Stephen King Recommends Horror Film "Weapons" Which Earned 94% Fresh Rating on Rotten Tomatoes

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The author of "The Shining" rarely writes about horror films made by others. But when he does offer recommendations — it's worth listening.

On social media platform X, the "king of horror" called "Weapons" a "confidently told and very scary" film. And this isn't just a polite compliment: Zach Cregger's movie earned 94% "fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes, 7.9 on IMDb, and 81 points on Metacritic.

At the box office, the film that praised is doing even better: according to Variety, with a $38 million budget, it's already pulled in $148 million worldwide and topped the charts for the second weekend straight.

What's the movie about

The story unfolds in an American town where an entire class of schoolchildren suddenly disappears, except for one child.
Weapons movie trailer
The search begins, but the deeper the adults try to dig for the truth, the more obvious it becomes: this isn't about the police or the neighbors. Something far more sinister is at stake.

What hooked audiences

The main strength of "Weapons" is balance. It doesn't just rely on cheap jump scares: viewers laugh, then worry, then jump out of their seats with terror again.

Cregger, who previously made "Barbarian," brought all his experience together to create a film that's both smart and spectacular. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong bring the story to life naturally, and individual scenes, according to critics, "stick in your head for a long time."

What critics are praising

Reviewers highlight Cregger's ability to blend horror and dark humor, atmosphere and unpredictability. "Weapons" gets compared to "It Follows" — a film where it's not so much the monster that scares you, but the logic of what's happening.
Writer Stephen King in a black t-shirt, a girl lies on the bed in fear
Stephen King and a shot from the movie "Weapons"
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The editing and sound design get special praise — many reviewers recommend seeing it in theaters for the full immersive experience. Film critic Tom Ernst from Original-Cin wrote in his review:
Cregger's film stands out from the pack — it's unsettling, strange, and incredibly funny. "Weapons" is a horror movie for people who don't like horror movies.
Tom Ernst from "Original-Cin"

What people are complaining about

Some viewers find the film too drawn-out and criticize the ending as ridiculous. Others compare it to "The Conjuring" and "Get Out" — and feel disappointed that "Weapons" wasn't as powerful.

Complaints mostly boil down to the plot relying on repetitive scenarios and leaving too many questions unanswered.

Should you watch it

Yes, if you love smart horror that doesn't just scare but keeps you intrigued until the end. The finale might spark debates, but that's exactly what makes the film a talking point — it doesn't leave anyone indifferent. Stephen King has already had his say. Now it's time to see if you'll agree with him. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com explained why "Weapons" is being called 2025's biggest horror hit.