The next Ethan Hawke film has all the elements of a simple and straightforward, classic Western.  In The Weight, Hawke plays Samuel, an inmate in a rough prison in the first decades of the 20th century.  When a warden played by Russell Crowe offers him freedom in exchange for working with a small group to courier gold across the mountains, Samuel finds himself willing to do anything to survive to return to his daughter.  It’s hero Hawke against bad guy Crowe and the age difference and acting skill of this duo could make The Weight a movie to catch at least when it makes it’s way to your favorite streaming service.  Hawke keeps pushing out gritty performances, and Crowe has already done it all.

Hawks is known for one of the best survival movies–Alive.  Clunky,  Western survival movies with these two leads should work.  Check out this trailer for The Weight:  

Directed by Padraic McKinley and co-starring Julia Jones (Longmire, The Mandalorian, Twilight), Austin Amelio (The Walking Dead series), and Sam Hazeldine (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Knightfall, Lightfields), The Weight comes to theaters September 18, 2026.

C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg