'Weapons' Trailer Reveals Terrifying First Look at Horror Epic
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors
The first full trailer for "Weapons" may just be one of the more perfect trailers put together in recent memory. The preview gives you the chilling premise of 27 children disappearing in the middle of the night, all from the same class, and a town in panic because of it.
The trailer doesn't come close to hinting at why the children do what they do or what it has to do with all the other horrors that unfold. It gives you just enough information to make you want more. You can see the trailer for yourself below.
The first trailer for Zach Cregger's 'WEAPONS' has been released.
The film follows a classroom of children who get out of their beds and disappear one night without a trace.
In theaters on August 8. pic.twitter.com/OE3KK6eFno — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 29, 2025
Read More: Dwayne Johnson Transforms Into UFC Legend in 'Smashing Machine' Trailer
"Weapons" is written and directed by Zach Cregger of "Barbarian" fame, and the filmmaker recently told Entertainment Weekly that "Weapons" is "an incredibly personal story."
Julia Garner in "Weapons".
Julia Garner in "Weapons".
Warner Bros.
"I had a tragedy in my life that was really, really tough," Cregger 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."
It seems likely the tragedy Cregger is referring to is the 2021 death of Trevor Moore, Cregger's friend and co-founder of their sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U' Know.
Of the personal nature of 'Weapons', Cregger said, "There's certain chapters of this that are legitimately autobiographical that I feel like I lived."
When it comes to inspiration, Cregger credits Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia". "I love that movie," Cregger said. "I love that kind of bold scale. It gave me permission when I was writing this to shoot for the stars and make it an epic. I wanted a horror epic, and so I tried to do that."
Asked to compare "Weapons" to "Barbarian", Cregger said, "It is more ambitious in almost every way. I don't just mean in terms of the budget, but I just mean creatively. The story is weirder and it's twistier and it's bigger. I have way more actors to fit into this thing. The set pieces are definitely bigger. It's just a bigger, weirder movie than 'Barbarian' is."
"Weapons" is written and directed by Zach Cregger. The film is scheduled to be released August 8, 2025. It stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, and Amy Madigan.
More Movies:
Jenna Ortega Is Directing Her Own Film
Will Forte Pledges to Climb Mount Everest Over 'Coyote vs. Acme' Rescue
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
9 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Cracker Barrel Change Leaves Fans Cold: 'I Hate It'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cracker Barrel is facing backlash after it rolled out newly remodeled locations that trade its signature rustic decor for a more stripped-down look. Newsweek contacted Cracker Barrel for comment via email on Monday outside regular working hours. Why It Matters In June, Cracker Barrel faced backlash after celebrating Pride Month, with fans arguing that the brand was becoming too "woke," and the remodel has elicited similar reactions. Across the country, brands have increasingly faced conservative backlash over perceived "wokeness," with high-profile examples—such as the Bud Light boycott—fueling a broader culture-war trend against corporate diversity and inclusion efforts. What To Know Cracker Barrel, a restaurant chain based in Tennessee, has begun rolling out remodels of some locations around the country, updating its nostalgic, country-style decor into a brighter, more modern style. On X, a user posted a video showing the makeover of one branch, which sparked widespread backlash on the platform. "At a remodeled Cracker Barrel. I hate it," the poster wrote. Several users have complained that the new decor is too bright and plain, and that it detracts from the "traditional" and "homemade" feel of the old locations. "Cracker Barrel used to look like Gramma & Pawpaw's old barn house. Now it looks like OCD Aunt Karen dropped $10K at Hobby Lobby," one X user wrote. A Cracker Barrel in Indianapolis on June 24, 2016. A Cracker Barrel in Indianapolis on June 24, 2016. Getty Images "Before Cracker Barrel had a homemade feel," another user commented, adding that after the remodel it felt "like an airport soulless place." Conservative political commentator Tim Pool also criticized the remodel, saying on his podcast, "This epitomizes everything that's gone wrong in this country, is this remodel." He added that the new decor stripped "any actual tangible identity" from Cracker Barrel and made it look like "a Brooklyn cafe or coffee shop." Julie Felss Masino, the president and CEO of Cracker Barrel, spoke with CNBC in 2024 about rolling out remodels as part of a plan to bring more customers to the brand. "How do we make sure that we appeal to people who love us because we want them to keep loving us, but how do we welcome even more people into the brand?" she said. Commenting on the initial customer response to the remodels, she said: "They're saying things like, 'Lighter, brighter, fresher, feels like my Cracker Barrel.' But they're also saying: 'It's still the warm hospitality. It's still the food that I love. The decor is still on the walls.' They love it." While social media has been inundated with criticisms of the new style, some users have said they don't mind the changes. "Honestly, not as bad as advertised. You don't even notice since the food is good," one X user wrote, adding in a follow-up post: "The old fashion feel is still there. They just changed the color of the walls." What People Are Saying Cracker Barrel, responding to criticisms of the new decor, told the New York Post in June: "We deeply appreciate the passion our guests have for our brand and are thankful for the thoughtful feedback they continue to share. "The updates underway in our stores are inspired by the voices of both our guests and team members, and reflect our ongoing commitment to making our stores feel brighter and even more inviting, all while preserving the warm, country hospitality and charm that define us." What Happens Next Amid slumping sales and stock decline, Cracker Barrel's CEO said last year that the chain was undergoing a three-year plan to make the brand more "relevant," which included renovations and updates to the menu. The restaurants will likely continue with their transformation plan, and it remains to be seen whether customer backlash to the new decor will influence the changes.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
The Twisted Horror Of ‘Weapons,' Explained
'Weapons' directed by Zach Cregger Warner Bros. Weapons is a layered story told through different character perspectives, with a compelling metaphor at the heart of the film. In the very first scene, Weapons jumps right into its terrible mystery—one night, at 2:17am, every child from Mrs. Gandy's classroom left their beds and disappeared into the night, seemingly of their own volition. It's a great hook, followed by a thrilling sequence of chapters showing the different perspectives of multiple characters—when the twist finally arrives, it almost seems obvious. The film starts from the perspective of Justine (Julia Garner), the unfortunate 'Mrs. Gandy' of the missing classroom. The only child left remaining is Alex (Cary Christopher), and he doesn't want to talk about it. The town suspects Justine has something to do with the bizarre disappearances, as the parents are becoming increasingly (and understandably) hysterical. Facing a tragedy that defies any logical explanation, the parents blame the only adult in the room, and Justine is labelled a 'witch,' spelling out the twist villain of the film in bold red letters. The perspective switches from Justine to a cop, Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), to concerned dad, Archer (Josh Brolin), to the school principal, Marcus (Benedict Wong), and petty criminal James (Austin Abrams), who are all pulled into the chaos spiral. Each chapter adds another piece to the puzzle, the characters fumbling through the nightmare with fear, confusion and grief. The big consistency is the black hole at the center of it all—the shadowy doorway of Alex's house. During Archer's dark, prophetic dream, Alex's house is illuminated by a giant assault rifle floating above the roof, bearing the fateful numbers, 2:17. Archer's subconscious seems to be screaming at him, the dream logic implying that the children have been weaponized. Archer is confused, and so are we, but with each new chapter, the viewer gets a little more context. Weapons unfolds perfectly, echoing the unusual structure of Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster . Each new perspective offers a clearer view of the mystery, and by the time the final card is flipped, revealing Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan) as the witch at the center of the web, it feels intuitively right. The 'scary witch' reveal could have easily come across as underwhelming or even silly, but Weapons builds up Gladys as a true terror. What is 'Weapons' Really About? Like any film, Weapons supports multiple readings, but the film's witch very much behaves like an abuser, taking advantage of kindness, hiding under a facade of weakness. Gladys enters the home of Alex's parents by appealing to their empathy and transforms the house into her nest, and her hosts into slaves. You could even compare Aunt Gladys to a pathological narcissist, drawing energy from those under her control and always seeking more victims. Once his parents have been reduced to mindless zombies, Alex is told, in no uncertain terms, to never reveal what is happening behind closed doors. If he ever tells another child, teacher or authority figure, then Gladys will punish his parents. She gives Alex a startlingly gruesome display, forcing his parents to enthusiastically stab themselves with forks. This is how Gladys enslaves Alex—no magic, just fear. Soon, she forces Alex to become part of her web. Gladys needs more than two bodies to stay young, as her unnatural longevity seems to be fading. Alex helps her ensnare the other children at school by stealing a personal item from them all, enabling her to summon them to her house. Alex is then tasked with keeping her slaves alive, patiently feeding them one spoon at a time. The stoic Alex is, of course, too frightened to tell a soul. When the kindly Justine tries to reach out to him, he keeps his distance (notably, Justine is reprimanded for being too personal with her students at the beginning of the film). 'Weapons' Reinvents The Witch The bald-headed, aggressively eccentric witch of Weapons is very much in the spirit of Roald Dahl's The Witches , far removed from recent lighthearted depictions. Gladys is also a bit of a vampire, drawing life energy from her victims. Whatever Gladys really is, she doesn't seem human. Amy Madigan's striking performance is both funny and frightening, her witch an ancient, otherworldly being that only really understands power. In her world, power comes from thorny, bloodstained 'wands,' bowls of water and bells. Only by using her own tools against her does Alex succeed. The death of Gladys is surprisingly funny, showing the powerful witch sprinting away from a small army of murderous children who, when they finally catch her, pull her apart like a piñata. The film ends on a bold, bittersweet note—Alex has won, but is too late. The witch has already fed on the life force of these people, and most of them are so damaged that they never spoke again. His parents are alive, but dead. Hence, Alex is sent to live with a 'good aunt,' and has at least escaped the cursed magic of Aunt Gladys. Will There Be A 'Weapons' Sequel? Weapons firmly concludes the story with the death of the witch and the damage done. However, there might be other witches, or other creatures out there in the world of Weapons . Director Zach Cregger seems open to a sequel, telling Variety, 'I have another idea for something in this world that I'm kind of excited about.' 'I'm not going to do it next, and I probably won't do it after my next movie,' Cregger added, 'but I do have one and I'd like to see it on the screen one day.' MORE FROM FORBES Forbes The Bittersweet Ending Of 'Sinners,' Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes The AI-Altered 'Wizard Of Oz' Controversy, Explained By Dani Di Placido Forbes Hirokazu Kore-eda Talks The Meaning Of 'Monster' By Dani Di Placido Forbes What Is 'Squid Game' Season 3 Really About? By Dani Di Placido
Hypebeast
5 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Zach Cregger's ‘Weapons' Debuts to a Strong $42.5 Million USD for Box Office Opening Weekend
Summary The horror genre continues to prove its box office might, as director Zach Cregger's latest film,Weapons, soared to an impressive $42.5 million USD in its North American debut. The film, a star-studded horror thriller, not only commanded the top spot at the domestic box office but also solidified Cregger's reputation as a genre filmmaker with a unique ability to deliver both critical praise and commercial success. Released byWarner Bros. Pictures,Weaponsstars Oscar nomineeJosh Brolinin the lead role, alongside a strong ensemble cast. Its commanding opening weekend is particularly noteworthy as it follows Cregger's breakout 2022 hit,Barbarian, which became a sleeper success. This repeated performance at the box office suggests that Cregger is a filmmaker with a loyal following, and audiences are eager to see his original take on horror and suspense. Weaponsis described as a multi-story horror epic, a narrative approach that Cregger used to great effect inBarbarian. The film's successful opening underscores that audiences are hungry for original, high-concept horror films, especially when they come from a director with a proven track record. This victory forWeaponssets a strong precedent for the genre and marks an exciting new chapter for Zach Cregger in Hollywood. Cregger's latest film stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan. Its success extends Warner Bros.' hot streak under its New Line label. Disney's body swap comedy sequelFreakier Fridayhit the second top spot on the charts this weekend, premiering to $29 million USD. ahead of Marvel'sThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
