Podcast Summary: The Bobby Bones Show presents "MOVIE MIKE: Weapons Director Zach Cregger on What They Don't Tell You About Having A No. 1 Movie, Brad Pitt and His Favorite Punk Bands + Movie Review: Him + Trailer Park: Sydney Sweeney in “Christy”"

Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Movie Mike
Guest: Zach Cregger (Director, "Weapons")
Produced by: Premiere Networks

Episode Overview

In this episode, Movie Mike welcomes filmmaker Zach Cregger, director of the new horror movie "Weapons" and known for his comedic background in "The Whitest Kids U’ Know." They discuss the realities behind having a number-one movie, navigating success, and Cregger’s personal touchpoints—from sobriety to punk rock influences. The episode also features a spoiler-free review of "Him," a new football-themed horror movie, and a deep dive into the trailer for Sydney Sweeney’s boxing biopic, "Christy." Mike wraps up with his top five directors of the 2020s and listener correspondence.

Main Interview: Zach Cregger on Success, Film, and Punk Rock (03:06–14:50)

The Reality of Hitting Number One

• Surreal Feelings:
  • Cregger describes the day after "Weapons" debuted at #1:

    "It doesn’t feel like, I think maybe somebody might expect it to feel because you’re still in your bed, in your skin, in your room...there’s no new pixie dust sprinkled in the air." (05:06)

  • Despite external success, life feels much the same, with only an underlying "cushion of self-esteem."

On Chasing Fulfillment

• Discussion draws parallels between Mike’s personal weight loss journey and Cregger’s achievement as a filmmaker.
• Both acknowledge the “what now?” feeling after a major milestone.
  • Cregger:

    "...I have this cushion of self-esteem that I’ve never had before and I only got that after I got sober." (06:08)

Social Media & Recognition

• Mike and Cregger muse over the surreal thrill of having major celebrities (like Post Malone/Brad Pitt) notice your work:
  • Cregger:

    "Brad Pitt. I’ve always been a giant fan. That would be pretty cool." (08:33)

  • They joke about crafting scenes that, one day, Barack Obama might watch.

Lessons from Weapons

• On Set Attitude Adjustment:
  • Cregger:

    "My cinematographer said during prep, ‘We’re not playing a win-lose game here. We only win.’...I don’t need to freak out. The movie’s gonna win because it’s a good idea and I have talented people." (09:08)

Comedy and Horror: Two Sides of Surprise

• Cregger breaks down the similarity between comedy and horror—both rely on timing and surprise:
  • Cregger:

    "...Every joke, everything you’ve ever laughed at follows a recipe...An action with an expected outcome yields an unexpected outcome...that anti-rhythm or that little pop is probably going to be good at scaring you, because scares follow the same anatomy..." (10:50)

Punk Roots and Mount Rushmore of Punk Bands

• Cregger’s punk Mount Rushmore: Bad Brains, Fugazi, Misfits (with Danzig), Dead Kennedys (12:25)
• Mike’s picks trend pop-punk, prompting a playful back-and-forth on "true punk" vs. pop punk:
  • Cregger:

    "Every band you just named is like pop punk!" (13:35)

Closing

• Mike thanks Cregger, expressing fan affection and admiration for his horror work (14:39)
• Cregger’s humility and willingness to razz Mike create a relaxed, candid interview tone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You’re still you." — Zach Cregger describing success (05:06)
• "I have this cushion of self-esteem that I’ve never had before and I only got that after I got sober." — Cregger (06:08)
• "We only win." — Cregger, quoting his cinematographer on set (09:08)
• "Every joke, everything you’ve ever laughed at follows a recipe…that formula is…an action with an expected outcome yields an unexpected outcome." — Cregger (10:50)
• "Every band you just named is like pop punk!" — Cregger playfully ribbing Mike (13:35)

Movie Mike’s Top 5 Directors of the 2020s (15:00–27:47)

1. James Gunn:
   Lauded for revitalizing DC and Marvel with "The Suicide Squad," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," and "Superman."
2. Christopher Nolan:
   Praised for the innovation of "Oppenheimer" and anticipation for his epic-scale projects.
3. Yorgos Lanthimos:
   Celebrated for offbeat, risqué films like "Poor Things" and the upcoming "Bugonia."
4. Zach Cregger:
   Recognized for the impact of "Barbarian" and "Weapons."
5. Celine Song:
   Admired for emotional storytelling in "Past Lives" and "Materialists."

• Mike discusses each filmmaker’s defining strengths, with shoutouts to up-and-coming and honorable mention directors (Emerald Fennell, Greta Gerwig, the Daniels, etc.)
• Mention of hype around Cregger’s next project: "Resident Evil" reboot.

Spoiler-Free Review: "Him" (30:40–37:12)

• Overview:
  • Not directed by Jordan Peele (producer only), "Him" is a horror film about youth football and the cost of chasing greatness.
• Criticisms:
  • Marketing leans too heavily on Peele’s name; felt like a "bait and switch."
  • Overly weird, chaotic pacing:

    "The issue I had with ‘Him’ is it got too weird too quickly ..." (30:40)

  • Mike found the cult-like plot elements common and unsatisfying.
  • Character development for protagonist Cameron felt lacking.
  • Marlon Wayans and Julia Fox turn in the best performances; otherwise inconsistent.

• Aesthetic vs. Substance:

  "I think sometimes as people who talk about movies ... we get too fixated ... Sometimes a movie doesn’t have to have a plot if it has a vibe. And ‘Him’ for sure leaned more into having a vibe."

• Final Score:

  "Overall for ‘Him’, I give it three out of five footballs." (36:58)

Trailer Park: Sydney Sweeney in “Christy” (40:05–49:57)

• Film Premise:
  • Sweeney plays boxing champ Christy Martin; Ben Foster co-stars.
  • Story covers her rise, battles inside and out of the ring, with themes of resilience and reclaiming self.
• Mike’s Impressions:
  • Surprised by the less-than-gritty look of the trailer after Sweeney’s intense preparation.
  • Notes the trailer feels formulaic: cramming in the character’s whole life arc, three-act structure visible.
  • Flags over-reliance on dramatic pop song covers—a biopic cliche.
  • Costuming/wigs call attention to themselves, lessening authenticity.
  • Foster’s performance could risk being overcooked:

    "Some say he overacts a little bit. And I like Ben Foster ... but to some, that style is a little bit off-putting ..." (48:00)

  • Holds out hope for Sydney Sweeney, but isn’t convinced by the trailer.
  • Draws parallels with other sports biopics and the risks of "too big" a story.

Listener Shout-Out & Closing (50:01–end)

• Listener Shout-Out:
  • Mike thanks JW on Instagram for feedback on "The Long Walk" adaptation, and reflects on his struggle to finish books before movies release.
• Tidbit:
  • Mike reacts with excitement about the newly announced "Super Mario Galaxy" movie and reminisces about playing the original game during college.
• Outro:
  • Encourages listeners to tag him on social platforms and promises more movie chats next week.

Key Timestamps

• 03:06 – Episode segment opens; Mike introduces Zach Cregger.
• 05:06 – Cregger describes the reality of a #1 movie.
• 09:08 – Set lessons from filming Weapons.
• 10:50 – On why comedians make great horror directors.
• 12:25 – Cregger’s punk Mount Rushmore.
• 15:00 – Mike’s top 5 directors segment begins.
• 30:40 – "Him" spoiler-free movie review.
• 40:05 – Trailer Park: "Christy" review.
• 50:01 – Listener shout-out & Super Mario Galaxy news.

Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Conversational, candid, and music/movie-nerd-enthusiastic.
• Cregger provides personal insights into creative fulfillment, mental health, and genre filmmaking.
• Episode offers entertaining tangents (punk rock, celebrity sightings, social media quirks) alongside concrete film analysis and industry commentary.
• Provides both practical insights for creatives and fun pop culture debates for casual listeners.

Recommendation

A can’t-miss episode for fans of horror, punk rock, and behind-the-scenes film stories with laughs and honesty. Stick around for the breakdowns of "Him" and the skepticism (but hope) for Sydney Sweeney's turn as a boxing icon.