School is starting up.Summer is drawing too a close. And you no what that means? Fall movie season is upon us!
‘Tis the season for film festivals to channel their very best into theaters nationwide, for studios to unfurl their flashiest movies ahead of the holidays, and for hidden gems to shine independently!
Below, Mashable’s entertainment team has highlighted the must-see movies, the star-studded spectacles, the enticing sequels, the festival favorites, and the most intriguing new films that should be on your radar. Have your calendar ready as we preview the most exciting movies this fall (and winter) have to offer.
Whether in theaters, on demand, or streaming, thes movies promise side-splitting laughs, pulse-pounding thrills, heart-breaking drama, and much, much more.
september 2025 releases
Table of Contents
Highest 2 Lowest
together, denzel Washington and Spike Lee have made Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, Inside Man, and now Highest 2 Lowest. And that sentence alone doesn’t have you hyped, check out my review, where I proclaim, “Highest 2 Lowest is Lee and Washington, reunited and good as ever.”
A remake of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, Highest 2 Lowest stars Washington as a record mogul whose world is thrown into spin when his son is kidnapped for a hefty ransom. Transporting this story to the streets of New York, Lee makes it his own, while Washington lays down a performance that’s alive and exhilarating. Plus, A$AP Rocky delivers a star-making turn as street-smart rapper who takes a big swing. Whether you see it in theaters or stream it, don’t miss Highest 2 lowest.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh hadera, and A$AP Rocky
How to watch: Highest 2 Lowest is now in theaters; it comes to Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.
The Baltimorons
Is it too soon to call this one of my favorite movies of the year? Because nothing in 2025 has made me laugh like The Baltimorons. (Though The Naked Gun came close!)
Written by director Jay Duplass and star Michael Strassner, The Baltimorons centers on the unlikely friendship that blooms between two screw-ups on christmas Eve in baltimore. Cliff Cashen (Strassner) is a improv comic who’s trying to settle down with a serious job and serious girlfriend. But on his way to her family’s house, he breaks a tooth and requires emergency dental attention… on Christmas Eve. Lucky for him, Dr. Didi Dahl (Liz larsen) saw her plans for the night go up in smoke, so she can come to the rescue, even if she grumbles about it. From this odd premise, hilarity ensues.
In my review out of SXSW, I cheered, “The Baltimorons is a celebration of those moments when – despite all the reasons to shield ourselves from a cruel world – we open up to a new friend. It’s about the magic in being vulnerable, not out of naiveté but out of hope.” Seek it out!
Starring: Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen, and Olivia Luccardi
How to watch: The Baltimorons opens in limited release on Sept. 5 before expanding nationwide Sept. 12.
Twinless
One of the most buzzed-about movies out of sundance 2025, Twinless is a tale of love, grief, and obsession.
Writer/director James Sw## Fall Film Preview: 17 Movies to Watch This Season
The leaves are changing, pumpkin spice is everywhere, and a whole host of new movies are headed to theaters (and streaming!). Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated releases this fall.
### September 2024 releases
One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti star in this new action thriller.
How to watch: One Battle After Another opens in theaters Sept. 26.
### October 2025 releases
The Smashing Machine
You might recognize his voice. But heavy prosthetics on his face means you may not clock Dwayne Johnson in the lead role of this biopic from writer/director Benny Safdie.
Johnson brings his acting chops and WWE expertise together to star as UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Inside the arena, he is a terrifying titan. Outside, he’s a gentle man, but one with demons to battle. Emily Blunt co-stars as mark’s wife, Dawn Staples. Together, they reveal the battles beyond the ring. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its theatrical debut,The Smashing Machine could pave the path to Oscar gold as the Academy loves a drama about a pro fighter. (See The Fighter, The Wrestler, Raging Bull…) Could it be a contender?
Starring: dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk
How to watch: The Smashing Machine opens in theaters on Oct. 3.
Good Boy
Another favorite out of SXSW, Good Boy has a wickedly perfect premise: A dog is trapped in haunted house, while his owner is oblivious to the ghostly evils there.
‘Good Boy’ review: what if a dog were a horror movie hero?
Co-writer/director Ben Leonberg cast his own family dog Indy, described in the press notes as “a middle-aged, 35-pound retriever who has no idea that he’s a movie star.” The riveting retriever carries this lean and tense movie on his furry shoulders, chasing shadows, barking in warning, and generally being the goodest of boys.
As I cheered in my rave review, “Good Boy is a deceptively simple horror movie that hits hard.You’ll gasp. You’ll scream. you’ll pull your hands over your eyes and hope desperately for the best. It’s a ruthless blast.”
Starring: indy the dog,Larry Fessenden,and Arielle Friedman
How to watch: Good Boy opens in theaters on Oct. 3.
Good Fortune
Imagine if Keanu Reeves were your guardian angel? Sounds like a dream right? Well, in the new comedy written, directed, and starring Aziz Ansari, it’s more a wacky misadventure.
## Fall Movie Preview: Every Major Release Coming to Theaters This Season
Fall is traditionally a dumping ground for movies studios aren’t confident about, but 2024 is shaping up to be a surprisingly strong season for blockbusters and genre fare. Here’s a look at the biggest releases hitting theaters between now and the end of the year.
October 2024 releases
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck, the man who would become the joker, in this musical sequel. This time, he’s joined by Lady Gaga as Harley quinn, and the two embark on a twisted romance. Director Todd Phillips is leaning into the musical elements, promising a unique and unsettling cinematic experience.Expect a lot of buzz (and potential awards attention) for this one.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Harry Collett
How to watch: Joker: Folie à Deux opens in theaters on Oct. 4.
Mortal Kombat II
The rebooted Mortal Kombat franchise continues with a sequel promising even more brutal action and iconic characters. This time around,the story focuses on washed-up American action hero Johnny Cage (Karl Urban),who goes from swatting away intrusive fan boys to training for the titular to-the-death showdown.Surrounded by fearsome warriors like Kitana, Lord Raiden, and Scorpion, how could a guy whose biggest flex is his handsomeness possibly stand a chance? We are game to find out.
Starring: Jessica McNamee,Josh Lawson,Ludi Lin,Mehcad Brooks,Lewis Tan,Damon Herriman,Chin Han,Tadanobu Asano,Joe Taslim,Hiroyuki Sanada,Karl Urban,Adeline Rudolph,and Tati gabrielle
How to watch: Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters on Oct. 24.
November 2025 releases
Predator: Badlands
Between Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and the upcoming Predator: Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg has become the captain of this alien hunter franchise, taking big swings with each new movie. In Predator: Badlands, the screenplay co-written by Trachtenberg and Patrick Aison turns the tables by making the predator the story’s protagonist instead of antagonist.
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi stars as Dek, a runt of a Predator litter. Outcast from his clan on a remote planet, he makes an unusual alliance with Thia (Elle Fanning), an android made by the Weyland-Yutani company.(Hey there, continued Aliens/Predator crossover!) Between this and Alien: Earth, fans of sci-fi action are thriving this fall.
Starring: Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
How to watch: predator: Badlands opens in theaters on Nov.7.
Keeper
Osgood Perkins has been chiseling out his name in horror, directing films like I Am the Pretty Thing That lives in the House, Longlegs, and The Monkey. So what does he have in store for Keeper? Something sinister for sure.
The Monkey‘s Tatiana Maslany reunites with Perkins to play a woman whose romantic anniversary getaway to a secluded cabin goes horrifically sideways. How so? Well, Perkins is laying breadcrumbs in the film’s trailers. What’s your best guess?
Starring: Tatiana Maslany, Rossif Sutherland, Birkett Turton, Erin Boyes, and Tess Degenstein
How to watch: Keeper opens in theaters on Nov. 14.
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
In 2013, Now You See Me introduced audiences to a gang of roguish Vegas magicians known as The Four Horsemen.Over two films, they went on wild heists with mind-bending reveals. Now,they’re back – and with some fresh blood in the crew.
Directed by Ruben
Holiday Horror: ‘five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ and More
Get ready for a spooky season! Several horror films are hitting screens just in time for the holidays, offering thrills and chills for every fright fan.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
picking up the story after the events of the first movie, Mike and his girlfriend Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) are trying to piece together a normal life. But when Mike’s little sister Abby (Piper Rubio) reconnects through a creepy radio with her ghostly buddies, the game is on. Big spooky vibes – just in time for the holidays?
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, Mckenna Grace, and Teo Briones
How to watch: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 opens in theaters Dec. 5.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Knives Out. The Glass Onion. Now, mystery-weaver Rian Johnson brings Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment of Benoit Blanc whodunnits.
Ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the details on Wake Up Dead Man are scarce. What we do know is the setting is a small town’s local church, where the legendary sleuth encounters a deadly crime as well as a pair of priests played by Josh O’Connor and Josh Brolin. like its predecessors, this sequel boasts a jaw-dropping array of stars. But what murder and mischief they’ll get up to is a mystery for now!
Starring: Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cai