ADVERTISEMENT While it was highly anticipated, Zach Cregger’s Weapons has become the breakout hit of the summer no one expected.
Not only did the American filmmaker’s sophomore horror film top the box office during its debut weekend and has raked in a reported $92 million internationally at the time of writing (on a budget of $38 million), it’s also become one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2025.
For those who haven’t yet had the pleasure, Weapons is a mystery horror gem that takes place in the aftermath of the disappearance of 17 children, who all leave their homes one night at precisely 2:17am. They run into the night and are never seen or heard from again.
In our (glowing) review for Weapons, we wrote: “Cregger skilfully employs a Rashomon-style narrative construction to craft a distressing fairytale that starts off as a small-town mystery thriller with shades of Twin Peaks and Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners. And his novelistic approach pays off, as it only furthers quite how much Stephen King must be green with envy that this suburban US nightmare isn’t his baby.”
We added: “Weapons has become the tense and deliriously entertaining horror film to beat this year. Considering 2025 has already been good to the genre, with Presence, Sinners, The Ugly Stepsister, 28 Years Later and Bring Her Back – to name but a few highlights – that should tell you plenty.”
But because we can’t have nice, self-contained things, there’s trouble afoot…
There are only three certainties in life: death, taxes and Hollywood greed. The slightest whiff of buzz and box office glory and opportunistic studios start getting ideas, seeking to milk creative properties dry. And because Weapons is a hit, a prequel has apparently been tabled, with Cregger reportedly in early talks for a time-reversing follow-up.
Per an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter, Cregger is in early discussions with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema for an origin film set in the Weapons universe – with the prequel focusing on the film’s mysterious antagonist.
Warning: mild spoilers ahead.
The prequel would focus on Amy Madigan’s character Gladys – this demented fairytale’s witch, who cast a spell on the kiddies and ends up meeting a particularly gruesome end.
On a surface level, a prequel could make some artistic sense. Weapons is a non-linear story that explores multiple viewpoints, and the film never gets Gladys’ perception. There’s no doubt that Madigan would ace it if she were to return to the role, and Cregger has proven that he’s not to be underestimated.
However, one of the many reasons why Weapons works so well is a lack of backstory for the evil character. We don’t need answer dumps or to be clued up on the ‘why’ behind her nefarious motivations; it’s a lot creepier when these elements remain unknown.
Prequels not only run the risk of botching continuity, canon and tension, but dish out unnecessary explanations. Recent examples like The Hobbit trilogy, Furiosa and Wonka prove it. Moreover, they are always poison when it comes to the most interesting characters: villains.
A villain origin story that reveals motive ruins mythology, quashes audience imagination, and tanks the scare potential of a truly excellent antagonist.
Norman Bates is far more scary without a motive. Darth Vader definitely lost his threatening edge when George Lucas decided to go back and unveil his entire backstory. Hannibal Lecter is much less frightening once you’ve been force fed the origins of his cannibalistic ways. And the nightmares triggered by aunt Gladys will be more underwear soiling if audiences are purposefully kept in the dark about why she’s parasitically invading families’ spaces and terrorising small towns.
“It’s a lot scarier when there’s no motive, Sid.”
Wise words from Billy Loomis in the first (and best) Scream film.
So, Mr. Cregger, if you’re reading… First of all, congrats and enjoy your moment – it’s merited. Secondly, please don’t bend to studio pressure and fight for Weapons to be a standalone. We understand you’re already busy with the upcoming Resident Evil film, as well as an original film you’re reportedly working on titled Flood. Do those.
And if you won’t listen to Euronews Culture, please listen to Billy. Murderous tendencies aside, he had a point.
