Zach Cregger: I can’t release Barbarian on disc; Weapons director explains the revival of the horror genre
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Zach Cregger, director of the box office hit Weapons, said in an interview with Collider that despite his efforts, he has so far been unable to release his film Barbarian on physical media.
“I made noise, I called people, and I did everything I could to get it released physically. I couldn’t find a way, and it’s frustrating,” he said.
Barbarian was made on a $4 million budget and grossed over $45 million in 2022, but since then, 20th Century Studios has refused to release a physical version of the film.
Before Cregger, Mike Flanagan, director of Doctor Sleep, had said that Netflix had shown a “hostile” attitude toward suggestions of releasing physical versions of his films:
“I tried really hard to get them to agree to put my work on Blu-ray and DVD. Netflix refused every time. It quickly became clear that their only priority is subscriber acquisition, and they are consistently hostile toward physical media.”
In another part of his interview with Collider, Cregger explained why horror films have recently become more innovative and successful at the box office:
“The budgets for these films aren’t massive, and that means you can take bigger risks. I think it’s one of the few theatrical spaces right now where you can genuinely be surprised.”
Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, was made on a $38 million budget and features an ambiguous ending. It grossed $70 million worldwide in its opening week.
Original horror films in 2025 have seen a notable trend of both critical acclaim and commercial success. Sinners scored 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Weapons 95%, Together 90%, and Bring Her Back 89%, all part of this ongoing wave.
