The box office exerted Herculean-force strength on the boisterous summer movie season with three major players — “The Odyssey,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “Toy Story 5” — leading the way to what has already been declared the biggest May-August take since COVID. The big three, along with such niche favorites as “Backrooms” and “Obsession” brought movie fans to theaters in droves, often for second, even third, viewings.
There was also a an increased demand for IMAX showings.
So given that the summer and its projected $4.5 billion box office sounded such an outrageously high note, how can the fall film season compete?
It can’t.
But what it can do is get movie lovers pumped about the awards season, since it tends to be the time when contenders and posers start trickling in (the trickle becomes a flood around holiday time).
We can’t possibly project which fall films will drive the awards conversation or make the biggest splash at the box office. But we plucked out 35 of the more intriguing titles headed to theaters now through Nov. 20.
Some will provoke thought, others will make you laugh, still others will freak you out. And a few will have the power to warm hearts and inspire (things we could all use around now).
So let’s not dawdle and just dig into what lies ahead.
Remember dates are subject to change.
“By Any Means”: A ‘60s Mississippi FBI agent (former Bay Area resident Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) probes civil-rights-related killings and gets racist hate thrown in his path. With the beefy assist of informant/mob guy (a jacked Mark Wahlberg) he refuses to back down in director Elegance Bratton’s fact-based feature. When & where: In theaters Sept. 4.
“Onslaught”: Rogue AI-enhanced killing machines put a bead on a single mom who happens to be an Army sniper (Adria Arjona). Uh-oh. “You’re Next” and “Godzilla vs. Kong” director Adam Wingard’s sci-fi thriller hums with a “Terminator”-like vibe. When & where: In theaters Sept. 4.
“The Sun Never Sets”: When Wendy’s (Dakota Fanning) boyfriend Jack (Jake Johnson) hits the pause button on their relationship, she jaunts off to Alaska and smacks into a hunky ex (Cory Michael Smith). Uh-oh, part deux. It’s the latest from indie fave Joe Swanberg. When & where: In theaters Sept. 4.
“Hope”: In director Na (“The Wailing”) Hong-jin’s crazy creature feature, a fantastical entity preys on a South Korean village. An intrepid band vows to stomp it out. Question is: Can they? When & where: In theaters Sept. 9.
“Practical Magic 2”: Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock conjure up additional hocus pocus as two gifted sisters battling a nasty curse that’s affecting a new generation. When & where: In theaters Sept. 10.
“The Uprising”: A dirt-poor farmer (Andrew Garfield) fuels a bloody rebellion against the nefarious 14-year-old Richard II, whose tax-the-poor reign in 14th-century England doesn’t sit well with common folk. Director Paul Greengrass (who helmed three of the Bourne films) taps into the outrage festering in current times with this period epic. When & where: In theaters Sept. 11.
“The Weight”: San Francisco native Padraic McKinley’s directorial feature debut tests incarcerated single dad Samuel Murphy’s (Ethan Hawke) survival skills when a warden (Russell Crowe) makes him an offer he can’t refuse during the Depression-era. When & where: In theaters Sept. 18.
“Resident Evil”: Austin Abrams (so terrific in “Weapons”) stars as a freaked-out hospital courier running afoul of infected mutants. Filmmaker Zach Cregger’s fresh take on a well-worn franchise draws inspiration from the second videogame from the popular series. When & where: In theaters Sept. 18.
“Forgotten Island”: In the wake of their high school graduation in the Philippines, besties Jo and Raissa gets sucked into a magical portal that whisks them to a fantastical island. DreamWorks’ original animated tale plumbs Filipino folklore and stars Vallejo native H.E.R. as Jo and features Palo Alto native Dave Franco voicing a weredog. That’s enough for us to buy a ticket. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“The Incomer”: A bored low-level council worker (Domnhall Gleeson) gets saddled with the unenviable task of serving eviction notices to quirky siblings (Gayle Rankin and Grant O’Rourke), who are bird-obsessed inhabitants roosting on a remote Scottish island. Director/screenwriter Louis Paxton’s Sundance award-winner is an utter delight. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“Heart of the Beast”: A small plane piloted by a combat veteran (Brad Pitt) suffering from PTSD crashes in the Alaska wilderness, and it’s the bond he shares with his retired combat dog that has silver teeth and a prosthetic leg that could both get out of that rugged forested pickle. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother”: Double Oscar-winner and Oakland native Mahershala Ali plays a Houston hitman/father equally committed to his faith and his family who finds himself at a tense crossroads after his wife’s unexpected death. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25 (limited) and expands from then.
“Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!”: Grief-stricken widow Haru (Rinko Kikuchi) holes up in her home until a handsome dance instructor (Alberto Guerra) helps her busta move out of depression in this enchanting Sundance crowd-pleaser. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“Never After Dark”: In Dave Boyle’s creepfest, a medium plies her trade at a country home in the boondocks. What could go wrong with that? I ask again: What could ever go wrong with THAT? When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“Primetime”: The influence and ratings power of the slick, let’s-round-’em-up crime series “To Catch a Predator” serves as the focal point of this thriller with versatile Robert Pattinson portraying “Predator” TV host Chris Hansen. When & where: Sept. 25, theaters.
“Unabomber”: Jacob (“Room”) Tremblay portrays 16-year-old Ted Kaczynski as he undergoes questionable psychological testing overseen by a Harvard professor (Russell Crowe). Shailene Woodley co-stars. When & where: Streaming on Netflix Sept. 25.
“The Stunt Driver”: Canadian daredevil driver Ken Carter (Jay Baruchel) hits road bumps as he attempts the unthinkable — jump his tricked-out Lincoln Continental over a mile-long river. A true story provides its gas. When & where: In theaters Sept. 25.
“Digger”: A nearly unrecognizable Tom Cruise transforms himself into a powerful, elderly oil tycoon whose actions domino into global havoc in director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s satire that’s certain to tap nervous funny bones and nerves about the influence the obscenely rich wield. John Goodman co-stars as the U.S. president. When & where: In theaters Oct. 2.
“Verity”: A ghostwriter (Dakota Johnson) for an out-of-commission best-selling author (Anne Hathaway) gets tangled in a deadly web of desire, deception and ambition in this dark romantic thriller hatched from the mind of Colleen Hoover (“It Ends With Us”). Josh Hartnett brings the hunk factor. When & where: In theaters Oct. 2.
“The Last First: Winter K2”: Berkeley native Amir Bar-Lev revisits the ill-fated 2021 mountain climbing race to become the first to summit K2 at the most impossible time of the year — winter. It’s a piercing piece that exposes the colliding effects of egos and bad choices. When & where: In select theaters Oct. 2, also streaming on Apple TV.
“Your Attention Please”: This of-the-moment documentary looks at the American citizens mobilizing to call out and help change social media practices criticized as being harmful and addictive to the young. It features Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and Kristin Bride whose late son was cyberbullied, amongst others. When & where: Available to rent on Apple TV Oct. 6.
“Other Mommy”: Oscar winner Jessica Chastain gets her freak on in Rob Savage’s dysfunctional family thriller by portraying two versions of a mom. One scares the holy heck out of daughter Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark). We feel ya, girl, after watching that unnerving trailer. When & where: In theaters Oct. 9.
“The Social Reckoning”: A Facebook whistleblower (Oscar winner Mikey Madison) and a Bay Area-based Wall Street Journal journalist (Jeremy Allen White) pore over reams of damning documents that paint the practices of CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong) and his social networking platform in a very negative light. Aaron Sorkin writes/directs this sequel to David Fincher’s “The Social Network.” Sounds like it might make Zuckerberg meta mad. When & where: In theaters Oct. 9.
“Animals”: Frantic L.A. mayoral candidate Mark Kimball (Ben Affleck) and wife Abigail (Kerry Washington) try to scrounge up big bucks to get their ransomed son back. Oscar winner Affleck directs with Steven Yeun, Gillian Anderson co-starring. The trailer had us biting our nails to the quick. When & where: In select theaters and on Netflix Oct. 9.
“Misty Green”: Comedian Chris Rock shifts into more dramatic terrain with this pointed Hollywood tale about the fickleness of fame that’s framed around an actress (Rosalind Eleazar) staging a comeback. Rock costars, co-produces, and also writes and directs. When & where: In limited release Oct. 9.
“Sense and Sensibility”: Jane Austen fans are on tenterhooks awaiting director Georgia Oakley’s version of this literary classic about the three unforgettable Dashwood sisters (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esmé Creed-Miles and Bodhi Rae Breathnach) and their romantic inclinations and the adjustments they make once they relocate to a Devonshire cottage. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“Street Fighter”: Two fighters — Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) — with clashing styles and very different backgrounds train for a huge 1993 event only to realize there’s more afoot than fists and feet of fury. Kitao Sakurai directs this action comedy based on the popular video-game series. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“Trust Me, I’m a Doctor”: Director/writer Thane Economou’s tightrope walk of a dramedy centers on the former physician (Kal Penn) of Anna Nicole Smith (Abbie Cornish) confronting intense media scrutiny after Smith’s untimely death. Linda Hamilton co-stars as Dr. Sandeep Kapoor’s defense attorney. It’s based on Kapoor’s memoir. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“Whalefall”: A diver (Austin Abrams, who’s having a moment) mourning the death of his tough father gets sucked into the gullet of a whale in this survival adventure based on Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Kraus’ unputdownable novel. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“Musk”: Alex Gibney takes a deep dive — we’re talking nearly four hours here — into the life, the controversies and the curious ways of the richest entrepreneur on the planet, the much-maligned disrupter Elon Musk. And somehow it’s fitting that the documentary is about the girth of a Cybertruck. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“Once Upon a Time in Harlem”: Footage from Duke Ellington’s ebullient townhouse 1972 celebration that gathered together key Harlem Renaissance figures who hadn’t seen each other in ages anchor this documentary nearly everyone at Sundance was raving about. David Greaves completes the film his father, William, started. When & where: In theaters Oct. 16.
“La Bola Negra” (The Black Ball): This award-winning, queer-themed epic (it shared top directing honors at Cannes Film Festival) immerses audiences into Spanish history viewed through three gay men’s stories — from 1937, 1932 and 2017. The sweeping, lauded drama from directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi co-stars Penelope Cruz and ties those storylines together. When & where: In select theaters Oct. 16, streaming Dec. 2 on Netflix.
“Possible Love”: Expect South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong’s first film in eight years to sear in your memory banks just like his Oscar-nominated “Burning” did. In it, a documentary filmmaker and his wife’s hidden desires surface when they become involved with the director’s latest subject: a laid-off worker and his wife. When & where: in select theaters, streaming on Netflix on Nov. 6.
“Klara and the Sun”: Artificial chum Klara (Jenna Ortega) ingratiates herself into the lives of a troubled family (Mia Tharia and Amy Adams) and brings something into their home that’s been absent. Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit”) adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s great, award-winning novel. When & where: In theaters Oct. 23.
“Wicker”: Narrow-minded medieval townsfolk get into a snit when an eccentric outcast (Olivia Colman) lands herself a hottie husband (Alexander Skarsgård), but he’s fashioned out of wicker! His ensuing ardent adoration sends the town into a tizzy in this hilarious comedy. When & where: In theaters Oct. 23.
“Clayface”: DC Studios’ dark side comes out to play in horror director James Watkins’ tale of beauty, disfigurement and rage. Tom Rhys Harries seethes as Matt Hagen, a pretty boy who loses his looks only to regain them from an experimental procedure that makes a jumble of his psyche. When & where: In theaters Oct. 23.
“Wildwood”: Oregon-based LAIKA animation studios whips up another creative enchantment from director Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Masters of the Universe”). Based on the book by author/singer/songwriter Colin Meloy, it features a top-tier vocal cast (Carey Mulligan, Jacob Tremblay, Richard E. Grant, Awkwafina and more) and visits a magical forest where a teen obsessively searches for her missing baby brother. When & where: In theaters Oct. 23.
“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York”: An old-school East Coast pickpocket (the wonderful John Turturro) irks a crime dynasty after he unwittingly nabs and fences a USB stick that contains choice info others want. Noah Segan’s neo-noir sparked long lines at Sundance and universal acclaim. When & where: In theaters Oct. 23.
“The Cat in the Hat”: In this new animated take on the Dr. Seuss classic, Bill Hader voices the ubiquitous feline troublemaker as he tries to lift the spirits of two children. When & where: In theaters Nov. 6.
“Wild Horse Nine”: Leave it to writer/director Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) to cook up one of the most original sounding movies of the year. Such is this case with his 1970s-era comedic thriller that finds two CIA agents (Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich) getting into Easter Island trouble that involves two rabble-rousing students (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailín Salas). When & where: In theaters Nov. 6.
“Being Heumann”: The indomitable Judy Heumann, along with other fed-up disabled activists, occupy the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in San Francisco and refuse to budge until a crucial bill gets signed into law. Director Siân Heder (the Oscar-winning “Coda”) re-creates this pivotal moment in the disabled rights movement with Ruth Madeley starring as the late Heumann. When & where: In select theaters Nov. 6, on Apple TV Nov. 13.
“Godzilla Minus Zero”: The Oscar-winning team returns for this sequel from director Takashi Yamazaki. It’s set two years after “Godzilla Minus One” — 1949. Expect more bigtime kaiju trouble. When & where: In theaters Nov. 6.
“Ghost Soldier”: Greedy land grabbers mess with the wrong guy in William Eubank’s thriller starring Jim Caviezel as a former Special Forces soldier who fights back with a vengeance in his hometown. When & where: In theaters Nov. 6.
“Club Kid”: A hard-partyin’ gay club promoter (director/writer Jordan Firstman) receives a bit of unwelcome news in the form of a 10-year-old son he never knew he had. The revelation sets off a domino effect on his wild life. The Cannes crowd flat-out loved this tweaking of an old cinematic trope. When & where: In theaters Nov. 6.
“I Play Rocky”: The ultimate underdog story plays out anew when a nobody actor named Sylvester Stallone puts everything on the line to make a little film no one believed in called “Rocky.” The rest, well, is film history. Anthony Ippolito steps into the ring to play Stallone with Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”) helming. When & where: In limited release Nov. 13, wider release Nov. 20.
“How to Rob a Bank”: Sick of not making bank themselves, a team of power-to-the-people robbers (Nicholas Hoult and Pete Davidson, amongst others) dress up like animals and become viral sensations. Hoping to throw a monkey wrench into what will be their biggest heist is an unexpected duo (Zoë Kravitz and John C. Reilly). When & where: In theaters Nov. 13.
“Victorian Psycho”: Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”) stars as a bloodthirsty governess who pounces on a not-so-proper 19th-century family. Zachary Wigon directs with Virginia Feito adapting her own novel. When & where: In theaters Nov. 13.
“Ebenezer”: Johnny Depp puts his stamp on Charles Dickens’ humbuggin’ penny pincher in horror director Ti West’s take that further fleshes out a classic. This one should be interesting. When & where: In theaters Nov. 13.
“Paper Tiger”: Two brothers (Adam Driver and Miles Tiller) in 1980s Queens dream big about a business they’ve cooked up but it frays into an American nightmare when they step on the toes of the Russian Mafia. James Gray directs; Scarlett Johansson co-stars. When & where: In limited release Nov. 13, wider release Nov. 20.
“Madden”: Two of the Bay Area’s most memorable sports-related figures — Oakland Raiders coach and announcer John Madden and Raiders coach/team owner Al Davis — share the spotlight in David O. Russell’s nervously awaited biopic. Nicolas Cage tackles the part of Madden while Christian Bale vanishes into the role of Davis. When & where: Begins streaming on Amazon Prime Nov. 18.
“Josephine”: You could have heard a pin drop during the Sundance world premiere screening of San Francisco native Beth de Araújo’s sophomore feature. And for good reason, her film puts you into a chokehold and won’t let go. The San Francisco-set story gets told (mostly) from the POV of 8-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves) who witnesses a rape in Golden Gate Park. Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan co-star as Josephine’s parents. When & where: In select theaters Nov. 20.
“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping”: A young Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) competes in the Second Quarter Quell — which marks the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games — where he expresses his defiance to President Snow (Ralph Fiennes) and totalitarian rule overall. Not everyone likes that. When & where: In theaters Nov. 20.
“Elsinore”: Andrew Scott stars as real-life stage/screen star Ian Charleson (“Chariots of Fire”) in Simon Stone’s biopic. Stone’s moving story (he died of AIDS in 1990 at the age of 40) comes to the screen fully loaded with talent, including Olivia Colman, Johnny Flynn and more, and is certain to bring a tear to your eyes. This could well land awards consideration for the talented Mr. Scott. When & where: In limited release Nov. 20.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.