After three weeks in theaters that didn’t yield much in the name of box-office returns, but certainly delivered much-needed publicity, the critically acclaimed new Western drama from the filmmaker chosen to direct Sicario 3 is headed home. The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and was released theatrically by Vertical in September. It managed to gross a little more than $3 million over the course of its run, a figure that doesn’t accurately reflect its positive reviews. In fact, the movie in question is the highest-rated title starring Russell Crowe in nearly three decades, which is certainly saying something.
Also starring Ethan Hawke, it holds a “Certified Fresh” 94% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. This is Crowe’s highest Rotten Tomatoes score since the 1999 cult classic The Insider, directed by Michael Mann. That movie now holds a 96% score, while Crowe’s breakout hit, L.A. Confidential, is sitting at a near-perfect 99% score. The new movie has outperformed Crowe’s other critically acclaimed features such as The Nice Guys (91%), 3:10 to Yuma (89%), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (85%), and State of Play (84%).
Here’s When You Can Watch the Critically Acclaimed Western Drama at Home
We’re talking, of course, about The Weight, directed by the first-time feature filmmaker Padraic McKinley. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads, “The Weight turns a stripped-down tale of desperation into a gripping, hard-hitting thriller, elevated by Ethan Hawke’s magnetic performance and Padraic McKinley’s assured direction.” McKinley has now been tapped to helm Sicario 3, which will reunite Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin. The filmmaker previously worked with Crowe on Poker Face, The Loudest Voice, and The Exorcism, and with Hawke on The Good Lord Bird. The Weight is about to hit the PVOD market, where it’ll likely find a larger audience. Don’t be surprised if, this time next week, it’s charting alongside fellow Crowe titles such as Master and Commander, The Get Out, and Unabomber. You can watch The Weight at home beginning October 20, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Release Date
September 18, 2026
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Padraic McKinley