Vertical has confirmed that THE WEIGHT will debut exclusively in theaters across the United States on September 18, 2026. Alongside the date announcement, the distributor has released the film’s official poster and a suite of social‑optimized artwork designed for platform‑specific promotion.
The film marks a rugged, character‑driven frontier thriller led by Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, bringing together an ensemble cast against the harsh backdrop of Depression‑era Oregon.
Set in 1933, THE WEIGHT follows Samuel Murphy, a father forcibly separated from his daughter and sentenced to a brutal work camp. Under the iron rule of Warden Clancy, Murphy is offered a chance at early release — but only if he agrees to smuggle gold through treacherous wilderness terrain. As the mission unfolds, distrust and betrayal begin to fracture the crew, forcing Murphy to confront the moral cost of survival and the lengths he’ll go to reunite with his child.
The film blends historical grit with emotional stakes, positioning Murphy’s journey as both a physical trial and a test of loyalty, endurance, and conscience.
Cast
- Ethan Hawke
- Russell Crowe
- Julia Jones
- Austin Amelio
- Avi Nash
- Sam Hazeldine
Filmmaking Team
Directed by: Padraic McKinley Screenplay by: Matthew Chapman, Shelby Gaines Story by: Matthew Booi & Leo Scherman, Matthew Chapman
Produced by: Simon Fields, Nathan Fields, Ryan Hawke, Jonas Katzenstein, Maximilian Leo
Executive Producers: Andreas Rübo, Klaus Dohle, Frédéric Fiore, Céline Dornier, Ralf Berchtold, Peter Jarowey, Rich Goldberg, Peter Block
