2025 Fall Movie Preview: Julia Roberts! Leonardo DiCaprio! Plus "Wicked", "Zootopia" and "Downton" Return Jack SmartAugust 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM Amazon MGM Studios; Warner Bros.
- - 2025 Fall Movie Preview: Julia Roberts! Leonardo DiCaprio! Plus "Wicked", "Zootopia" and "Downton" Return
Jack SmartAugust 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Amazon MGM Studios; Warner Bros.; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
(Left-right:) 'After the Hunt'; 'One Battle After Another'; 'Wicked: for Good'
Hollywood is bringing the star power this fall, with plenty of unmissable A-listers — Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell and, of course, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande — leading a wide range of fare both at your local cinema and favorite streaming platforms. From drama to comedy, romance to horror, fantasy to realism, read on for PEOPLE's must-see movies of fall 2025.
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The Conjuring: Last Rites
Warner Bros.
'The Conjuring: Last Rites'
After most haunted house movies, audiences can sleep soundly knowing they can be written off as fiction. Not so with the Conjuring universe, which began in 2013 with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson bringing real-life married paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren to the screen. Last Rites, the duo's last hurrah, features spiritual battles with their most malevolent enemies yet. In theaters Sept. 5
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Preparation for the Next Life
Jaclyn Martinez/Amazon MGM Studios
'Preparation from the Next Life'
An American dream, a coming-of-age tale and a sweeping romance all in one, Preparation for the Next Life stars Sebiye Behtiyar as an Uyghur migrant and Fred Hechinger as the American soldier who falls for her. Rule of thumb: If Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment is producing a movie, it's a must-see for awards voters. In theaters Sept. 5
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The Threesome
Vertical
'The Threesome'
An impulsive threesome results in "unexpected consequences" for two women, hints a synopsis for this sexy, messy comedy. As its trailer makes clear, those consequences are pregnancy for both Zoey Deutch and Ruby Cruz, with Jonah Hauer-King unexpectedly taking on fatherhood two times over. All three, the tease concludes, must face "the raw and beautifully messy chaos of adulthood." In theaters Sept. 5
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Twinless
Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions
'Twinless'
An Audience Award winner at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Twinless announces writer-director-star James Sweeney as a daring and dark storyteller. He plays Dennis, a man obsessed with twins who becomes entangled in the life of a pair of them (both played by Dylan O'Brien). It's a cringe-inducing but ultimately heartwarming story of an unlikely bromance. In theaters Sept. 5
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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Rory Mulvey/FOCUS FEATURES
'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale'
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes could never have predicted, back in 2010, that his tale of the upstairs Crawley family and their downstairs staff would captivate audiences through six seasons, five Christmas specials and three movies. Centering on Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) weathering scandal as the members of her estate face the uncertainties of the 1930s, The Grand Finale is, as its title suggests, a chance for fans to bid farewell. In theaters Sept. 12
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The History of Sound
Fair Winter LLC
'The History of Sound'
Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor have each made romantic period pieces something of a specialty, making their leading this adaptation of Ben Shattuck's short story a must-see — and must-hear. They play lovers and music students at a conservatory in the 1910s who embark on a song collecting trip, with Chris Cooper as the reflective older version of Mescal's character. (O'Connor totals a whopping four movies this year: The History of Sound, The Mastermind, Rebuilding and Wake Up Dead Man.) In theaters Sept. 12
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The Long Walk
Murray Close/Lionsgate
'The Long Walk'
The premise of The Long Walk, a deadly contest in which boys walk for miles until only one living victor remains, proves that Stephen King can create hooks like few other storytellers. This Francis Lawrence-directed adaptation of the author's story stars a cast of up-and-coming actors, including Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. Bonus: Mark Hamill follows up another 2025 King adaptation, The Life of Chuck, as a villainous character known as The Major. In theaters Sept. 12
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Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
Courtesy of Bleecker Street
'Spinal Tap II: The End'
While it's one of several long-awaited sequels to classic films this season, Spinal Tap II stands out from the pack for one glorious reason: sheer silliness. Director-star Rob Reiner reunites with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, members of the titular fictional band who, years after their heyday, get another shot at superstardom in a mockumentary with a high laughs-per-minute rate. In theaters Sept. 12
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A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Sony Pictures Entertainment
'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey'
A twist of fate brings Margot Robbie's Sarah and Colin Farrell's David together, inspiring a fantastical adventure in which they "re-live important moments from their respective pasts," reads this movie's synopsis. The swoon-worthy duo may also get "a chance to alter their futures," it teases. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge costar in this epic romantic drama from director Kogonada. In theaters Sept. 19
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Ella McCay
20th Century Studios
'Ella McCay'
This comedy-drama about a politician (Sex Education's Emma Mackey) and her messy professional and family life may be fictional. But thanks to James L. Brooks, making a grand return to the big screen for the first time in 15 years, it feels like a biopic. Jamie Lee Curtis continues her hot streak of buzzy performances as Ella's aunt, with Woody Harrelson as her wayward father, plus Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri and Albert Brooks. In theaters Sept. 19
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Him
Universal Pictures
'Him'
Mixing occult horror with the world of professional football? That's a premise that could only come from Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, continuing its reign as a producer of horror films that make you think. I Know What You Did Last Summer star Tyriq Withers plays a rising football star, with Marlon Wayans as his legendary mentor who will stop at nothing in his increasingly unsettling pursuit of excellence. In theaters Sept. 19
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The Lost Bus
Apple TV+
'The Lost Bus'
The deadliest fire in California history gets a harrowing big-screen adaptation from director Paul Greengrass. Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera play a driver and school teacher, respectively, taking a bus full of kids to safety amid a fire that claimed Paradise and many of its surroundings in 2018. This page-to-screen adaptation's trailer promises a scarily immersive experience, so buckle up. In theaters Sept. 19; on Apple TV+ Oct. 3
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Eleanor the Great
Sony Pictures Classics
'Eleanor the Great'
June Squibb, after finally getting her first lead role in her 90s with last year's Thelma, is officially a leading lady. Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, is officially a feature film director. Squibb plays the titular Eleanor, a woman moving from Florida to New York whose grief over a lost friend leads her down a morally dubious path with a college student (Erin Kellyman) and her journalist father (Chiwetel Ejiofor). In theaters Sept. 26
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Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie
David Bukach/Dreamworks Entertainment
'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie'
Meow! Netflix's hit kids show Gabby's Dollhouse gets the big-screen experience with a dazzling mix of animation, live-action and lots and lots of cats. Obsessing over those cats is a campy Kristen Wiig, while Laila Lockhart Kraner returns from the series as Gabby and Gloria Estefan plays her grandmother. In theaters Sept. 26
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One Battle After Another
Warner Bros. Pictures
'One Battle After Another'
Cinephiles are rejoicing over the return of Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Thomas Anderson to the big screen — for the first time, in the same film. One Battle After Another centers on a group of eccentric ex-revolutionaries reuniting, and sees a starry cast supporting DiCaprio: Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Alana Haim and Teyana Taylor. In theaters Sept. 26
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The Strangers – Chapter 2
Lionsgate
'The Strangers – Chapter 2'
After another round with the masked psychopaths from last year's The Strangers reboot, you'll be triple-checking the doors to your house are locked. Chapter 2 brings scream queen Madelaine Petsch back for more running, hiding and surviving — with director Renny Harlin promising a bone-chilling third chapter on the way. In theaters Sept. 26
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Anemone
Focus Features
'Anemone'
If anyone could get three-time-Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis to reverse his decision on retiring from screen acting, it's his writer-director son Ronan. The haunting and enigmatic Anemone is, fittingly enough, about "family bonds between fathers, sons and brothers," per a synopsis. Sean Bean, Samuel Bottomley, Safia Oakley-Green and Samantha Morton costar. In theaters Oct. 3
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Roofman
Paramount Pictures
'Roofman'
Channing Tatum stars in a crime comedy that sounds outlandish enough to be made up; in fact, Jeffrey Manchester was a real-life former U.S. Army Reserve officer who broke into stores from their roofs and once spent months hiding from authorities in a Toys "R" Us store. Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelsohn, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba and Peter Dinklage round out the cast of Derek Cianfrance's buzzy biopic, premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. In theaters Oct. 3
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The Smashing Machine
A24
'The Smashing Machine'
Breaking from his years of action and comedy hits, Dwayne Johnson bears his vulnerable side in this retelling of UFC fighter Mark Kerr's rise in the ring. The wrestler-turned-actor reunites with Jungle Cruise costar and best friend Emily Blunt, starring as Kerr's former wife Dawn Staples. Writer-director Benny Safdie helms this A24 drama that's sure to be on Oscar voters' radars. In theaters Oct. 3
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After the Hunt
Amazon MGM Studios
'After the Hunt'
Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield would already make for an irresistible cinematic combination, but with Luca Guadagnino at the helm? The director behind last year's Challengers and Queer knows how to bring the drama — and bring out the best in his already-top-notch actors. Screenwriter Nora Garrett's After the Hunt is a #MeToo-inspired tale of a college faculty rocked by uncomfortable accusations and unearthed secrets. In theaters Oct. 10
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If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Logan White/A24
'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'
Rose Byrne is a messy mother experiencing so much hardship, it verges on the surreal in this anxiety-inducing A24 thriller from writer-director Mary Bronstein. Don't miss Conan O'Brien and A$AP Rocky in rare dramatic roles, as well as Delaney Quinn as Byrne's mysteriously ill daughter, who can be heard but never seen onscreen. In theaters Oct. 10
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Kiss of the Spider Woman
Roadside Attractions
'Kiss of the Spider Woman'
How can this new iteration of Kiss of the Spider Woman be Jennifer Lopez's first-ever movie musical? It feels like she was born to play the character at the center of the Broadway adaptation of Manuel Puig's novel about Argentinian political prisoners: both screen starlet Ingrid Luna and the fabulously sinister Spider Woman. Tonatiuh and Diego Luna costar in a technicolor dazzler (produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) that finds director Bill Condon in the same vein as his hit Chicago. In theaters Oct. 10
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John Candy: I Like Me
Courtesy of the Candy Family Estate/Prime Video
'John Candy: I Like Me'
Comedic superstar John Candy, who died in 1994 at age 43, is overdue for a deep-dive documentary treatment. From producer Ryan Reynolds and director Colin Hanks, this TIFF premiere features firsthand accounts from the Planes, Trains & Automobiles star's family and the likes of Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Catherine O'Hara. Expect laughs — but keep tissues handy too. On Prime Video Oct. 10
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Tron: Ares
Leah Gallo/Disney Enterprises, Inc.
'Tron: Ares'
Get ready to strap into your virtual motorbike and ride the grid alongside Jeff Bridges, returning to the Tron franchise as Kevin Flynn, as well as newcomers Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Evan Peters and more. It's been 43 years since Bridges, 75, first wowed audiences with cutting-edge digital effects — a tradition that continues with Disney's third, Joachim Rønning-helmed installment. In theaters Oct. 10
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Ballad of a Small Player
Netflix
'Ballad of a Small Player'
Colin Farrell takes audiences to Macau, China — and inside the psyche of a desperate gambler — in his second and altogether different fall 2025 movie after A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Directed by Conclave's Edward Berger and costarring Fala Chen, Alex Jennings, Adrienne Lau, Jason Tobin and Tilda Swinton, Ballad of a Small Player released a tantalizing trailer with minimal dialogue that showcases Farrell's endlessly watchable magnetism. In theaters Oct. 15; on Netflix Oct. 29
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Black Phone 2
Universal Pictures
'Black Phone 2'
Another sequel fans have been clamoring for (more like waiting in terror for), Black Phone 2 sees the return of Ethan Hawke's masked serial kidnapper-murderer the Grabber. Considering the villain's fate in the 2021 hit adaptation of Joe Hill's short story, will he terrorize Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw from beyond the grave? All is not what it seems in Blumhouse Productions' twisted tales of kids vs. killers. In theaters Oct. 17
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Good Fortune
Eddy Chen/Lionsgate
'Good Fortune'
Asked to picture Keanu Reeves as an angel, you might imagine someone rather cooler or grander than his Gabriel in this comedy from writer, director and star Aziz Ansari. Tasked with teaching Ansari's character some life lessons, Reeves' Gabriel opts for life switcheroos with Seth Rogen's socialite. Mayhem, of course, ensues. Good Fortune costars the always-hilarious Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh. In theaters Oct. 17
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The Twits
Netflix
'The Twits'
An adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved 1980 novel The Twits has never made it to the screen until now. In this colorful animated take, director and co-writer Phil Johnston cast Margo Martindale and Johnny Vegas as the unruly title characters, with the voices of Natalie Portman, Emilia Clarke and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan also featuring. On Netflix Oct. 17
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Blue Moon
Sony Pictures Classics
'Blue Moon'
Ethan Hawke is borderline unrecognizable in this light-hearted, Richard Linklater-directed biopic about Lorenz Hart, the 20th-century lyricist famous for his stage collaborations with composer Richard Rodgers (played here by Andrew Scott). That is, until Rodgers joined Oscar Hammerstein II to write Oklahoma! and reach altogether new career heights, leaving poor Hart in the dust (and pining after Margaret Qualley). In select theaters Oct. 17; nationwide Oct. 24
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Hedda
Prime
'Hedda'
Tessa Thompson is back and chewing scenery like only she can. In writer-director Nia DaCosta's stylish take on Henrik Ibsen's classic play Hedda Gabler, the Passing star pushes the rebellious character to her limits as a party host from hell, pitting Imogen Poots, Nina Hoss, Tom Bateman and more against each other in a game of social destruction. In theaters Oct. 22; on Prime Video Oct. 29
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Bugonia
Atsushi Nishijima/Focus Features
'Bugonia'
After The Favourite, Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness, Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos aren't done bringing their brand of strangeness to the big screen. The muse and director team up with Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis as conspiracy theorists kidnapping a CEO they believe to be an alien. "It all starts with something magnificent," Plemons intones mysteriously in the movie's wild trailer. In select theaters Oct. 24; nationwide Oct. 31
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
20th Century Studios
'Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere'
Every fall (and awards season) needs a biopic of a famous musician; who can resist revisiting a star's life and music, brought to life by an actor brave enough to impersonate them? In this case, it's Jeremy Allen White taking on the great Bruce Springsteen in a Scott Cooper-directed biopic costarring Jeremy Strong as The Boss' manager, Paul Walter Hauser as his Nebraska recording engineer, and Stephen Graham as his father. In theaters Oct. 24
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A House of Dynamite
Eros Hoagland/Netflix
'A House of Dynamite'
A master of pressure-cooker thrillers, Kathryn Bigelow returns with a tale of White House officials facing an incoming missile. But who's behind the attack? A House of Dynamite comes alive with an ensemble cast that includes Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee and Jason Clarke. In theaters Oct. 10; on Netflix Oct. 24
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Regretting You
Paramount Pictures
'Regretting You'
Colleen Hoover continues her Hollywood takeover with the latest screen adaptation of one of her hit novels (2026 will see the release of Reminders of Him and Verity). Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace play Morgan and Clara Grant, a mother-daughter duo with a complicated relationship. This romantic drama includes a swoonworthy supporting cast: Scott Eastwood, Mason Thames and Dave Franco. In theaters Oct. 24
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Frankenstein
Ken Woroner/Netflix
'Frankenstein'
Guillermo del Toro takes his rightful place as the inheritor of Mary Shelley's legacy with his latest horror epic. This grisly yet sumptuous Frankenstein stars Oscar Isaac as the titular mad scientist and — in a dramatic step up from Euphoria and Saltburn — a towering Jacob Elordi as his resurrected Creature. In theaters Oct. 27; on Netflix Nov. 7
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Die, My Love
Seamus McGarvey/MUBI
'Die, My Love'
Jennifer Lawrence can do no wrong, especially when it comes to playing complex women on screen. Her latest is Grace, a wife (to Robert Pattinson) and mother who begins to unravel after moving to a rural home. Director Lynne Ramsay's adaptation of Ariana Harwicz's hit novel wowed audiences at the Cannes Film Festival this May. In theaters Nov. 7
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Nuremberg
Sony Pictures Classics
'Nuremberg'
Another war unfolded after the Allies' victory in WWII: a legal and psychological battle between Adolf Hitler's closest collaborators and U.S. military psychiatrists ascertaining their competency before trial. Rami Malek plays real-life officer Douglas Kelley taking on Russell Crowe's Nazi leader Hermann Göring. Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Michael Shannon and more costar. In theaters Nov. 7
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Predator: Badlands
20th Century Studios.
'Predator: Badlands'
Everyone's favorite extraterrestrial hunter returns with a twist in director Dan Trachtenberg's follow-up to 2022's action-packed Prey. Badlands centers a Predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) as both main character and hero, a first for the classic sci-fi franchise. Elle Fanning plays his android companion, facing the universe's most fearsome foes alongside him. In theaters Nov. 7
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Sentimental Value
Neon
'Sentimental Value'
Even before it won the Grand Prix at Cannes this year, buzz began building for Norwegian director Joachim Trier's follow-up to 2021's acclaimed The Worst Person in the World. Sentimental Value stars his muse Renate Reinsve, plus Stellan Skarsgård and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, as estranged family members whose story is becoming a film featuring a famous actress played by Elle Fanning. In theaters Nov. 7
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Arco
Neon
'Arco'
Producer Natalie Portman and French filmmaker Ugo Bienvenu team up to dazzle fans of animation with this tale of a young being who travels through time and space via rainbow. Portman, Will Ferrell and America Ferrera are among Arco's English-language version's cast, helping bring to life jaw-dropping visuals (as a trailer teases). In theaters Nov. 14
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Jay Kelly
Peter Mountain/Netflix
'Jay Kelly'
George Clooney playing a famous movie star at a crossroads begs the question: How autobiographical will this performance be? A trailer for writer-director Noah Baumbach and writer-star Emily Mortimer's Jay Kelly shows an intriguing glimpse of Clooney's titular actor bonding with his manager (played by Adam Sandler) on a tour of Europe that doubles as a reckoning. In theaters Nov. 14; on Netflix Dec. 5
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Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate
'Now You See Me: Now You Don't'
A sequel with this fall's wittiest subtitle, Now You See Me: Now You Don't unites illusionists The Four Horsemen — Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher — with newcomers Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt for what's sure to be their highest-stakes and most mind-blowing magical heist yet. In theaters Nov. 14
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The Running Man
Paramount Pictures
'The Running Man'
Glen Powell is leading another action blockbuster and that just feels right. In Edgar Wright's The Running Man, a remake of the 1987 Stephen King adaptation led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Powell unleashes more than just impressive action skills and stunt work; as trailers have shown, audiences have never seen the guy quite so pissed off before. In theaters Nov. 14
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Rental Family
James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures
'Rental Family'
Brendan Fraser is back in the leading roles he deserves — and, given the premise of this film, he could be up for another Oscar too. Writer-director Hikari's comedy-drama, costarring Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Gorman and Akira Emoto, follows Fraser's American actor taking on the role of stand-in father to a Tokyo family in need. In theaters Nov. 21
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Wicked: For Good
Universal Pictures
'Wicked: For Good'
They're back, witches! Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda return for the second half of Jon M. Chu's Broadway-to-screen adaptation, tornadoing audiences back into Oz after a year between installments. Expect more tears from the Oscar-nominated actresses, a dramatic entrance from one Dorothy Gale and — according to composer Stephen Schwartz — new songs for fans to sing along with. In theaters Nov. 21
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Eternity
A24
'Eternity'
Elizabeth Olsen must choose between two true loves, played by Miles Teller and Callum Turner. The twist? They're all dead and being advised by afterlife guides (played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph and John Early) on where and with whom they must spend eternity. A24's latest combines romance, comedy, fantasy and loss. In theaters Nov. 26
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Zootopia 2
Disney Enterprises, Inc.
'Zootopia 2'
Fans of Disney's 2016 animated hit Zootopia have had to wait almost a decade for this reunion with rabbit cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), reformed con artist Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and the colorful neighbors in their animal-filled metropolis. The unlikely couple are pursuing the mysterious Gary De'Snake (Ke Huy Quan) this time around in what is sure to be a delightfully twisty mystery. In theaters Nov. 26
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Hamnet
Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features
'Hamnet'
Hark! Writer-director Chloé Zhao follows up Nomadland's domination of the 2021 Oscar ceremony with this page-to-screen adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet, a fictional take on William Shakespeare, his wife Agnes and their son. Expect tear-inducing moments, soaring poetry and palpable romance, all courtesy of stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal. In theaters Nov. 27
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