Russell Crowe & Ethan Hawke’s New Movie Out This Week Gets 93% RT Score

Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke‘s new historical drama is arriving this week. The film, directed by Padraic McKinley, is set during the Great Depression. The story follows a man whose difficult circumstances lead him toward a dangerous path to freedom. His relationship with his daughter also plays an important role.

The Weight hits theaters on September 18, 2026. It currently has a 93% score with 69 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. The film previously premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Hawke stars as Samuel Murphy, with Crowe playing Warden Clancy. The cast also includes Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen, and Avy Berry.

How The Weight turns a prison escape into a fight for redemption

The Weight follows Samuel Murphy, a single father serving time at a labor camp. His imprisonment keeps him away from his daughter. He eventually gets a chance to change his situation when Warden Clancy approaches him with an unusual proposition.

Clancy offers Samuel a deal that could secure his release. In return, Samuel must help transport gold from a remote mine through the Oregon wilderness. He accepts the assignment, knowing that the journey could lead him back to his daughter.

The journey quickly becomes a test of survival. Samuel and the other prisoners have to navigate difficult terrain while dealing with exhaustion and the threat of violence. Their mission also creates tension within the group as they attempt to protect the valuable cargo and reach their destination.

For Samuel, however, the gold is only part of the reason he accepts the assignment. His main goal is to return to his daughter and rebuild the life he lost. The dangerous journey, therefore, becomes a chance to gain more than his freedom from prison.

McKinley directs The Weight, based on a screenplay by Matthew Booi and Shelby Gaines. Simon Fields, Nathan Field, Ryan Hawke, Jonas Katzenstein, and Maximilian Leo produced the film. It blends its survival elements with a personal story about family and second chances.

The Weight arrives in theaters on September 18. Its early Rotten Tomatoes score also gives the new Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke drama strong early critical attention as it begins its theatrical run.

Source: Comingsoon.net