Box Office Shockwave: Weapons Crosses $100M as Julia Garner & Josh Brolin Horror Hit Gains Awards Buzz

Hollywood’s horror streak isn’t slowing down. Writer-director Zach Cregger’s Weapons has officially passed the $100 million domestic box office mark, becoming the second original R-rated horror film of 2025 to do so after Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. The milestone underscores not just a major win for Warner Bros. and New Line, but for a genre that’s proving it can still deliver fresh, original stories that resonate with audiences.

A Horror Hot Streak for Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. has now scored three horror triumphs in a row this year: Coogler’s Sinners, the rebooted Final Destination: Bloodlines (already past $385 million globally), and now Weapons. The latter has already tallied around $170 million worldwide, thanks to strong overseas play.

The film hit $100 million in North America on day 14 of its release—slightly slower than Sinners but still far ahead of initial projections. It opened with a surprise $43.5 million debut weekend and has continued to hold strong thanks to stellar reviews (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and an A- CinemaScore from audiences, an almost unheard-of grade for an R-rated horror film.

Julia Garner & Josh Brolin Lead the Chilling Ensemble

Weapons stars Julia Garner as a schoolteacher whose students mysteriously disappear at 2:17 a.m., while Josh Brolin plays a grieving father determined to uncover the truth. The cast also includes Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and Amy Madigan—whose bone-chilling turn as Aunt Gladys is already generating early awards buzz.

The anthology-style horror unfolds in chapters, and insiders say Cregger originally scripted a segment focusing on Aunt Gladys’ origins. With the movie’s runaway success, Warner Bros. and New Line are reportedly eyeing a full-fledged prequel centered on the creepy character.

Cregger’s Meteoric Rise

Cregger, who made waves with his breakout Barbarian in 2022, has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after horror storytellers. New Line paid a hefty $38 million for the Weapons package—including a $10 million payday for Cregger himself—after a fierce bidding war. He’s now prepping Sony’s next Resident Evil film, proving his rise in the genre is only accelerating.

A Year of Horror Dominance

The success of Weapons adds to a genre-defining year. Coogler’s Sinners has grossed over $278 million domestically, becoming the highest-grossing original R-rated horror film in U.S. history (surpassing Jaws unadjusted for inflation). Together, Sinners and Weapons are rewriting the narrative that original horror films can’t compete with franchise blockbusters.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is on an unprecedented hot streak—Weapons was its seventh release of the year to open at No. 1, and the sixth consecutive film to debut above $40 million domestically. Add in James Gunn’s Superman nearing $600 million and Apple’s F1: The Movie zooming past the same milestone, and the studio has found itself at the center of 2025’s biggest box office wins.

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The box office story of 2025 isn’t superheroes—it’s horror. With Sinners, Bloodlines, and now Weapons, Warner Bros. has turned R-rated, high-concept horror into a global business model. The twist? These aren’t remakes or recycled sequels—Cregger and Coogler are proving that audiences will show up for original stories when the creative vision is strong. Julia Garner’s performance and Amy Madigan’s unforgettable Aunt Gladys may be the first true Oscar contenders out of the horror genre in years. Expect this “Nine Lives of Horror” momentum to carry through awards season, and don’t be shocked if Weapons spawns a new franchise of its own.

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