Josh Brolin Calls His Latest Horror Hit the Wild Fix for “Boring” Streaming Movies

Josh Brolin is the star of a new horror mystery film called Weapons, which came out in early August 2025. Directed and written by Zach Cregger, the movie follows a strange case where seventeen kids from the same classroom all mysteriously run away on the same night.

The story digs into what really happened to these children, who seem to have been taken by an unknown force. The movie also features Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, and Austin Abrams.

Weapons first hit theaters in the Philippines on August 6, then opened in the United States two days later. It has already earned nearly $30 million worldwide and has been praised by critics everywhere.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a very strong 95% approval rating from 222 critics, while Metacritic gives it a high score of 81 out of 100. Audience reactions are just as positive, with CinemaScore giving it an A− and PostTrak showing most viewers would definitely recommend the film.

For Josh Brolin, the movie offered something fresh compared to the usual streaming content he’s tired of. Talking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Brolin explained why he chose Weapons. He said, “Right now, with so much content, you’re just watching things on whatever streaming service you’re on, and you’re just going, ‘F****, why is this so boring, man? Why?’ And just go to the next thing. It’s all the same s****.” He was looking for something different, something bold.

Brolin was drawn to Weapons after being impressed by Zach Cregger’s earlier film Barbarian. He told Collider, “When I saw Barbarian, I was like, ‘Yeah, I really liked it, but I don’t know why.’” After talking with his daughter, Brolin felt that working with Cregger on Weapons was the right move, and he hasn’t been disappointed.

In the movie, Brolin plays Archer Graff, a man who is angry and confused about the disappearance of the 17 children from Maybrook. What makes the mystery even stranger is that all the kids were from the same teacher’s classroom, and they seemed to leave their homes on their own. The movie mixes horror, mystery, and a bit of absurd humor, keeping viewers guessing and emotionally involved.

Brolin also talked about why horror movies like Weapons can take risks other genres can’t. He said, “It’s not only the freedom of it, because you’re inciting a reaction. You’re getting people raw. You’re getting people reactive.” He explained that the story is very personal to Cregger, who based characters on his own feelings during a traumatic time. This emotional depth helped Brolin connect to the film.

There’s something wrong in Maybrook. #WeaponsMovie – only in theaters August 8. pic.twitter.com/Jb8xd5xkfq

— New Line Cinema (@newlinecinema) April 29, 2025

Critics have agreed that Weapons stands out. Rotten Tomatoes calls it “an expertly crafted yarn of terrifying mystery and thrilling intrigue,” and many say it confirms Zach Cregger as a rising star in horror filmmaking.

For those tired of boring shows on streaming, Josh Brolin believes Weapons is the perfect answer, a wild, bold movie that mixes horror with humor and emotion in a way that keeps audiences hooked.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!