By Irshad Khan 
Zach Cregger’s supernatural thriller Weapons has surged to the top of HBO Max’s global streaming charts since its October 24, 2025 debut, becoming one of the most-watched horror releases of the year and a must-see for genre fans as Halloween approaches.
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Streaming Dominance on HBO Max
Within 24 hours of its HBO Max release on October 24, 2025, Weapons claimed the #1 streaming position in the United States and topped the charts in 38 countries worldwide. The film’s immediate dominance surpassed major competitors including The Substance, Bring Her Back, and 2025’s Superman, according to FlixPatrol streaming data. This rapid ascent marks one of HBO Max’s most successful digital launches in 2025, demonstrating the film’s broad appeal across international audiences.
The horror thriller’s instant success on the streaming platform mirrors its impressive theatrical performance earlier in the year. HBO also aired the film on its linear cable channel on October 25 at 8:00 PM ET, giving viewers multiple ways to experience the chilling story. The simultaneous broadcast and streaming release created a cultural moment for horror fans during peak Halloween season viewing.
Record-Breaking Box Office Performance
Prior to its streaming success, Weapons achieved remarkable financial milestones during its theatrical run. The film grossed $267.5 million at the global box office, with $151.5 million earned domestically in the United States and $116 million generated from international markets. This total far exceeded its modest $38 million production budget, resulting in projected theatrical profits exceeding $65 million—a massive financial victory for Warner Bros. Discovery and a strong indicator of the film’s commercial viability.
The film debuted on August 8, 2025, with a commanding $43.5 million opening weekend domestically, securing the #1 position at the U.S. box office. This achievement made Warner Bros. the first studio in history to score six consecutive #1 openings with each film earning over $40 million. Weapons demonstrated exceptional staying power throughout its theatrical run, dropping only 44% in its second weekend while maintaining the top position with $24.4 million in earnings. By early September, it had become 2025’s second-highest-grossing horror film domestically, trailing only Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which earned $366.7 million worldwide.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Reception
Weapons has received widespread critical praise, earning a 93% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 370 critic reviews. The critical consensus describes the film as an “expertly crafted yarn of terrifying mystery and thrilling intrigue,” cementing director Zach Cregger’s reputation as a master of horror cinema following his breakthrough success with Barbarian in 2022. Audiences have responded with equal enthusiasm, awarding the film an 85% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, indicating strong word-of-mouth support.
Critics have specifically praised Cregger’s evolution in blending unbearable tension with dark humor, noting his refined approach to supernatural horror storytelling. IGN’s review highlighted how Cregger honed the blend of tension and comedy from Barbarian to a new level of razor-sharpness. The film’s sophisticated structure and character development have garnered comparisons to prestige ensemble dramas, elevating it beyond typical genre fare.
Intricate Plot and Premise
Set in the small town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania, Weapons centers on a deeply chilling mystery: an entire elementary school class mysteriously disappears on the same night at exactly 2:17 a.m., with only one child surviving the mysterious event. This shocking premise sets the stage for a complex narrative that explores the community’s descent into chaos and paranoia as residents desperately search for answers about what caused the catastrophic disappearances.
The story unfolds from six distinct character perspectives over a two-hour runtime, creating a multifaceted examination of the tragedy’s impact on different members of the community. The narrative structure has drawn comparisons to Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed 1999 ensemble film Magnolia, but with a supernatural horror twist that fundamentally alters the story’s trajectory. Cregger’s time-scrambling chapter structure creates multiple cliffhangers throughout the film that build tension and escalate toward a shattering finale, exploring profound themes of loss, grief, collective trauma, and paranoia as the community grapples with the incomprehensible tragedy.
Stellar Cast and Filmmaking Team
Weapons is anchored by Emmy-winning actress Julia Garner (Ozark) in the lead role of Justine Gandy, a dedicated third-grade teacher at Maybrook Elementary who arrives at school one morning to discover her entire class—except for one student—has vanished without explanation. Garner’s performance has been widely praised for capturing both vulnerability and quiet strength throughout the film’s narrative. Josh Brolin stars as Archer Graff, the protective father of one missing child, whose deepening suspicions about Justine create complex emotional dynamics. Brolin also serves as an executive producer on the project, indicating his deep investment in the material.
The supporting ensemble cast includes Alden Ehrenreich as a local police officer with a complicated personal history with Justine, Austin Abrams (Euphoria), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange) playing the school principal, Cary Christopher, June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), and veteran actress Amy Madigan (Antlers). This carefully assembled cast brings depth and nuance to their respective roles, creating authentic character interactions that ground the film’s supernatural elements in emotional reality.
Director Zach Cregger both wrote and directed Weapons, also serving as a producer alongside key collaborators Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz, and Raphael Margules—the same producing team behind his previous success Barbarian. In interviews, Cregger spoke enthusiastically about his lead actors, praising Garner’s remarkable ability to portray both vulnerability and inner strength, noting her “really powerful core” that belies her delicate appearance. Regarding Brolin, Cregger stated: “He’s one of my favorite actors… It’s one of the gifts of my life to be able to have Josh Brolin be in this movie.”
How to Watch Weapons
Weapons is now streaming exclusively on HBO Max following its October 24, 2025 premiere. New subscribers can access the streaming service through multiple subscription tiers: an ad-supported plan for $10.99 per month, a standard ad-free subscription for $18.49 per month, or a premium 4K streaming plan for $22.99 per month. For those seeking better value, bundled packages combining Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max are available starting at $19.99 per month.
Beyond HBO Max, the film is also available through additional platforms for those without a subscription. Viewers can rent Weapons for $19.99 or purchase it for $24.99 on premium video-on-demand (PVOD) services including Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango At Home. Rental customers have 30 days from their purchase date to begin watching and 48 hours to complete viewing once they start. For cable subscribers, check local HBO channel listings for air dates and times, as the film continues to air on HBO’s linear channel during the Halloween season and beyond.
Oscar Buzz and Industry Recognition
Following its box office success and critical acclaim, Weapons has launched an Oscar campaign for key contributors. The film has been recognized as a strong contender in various horror and ensemble categories, with industry insiders noting Garner’s potential for major award nominations based on her performance. The film’s sophisticated storytelling and thematic depth have positioned it as a potential awards contender beyond traditional genre categories, suggesting Hollywood’s recognition of the film as elevated entertainment worthy of prestige recognition.
The Director’s Vision and Thematic Depth
Zach Cregger’s Weapons represents an ambitious expansion of the director’s artistic vision following Barbarian‘s success. The film tackles complex themes of community vulnerability, institutional failure, and the psychological toll of unexplained tragedy. By structuring the narrative through multiple perspectives, Cregger ensures that viewers experience the full emotional and psychological weight of the central mystery from various viewpoints, creating a richer, more nuanced understanding of how trauma ripples through an entire community.
The filmmaker’s commitment to character-driven storytelling within the horror framework sets Weapons apart from typical genre offerings. Rather than relying solely on jump scares or graphic imagery, the film builds dread through character development, environmental storytelling, and psychological tension. This approach has resonated with both critics and audiences, establishing Cregger as an important voice in contemporary horror cinema who elevates the genre through intelligent writing and sophisticated thematic exploration.