Cregger drawing from a real-life personal tragedy and several iconic movies to cook a strange, disturbing, but engaging mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of children in a small town.

With a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie is bound to surprise audiences. Reviews suggest Cregger has crafted a truly harrowing tale that is as emotionally charged as it is frightening. As you await the movie’s release later this week, here is a look at all the real-life inspirations Cregger drew from to make Weapons a truly unique experience.

Zach Cregger’s Weapons Was Born From A Personal Tragedy Weapons director Zach Cregger (Credit: Etalk | YouTube).

Director Zach Cregger made a name for himself with the 2022 horror movie Barbarian, which emerged as a critical and commercial success. However, when he was editing the movie, Cregger lost...

Writer-director Zach Cregger is back in the horror spotlight with Weapons, his much-anticipated follow-up to the breakout success of Barbarian. With the film set to hit theaters on Friday, August 8th, horror fans are wondering one thing and one thing only will Weapons pull off another shocking mid-movie twist like Barbarian did in 2022?

Cregger says no. In an interview at San Diego Comic-Con, he confirmed that Weapons won’t repeat the jarring second-act structure change that made Barbarian both famous and divisive.

Instead, Weapons promises a different kind of terror, one that builds tension more traditionally but still packs a punch. According to the director, Weapons is “structurally unique” but designed to keep audiences immersed, not disoriented. He explained to ComicBook,

Well, structurally I think Weapons is a more complex movie than Barbarian, Barbarian is structurally unique, and Weapons is structurally unique, but with Barbarian, when it kind of shifts,...

Barbarian is leaving Netflix in just 26 days, so horror fans need to stream it before it’s gone. Directed by Zach Cregger, who returns this summer with his new film Weapons, the 92% Rotten Tomatoes hit has been a favorite since it landed on Netflix on June 1, 2025. It even climbed to third place on the platform’s movie chart the day after its release (as per ComicBook.com).

The film stars Georgina Campbell as Tess, a woman who books an Airbnb in Detroit, only to find it double-booked – and soon discovers a terrifying secret lurking beneath the home. Made on a modest $4.5 million budget, the movie earned $45.4 million in theaters and became a modern horror favorite (as per Box Office Mojo).

With Cregger’s next thriller, Weapons, arriving in theaters August 8, 2025, this is the perfect chance to watch Barbarian‘s chilling ending before Netflix pulls it from the library.

Zach Cregger Revealed...

Zach Cregger’s (the mastermind behind Barbarian) chilling tale of Weapons, proves that the scariest stories are often the ones rooted in truth. Starring the talented Julia Garner and Benedict Wong, this upcoming horror film, although a work of fiction, is said to be based on real-life cases of missing children.

While Weapons isn’t a direct retelling of any one case, The Direct has confirmed that Cregger’s personal experiences and real-world horrors helped shape the film’s disturbing narrative. After all, the US Child Crime Prevention & Safety Center reports that a child goes missing or is abducted every 20 seconds in the United States.

Therefore, taking inspiration from the horror of several such high-profile cases of missing children from across history, Zach Cregger crafted this film that reflects a dark reality many parents fear every day. From the infamous Madeleine McCann case to the disappearance of the Etan Patz,...

Disney’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” held firm at the top of the U.K. and Ireland box office for a second weekend, adding £3 million ($4.1 million) and bringing its total to £15.3 million ($20.4 million), according to Comscore.

Paramount’s “The Naked Gun” reboot opened in second place with $2.4 million, while Universal’s “The Bad Guys 2” stayed in third in its sophomore frame with $1.7 million, pushing its cumulative total to $6.5 million. Meanwhile, “Jurassic World Rebirth” continued its sturdy run, earning $1.6 million in fifth-frame takings, lifting its total to $41.9 million.

Warner Bros.’ “Superman” added $1.6 million in its fourth week for a cume of $32.1 million. Close behind in sixth place was Sony’s horror “Bring Her Back,” which debuted with $1.6 million following limited previews.

Yash Raj Films’ hit Bollywood romance “Saiyaara” continued its upward trajectory, taking seventh place with $649,168, boosting its total to $2.7 million.

“F1” followed in eighth with $645,076, nudging its six-week total to $27.5 million,...

Spoiler Alert: The following review contains mild spoilers.

At 2:17 a.m. on a school night, 17 children go missing all at once. They get up out of bed, open their front doors and run out into the night, arms outstretched, like stealthy little airplanes flying low across the lawns of their sleepy suburban community. The kids have one thing in common: They are all students in Justine Gandy’s third-grade class, which now sits empty, save for a shy boy named Alex, who’s as bewildered as the town’s angry parents that he was spared such a peculiar fate.

It’s an intriguing place to start a horror movie, made all the more unconventional by “Weapons” writer-director Zach Cregger’s choice to let a local girl describe the movie’s ostensibly supernatural premise. Just how much of the shocking and surprisingly gory events that follow could she have been privy to?...

Julia Garner has her husband Mark Foster by her side while promoting her new movie Weapons in the Big Apple!

The 31-year-old Emmy-winning actress was joined by Mark, 41, while appearing at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for an interview on Monday (August 4) in New York City.

Julia was seen in two looks at the talk show. Also that day, she stepped out for a screening of Weapons alongside co-star Josh Brolin.

For those who don’t know, Julia and Mark have been married since 2019. He is the lead singer of the band Foster the People.

Weapons, from the director of Barbarian, hits theaters on August 8. The movie just debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a current score of 100%! Watch the trailer now.

Fyi: Julia is wearing a Nina Ricci suit and shoes, Isabel jewelry and Le Specs sunglasses at the screening and while entering Colbert. She’s wearing a Gucci...

Theatergoers are in for a treat as a vibrant lineup of films hits screens from August 5 to August 10, 2025. With genres spanning from chilling horror to heartfelt dramas and colorful animations, this week offers something for every movie lover.

Dive into a mix of new stories, re-releases, and thought-provoking tales. Here’s a rundown of every film arriving in cinemas, complete with details to help you choose your next big-screen adventure.

1. What If… (2010) 10 West Studios

On August 5, Fathom Events brings back ‘What If…’ for its 15th anniversary in a limited release. This 1-hour-51-minute drama, starring Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Debby Ryan, blends fantasy and romance. A businessman faces an alternate life guided by an angel, making it a touching pick for fans of emotional stories.

2. Sketch (2025) Morphan Time

‘Sketch’ arrives on August 6 in a limited release from Angel. This 1-hour-32-minute adventure-comedy stars Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden,...

This week, from August 5 to August 10, 2025, theaters are buzzing with a diverse lineup of films. Whether you’re into heartwarming dramas, chilling horror, or vibrant animation, there’s something for everyone hitting the big screen.

Get ready for a mix of limited and wide releases, including nostalgic re-releases and fresh stories. Here’s every movie arriving in theaters this week, packed with details to help you plan your next cinema trip.

1. What If… (2010) 10 West Studios

Originally released in 2010, ‘What If…’ returns for its 15th anniversary with a limited release on August 5 via Fathom Events. This family-friendly drama blends romance and fantasy, following a man shown an alternate life by an angel. Starring Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, John Ratzenberger, and Debby Ryan, the film runs for 1 hour and 51 minutes. It’s a reflective story about choices and second chances, perfect for those who love heartfelt narratives.

2. Sketch (2025) Morphan Time

Hitting...

Julia Garner as Justine in New Line Cinema’s “Weapons,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Emmy-winning actress Julia Garner is having a landmark year, and her latest horror movie may be one of her most thrilling yet.

From the Director of Barbarian

The film comes from writer and director Zach Cregger, the creative mind behind the critically acclaimed 2022 horror sensation Barbarian. In his new project, Julia Garner leads a story about a quiet community thrown into chaos when all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night. As neighbors scramble for answers, the story delves into the fear, suspicion, and paranoia that grip the town — and the dark secret at the center of it all.

Joining Julia Garner in the cast is Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin, bringing even more star power...

Theatrical comedy is perhaps the genre that has struggled the most at the box office as the film industry has sought to recover in the aftermath of the lockdown era of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite that, Paramount Pictures decided to give it the ol' college try with a reboot of "The Naked Gun," which hit theaters this past weekend. Mercifully, the movie got off to a decent start, but it's also still got a long way to go before we can declare it an out-and-out success.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer, "The Naked Gun" opened to $17 million domestically, coming in at number three on the charts. Though it dropped rather hard, Marvel's "The Fantastic First: First Steps" stayed at number one with $40 million, with Universal's animated sequel "The Bad Guys 2" landing in the number two spot with $22.2 million. This to say, it was a crowded weekend. Be that as it may,...

Guys, grab your treasure maps and prep the booby traps, because The Goonies 2 is officially setting sail and it’s not a drill. Nearly four decades after the original cult classic debuted in 1985, Warner Bros. has greenlit a long-awaited sequel with Potsy Ponciroli tapped to write the script.

While there’s no director attached yet and plot details are still buried deeper than One-Eyed Willy’s loot, the names behind the scenes are enough to spark major excitement. But exciting news, Steven Spielberg is returning as producer alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario for Amblin Entertainment, and Chris Columbus, who wrote the original screenplay, is back on board.

In case you somehow missed the cultural moment that was The Goonies, this classic followed a scrappy group of kids in coastal Oregon who stumbled upon a centuries-old treasure map and set out on a wildly dangerous, booby-trap-filled adventure.

Though...

Out this weekend from Barbarian director Zach Cregger is Weapons, a horror movie so shrouded in mystery that its suburban setting is one of the few details revealed about it. It’s enough, really; the suburbs have long terrified horror-loving audiences with no shortage of classics like Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, or Poltergeist.

There’s always something sinister and strange lurking beneath the idyllic facade of well-manicured lawns and polite neighbors, after all. And this week’s streaming picks highlight suburban horror movies that invade and shatter the American Dream through nightmarish scenarios, paranoia, and otherworldly threats.

Here’s where you can watch them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

The Clovehitch Killer – AMC+, Hulu, Kanopy, Shudder

Set in the suburbs in the Bible Belt, teen Tyler begins to suspect his father might be the infamous killer responsible for murdering ten women a decade ago before disappearing.

While last week’s box office numbers suggested Marvel’s slump might finally be over, Fantastic Four: First Steps has collapsed in its second weekend. According to Comscore, the film brought in $40 million—a steep 66% drop. We had predicted a decline in the 55% range, but it looks like while Marvel diehards are still showing up, the general public just isn’t as engaged anymore.

The silver lining for Marvel? Fantastic Four is still their biggest movie of the year. It’s already outgrossed Thunderboltsand is just a million or so shy of passing Captain America: Brave New World. But it’s unlikely to crack $500 million worldwide, meaning it’ll probably be yet another Marvel release that loses money. And that’s a problem, because Avengers: Doomsday is built around the casts of Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four—and audiences seem to have rejected all of them. Will Doomsday...

After next weekend, we’re officially into the dog days of summer. I’d wager that aside from Freakier Friday, Weapons, Highest 2 Lowest, and Nobody 2, the rest of the season will be pretty quiet. There’s The Roses — a remake of War of the Roses — which looks absolutely awful. And curiously, Sony seems to be dumping Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, a film that really deserves a mid-fall slot and a proper festival rollout.

No matter — the early fall season (September/October) is shaping up to be pretty rad. There are tons of horror flicks on the way, including the final Conjuring film, The Black Phone 2, and Keeper. We’re also getting some legit tentpole releases, like Tron: Ares.

That said, what I’m most hyped for are the early awards contenders: P.T. Anderson’s One Battle After Another, and the Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere.

Josh Brolin is sharing an update on a potential sequel to The Goonies!

The 57-year-old actor played Brandon Walsh in the 1985 film that has gone on to become a cult classic. While at the premiere of his new movie Weapons, Josh spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the progress on a possible follow-up film.

Josh says he hopes that the movie does come out, but he’s feeling a little hesitant.

Keep reading to find out more…

“The movie is received so well, generation after generation. It’s just everything good about it. The trepidation that I have is that you release something else that taints that. I don’t want to taint what my memory of it [is],” Josh said, saying that he still feels hopeful for a chance to revisit the beloved 80s movie.

According to Josh, Steven Spielberg has been picky about scripts for the sequel.

“I think there...

While The Goonies has long inspired hopes of a sequel, star Josh Brolin isn’t embarking on that quest just yet.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of Zach Cregger’s much-anticipated horror film Weapons, Brolin explained his hesitation toward a potential followup and what it would take to get him onboard.

“I hope it does [happen] because the experience was so great,” he the outlet. “The movie is received so well, generation after generation. It’s just everything good about it. The trepidation that I have is that you release something else that taints that. I don’t want to taint what my memory of it [is].”

The Oscar nominee then joked about what the sequel’s storyline would entail, given the fact that its release would come over four decades after the 1985 debut of the classic adventure comedy about a group of misfit kids hunting treasure in a bid...

Hollywood is hung up on Madonna, but a biopic remains a frozen secret. Regardless, the legendary singer’s life is going to make it to screen eventually — although whether it gets to the small or big screen first is yet to be determined. This week, “Weapons” star Julia Garner — who was announced to star in a Madonna movie way back in 2022 — confirmed on the podcast “Smartless” that, in spite of reports to the contrary, the project “Like a Virgin” is still very much in gestation.

“That’s supposed to still happen,” she said (via Variety). Garner was set to star alongside Julia Fox, who would play Madonna Bff and frequent music video co-star Debi Mazar. Fox spoke with IndieWire in 2024 about the movie’s reported shelving by Universal, seeming similarly ambiguous.

“I know it was gonna be either tour or movie and then she went on tour,” Fox said. “So...

June Diane Raphael turned it out Thursday night at the world premiere of her new movie “Weapons,” wearing a a pantless black tuxedo look reminiscent of Roxie Hart, the murderess ex-con turned showgirl in the Broadway musical “Chicago.”

“When you’re a part of such a big genre film and such a giant piece of performance art, it’s time to leave your pants at home,” Raphael deadpanned. “I’ve always said that, you know what I mean? It’s time to lose a major piece of clothing. (The “performance art” was a faux classroom on the red carpet inside the United Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles that featured several child actors pretending to be unconscious at their desks and a couple of boys covered in creepy clown makeup.)

Raphael continued, “It’s horror chic. It’s horror glam and it’s a little cunty and a little...

Here at Dread Central, our Digital Features give us the chance to spotlight the creators, projects, and talent pushing horror in bold new directions. These profiles let us dive deeper into the genre stories we can’t stop thinking about. For this edition, I’m picking up Weapons, the critically acclaimed new horror film hitting theaters on August 8 from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. To reveal the dark corners of this terrifying release (trust me), I had the opportunity to sit down with its writer/director Zach Cregger, whose previous film, Barbarian, was nothing short of evil genius.

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I was one of the lucky critics who screened the film early, and it would be downplaying it to say that Weapons blew my mind. An original vision of macabre madness, unlike the lion’s share of modern horror,...

It was another week in painful internet discourse, from TCM czar Ben Mankiewicz as the supposed horseman of the AI apocalypse amid backing “The Wizard of Oz” at Vegas’ the Sphere to Sydney Sweeney as the supposed poster girl of eugenics, courtesy of a controversial American Eagle ad.

But there was much to celebrate on the film side, including the release of Akiva Schaffer’s spoof comedy “The Naked Gun,” which revives the Leslie Nielsen-started film series with Liam Neeson as the pratfalling police detective with digestion issues. On this week’s IndieWire “Screen Talk” podcast, co-host Anne Thompson shares her thoughts on the laugh-a-minute new movie, co-starring Pamela Anderson as a scat-singing femme fatale.

Many generations are familiar with the Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker comedies from the ’80s, including “Airplane” and “Top Secret” and the original “Naked Gun” movies, but this new film from “SNL” writer Akiva Schaffer might...

Los lanzamientos más destacados en cines y plataformas de streaming. © Paramount Pictures, Materialistas & Universal Pictures

Hay quien huye del calor en la playa y quien lo combate desde la oscuridad reconfortante de una sala de cine. Para estos, agosto llega con patadas, niños desaparecidos, cadáveres, risas, y algún que otro intercambio de cuerpo. Estos son los 10 títulos más destacados de este mes:

DEVUÉLVEMELA (1 de agosto en cines) © Sony Pictures

¿Te acuerdas de Háblame? Pues prepárate para algo incluso más retorcido. Los cineastas del fenómeno de terror regresan con una historia de duelo en la que dos hermanos acaban en un hogar de acogida. Su tutora: una aterradora Sally Hawkins. Nuestro compañero Enrique Constans dice en su crítica que Devuélvemela es «una de las grandes películas de terror del año y una grata sorpresa». Advertencia: no apta para estómagos sensibles.

Weapons (8 de agosto en cines) © Warner Bros

Un grupo de niños...

In 2022, Whitest Kids U'Know comedian Zach Cregger became a bona fide horror creator thanks to Barbarian. As I wrote at the time, and I'd still assert today, it's one of the wildest contemporary horror flicks to earn a wide release. There's a reason why his second film, Weapons, sold to New Line Cinema in a heated bidding war—but was it money well spent? Cregger's appropriately hyped sophomore thriller thankfully shows no signs of slumpage. Weapons is mysterious and monstrous, with hints of James Wan, The ‘Burbs, the Coen brothers, The Sadness, and twenty other horror influences that somehow blend into a delicious neighborhood nightmare.

Weapons unfolds in chapters, starting with Julia Garner's elementary teacher, Justine Gandy. When 17 students from her class go missing—all but Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher)—she suddenly becomes the town's prime suspect. No one knows what happened except that at 2:17 Am one night,...

Acclaimed director Zach Cregger has been finding more fame and higher rewards with the trailer of Weapons wreaking havoc across countries. Known for directing the 2022 film Barbarian, Cregger found his undue fame and an alleged chance to direct a DC film set within James Gunn‘s Dcu, which the director had been dying to work on.

On a podcast titled The Boo Crew, Cregger confirmed that the script that he is working on is “Batman adjacent” and that it is his favorite script yet to date. The director also seemingly confirmed that he might be working on the “Henchmen” project set in the DC Universe, according to a notable insider.

There was a script I wrote before ‘Barbarian’ that takes place in Gotham City, I think that’s my favorite thing I ever wrote, believe it or not. [The script is] set in the DC Universe, [and is a] Batman-adjacent thing.

In DC Comics, the Henchmen refer to,...

Zach Cregger’s Weapons isn’t just his next horror movie, but also an expansion of his interconnected work. Barbarian shocked the audience in 2022 with its unsettling tale, but the movie’s end and its reference on Weapons’ promotional website, maybrookmissing.com, suggest that these films exist in the same universe.

This is a possible link that would show how the crimes exposed in Barbarian ripple into the events of Weapons. So, let’s understand the former’s twisted ending, and then look at how it sets the stage for the upcoming horror feature, starring award-winning talents like Julia Garner and Josh Brolin.

The Gruesome Ending of Barbarian: Who’s the Real Monster? A still from Barbarian | Credits: Regency Enterprise

In the final act of Barbarian, Tess and Aj attempt to escape the crumbling house. And after they’re successful, Tess tries to save Aj, even though he’d shot her out of panic.

The U.K. and Ireland box office delivered a robust performance in July 2025, generating £107.3 million ($142.3 million), a 3% increase on the same month last year (£103.8 million), according to Comscore. The year-to-date tally has now surpassed £639 million ($847 million) after 30 playweeks — running 15% ahead of 2024 and trailing just 1% behind 2023, the benchmark Barbenheimer summer.

Universal’s “Jurassic World Rebirth” dominated the month with a colossal $40.1 million, including a $16.4 million debut — the second-highest opening of the year behind “A Minecraft Movie” ($19.9 million) and ahead of “Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy” ($16.3 million). Gareth Edwards’ reboot is now the fourth-highest grosser of 2025 so far, eclipsing “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” ($34.9 million) and trailing “Lilo & Stitch” ($48.8 million). It is already the fifth highest-grossing film in the “Jurassic” franchise, just behind “Jurassic World: Dominion” ($46.5 million).

Warner Bros.’ “Superman” soared into second place with $30.5 million, solidifying its place in the year’s Top 10 at No.6. The James Gunn...

The summer movie season is beginning to wind down. August is, by a considerable margin, smaller by every measure when compared to June and July. The most-anticipated blockbusters such as "Superman" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" are in the rearview mirror, with kids soon going back to school. Still, the release calendar is far from barren. To that end, we've got a double bill coming our way next weekend, with both "Weapons" and "Freakier Friday" arriving. Each of these movies have a lot of upside potential and are gunning for very different audiences. No matter who comes out on top, everyone wins.

As of this writing, each movie is tracking to open north of $25 million. In both cases, $25 million seems to be on the conservative side as well, though there is a clear favorite. Disney's "Freakier Friday," a sequel to 2003's "Freaky Friday," is looking at a debut between $45-$55 million,...

Julia Garner and Josh Brolin are stepping out for the premiere of their new movie Weapons!

The co-stars hit the red carpet together at the event on Thursday night (July 31) at the United Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.

Also in attendance at the premiere were co-stars Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, and June Diane Raphael, as well as writer and director Zach Cregger.

Here’s the synopsis: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

The upcoming movie, from the director of Barbarian, hits theaters on August 8. The movie just debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a current score of 100%! Watch the trailer now.

Fyi: Julia is wearing head-to-toe Gucci with Beladora earrings. Josh is wearing Canali with Velasca shoes.

The upcoming horror movie, Weapons, with a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, is directed by the acclaimed Zach Cregger. But what you might not know is that Weapons and Cregger’s breakout horror Barbarian are based in the same universe. One of its promotional strategies is the in-universe website named maybrookmissing.net, and an article on the site references the events of Barbarian.

The movie has already created a lot of buzz for its chilling premise and amazing performances by actors like Julia Garner. From cryptic trailers to breadcrumbs and structural similarities, everything is pointing towards a larger web. So, Weapons is not a direct sequel to Barbarian, but it is certainly part of the same terrifying world.

The Connection Between Zach Cregger’s Weapons and Barbarian A still from Barbarian | Credits: Regency Enterprises

Fans of Barbarian will never forget the basement, the hidden tunnel system, and the grotesque things they witnessed in it.

The reviews are in, and Weapons has hit its target with film critics.

Written and directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian), the mystery-horror film tells the story of school kids who all disappear from their homes at the exact same time. Weapons has received a rare 100 percent score at Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising it as a "genre-bender" that "dedicated cinephiles will be rocked by." The New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures movie will be released in theaters on Aug. 8.

Cast members include Julia Garner as the students' teacher, Justine Gandy; Josh Brolin as Archer Graff, a furious parent; Alden Ehrenreich as Paul Morgan, a police officer with a past history with Justine; Austin Abrams as Anthony, a drug addict and thief; Cary Christopher as Alex Lilly, the only child from Justine's class who did not vanish; and Benedict Wong as Marcus, the school principal.

Weapons is a "righteous, fully...

Rumor has it, Zach Cregger’s Weapons is incredible. In our perfect, 5-star review, Managing Editor Josh Korngut wrote, “Weapons is shocking, satisfying, and certain to surprise even the most jaded of horror fans. This is an immediate horror classic that should be watched with an audience.” I’m so excited, even more so because this year hasn’t disappointed at all. I’m currently in the midst of the Fantasia Festival, but domestic releases, both on streaming and theatrical, have been killer.

Shudder’s Best Wishes For All is a knockout, and who would have guessed Final Destination Bloodlines would be one of the best in the series? There’s plenty more to look forward to in the coming months, but if you’re in need of a refresh, here we’ve compiled which of the best 2025 horror movies are currently streaming. These are the films critics can’t stop raving about.

“Weapons” is the upcoming New Line mystery horror feature, written and directed by Zach Cregger, starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan, opening August 8, 2025 in theaters:

“…one night, all but one student from the classroom of ‘Justine Gandy', mysteriously ran off into the night.

“Justine and the rest of the community are left questioning who – or what – is behind the disappearance…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Who knew that a movie about 17 missing students and their teacher as their prime suspect would be inspired by Tom Cruise‘s darkest movie yet? Not the whole movie, of course, but Weapons, by up-and-coming horror director Zach Cregger, was definitely inspired by Paul Thomas Anderson‘s 1999 film, Magnolia.

In an interview with Collider, Cregger shared that Magnolia was a very big inspiration for his movie, and especially the cold open of the PTA film with all the energetic camera zooms and swinging were heavily discussed for Weapons. It seems to have worked out in favor since having 12 early reviews, Weapons has already received 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Magnolia was a big inspiration for this movie. And the cold open of Magnolia is another montage with really energetic camera moves and zooms on a dolly, and all kinds of swinging, and it’s just never stationary.

He continued,

And so, my cinematographer,...

The first social media reactions to Zack Cregger's Weapons were universally positive, and the full reviews have followed suit. Though only 12 verdicts have been added so far, Zack Cregger's Barbarian follow-up is currently sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

New Line has also released the first full clip from the movie, and it doesn't hold back on some pretty intense scares - and what will likely turn out to be a few major spoilers.

The clip finds Josh Brolin's character Archer Graff confronting Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), who taught the class that "lost" all but one of its students when they inexplicably left their houses at the exact same time and ran into the night.

As they argue, Justine notices her school's headmaster, Andrew (Benedict Wong), running towards them with blood all around his eyes and his arms held out in the same pose as the children. Andrew immediately attacks and begins to choke Justine,...

Barbarian and Weapons director Zach Cregger isn’t the first horror filmmaker to hail from a comedic background, and he points that out in an entertaining new “Don’t Talk” PSA from Alamo Drafthouse.

Tickets are on sale now for Weapons, which releases in theaters and IMAX nationwide on August 8, 2025.

Watch the new PSA video below, which will be featured on Alamo Drafthouse screens, to see Cregger dive deep into horror to point out a history of comedan-turned-horror directors relayed in a way designed to “get ‘er chucklin'”!

The PSA is the latest among the theater chain’s popular “Don’t Talk” series meant as a cheeky reminder to audiences to uphold their “no talking, no texting” policy.

In Weapons, “When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

What Is The Rotten Tomatoes Score Of Weapons? ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Zach Cregger, who made his solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed horror hit Barbarian (2022), is now gearing up for the release of his next feature, Weapons. The eagerly awaited mystery horror film is slated for a theatrical release on August 8, 2025. The movie also features Julia Garner, who stars as Silver Surfer in the Marvel superhero movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps, currently playing in theaters.

Even before its release, Weapons had already earned a strong critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. But does it surpass Ryan Coogler’s widely praised Sinners, or even Zach Cregger’s own Barbarian? Let’s find out.

No spoilers. Just a warning. 'Weapons' is a "horror masterpiece". ​#WeaponsMovie only in cinemas on August 8.​#WarnerBrosIndia #Weapons #JuliaGarner #JoshBrolin pic.twitter.com/rbM1y0w2jB

— Warner Bros. India (@WarnerBrosIndia) July 25, 2025

Weapons vs.

Actress Julia Garner made her feature film debut in 2011, playing the role of Sarah in the deprogramming drama "Martha Marcy May Marlene." She quickly landed many additional film roles for her talent and her intensity, appearing in both gentle indie dramas (like "Electrick Children") and studio schlock (like "The Last Exorcism II"). In 2014, Garner already appeared in her ninth feature film, "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For," a sequel to the 2005 film "Sin City." She was rolling high, and would only continue to become more famous.

"Sin City," as many remember, was a highly stylized, near-animated film noir directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller. It was based on Miller's 1991 comic of the same name, itself designed to be a film noir on steroids. It took the images and themes and stories of old pulp crime stories, and ratcheted up the sex and violence to a dizzying degree.