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Weapons, Zach Cregger’s follow-up to the 2022 cult horror hit Barbarian, is one of the year’s biggest horror success stories. It’s not surprising, given that the script alone had Hollywood so excited it sparked a multi-million-dollar bidding war.
Not only did Cregger write the script, but he also directed, produced, and co-composed the music. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, with Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan star in the wild horror hit of the summer.
If you skipped the theaters or can’t wait to watch it again, Weapons is now available to watch at home. Here’s what you need to know to tune in — including where to watch it and when it will be streaming.
What is Weapons about?
Weapons tells the story of a community left in crisis when all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish at the same time on the same night. The story splits its time between various non-linear viewpoints, including the missing kids’ teacher Justine (Julia Garner) and Archer (Josh Brolin), father to one of the missing children.
Who or what is behind their disturbing disappearance into darkness? It’s best that’s all you know going into the film. As Mashable film critic Belen Edwards writes, “The best way to prepare for its thrills is to simply not prepare at all.”
Get a glimpse at the mystery in the creepy trailer:
Is Weapons worth watching?
Strong test screenings led Warner Bros. to bump up the release date for Weapons from Jan. 2026 to Aug. 2025 and it definitely paid off. One of the biggest horror success stories of the year, the $38 million budget film has grossed $251M worldwide to date. Of course, box office totals only tell half of the story. Reviews tell the other.
With a 94 percent critic rating and 85 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say Weapons is worth watching. Even Stephen King gave it his nod of approval, calling it “confidently told and very scary.”
Mashable’s own reviewer writes, “The last thing I ever want to do is overhype a movie, but just trust me when I say: You are not ready for Weapons.”
Check out Mashable’s full review of Weapons.
How to watch Weapons at home
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Weapons hit theaters on Aug. 8, 2025. If you missed the mystery unfold on the big screen or you can’t wait to watch it again, there are a couple of different ways to watch it at home as of Sept. 9: purchasing via digital video-on-demand and renting via digital video-on-demand. Soon, you’ll also be able to stream it. We’ve broken down the details below.
Buy or rent on digital
As of Sept. 9, Weapons is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just note that although you’ll have 30 days to watch, you’ll only have 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.
You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:
Stream it on HBO Max (at a later date)
As a Warner Bros. Pictures movie, we know that Weapons will make its streaming debut on HBO Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service. While no streaming date has been announced yet, you probably won’t have to wait long. Based on other Warner Bros. theatrical titles like Final Destination: Bloodlines and Sinners, we can make an educated guess that Weapons will hit HBO Max in October — just in time for spooky season.
HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.
Mashable Deals
The best HBO Max streaming deals
Best for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription
The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $9.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $8.33. With the annual plan, you’ll pay $99.99, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.
Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription
Rather go ad-free? The annual Max Standard or Premium plans will also save about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). Both tiers offer ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier goes a step further with 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.
Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan
Looking for a way to get HBO Max for free in 2025? Switch your phone plan to Cricket’s $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you’ll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.
Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan
Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is to sign up for the DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). DashPass memberships include $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus a complimentary HBO Max subscription (with ads). Activate the subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. Rather watch ad-free? You can upgrade for a discounted rate.
Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads
College students can watch Weapons when it hits streaming by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month.
Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 43% off
For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $29.97 per month, so you’ll keep an extra $13 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer an ad-less experience, the bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $50.97. That’s up to 43% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.
