Horror films: Why ‘Weapons’ has taken cinemas by storm

Director Zach Cregger’s new horror film Weapons has exceeded fans' lofty expectations and proved to be a success at the box office.

Following its release on 8 August, the film has horror fans in a chokehold and has packed movie theatres worldwide. 

Film News Blitz’s Amelie Da Costa hails the success of Weapons.

‘Weapons’ is a horror success story

Within its first week of release, Weapons scored an incredible 94% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an amazing 85% with audiences.

The success doesn't stop there. 

Weapons topped the U.S. box office across its first two weekends and has since gone on to gross almost $200 million worldwide. 

That’s helped Weapons earn its place as one of the highest-grossing horror films of 2025. 

Why is ‘Weapons’ so good?

There are many reasons why the film has been such a huge success, but it's the unforgettable characters and interesting plot that truly set it apart, centring on a story of a class full of children who mysteriously disappear. 

Cregger’s narrative structure for the film was unique and helps keep the audience gripped, with each character having their own section or ‘chapter ' within the story.

Every single character has relevance throughout - despite some not having substantial ‘chapters’ - and all stand out individually thanks to unique reactions to the vanishing of the school children.

The casting for the film couldn’t have been more perfect. 

Julia Garner (known for her scene-stealing role in Ozark) delivers an unforgettable performance as the teacher of the missing children, and Josh Brolin brings raw emotion as he portrays the grieving father of a missing child. 

All the other cast members do an amazing job bringing to life something so truly terrifying, and gripping audiences into the tragic world of the fictional town of Maybrook. 

It’s clear that the film used the acclaimed Longlegs as inspiration - mirroring a chilling plot and unsettling atmosphere. 

But rather than copying and being unoriginal, Weapons has its own identity with darker twists and a uniquely disturbing narrative that can be argued surpasses that inspiration. 

Weapons was always expected to be a big success, and it has delivered, giving horror fans exactly what they were hoping for.

With its gripping story and exceptional reviews, there is no doubt that the box office numbers will continue to climb as time goes on.

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