Although it’s only been in theaters for less than a month, the supernatural horror film Weapons is already receiving critical acclaim thanks to its original story and achievements in suspense and psychological thrills.
Starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner, Weapons takes viewers to the town of Maybrook, where a school teacher arrives at her classroom to discover all but one of her students is missing. That’s because at 2:17 am, all of the children from Mrs. Gandy’s (Garner) class disappeared from their homes simultaneously, vanishing into darkness without a trace. This mysterious disappearance leaves the residents up in arms, sparking an investigation to uncover answers about the whereabouts of their children.
If you're a fan of Zach Cregger’s 2025 horror smash, here are five flicks that will give you Weapons vibes.
5. Doctor Sleep
If you loved Weapons for its supernatural thrills centered around its haunting weaponization of children, you should check out 2019’s Doctor Sleep. Directed by Mike Flanagan, this Stephen King gem is a follow-up to The Shining and takes the concept of harvesting children to a whole new level.
Doctor Sleep follows an adult Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he fights to protect an innocent girl from The True Knot: a supernatural cult that feeds on the life force of children. In addition to innocent children being the center of its twisted story, Doctor Sleep also checks boxes for gore, the occult, and psychological horror, so you can fill the void for Weapons until it’s released on streaming.
4. Hereditary
From the masterminds at A24 comes one of the most terrifying horror films in recent history. Hereditary tells the story of “a grieving family who’s haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences.” In addition to harrowing jump scares and creepy occult themes, Hereditary features some of the most brutal, disturbing visuals you’ll ever see on a silver screen, with stellar performances from the cast that will haunt you long after the credits roll (seriously, how did Toni Collette not win an Oscar for this role?)
This Ari Aster flick delivers on possession, family tragedy, and psychological thrills, giving you all the things you love about Weapons without the comedic breaks in tension.
3. The Blair Witch Project
Regarded as one of the best horror films of all time, The Blair Witch Project is a must-see for horror fans in general, but especially for fans of Weapons. Praised for its original story, which helped put the found footage genre on the map, The Blair Witch Project documents a group of friends who mysteriously vanish in a Maryland forest after investigating a local urban legend.
The Blair Witch Project strips down the horror experience to its bare bones, relying mostly on camera tricks, atmosphere, and eerily convincing performances from its cast to achieve its psychological thrills. At the heart of its chilling tale is a supernatural mystery that still haunts viewers to this day. Do yourself a favor and add this one to your watchlist; you won't regret it.
2. The Conjuring 2
One of the standout elements from Weapons is its clever use of atmosphere, with dark halls and creepy doorways that give viewers the heebie jeebies. The Conjuring 2 definitely matches this energy, with terrifying atmospheric horror that makes it a standout in the Conjuring universe.
The Conjuring 2 takes all the elements we love from its predecessor and puts them on steroids, taking Ed and Lorraine Warren from a creepy Rhode Island farmhouse to a haunted house in London as they investigate a malicious entity that terrorizes a single mother and her four children. In addition to introducing us to The Nun, The Conjuring 2 stands out for its genuinely terrifying take on supernatural horror, creating an atmosphere that’s so thick with tension, you’ll forget to breathe.
1. Barbarian
If you’re a fan of Zach Cregger’s writing style and direction, why not check out the horror film that put him on the map? Barbarian is Cregger’s introduction to horror, following a woman who books a stay at an Airbnb in Detroit that isn’t what it appears to be. Barbarian compares to Weapons in several ways:
1. It's an original story written and shot by its creator.
2. It has a star-studded cast that includes Justin Long.
3. It's praised for its achievements in suspense, mystery, and psychological horror.
Considered one of the best horror films of 2022, Barbarian is a must-see for admirers of Zach Cregger’s work.
Experience the terror for yourself: Weapons is playing in theaters nationwide.