Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit “Weapons” is set to arrive on HBO Max on Oct. 24, positioning its streaming debut just in time for Halloween. The Warner Bros. New Line Cinema release marks Cregger’s second feature following his 2022 breakout “Barbarian.”
The film opened in theaters on Aug. 8, following preview screenings the day before at precisely 2:17 p.m. a deliberate nod to a key timestamp in the narrative. “Weapons” centers on a mysterious incident in which an entire class of third graders vanishes overnight. Surveillance footage reveals that all of the children awoke at 2:17 a.m., exited their homes, and ran into the woods, never to return. The disappearance triggers a frantic response from the community — including the children’s teacher, their parents, local law enforcement, and the lone student who did not leave building into an original urban legend with unexpected twists, unsettling scares, and a “deeply satisfying climax.”
The movie became a major box office success, opening to more than $43 million domestically and surpassing $100 million by its third weekend. It ultimately grossed over $260 million worldwide, outperforming “Barbarian,” which finished with a lifetime global total of $45 million. Variety previously described it as one of the “sneakiest (and creepiest) hits of the summer.”
“Weapons” features an ensemble cast including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Amy Madigan, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, June Diane Raphael and Cary Christopher, making his theatrical feature debut. The film was produced by Cregger along with Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules for New Line Cinema, Subconscious, Vertigo Entertainment and BoulderLight Pictures.
Cregger’s next project will take him into franchise territory, as he has signed on to direct a new installment of “Resident Evil” for Sony, reuniting with actor Austin Abrams for the video game adaptation.
Source: Variety