As Labor Day arrives and the last lazy days of summer fade, Hollywood traditionally shifts its focus from the explosive blockbusters of summer to the more cerebral, star-driven films of the fall. This season is a cinematic sweet spot, a prelude to the glitz of awards season and a showcase for some of the year’s most ambitious projects. From psychological thrillers and high-stakes biopics to lavish period pieces and laugh-out-loud comedies, the fall movie calendar is packed with a diverse range of offerings. So grab your popcorn, find your favorite seat, and prepare to dive into this definitive guide to the movies you won’t want to miss.
Awards Season Contenders
The fall is the unofficial start of the Oscar race, and this year’s lineup is already full of potential contenders. The season begins with The Cut (Sept. 5), a classic prizefighter film in the tradition of Rocky, with Orlando Bloom starring as a troubled boxer. The film, which also features Caitríona Balfe and John Turturro, looks to be a powerful character study poised for awards consideration. Another film gaining early buzz is The Smashing Machine (Oct. 3), a dramatic turn for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He transforms into the MMA and UFC champion Mark Kerr in a performance that is already garnering early Oscar buzz. Johnson is joined by his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt in what promises to be a career-redefining role.
Jennifer Lopez is already making waves with her star turn in Kiss of the Spider Woman (Oct. 10), a new adaptation of the classic novel. The film, which also stars Andor’s Diego Luna, is a bold new take on the story of two Brazilian prisoners who escape into a world of make-believe. Another must-see is Luca Guadagnino’s new film, After the Hunt (Oct. 17). The film, which polarized audiences at the Venice Film Festival, stars Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri in a tense who-do-you-believe thriller about a sex assault accusation at a university. For those who love a bold and unexpected performance, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (Oct. 24) is one to watch. The film is already generating Oscar buzz for Rose Byrne in a dramatic role as a mother in peril, with a surprisingly compelling turn from Conan O’Brien. Finally, the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good (Nov. 21) will be closing out the season. The second and final chapter of the adaptation of the Tony-winning musical, starring Oscar nominees Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, will likely be a major contender in both technical and acting categories.
Genre Gems: Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy
Just in time for spooky season and beyond, a number of thrilling genre films are set to hit the big screen. The fall begins with the epic finale of the long-running horror franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites (Sept. 5). Franchise mainstays Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators in what is being billed as a definitive end to their battle with demonic evil. In a more campy and fun vein, Mortal Kombat II (Oct. 24) is a welcome return to the beloved video game adaptation. With Karl Urban joining the cast and a promise of more over-the-top action, fans can expect another enjoyable ride.
For sci-fi fans, two franchises are making highly anticipated returns. The world of Tron gets a slicker, more hi-tech third installment in Tron: Ares (Oct. 10). The film, which features a soundtrack by Oscar-winner Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, promises to be a visually stunning new chapter in the video game series. And the beloved Predator franchise is also back with Predator: Badlands (Nov. 7), starring Elle Fanning in a change of pace as an android who helps an ousted Predator prepare for a new battle.
Biopics and Historical Dramas
This season offers a number of films that will take audiences back in time to explore the lives of real people and pivotal moments in history. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (Oct. 24) continues the tradition of biopics about contemporary rockers, with The Bear star Jeremy Allen White taking on the iconic role of Bruce Springsteen. The film will focus on the creation of his seminal 1982 album, Nebraska. In Blue Moon (Oct. 24), director Richard Linklater, known for his Before trilogy, returns with a historical look at the transition from Rodgers and Hart to Rodgers and Hammerstein. The film, which stars Ethan Hawke and Margaret Qualley, is a treat for fans of musical theater history. And for those interested in a more dramatic historical epic, Nuremberg (Nov. 7) is a must-see. The film, which stars Russell Crowe as infamous Nazi war criminal Hermann Göring and Rami Malek as a psychiatrist involved in the trials, explores the famed trials of Nazi offenders following WWII.
Pure Cinematic Escapism
For viewers who are looking for something completely new and different, a few films this fall promise to defy genre. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (Sept. 19) is a surreal adventure starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell as two strangers who literally step through doors into other periods in their lives. The film’s title alone hints at the kind of imaginative, mind-bending experience audiences can expect. In a more grounded but equally charming film, Good Fortune (Oct. 17) is Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut. The film, which has a cast that includes Seth Rogen, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves, looks like a heartfelt body-swap comedy with a touch of magic. And finally, Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser stars in Rental Family (Nov. 21), a unique fish-out-of-water story about a struggling American actor in Tokyo who gets a job as a stand-in for a Japanese “rental family” agency. The film, which is sure to be a poignant and heartwarming comedy, is a perfect antidote to the darker themes of fall.
