You had to drag me kicking and screaming to see the movie, “Weapons.”

Well, not exactly. I drove my vehicle, per usual, to the movie theater.

Even so, it took me a good while to see “Weapons,” the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office in its fourth week of release. I simply didn’t want to see another horror movie. Real life is horrible enough, especially give the subject matter of ”Weapons,” that of the disappearance of elementary school children. It’s too much.

All throat-clearing aside, having seen “Weapons,” I can say that, yes, it is a horror movie with the requisite jump cuts (editing that makes you jump in your seat). And “Weapons” provides a lot of horror film grim humor. “Weapons” is exceptional for any movie genre in every department: directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, acting and soundtrack.

In the movie “Weapons,” 17 children, with the exception of one student, Alex (Cary Christopher), in the fictional town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania, don’t show up one day in the third-grade classroom of their teacher Justine (Julia Garner). The students each had disappeared at 2:17 a.m.

The police have few clues to go on to solve the case. One of the parents, Archer (Josh Brolin), whose child is missing, is especially concerned and mounts an investigation of his own.

To say more about the plot, which is full of twists and turns, would spoil the film for you.

Meanwhile, as the movie season of Summer 2025 winds down, “Weapons” has been this summer’s sleeper hit. It has been one of the few movies at No. 1 two weeks in a row (Aug. 10, 17), possibly three weeks if you don’t count the two-day release Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 of Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” which was said to be No. 1 (Aug. 24) despite Netflix not releasing official box office figures, and now three weeks (Aug. 29-31) at No. 1, and possibly four weeks at No. 1, if you don’t count the pop-up release of “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Other No. 1 movies at the box office in 2025 for two weeks include “Mufasa: The Lion King” (non-successive weeks: Jan. 5, Jan. 19), “Dog Man” (Feb. 2, Feb. 9), “Captain America: Brave New World” (three weeks: Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 2), “A Minecraft Movie” (April 6, April 13), “Sinners” (April 20, April 27), “Thunderbolts,” May 4, May 11), “Lilo & Stitch” (three weeks: May 25, June 1, June 6), “How to Train Your Dragon” (June 15, June 22), “Superman” (July 13, July 20) and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 27, Aug. 3).

Movies that opened at No. 1 and held that spot for one week include: “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” (Jan.12), “Flight Risk” (Jan. 26), “Mickey 17” (March 9), “Novocaine” (March 15), “Snow White” (March 23), “A Working Man” (March 30), “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (May 18), “F1” (June 29) and “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (July 6).

There must be a reason or reasons why “Weapons” has captured movie-goers’ attention.

For one, the film’s combination of mystery and horror never lets up.

Also, you identify with the victims, the children, and their parents.

And you root for the authorities and adults trying to figure out what happened.

In “Weapons,” the acting really supports the story.

Julia Garner (who played the Silver Surfer in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” 2025; and received three Primetime Emmy Awards, supporting actress, drama, TV’s “Ozark,” 2017-2022) as Justine, the grade-school teacher, is a remarkable presence, filled with trepidation, insecurities and insight.

Josh Brolin (Oscar nominee, supporting actor, “Milk,” 2009; and who was in “Dune,” 2021, and its sequel, 2021; “Sicario,” 2015, and its sequel, 2018; the “Avengers” franchise; “No Country for Old Men,” 2007, and “The Goonies,” 1985) as Archer, the grieving father, is solid, energetic and intense.

Cary Christopher (Daytime Emmy Awards nominee, “Days of Our Lives,” 2023) as the young student Alex, is a compelling child actor.

The cast includes Alden Ehrenreich as a police officer, Austin Abrams as a homeless person, Benedict Wong as a school principal, Amy Madigan as Alex’s aunt, and Scarlett Sher as a child narrating the film.

Zach Cregger (Director, “Barbarian,” 2022; TV’s “The Whitest Kids U’Know,” 2007-2011), who wrote the “Weapons” screenplay, directs “Weapons” with skill, understanding and a mastery of the craft. Cregger is a fearless filmmaker who puts fear into the movie-goer.

Cregger constructed a non-linear narrative that unfolds and then wraps back upon itself with the introduction (using title cards) of each character. The film zigs and zags and so will the emotions of the movie-goer.

Cregger composed the soundtrack with brothers Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay.

Larkin Seiple (Cinematographer, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” 2022: Primetime Emmy Awards, cinematography, series-movie, “Gaslit,” 2022; director, music videos) delivers intimate facial close-ups, long establishing shots and shocking action scenes.

The editing by Joe Murphy (“Barbarians”) is superb.

“Weapons” is not for the faint of heart. It is one of 2025’s best movies, horror or otherwise. Don’t miss it.

“Weapons,” Motion Picture Association rated R (Restricted: Persons under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian) for strong bloody violence and grisly images, language throughout, some sexual content and drug use; Genre: Mystery, Horror; Run time: 2 hours, 8 minutes. Distributed by Warner Bros.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Weapons” was filmed May through July 2024 in Atlanta, Ga. The soundtrack includes the song, “Beware of Darkness,” by George Harrison from his triple album, “All Things Must Pass” (1970).

At The Movies: “Weapons” was seen in the Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Aug. 29-31: “Weapons” reclaimed No. 1 over the Labor Day weekend, for a third nonconsecutive week or stayed at No. 1 for four weeks depending on who’s counting, with $10.4 million in 3,416 theaters, $132.6 million, four weeks.

“KPop Demon Hunters” was listed at No. 1 for the Aug. 22-24 weekend with an estimated $18 million in 1,700 theaters, ending the two-week-straight No. 1 run of “Weapons, which dropped to No. 2 with $15.6 million in 3,631 theaters; $115.8 million, three weeks.

However, box office figures for “KPop Demon Hunters” were from industry sources because Netflix didn’t report the movie’s box office numbers. Netflix released “Kpop Demon Hunters” for a two-day run Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 in movie theaters. AMC Theatres, the world’s biggest movie chain, did not book the film.

At No. 2 for the Aug. 29-31 weekend was “Jaws the 2025 re-release (50th anniversary),” directed by Steven Spielberg, $8.1 million in 3,200 theaters, opening. 3. “Caught Stealing,” with Darren Aronofsky directing Austin Butler, Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Liev Schreiber and Regina King, $7.8 million in 3,578 theaters, opening. 4. “Freakier Friday” dropped one place, $6.6 million in 3,475 theaters, $80.5 million, four weeks. 5. “The Roses,” with Jay Roach directing Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg and Allison Janney in the remake of “War of the Roses,” $6.2 million in 2,700 theaters, opening. 6. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” dropped two places, $4.9 million in 2,785 theaters, $264.7 million, six weeks. 7. “The Bad Guys 2” dropped two places, $4.6 million in 3,024 theaters, $72.9 million, five weeks. 8. “Superman” dropped one place, $2.5 million in 1,824 theaters, $351 million, eight weeks. 9. “Nobody 2” dropped three places, $1.8 million in 2,502 theaters, $20.1 million, three weeks. 10. “The Naked Gun” dropped one place, $1.8 million in 1,744 theaters, $50.8 million, five weeks.

The 2025 summer season, from the first weekend of May through Labor Day, grossed $3.67 billion in the United States and Canada, down from $3.68 billion in 2024, according to Comscore.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Aug. 31 is subject to change.

Unreel, Sept. 5:

“Hamilton,” PG-13: Thomas Kail directs Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos and Ariana DeBose in the Biography Drama Musical. The Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda is an interpretation of the life and times of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers and its first Secretary of Treasury. The videotaping of most of the original cast was made in 2016 in the Richard Rodgers Theater. It was streamed on Disney+ in 2020. The Sept. 5 theatrical release marks the musical’s 10th anniversary. The score includes hip-hop jazz, R&B and show tunes styles.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites,” R: Michael Chaves directs Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Ben Hardy in the Horror Thriller. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take one last case. The film is the ninth in “The Conjuring” franchise.

“Splitsville,” R: Michael Angelo Covino directs Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin and himself in the Comedy. A couple that is divorcing seeks solace from another couple.

“Light of the World,” PG: Tom Bancroft and John J. Schafer direct the voice talents of Ian Hanlin, Benjamin Jacobson, Vincent Tong, Michael Benyaer and David Kaye and the animation in the Family Drama. The story of Jesus is told by the Apostle John.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of Aug. 31 is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes