Without a doubt, the summer of 2023 was a great time for movies.
Whether you flocked to the theaters in your best pink getup for Barbie, or relished in Tom Cruise’s most daring stunts so far, cinema has had a refreshing renaissance these past couple of months, and the momentum isn’t dying out anytime soon. While several releases slated for fall have been delayed, including major blockbusters like Dune: Part Two, there’s still an ample amount of exciting films coming out over the next few months that you should watch out for.
From popular video games finally making their way onto the big screen, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe soft-launching its newest chapter; from a familiar face continuing his thunderous adventure under the sea, to multiple beloved franchises getting long-awaited reboots, this fall is offering up a storm of movies across all genres that are sure to capture audiences everywhere.
We’ve sifted through all the releases coming out over the next four months, and have rounded up the best 20 you don’t want to miss. Grab your popcorn, have your Letterboxd reviews ready, and enjoy the show along with us.
Note: As the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike ensues, we’ll update this list accordingly to potential delays.
1. Dumb Money
The chronically online will remember the tide-turning GameStop short squeeze that dominated over any and every news cycle in 2021. The landmark event saw a rag-tag group of nobodies from Reddit’s Wall Street Bets page completely turn Wall Street on its own head by mass-buying GameStop’s stocks and doubling, tripling, even quadrupling their prices overnight. Now we all get to relive this perfect piece of modern history through Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money that’s set to reimagine the GameStop mania on the big screen.
Playing Keith Gill, aka the man behind the Reddit thread that launched a thousand tweets, stocks, and crying hedge fund managers, is Paul Dano, who’s also joined by a stellar ensemble cast to tell Gill’s story. Dumb Money explores the highs and lows of the roller-coaster event, along with the surprising risks of becoming the Internet’s most celebrated millionaire overnight. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, and Seth Rogen.
Distributor: Sony Pictures
How to Watch: Dumb Money releases in limited theaters on Sept. 15, with a wide release on Oct. 6.
2. Expend4bles
Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, and 50 Cent blow stuff up—need we say more? The fourth installment in The Expendables franchise, Expend4bles (succinctly titled) follows the action-packed adventures of a ruthless defense team tasked with stopping a nuclear trade before its disastrous effects are unleashed. But let’s be honest: The plot of Expend4bles doesn’t really matter. Nor does whatever happened in the first three films. All you need to know is Hollywood’s biggest, baddest action stars all pack this high-octane flick with enough stunts, weapons, and explosives to last a lifetime and make for one incredibly fun night at the movies. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Scott Waugh
Starring: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Randy Couture, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran, and Andy García.
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
How to Watch: Expend4bles releases in theaters on Sept. 22.
3. Dicks: The Musical
You might not have asked for an A24 musical, but alas, it’s here and it’s called Dicks. Based on the off-Broadway musical, Fucking Identical Twins, by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson, Dicks: The Musical follows two business rivals who realize they’re long-lost, identical twin brothers and come up with a plan to reunite their divorced parents à la The Parent Trap. As the brothers switch places and try to piece their family together again, a hilarious adventure filled with equal parts chaotic hijinks and musical numbers comes to fruition. Watch for the A24-ian antics, and stay for Megan Thee Stallion walking a group of men on leashes. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Larry Charles
Starring: Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson, Bowen Yang, Megan Thee Stallion, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, and Nathan Lane.
Distributor: A24
How to Watch: Dicks: The Musical releases in theaters on Sept. 29.
4. Saw X
Saw’s journey began all the way back in 2004 with the first iteration of a now 10-film series. While some of the characters and plot points of the franchise have changed over the years, its general principle has stayed the same: violence, gore, and, well, puzzles. This particular installment follows the infamous John “Jigsaw” Kramer as he hopes to find a cure for his cancer. Of course, things are far from black and white, and he finds out that he was scammed. So what does he do? He plays a game to get even with those who wronged him. If you’re a fan of the franchise like I am, you were probably already going to see this film anyway. But Saw X seems packed to the brim with everything fans new and old will love. —Ben Felderstein
Director: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Steven Brand, Shawnee Smith, and Renata Vaca.
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
How to Watch: Saw X releases in theaters on Sept. 29.
5. The Creator
Director Gareth Edwards is no stranger to the sci-fi genre. Following his most recent box office hits, Godzilla and Rogue One, Edwards is back with another action-packed adventure and a stacked cast at his disposal. Set in a dystopian future, The Creator unfolds against the backdrop of a relentless war between the human race and formidable forces of artificial intelligence.
John David Washington plays Joshua, a battle-hardened, former special forces operative who’s grappling with the disappearance of his wife, Maya (portrayed by the incredible Gemma Chan). Joshua is recruited on a mission to hunt down the mastermind behind the advanced AI technology, the elusive Creator, who is said to have made a weapon that can end humanity altogether. Along his journey through the AI-occupied territory, Joshua ultimately discovers that the world-ending weapon is, in fact, an AI in the form of a young child.
With the potential threat of artificial intelligence on a steady rise in our own world, The Creator is surely going to strike a very relevant chord. Combine the aforementioned with Edwards’ visionary mind and Washington’s promising starpower, and The Creator is undoubtedly going to be an action-packed spectacle for audiences to look forward to. —Jacob Kramer
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, and Gemma Chan.
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
How to Watch: The Creator releases in theaters on Sept. 29.
6. 57 Seconds
Josh Hutcherson’s currently having a career renaissance, and what better way to come back to the scene than starring alongside Morgan Freeman in a sci-fi thriller. Based on E.C. Tubb’s short story Lucifer, 57 Seconds follows tech blogger Franklin Fox (Hutcherson), an average Joe who quickly finds himself embroiled in a grueling revenge plot and dangerous time-travel arc. It turns out that Fox’s idol, Anton Burrell (Freeman), owns a ring that can transport anyone who wears it 57 seconds back into the past.
When Fox finds himself in possession of the ring, he decides to use its powers to take revenge against the pharmaceutical company responsible for his sister’s untimely death. What unfurls is a high-stakes, action-packed roller coaster where time, enemies, and friends all dangerously collide and rest on one man’s shoulders. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Rusty Cundieff
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Morgan Freeman, Lovie Simone, Greg Germann, and Sammi Rotibi.
Distributor: The Avenue
How to Watch: 57 Seconds releases in theaters and on Vudu Sept. 29.
7. Reptile
Benicio del Toro has triumphed in mob flicks, action epics, and spy thrillers. Now the seasoned actor is back doing what he does best in Netflix's noir-suffused crime film Reptile. In Grant Singer’s feature-length directorial debut, del Toro plays a veteran detective, Tom Nichols, who’s riddled up in his most confounding case yet. A young real estate agent has been brutally murdered, and Nichols is determined to get to the bottom of it despite his overwhelming suspect list. So exhaustive, in fact, that it might even include people from his own life.
As Nichols slowly peels the layers of this curious case, he finds a core unlike anything he’s imagined and is forced to revisit everything and everyone he formerly trusted. Boasting bone-chilling suspense and powerhouse performances from an electric ensemble, Reptile promises to be a thrilling mystery for all crime aficionados and for anyone who’s looking to get their mind blown. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Grant Singer
Starring: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Pitt, Domenick Lombardozzi, Matilda Lutz, and Karl Glusman.
Distributor: Netflix
How to Watch: Reptile releases in select theaters on Sept. 29, and streams on Netflix Oct. 6.
8. The Exorcist: Believer
David Gordon Green has spent the last five years of his career famously bringing Michael Myers back to the big screen, and breathing fresh life into the Halloween franchise. His next target? The Exorcist.
Almost 50 years after the first Exorcist released, changed the game, and triumphed as the first horror film to ever be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards, the franchise is back with a terrifying bang. The Exorcist: Believer follows a widowed father, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), who’s forced to deal with an entity from the beyond after his daughter—and her best friend—fall to its grips. While Victor’s at a complete loss with what to do, a familiar face who’s seen it all before returns to help save his kid. After all, Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) did save her daughter all the way back in the ‘70s. Who better than the OG mom to come save the day? —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia Marcum.
Distributor: Universal Pictures
How to Watch: The Exorcist: Believer releases in theaters on Oct. 6.
9. Killers of the Flower Moon
I think you’d have a hard time arguing against Killers of the Flower Moon being the most anticipated movie featured on this list. Any time you have the formidable duo of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio cooking together, you know that you’re in for one of the movies of the year. I’m not going to get too much into the plot of this movie here, because if we’re being honest with ourselves, that is not what’s getting us into the theaters. All you need to know is that it stars Leonardo DiCaprio in 1920s Oklahoma, and tells the painful story of the real-life, violent dispossessing of the Osage people’s land. But I must say, if long movies are not for you, then you might just have to skip this one, as the runtime is coming in at a rather intimidating three hours and 26 minutes. —Ben Felderstein
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, Brendan Fraser, and Jesse Plemons.
Distributor: Apple TV+, Paramount Pictures
How to Watch: Killers of the Flower Moon releases in theaters on Oct. 20.
10. Five Nights at Freddy’s
The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie may have broken the video game adaptation curse in 2023, but Five Nights at Freddy’s could finally seal the deal. Based on Scott Cawthon’s legendary game of the same name, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie stays true to the game’s essential plotline: A nighttime employee at an abandoned family pizza restaurant must protect themselves from the restaurant’s malevolent animatronics that come alive at night.
In the film, Josh Hutcherson stars as Mike Schmidt, a new security guard working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But Schmidt soon discovers the sinister secret haunting his new job and must do everything he can to protect himself and his younger sister from being chomped, slashed, and spliced away by Freddy Fazbear’s core four mascots. The film’s trailer already has us hyped, and by the glowering looks from Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, we’re all in for a ride. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Emma Tammi
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard.
Distributor: Universal Pictures
How to Watch: Five Nights at Freddy’s releases in theaters on Oct. 27.
11. Priscilla
While Baz Luhrmann and Austin Butler teamed up last year to deliver an awards season favorite on the King of Rock and Roll, Sofia Coppola just might be giving them a run for their money this fall through her latest feature, Priscilla.
Based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir, Elvis and Me, Coppola’s biographical drama invites us into the nitty gritty of Elvis and Priscilla’s long relationship together. The film is set to depict the early days of the couple’s relationship, as well as their turbulent marriage, through Priscilla’s eyes. It also takes us through her evolution as a hopelessly in love 14-year-old (a very big yikes), to a young mother. Priscilla has already made waves following its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it received a seven-minute standing ovation and largely positive reviews from critics. We can already smell the Oscar nominations. — Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Dagmara Domińczyk, Jorja Cadence, and Luke Humphrey.
Distributor: A24
How to Watch: Priscilla releases in theaters on Nov. 3.
12. The Killer
David Fincher’s filmography boasts one of the most impressive rosters in Hollywood, with several of his films including Fight Club, Gone Girl, and Se7en, praised to be some of the best films of all time. The prolific director returns this fall with The Killer, a psychological action thriller based on Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novels of the same name.
After a hit goes horribly wrong, a top-tier assassin finds himself embroiled in an international manhunt where he stands alone against a wave of enemies. The film’s trailer teases its A-list lead, Michael Fassbender, as a stone-cold killer escaping one too many near-death experiences, shielded with only himself and his skills. Will this be Fincher’s new magnum opus? —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, and Tilda Swinton.
Distributor: Netflix
How to Watch: The Killer releases in limited theaters on Oct. 27, and streams on Netflix Nov. 10.
13. Rustin
From Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions, comes Rustin, a biographical drama unearthing the often-overlooked, yet immensely powerful story of Bayard Rustin (played in the film by the incomparable Colman Domingo).
An advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin was an impassioned civil rights activist who played a vital role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington. However, Rustin was also an openly gay Black man, which practically erased him out of a history he helped create. The biopic sheds light on Rustin’s tremendous story, sharing it to a new generation that might be unfamiliar with it, and is sure to generate awards season buzz. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: George C. Wolfe
Starring: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, CCH Pounder, Michael Potts, Jeffrey Wright, Audra McDonald, Da’Vine, and Bill Irwin.
Distributor: Netflix
How to Watch: Rustin releases in select theaters on Nov. 3, and streams on Netflix Nov. 17.
14. The Marvels
Nia DaCosta is set to continue the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ever-expanding storyline with the fifth project, and third feature film, in its Phase 5 plan. The Marvels will be the first MCU movie, and the first superhero film in general, to feature three women as leads. And while most major plot points remain unknown, there are a few things that fans can expect going into the movie.
First and foremost is that body swapping will play a major role in the story. The film’s first trailer teases Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) having intertwined powers that they can use to switch between each other. Zawe Ashton will also play the main villain, a gender-swapped version of Dar-Benn, who’s a ruthless Kree revolutionary fighting to restore her homeland after a civil war.
How The Marvels ties into the MCU’s multiverse saga and long-term vision remains to be determined. If anything, it will at least take fans on a thrilling exploration of relatively new characters and their unique set of powers, as they try to protect the planet from cosmic threats. With superhero fatigue on the rise, The Marvels will have a lot to do to keep the momentum alive when it arrives in theaters. —Jacob Kramer
Director: Nia DaCosta
Starring: Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris, Samuel L. Jackson, and Zawe Ashton.
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios
How to Watch: The Marvels releases in theaters on Nov. 10.
15. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel that follows the journey of Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from District 12, as she partakes in the 10th Annual Hunger Games. Although Lucy might be a new character, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes features a familiar face through a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who also just so happens to be Lucy’s mentor in the games.
How did Coriolanus become the villain we know in The Hunger Games trilogy? What happened between him and Lucy? And who is the girl that came before Katniss Everdeen? With an emotional adventure in store, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes promises to be an epic for fans new and old. If you grew up reading Suzanne Collins’ beloved novels, or if you’re in the mood for a well-carved dystopian drama, then The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is going to be a must-see. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, and Viola Davis.
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
How to Watch: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes releases in theaters on Nov. 17.
16. Poor Things
Poor Things currently has a 100-percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and if you’re familiar with Yorgos Lanthimos’ work, you’ll know that this comes as a complete surprise. The prolific director is known for his polarizing work that either warrants complete praise or complete confusion, but in the case of Poor Things, it seems to be unanimous across all critics that Lanthimos just released his best film yet.
Based on Alasdair Gray’s novel of the same name, Poor Things is essentially a gender-swapped Frankenstein where a young woman named Bella (Emma Stone) is brought back to life by scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Desperate to make the most of her newfound life, Bella runs away with a sleazy lawyer, Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), and travels across the continents in pursuit of her liberation. Following the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, roaring praise immediately poured in, with many critics coining Stone as this year’s winner for Best Actress at the 2024 Academy Awards. If you’re an awards szn buff, Poor Things is not to be missed. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Margaret Qualley, and Jerrod Carmichael.
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
How to Watch: Poor Things releases in theaters on Dec. 8.
17. Wonka
Fans of Roald Dahl’s iconic children’s book are in for a delectable treat with Paul King’s Wonka. The movie, a prequel to the classic story most audiences are familiar with, is led by Timothée Chalamet and is set to provide a fresh look into the origins of the enigmatic candymaker.
As an origin story, Wonka promises to transport audiences back in time to experience the formative years of the chocolatier’s life. Through a blend of captivating storytelling and fantastical elements that have become synonymous with Dahl’s enchanted stories, the movie aims to explore Wonka’s early adventures, inspirations, and the events that ultimately led him to creating the magical world of his eponymous chocolate factory.
There will be conflicts, there will be challenges—but overall, the film promises to be a very family-friendly movie. Expect some musical scenes as King, who also directed the two Paddington movies, said the film is a way of celebrating “old-time musicals” with “a couple of really big numbers.” Whether you’ve seen every Willy Wonka iteration or are starting off new with Chalamet’s rendition, the timeless story of the world’s greatest chocolatier is something that everyone can find oozing comfort in. —Jacob Kramer
Director: Paul King
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Coleman, and Keegan-Michael Key.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
How to Watch: Wonka releases in theaters on Dec. 15.
18. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
There really is no arguing at this point that most of what we’ve seen released as part of DC’s Extended Universe has been a mess. And the first Aquaman film is certainly no exception. Of course the second installment of the franchise, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, comes ripe with plenty of controversy thanks to none other than Amber Heard. As of now, how large Heard’s role will be in the film is still a mystery, but at one point there were rumors of her character being recast or even removed altogether. One positive note for Aquaman fans is, of course, that Jason Momoa is returning to reprise his role as the titular character, a near-perfect casting for the underwater hero. The movie’s director, James Wan, has promised that this sequel will be “taking it to the next level,” but time will tell if this is one of the few bright spots for DC or yet another blunder. —Ben Felderstein
Director: James Wan
Starring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Emilia Clarke, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Nicole Kidman, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
How to Watch: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom releases in theaters on Dec. 20.
19. Rebel Moon—Part One: A Child of Fire
Netflix has steadily been ramping up its slate of original feature films, and it looks like they’ve got another end-of-year banger in store with Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon. Snyder, the legendary filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, is teaming up with Netflix once again for an epic sci-fi franchise, with spinoff properties likely in the mix.
The film takes place in a peaceful farming colony, located on the edge of the galaxy, that's facing existential threats from armies led by the tyrannical ruler, Regent Balisarius (Ed Skrein). A young woman named Kora (Sofia Boutella), however, is determined to dismantle the impending evil threat and goes on a journey to recruit trained fighters from neighboring planets to push against the attack.
Although Snyder had originally intended for Rebel Moon to be part of the Star Wars universe, the idea was ultimately shut down following Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. That didn’t stop him from creating something very similar in story. In fact, one member of the cast described the film as “like Star Wars, but with violence, sex, and swearing.” And if that doesn’t get you excited for the new original IP, I’m not sure what else will. Considering the film is scheduled to hit Netflix just in time for Christmas, it’s safe to assume that Rebel Moon will be a buzzworthy title to watch this holiday season. —Jacob Kramer
Director: Zack Snyder
Starring: Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, and Ed Skrein.
Distributor: Netflix
How to Watch: Rebel Moon—Part One: A Child of Fire releases on Netflix Dec. 22, with a potential limited theatrical release.
20. Ferrari
You might have biopic fatigue. And you might have race car fatigue. But Michael Mann’s Ferrari just might quell all of the above and reinstate Formula One as Hollywood’s hottest topic. Starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, the biographical sports drama delves into the ingenious inventor’s life and spotlights his journey in creating the famed vehicle that revolutionized the racing industry.
With a star-studded ensemble cast, Ferrari navigates the politics, power, and, above all else, visionary mind that saw what sports cars could be, and practically originated Formula One as we know it. —Yasmeen Hamadeh
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone, Sarah Gadon, Jack O’Connell, and Patrick Dempsey.
Distributor: NEON
How to Watch: Ferrari releases in theaters on Dec. 25.
