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Mystery horror film

Weapons (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Weapons (2025) movie poster

Weapons is a 2025 mystery horror film directed by Zach Cregger, starring Julia Garner as Justine Gandy, Cary Christopher and Alden Ehrenreich. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes and earned $270.1 million worldwide on a $38 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and 3 awards in all. Critics gave it 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
worldwide gross
$270.1M
Oscar won
1
Echo Score
80
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Weapons (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 8m (128 min)
Director
Zach Cregger
Genres
Horror , Mystery
Original language
English
Budget
$38M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Weapons About?

The premise of Weapons without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A community is shaken when children from the same class mysteriously vanish overnight, disappearing simultaneously. The inexplicable event leaves residents grappling with fear and suspicion as they try to uncover the cause of the disappearances and the identity of those responsible. The unsettling mystery threatens to unravel the town's sense of safety and reveals hidden tensions within the community.

Weapons Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • evil witch
  • witchcraft
  • missing children
  • missing child
  • female teacher
  • mind control
  • wig
  • junkie
  • stabbing oneself
  • stabbed in the face
  • horror comedy
  • feeding on life force
+38 more
  • possessed by a witch
  • comeuppance
  • gay couple
  • cop drama
  • all star cast
  • bloody violence
  • creepy clown
  • psychological horror
  • husband kills own husband
  • living in a tent
  • taking a gun from someone
  • adultery
  • stabbed with a needle
  • killing a cop
  • potato pealer used as weapon
  • estranged aunt
  • lock of hair
  • killed by a car
  • character names as chapter titles
  • husband cheats on wife
  • title spoken in dialogue
  • graffiti on a car
  • stabbed with a fork
  • sick aunt
  • headbutt
  • reference to aids
  • pawn shop
  • skin peeled off
  • chicken noodle soup
  • body torn apart
  • hit by a car
  • pricking one's finger
  • out of sequence story line
  • nightmare
  • 50 thousand dollar reward
  • missing person poster
  • happy ending
  • predator becomes prey
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Cast & crew

Weapons Cast & Characters

Julia Garner leads the cast as Justine Gandy, with Cary Christopher as Alex Lilly and Alden Ehrenreich as Paul. Directed by Zach Cregger; 20 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Weapons Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Weapons 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (84) and weakest in story & flow (70).

80 /100

Weapons Echo Score Breakdown

Weapons stands out for its inventive premise and strong visual execution, though its lengthy narrative hampers consistent momentum. Critics and viewers alike commend the film’s bold direction, striking cinematography, and the cast’s solid performances, while noting that the pacing and ambiguous ending dilute its impact. The blend of unsettling horror and dark humor creates a memorable experience that rewards repeat viewings despite occasional structural flaws.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 84

    In terms of direction and visual craft, Weapons excels with confident lighting, striking night‑time photography, and a distinctive IMAX presentation. Reviewers highlight the director’s efficient world‑building and inventive camera work, while some note uneven stitching of narrative threads and editing choices that affect pacing. Overall, the artistic execution is strong, with only minor technical hiccups.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When it comes to character and emotion, the ensemble delivers compelling and often nuanced performances, especially from Julia Garner and Josh Brolin. Critics praise the depth and chemistry of the cast, though a few observe that certain characters serve primarily plot functions. The acting overall adds weight to the horror, balancing the film’s darker comedic tones.

  • Story & Flow 70

    The story’s mystery and multi‑perspective structure are praised for originality and engaging intrigue. However, several reviewers point to a stretched pace, a sluggish middle act, and an ending that leaves some viewers unsatisfied. While the narrative ambition is evident, inconsistencies in pacing and resolution temper its overall effectiveness.

  • Sensory Experience 78

    Weapons offers a rich sensory experience, with a bold visual palette that enhances its horror set pieces and a sound design that supports the unsettling atmosphere. Viewers appreciate the crisp IMAX visuals, yet note inconsistent audio levels that diminish impact in some screenings. The overall sensory package remains immersive despite these minor flaws.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s enigmatic plot and lingering dread encourage multiple viewings, and its blend of humor and terror gives it lasting appeal. Some audiences, however, cite the slow‑burn pacing and ambiguous conclusion as reasons to hesitate on repeat watches. The net impression is that the movie rewards revisiting for fans of inventive horror.

Plot

Weapons Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Weapons from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film unfolds through a nonlinear narrative, weaving together the stories of various characters whose lives become intertwined by a mysterious and sinister event. The story begins with a child narrator recounting a chilling incident that took place on a Wednesday at 2:17 a.m. in Maybrook, Pennsylvania. In this unsettling moment, seventeen children from teacher Justine Gandy’s third-grade class vanish without a trace, leaving only one child, Alex Lilly, behind.

Full summary

The whole story of Weapons, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Weapons Box Office & Budget

Weapons grossed $270.1 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, 7.1 times what it cost. $151.6 million came from the US and Canada and $118.5 million (44%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$270.1M

7.1× its budget

US & Canada
$151.6M
International
$118.5M
Budget
$38M
US & Canada 56% Rest of the world 44%
Awards

Weapons Awards & Nominations

Weapons won 1 Oscar, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and 3 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2026, with 1 win from 3 nominations.

3 wins8 nominations5 ceremonies

Show all 5 ceremonies
  • Producers Guild of America Awards logo
    PGA Awards 2026 1 nomination
    • Nominated Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
Videos

Weapons Trailers & Videos

65 videos: 2 trailers, 44 teasers, 7 clips, 9 featurettes and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.

All 65 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer 2
  • Teaser Teaser
  • Teaser The situation is developing.
  • Teaser Enter at your own risk.
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Weapons?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What narrative structure is used in 'Weapons from 2025'?

Cars

Cars in Weapons

58 cars on screen, including the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica and the 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit.

All 58 cars
  • 2021 Chrysler Pacifica in Weapons 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Important role
  • 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit in Weapons 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit Important role
  • 2019 Ram 1500 in Weapons 2019 Ram 1500 Important role
  • 2006 Toyota RAV4 in Weapons 2006 Toyota RAV4 Important role
Details

Weapons Also Known As

30 alternative titles, including “武器” and “A Hora do Mal”.

Also known as
  • 武器
  • A Hora do Mal
  • La hora de la desaparición
  • Weapons - Die Stunde des Verschwindens
  • Weapons: Die Stunde des Verschwindens
  • 凶器
  • Fegyverek
  • Išnykimo valanda
  • Zniknięcia
  • Hora do Desaparecimento
  • Trenutak nestajanja
  • Silahlar
+18 more
  • Зброя
  • Giờ Mất Tích
  • เวเพินส์
  • 웨폰
  • Évanouis
  • Орудия
  • Relvad
  • Zbrane
  • שעת הנעלמים
  • Оръжия, იარაღები
  • أسلحة
  • Ura izginotja
  • Arme
  • سلاح ها
  • Hodina zmizení
  • Pazušanas stunda
  • Тренутак нестајања
  • Heure de disparition

Seen Weapons?

FAQ

Weapons FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Weapons, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Weapons?

Weapons runs 2 hours 8 minutes (128 minutes).

When was Weapons released?

Weapons was released on August 8, 2025.

Who directed Weapons?

Weapons was directed by Zach Cregger.

More films by Zach Cregger

Who is in the cast of Weapons?

Weapons stars Julia Garner as Justine Gandy, Cary Christopher as Alex Lilly and Alden Ehrenreich as Paul, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Weapons make at the box office?

Weapons grossed $270.1 million worldwide ($151.6 million domestic, $118.5 million international) on a budget of $38 million.

How is Weapons rated?

Weapons has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 81 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

What awards did Weapons win?

Weapons won 3 awards from 8 nominations, including Best Supporting Actress at the Critics' Choice 2026.

Does Weapons have a post-credit scene?

No. Weapons has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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