In just a few short weeks, movie director Zach Cregger’s latest horror film, Weapons, has secured the admiration of many movie viewers, grossing $70 million worldwide in its opening weekend in August 2025, according to The New York Times. Fans are calling it the best horror movie of the year, with its blend of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth.
Weapons follows Justine Gandy (played by Julia Garner), an elementary school teacher grappling with the mysterious disappearances of her students. As the narrative unfolds with the help of shifting perspectives, audiences are put in a position to piece together the truth themselves, a film choice that keeps viewers engaged and makes the final act even more impactful.

Zach Cregger, who first captured horror fans’ attention with his 2022 hit Barbarian, proves that he is more than just a one-hit wonder with the success Weapons has garnered. His newest movie takes on a different kind of path, bringing together multiple storylines while maintaining the intensity and originality that made his earlier film so memorable. The movie features veteran actors like Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, and Alden Ehrenreich, and their standout performances provide the movie with strong storytelling that balances the terrifying horror elements with real emotional weight.
Henry Kuriloff (’28) shares that Weapons “kept [him] hooked from beginning to end” and that throughout the whole movie, he was on the edge of his seat trying to notice smaller details to make sense of the whole plot. Kuriloff was also very impressed with the movie’s unique, multi-perspective structure. He states that he was “unaware of this film choice prior to the movie” but feels that it was executed flawlessly. Additionally, Kuriloff expresses, “it encouraged the audience to predict what would happen next,” building additional suspense. However, beyond its suspense, the film dived deeper into subplots such as police brutality and the grief of losing a child, themes that are prevalent in our world today. These connections succeeded in making this horror movie that much more emotional.
With its record-breaking opening, high praise, and emotional resonance, Weapons proves that horror can be more than just jump scares. It can convey powerful messages that relate to contemporary society and address different issues occurring in the world today. Zach Cregger has once again proven himself as a talented and inventive filmmaker with this hit.