'The Weight' Starring Ethan Hawke & Russell Crowe Lands September Release

Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe will face off on the big screen when The Weight opens in U.S. theaters on September 18, 2026. Vertical has acquired North American rights after the film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and earned strong early reviews, including a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Weight marks Padraic McKinley’s feature directorial debut. Set in Oregon in 1933, the historical action thriller follows Samuel Murphy (Hawke), who, after his wife’s death and confinement in a labor camp, fights to regain custody of his daughter Penny. Under the ruthless overseer Clancy (Crowe), Murphy is drawn into a dangerous gold-smuggling operation threatened by the wilderness and betrayal within his own ranks.

Matthew Chapman and Shelby Gaines wrote the screenplay, with Julia Jones, Austin Amelio and Avi Nash among the supporting cast.

United States, Oregon

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