- Weapons will hit theaters later this summer
- But what is the movie about, and who will star in it?
- Here’s everything you need to know
Weapons is the movie that horror fans across the globe are talking about.
Set to hit our screens later this summer, the film is the second directorial effort from Zach Cregger – who achieved huge box office success with his debut, Barbarian, in 2022.
In fact, studios were so keen for the movie that it went to auction – with New Line Cinema securing the rights within 24 hours after offering a whopping $38 million to cover all costs.
And if that wasn’t enough for you to be hooked to the film, horror genius Jordan Peele parted with his longtime managers Joel Zadak and Peter Principato, after they failed to win the bidding war for his company, Monkeypaw Productions.
But when will Weapons be released, and what is it about? Here’s everything we know.
When will Weapons be released?
Weapons is set to hit theaters on August 8, 2025 – so fans don’t have long to wait until their next horror fix.
What will Weapons be about?
As we know from the movie’s trailer, the movie follows the strange events of a small town – after all but one child from school teacher Miss Gandy’s class got out of their beds at 2:17am, went outside… and never returned (eek).
Viewers will watch the town try to get to the bottom of why the children disappeared, as their parents and law enforcement attempt to get the youngsters back.
One thing’s for certain – there are about to be a lot of creepy kids on screen to terrify us!
Is Weapons based on a true story?
While Weapons isn’t strictly based on real life events – ie, the main premise of the entire class disappearing has never happened – Cregger has rooted his film on real missing children cases.
According to the US Child Crime Prevention & Safety Center, a child goes missing or is abducted every 20 seconds in the United States.
Losing a child is obviously any parent’s worst nightmare, so Weapons asks the question: What would happen if dozens of kids disappeared all at once?
Cregger has also admitted that while the new movie is an entirely fictitious story, it was inspired by some personal experiences.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Cregger revealed a personal tragedy that inspired the idea for the story.
“I had a tragedy in my life that was really, really tough,” he said. “Someone very, very, very close to me died suddenly and, honestly, I was so grief-stricken that I just started writing Weapons – not out of any ambition, but just as a way to reckon with my own emotions.”
Cregger didn’t elaborate on his cryptic comments any further – but did add that parts of the tale are “legitimately autobiographical”.
“[It’s] an incredibly personal story,” he finished. “There’s certain chapters of this that are legitimately autobiographical that I feel like I lived.”
Who is in the cast of Weapons?
Weapons has a star studded cast – which is unsurprising, considering the success of Barbarian.
Julia Garner plays the class teacher Justine Gandy, who (obviously) comes under fire when her whole class disappears. Alden Ehrenreich plays a local cop who reportedly has a “very complicated” relationship with Justine.
And although there were whispers of Pedro Pascal also starring in the film, he exited the project due to other commitments (say it ain’t so!) – but has been replaced by Josh Brolin.
Brolin plays Mr Graff, a father of a missing child, who is trying to get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearances.
Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan also feature.
Is there a trailer for Weapons?
Yes! Horror fans can watch the trailer below – but don’t blame us if it gives you nightmares!
