If you’ve been watching the horror landscape this year, one thing’s obvious: in spite of the fact that Universal all but created the genre, Warner Bros. has horror by the throat. The Conjuring: Last Rites just claimed the highest global opening ever for a horror film, knocking down big names like IT and IT: Chapter Two. Meanwhile, three of 2025’s other biggest horror box office winners, Sinners, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and Weapons, are also WB projects.

Now the studio seems to be going for more than Universal’s jugular. They’re pushing for Oscar recognition.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is planning awards campaigns for Sinners and Weapons. It’s an unusually bold move for horror as genre films seldom get this kind of push for Academy Award consideration. But WB is likely aiming to follow in the path of Silence of the Lambs (Best Picture, 1992) and Get Out (Best Screenplay, 2018).

Of the two, Sinners seems to be in line for major nominations; Best Picture, Screenplay, Director, maybe Best Actor. But Weapons isn’t being written off. Amy Madigan’s creepy, chilling turn as Aunt Gladys has earned buzz, and some believe she could land a Best Supporting Actress nomination. (Madigan was previously nominated back in 1986 for Twice in a Lifetime.)

I did a bit of digging, and, interestingly, discovered that across all categories, horror films have earned fewer than 30 total Oscar wins since the Academy began in 1929. By contrast, some single movies (Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Titanic) have earned more Oscars individually than the entire horror genre combined. And ironically, the last time a WB horror movie won an Oscar was 1974 for The Exorcist.

If, like me, you whiffed seeing Weapons in the theater, fear not — it became available for digital rental or purchase via platforms like Amazon, Apple, Fandango at Home, etc., on September 9, 2025.