Labor Day weekend is upon us. For us movie enthusiasts, it’s time to get pumped: the real cinematic treats are on the way! Summer is the time when studios crank out big films with jaw-dropping visuals and plenty of explosions. When autumn hits, the studios switch gears to embrace the gloomier vibes. Expect to see more somber narratives suited for the fall and winter seasons, a flood of horror films popping up for Halloween, and a bunch of intense dramas looking to catch the eye of award voters early on.

Now, my loyal readers already know I don’t do horror, though I can still handle horror comedy like Beetlejuice. That said, you’ll still find coverage of horror films thanks to my horror contributors Laura and Vince (stay tuned for his review of The Substance in mid-September).

As we close out the month, here are 15 films I’m most excited about that’ll be arriving September – November. I’ll do another list of Christmas movies later this year. Here they are in the order of their [expected] US release:

1) Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Sept. 6)

Betelgeuse is back, and it seems like someone has said his name three times! Guess what, I finally saw the first movie last week out of pure curiosity and I enjoyed it! Can’t believe it’s been 36 years since it was released and most of the original cast is back, including Michael Keaton as the demented and troublesome trickster of a ghost. Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara are back as well, with Jenna Ortega (playing Ryder’s daughter) and Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s ex-wife.

2) The Critic (Sept. 13)

I’ve been looking forward to this for some time. It’s the kind of film I’d see just for the cast: Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Ben Barnes, Romola Garai, Lesley Manville.

Set in London in the 30s, McKellen plays the most feared theatre critic of his time who relishes in ripping apart any actor who doesn’t live up to his standards. I love films set in the world of theatre and this story promises an intriguing power struggle, game of desire, blackmail, and betrayal. Juicy!

3) A Different Man (Sept 20)

Sebastian Stan is having a moment. He’s turned out to be a versatile character actor with leading-man looks. In this dark comedy focused on identity, he plays Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes facial tumors. After going through an experimental treatment that gives him his ideal look, he gets frustrated seeing the spotlight on the actor (Adam Pearson) who’s playing Edward in a stage show about his earlier life.

4) Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Sept. 21)

A new documentary by McQueen filmmakers Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui shines a spotlight on the iconic Man of Steel actor. Superman: The Movie was one of my earliest experiences at the movies, and I must’ve seen it a half dozen times when it came out. I was in awe of Christopher Reeve then and to this day, he’s still my all-time favorite Superman. The Juilliard-trained Reeve was a game-changer in the superhero genre but a tragic horse-riding accident in 1995 left him paralyzed from the neck down. He became a powerful advocate for those with spinal cord injuries until he died in 2004 at the age of 52. For the first time since then, Reeve’s three kids (including ABC News correspondent Will Reeve) and former colleagues share their thoughts on his enduring impact.

5) Wolfs (Sept. 20 – limited theatrical release)

It’s a mini Ocean’s Eleven reunion with Oscar winners George Clooney and Brad Pitt back together. But what appeals to me most about Apple TV+’s Wolfs is director Jon Watts, known for Spider-Man: Far From Home. The movie-star duo plays rival fixers who prefer to work alone. But when they both get the same gig, they’ll have to set aside their rivalry and figure out how to collaborate. It’s an interesting premise that could be a lot of fun. Plus there are reliable character actors Amy Ryan and Richard Kind. Wolfs will only be in theaters for a week on September 20 before it streams on Apple TV+ on September 27.

6) Megalopolis (Sept. 27)

I have talked about Francis Ford Coppola’s ambitious passion project in this post. Even though the self-funded film didn’t wow the critics at Cannes, it still landed a distribution deal with Lionsgate. The crazier and more surreal Megalopolis looks, the more buzz there is about what might be the 85-year-old filmmaker’s final masterpiece.

7) Lee (Sept. 27)

I’m always intrigued by female directors making their debut, and this one stands out since it’s Ellen Kuras‘ first time in the director’s chair. I’ve highlighted her in this post of the best female DPs working today. She’s definitely among the top five female cinematographers out there! The film features Kate Winslet as Lee Miller, an American war correspondent and photographer, during a pivotal time in her life. I’m not familiar with the model-turned-photographer but some of her war photos are unforgettable. Her life is equally fascinating and sounds like this is the kind of role worthy of Winslet’s formidable talent.

8) Maria

Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín seems to have an affinity for wealthy, glamorous, beautiful women of the past century. After Jackie (2016) about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Spencer (2021) which centers on Princess Diana, he completes his ‘trilogy’ of sorts with Angelina Jolie as Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas. It recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival, apparently earning an 8-minute standing ovation and an early Oscar buzz for Jolie. I’m curious how this one fares compared to Spencer which I thought was just ok but far from spectacular.

9) The Outrun (Oct. 4)

I’m totally down to watch any movie featuring the amazing Saoirse Ronan, especially when it’s directed by a woman. This one, directed by German filmmaker Nora Fingscheidt, follows a character named Rona. After a wildlife in London, Rona tries to face her difficult past. In search of healing, she heads back to the stunning Orkney Islands in Scotland, where she spent her childhood.

10) Saturday Night (Oct. 11)

I’m not really a huge SNL fan since I hardly catch it live, but I’ve checked out a few highlights on YouTube over the years. Still, the concept of this movie by Jason Reitman has me intrigued. It dives into the behind-the-scenes action that unfolded in the 90 minutes before the very first broadcast on October 11, 1975. From the trailer, it seems like it’s going to be a wild ride filled with chaos, tension, and laughs as we count down in real-time. Apparently, the story is based on the accounts of over 30 people who were actually there, including all the surviving cast members.

11) We Live in Time (Oct. 11)

I haven’t checked out any of John Crowley‘s movies since Brooklyn back in 2015. I missed The Goldfinch (2019), which got a lot of negative reviews, and he’s been busy with TV and limited series since then. This new drama, which has a bit of a Love Story vibe, is getting a lot of attention thanks to its stars, Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Pugh plays a chef on the rise who accidentally hits a recently divorced guy (Garfield) with her car. This unexpected encounter leads to a relationship that spans a decade, where they deal with love, kids, and a serious illness that puts pressure on their time together. I should definitely grab some tissues for this one!

12) Dahomey

As soon as I saw the title Dahomey, I couldn’t help but think of The Woman King, which highlights the incredible all-women army from the African kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). This documentary would make a great companion piece. It dives into the tale of 26 royal treasures that were looted from Dahomey and are currently on display in Paris, getting ready to return to Benin. I’m really excited about this one, particularly because it’s directed by Mati Diop, whose last film, Atlantics, was simply incredible.

13) Venom: The Last Dance (Oct. 25)

Alright, so not every flick hitting theaters this Fall is aiming for an Oscar. I’m a huge Tom Hardy fan, and honestly, he’s what makes the Venom series such a blast! I jumped on the bandwagon a little late, right around when the second movie dropped. This time, Eddie and his symbiotic buddy Venom are on the run. With both their worlds after them and the pressure mounting, they have to make a tough choice that could spell the end for Venom and Eddie’s wild ride.

14) The Piano Lesson (Nov. 22)

The Piano Lesson is quite a family affair for Denzel Washington’s family. The Netflix film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson marks the directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, Denzel’s youngest son. The star is Malcolm’s older brother, John David Washington, taking on the role of Boy Willie—a sharecropper who heads to Pittsburgh to sell the family piano and buy land. Apparently, John David is reprising his role from the 2022 Broadway revival. The supporting cast is terrific: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, plus Danielle Deadwyler as Boy Willie’s strong-willed sister, Berniece.

15) Gladiator II (Nov. 22)

I’ve talked extensively about this film in this trailer spotlight. I’m super pumped for this and per Deadline, it’s been reported that early footage blew execs away that Ridley Scott has been chosen to direct Paramount’s Bee Gees Movie. Um, what?? Well, I don’t know about that music biopic, but this sequel is definitely in Scott’s wheelhouse, and with a cast that includes Denzel Washington AND Pedro Pascal, I’m all in!

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

There are likely a bunch of other Fall releases that I’m looking forward to, so I’ll add them to this list.

• Back In Action
• The Apprentice

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So what are YOUR most anticipated Fall movies? Are any of them on this list?