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Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’ Gains Momentum with Viral Marketing and Shared Universe Hints

The horror film, set for an August 8 release, explores chilling themes of child disappearances and generational trauma while teasing connections to Cregger's previous hit, Barbarian.

A child running across a road in Weapons.
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Overview

  • Weapons, written and directed by Zach Cregger, is slated for theatrical release on August 8, 2025, marking his follow-up to the acclaimed Barbarian.
  • The film centers on the eerie disappearance of 17 children from a small Florida town at 2:17 a.m., weaving themes of witchcraft, police corruption, and religious abuse into its narrative.
  • A new viral marketing campaign features a fake news website, Maybrook News, which introduces the plot and connects the film to Barbarian, suggesting a shared universe.
  • CinemaCon footage revealed Julia Garner as a schoolteacher haunted by apparitions of the missing children, with a star-studded cast that includes Josh Brolin and Benedict Wong.
  • The innovative promotional strategy has drawn comparisons to The Blair Witch Project, building anticipation for the film's complex and unsettling storyline.