Russell Crowe's 92% Rotten Tomatoes Film 'The Weight' Releases This Week

2026 has been a relatively quiet year for Russell Crowe, but his new movie coming out this week could change how it's remembered in the wider scope of his career. Crowe is fresh off a successful year in 2025 when he starred in Nuremberg, the WWII legal thriller that grossed nearly $75 million at the box office before also going on to become one of the most-watched movies of the year on Netflix. Crowe began the year by starring in Beast, the MMA thriller that struggled at the box office before beginning a moderately successful run on Starz. Crowe also starred in a new action movie, The Get Out, which is now available to watch on Paramount+, and the film has already had one run into the global top 10.

Russell Crowe is now more than 20 years removed from his last Oscar nomination, but that isn't stopping him from seeking out new hits across various genres. Crowe's next film arrives this Friday when he teams up with Ethan Hawke for The Weight, which also stars Julia Jones and Austin Amelio. As if the hype couldn't get any higher for the Russell Crowe and Ethan Hawke team-up, the movie already holds a 92% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the highest-rated movies of the entire year. The Weight is only expected to debut in select theaters this weekend starting September 18, but don't be surprised if it puts up solid box office numbers — Crowe may not be the draw he once was, but the pairing with Ethan Hawke and strong reviews will be enough for some fans to take a trip to the theater.

What Is 'The Weight' About?

The official synopsis for The Weight, which was directed by Padraic McKinley, reads as follows: “In Oregon in 1933, Samuel Murphy is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal work camp. Warden Clancy tempts him with early release if he smuggles gold through deadly wilderness, but betrayal festers within the crew, and Murphy questions how far he'll go to see his child again.” Not only does The Weight hold a strong 92% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but this comes from 40 reviews, so it's not a small sample size. The Weight has officially become a must-watch for Crowe fans or just fans of good movies.