We are nearly two thirds through the year already, and while plenty of great films have already come like Sinners, Weapons, The Life of Chuck, and Sorry, Baby, 2025 still has a ridiculous amount to offer. Last year I made this list on October 1st, but I want to get ahead of things a little more here with a busy September ahead. This list will count down the top 30 films I'm most looking forward to for the fall/holiday movie season. I'm only going to count films releasing from the beginning of September to the end of the year, so while I am excited for Caught Stealing, The Toxic Avenger, Splitsville, and The Roses, those won't appear here. I'm also going to be leaving off Chris Stuckmann's debut Shelby Oaks solely because I included it last year and this list is already way too long. I'm hoping to catch at least a handful of these at TIFF so look out for reviews on some in the coming month.
First some honourable mentions in alphabetical order: Avatar: Fire and Ash, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Him, The History of Sound, Regretting You, Springsteen, Tron: Ares. I'm sure I'll wind up seeing all these but the 30 films ahead I'm just a bit more interested in. There are also some like Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, No Other Choice, Is This Thing On?, and The Testament of Ann Lee that I'm very excited for but I just don't know when they'll be released. Some of these will also surely get delayed like Shelby Oaks did last year, and there will no doubt be some that I miss, but without further adieu let's get to it.
30. It Was Just an Accident - October 15th
If all goes according to plan this will be how I kick of my time at TIFF this year. It Was Just an Accident was admittedly not on my radar until it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, but it's surprise win there makes it now one of the must see films of the fall season. I haven't seen any of director Jafar Panahi's other work but I heard a lot of great things about his last film No Bears and am looking forward to checking this one out.
29. The Black Phone 2 - October 17th
Does The Black Phone need a sequel? Probably not. But I trust the team behind this too much to write it off. The trailers look cool, and the subtle supernatural elements of the story leave the possibility for a follow up that I'm hoping Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke nail once more. The key pieces of the first film's cast are back, and if this is anywhere close to the first film we're in for a treat this fall season.
28. Blue Moon - October 24th
This is back to back Ethan Hawke movies and the first of TWO directed by Richard Linklater on this list. Of his two films coming out this year this is the one I'm less interested in, but I'm a massive Linklater fan so this is still a must watch for me. The cast is pretty stacked, with Ethan Hawke being joined by Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott, and Bobby Cannavale, I just wish I was more interested in the story. Regardless, I'm pumped for this.
27. Predator: Badlands - November 7th
I've never been the biggest fan of the Predator franchise, but the past few entries have really won me over. Dan Trachtenberg really surprised me with Prey and then even more so with the animated Predator: Killer of Killers animated film from earlier this year. Elle Fanning stars here as an android and based on the trailers this looks like it could be a bloody good time.
26. Rental Family - November 21st
Is Brendan Fraser about the be a best actor nominee for the second time this decade? It certainly feels possible. Directed by Hikari, who also directed 3 episodes of Beef, this looks like an absolute delight. Fraser stars as an actor living in Tokyo and struggling to make ends meet when he gets a job acting as a stand-in for strangers at things like parties and funerals. It's a fascinating premise and Fraser feels perfect for it, I can easily see him getting nominated again.
25. The Smashing Machine - October 3rd
If you asked me a month or so ago, I'd probably put this higher, but at this point in time I'm just so sick of the trailer that my excitement has waned a bit. I'm still pumped though, this is one of two films this year from the Safdie brothers with Benny directing this and Josh taking on a project that'll show up later in this list. Emily Blunt looks great as always, and Dwayne Johnson looks to be finally giving the kind of performance I've wanted to see from him rather than his typically blockbuster schtick. This looks like a good sports movie at the very least and that's something I'll always appreciate.
24. Now you See Me: Now you Don't - November 14th
I probably shouldn't be as excited for this as I am, but the first film was genuinely one of my favourites when it came out. Time has passed and I'm not quite as high on the original as I was, but I just can't wait to see this cast of characters back on screen again. Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike, and Justice Smith are joining the already strong cast, and while director Ruben Fleischer is very hit or miss, I've enjoyed some of his work a lot so I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to this.
23. Zootopia 2 - November 26th
I'm crossing my fingers hard in hopes that this is good. Based solely on the first film this would be way higher on the list, Zootopia is among my faovurite Disney movies of all time. The marketing for this is worrying me a lot though. The trailers seem to be catered to not just kids but kids with literally no attention span, and if that ends up being the vibe of the movie I'm going to be deeply disappointed. I still have hope though, please Disney don't let this be a dud.
22. Keeper - November 14th
Is there a horror filmmaker pumping out work as efficiently as Osgood Perkins is right now? I've been a fan of his since I first watched The Blackcoat's Daughter, and he jumped to must see status with Longlegs last summer. Not long after that he put out The Monkey and now he has another film coming this year with Keeper, his second collaboration with Tatiana Maslany. I know almost nothing about this one and I plan on keeping it that way, Perkins is one of the most interesting directors working in the genre right now so all I need is his name on a project to get me excited.
21. Jay Kelly - Theatres November 14th, Netflix December 5th
Jay Kelly seems to be Netflix's big awards season push this year. Directed by Noah Baumbach and co-written by Emily Mortimer, the film follows George Clooney as a famous actor and Adam Sandler as his manager as the two confront their choices and relationships over the course of a trip through Europe. The test screening buzz on this is very strong, and with Baumbach leading the way I can easily see Clooney and Sandler getting Oscar buzz. The ensemble features too many big names to list, making this a must watch for the fall season.
20. Wicked for Good - November 21st
I don't have a clue how I feel about this one if we're being honest. The first film is one that I had a blast with but has its fair share of issues. The two films were shot back to back so I'm worried that some of those problems are still going to hold true, and from what I've heard the second half of the musical doesn't have the same hype as the first half. Regardless, it's hard not to look forward to this one, even if just for more of Ariana Grande as Glinda and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero.
19. The Long Walk - September 12th
I'm a massive Stephen King fan, this is just one of the two adaptations we're getting this fall (the other is a lil higher on this list). The Long Walk is based on the 1979 novel written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman and follows a group of young men in a contest where they have to remain walking or be executed until one is left standing. This is directed by Francis Lawrence who made most of the Hunger Games movies and is written by JT Mollner who made one of the most pleasant surprises of last year with Strange Darling. I'm hearing some great buzz for this so far, and that premise along with a pretty strong cast makes this one I'm very excited to see.
18. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey - September 19th
I'm a sucker for films that have that dreamlike feeling of comfort, and if I had to put my money on one film this fall fitting that bill it would be A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Director Kogonada previously made two of the most meditative films in recent memory with Columbus and After Yang, and this reunites him with Colin Farrell to tell the story of two strangers (the other played by Margot Robbie) who are brought together for the titular journey. This could wind up being too cheesy but I thought the trailers looked beautiful and I trust the team behind it so I can't wait for this one.
17. Hedda - Theatres October 22nd, Prime Video October 29th
While her career hasn't hit the stride I thought it would, Nia DaCosta remains a filmmaker I have all the belief in the world in. Her debut Little Woods is fantastic, and she followed it up with one of the most visually striking horror movies I've seen in 2021's Candyman. Her foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe didn't go quite so well, but this reunites her with star Tessa Thompson and looks like it could be dripping with style. It's place as part of the TIFF lineup only helps its case.
16. Roofman - October 10th
When I think of director Derek Cianfrance I tend to automatically get sad thanks to how emotionally crushing some of his work is. That makes it all the more exciting to me that his latest film Roofman looks like a ton of fun. The story is based on a true story where a former military officer evaded capture from the police by hiding in the walls of a Toys "R" Us. Channing Tatum stars in the leading role, with an ensemble rounded out by Kirtsen Dunst, Peter Dinklage, and Ben Mendelsohn to name a few. This just looks like a ton of fun, and with a talented filmmaker like Cianfrance behind it I have reason to think it'll stick the landing.
15. Nouvelle Vague - Theatres October 31st, Netflix November 14th
Of the two Linklater films coming this year, this is the one I'm more interested in. This follows the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless, and is said to be filmed in similar style. The idea of Linklater making a film not just in black and white but in French is fascinating to me, so while it may not end up being the better of the two films it's the one that captivates me the most. It's also the one I got TIFF tickets too which I suppose gives it a boost. I've also heard rumours that this could be France's submission for best international feature which would be wild.
14. Ballad of a Small Player - Theatres October 15th, Netflix October 29th
Here's another potential awards player from Netflix. Last year I made the mistake of thinking Edward Berger's adaptation of a novel would be boring, and Conclave wound up being one of the highlights of the fall for me. I'm not fooling myself twice, with a fun premise and Colin Farrell in the lead role this is way up on my hype list. At the very least, Berger seems to be one of the most technically proficient filmmakers working right now so the production should be great.
13. Eleanor the Great - September 26th
Of all the TIFF movies I wasn't able to fit into my schedule this might be the one that hurts the most. As soon as Eleanor the Great was announced as part of the Cannes lineup I've been excited, not just for it being Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut, but for being another fun looking movie with June Squibb in the leading role. June Squibb is frankly one of my favourite people in Hollywood, I love her in basically everything and her leading role in Thelma last year was one of my favourites of the year. This sounds like a ton of fun, and the ScarJo/Squibb duo has me very excited.
12. A House of Dynamite - Theatres October 10th, Netflix October 24th
This is one I know almost nothing about, but what I do know is that it's the latest from Kathryn Bigelow and that's enough for me. Bigelow became the first female filmmaker to win the Oscar for best director in 2009 with The Hurt Locker, and it's been nearly a decade since her last film Detroit which I absolutely loved. A House of Dynamite is premiering at the Venice Film Festival in early September, where it very well could show itself as a massive awards player. At the very least, it's a new work from one of the greats so it is very much on my radar.
11. If I Had Legs I'd Kick You - October 10th
This is probably the biggest film from Sundance to not be released yet. I'm not familiar with the director Mary Bronstein, but I love Rose Byrne and ever since this premiered back in January I've heard nothing but the best regarding her performance. She received the best actress award at the Berlin Film Festival, and despite the film not being typical awards fare I've seen a lot of people pushing her for an Oscar nomination. I've seen comparisons to Uncut Gems and Tully, the cast is stacked alongside Byrne, and the trailer looks fantastic.
10. After the Hunt - October 17th
Luca Guadanigno has quickly become one of the hottest directors in the game. He broke out with Call me By Your Name, and followed that up with Suspiria, Bones & All, Challengers, and Queer. His latest stars Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri, and follows Roberts' character Alma caught in a sexual abuse scandal between a professor and their student. It's a certainly topical story and one that I can easily see Guadanigno brining his typical flare too. This is probably going to be the best we've seen Roberts in some time, and it's awesome to see Edebiri partnering up with a filmmaker of this caliber. We also get a Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score so that's always a win.
9. Marty Supreme - December 25th
This is the second of the two Safdie Brother movies, this one coming from Josh Safdie. Rumours swirled in 2023 that Timothee Chalamet was going to appear in a ping pong movie, and now we know he'll be playing Marty Reisman in this electric looking biopic. On top of being the latest entry in Chalamet's quest for greatness, it is the most expensive film A24 has produced at an estimated 70 million dollars, showing that the studio clearly has a lot of faith in this one. It looks fantastic, and very well could be the highlight of the holiday movie season.
8. Die My Love - November 7th
Kathryn Bigelow isn't the only iconic female filmmaker making a big return this year. Lynne Ramsay is probably best known for We Need to Talk About Kevin which I consider an absolute masterpiece, and similarly to Bigelow she hasn't made anything since 2017 with You Were Never Really Here. This was one of the buzziest films at Cannes back in May, with leads Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson garnering a ton of buzz for their performances. The film has been described as a dark comedy/drama and sounds like it could be a fascinating watch from a filmmaker I respect a ton.
7. The Running Man - November 7th
And here is the second of the big Stephen King adaptations coming this fall. The Running Man gets an extra boost thanks to Edgar Wright taking on the director's chair for it. This is his first narrative feature since Last Night in Soho, and I've honestly enjoyed pretty much all of his work. This one stars Glen Powell as a man who joins a game show where he has to survive for 30 days while being chased by countless people trying to kill him, and if he wins he earns the grand prize of a billion dollars. This looks so much fun, and as soon as I'm done reading The Long Walk I'll probably be reading this one to get ready. I can not wait.
6. Bugonia - October 31st
If you were ever unsure as to how crazy the last third of the year is going to be movie-wise, the newest Yorgos Lanthimos movie isn't even in my top 5. This is reportedly based on a 2003 South Korean dark comedy and stars Emma Stone as a CEO kidnapped by two conspiracy theorists who think she's an alien. It sounds ridiculous, but it's the exact kind of ridiculous that Lanthimos is best at, and I'll never doubt a collaboration with him and Stone. As I'm writing this the film just showed at the Venice Film Festival and the buzz I'm seeing is wild. Could Emma Stone become a three time Oscar winner? We'll have to wait and see.
5. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - Netflix December 12th
Anyone who knows me is well aware that I don't like staying out late. That's how you know I'm excited for this one, as I have a TIFF ticket for a 9:45 showing that won't be getting out until after midnight. As it stands I actually have TIFF tickets for all but one of my top five here which is awesome. I'm just an absolute sucked for the Knives Out movies. Based on the stills we've seen the visuals look closer to the first film than to Glass Onion which I consider a win, and the cast is maybe even more stacked this time around. Joining Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc are Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny, and Thomas Haden Church, along with Josh Brolin and Josh O'Connor both playing priests. My only gripe with this is that it's going straight to Netflix, so hopefully a theatrical run is announced at some point because these deserve to be seen with a crowd.
4. Hamnet - December 12th
Honestly this and the two that follow are pretty much interchangeable when it comes to my hype levels. There's a clear number one, but these three all easily could have been #2. Hamnet is the latest from Oscar winner Chloe Zhao, an adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's 2020 novel which gives a fictionalized account of Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they grief the loss of their son, and how that paved the way for Shakespeare's most iconic story. I read the book a few months back and it is frankly incredible, and with the lead roles being played by two of my favourite working actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, I can't wait to see how they bring such an emotional story to life. The trailer just debuted a few days ago and it frankly looks and sounds magnificent. One thing I've appreciated about Zhao as a filmmaker is her ability to turn fairly normal settings into something beautiful, and here she has the chance to bring that to some stunning set design. If all goes right with this I can easily see it being one of the year's best.
3. One Battle After Another - September 26th
Paul Thomas Anderson is without question one of the greats, and his latest film Licorice Pizza was one of my favourites the year it came out. This year he teams up for the first time with another of the greats in Leonardo Dicaprio. Leo seems very picky with his projects in recent years so if that alone isn't enough to give you faith, how about the fact that it looks incredible? I wasn't sure what to think of the first trailer but the most recent one showed a lot more of what the film is going to be and I'm 100% sold on it. It may not be the awards player some of PTA's other recent work has been, but it very well could be and promises to be a thrilling time regardless. This is the only film in my top five not going to TIFF so I'm very thankful I only have to wait until the end of September to see it.
2. Frankenstein - Theatres October 17th, Netflix November 7th
Guillermo del Toro is one of my absolute favourite filmmakers. Whether it be The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth, or his underrated The Devil's Backbone, I always love the way he crafts beautiful stories with fantastical creatures. Now, he digs his teeth into arguably the most iconic monster of all with Frankenstein, an adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel that del Toro has reportedly wanted to make for nearly two decades. The production and costume design look insane, as is often the case with a del Toro film, and his emphasis on practical sets and effects rather that resorting to CGI is something I appreciate a lot. The cast here is also awesome, with Oscar Isaac playing Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as a fascinating choice as his monster. Beyond excited for this one.
1. Sentimental Value - November 7th
And here it is, the movie this year I have been most excited about ever since it was announced. In 2021 I watched The Worst Person in the World as part of TIFF's watch-from-home lineup. In the months that followed it wound up becoming my top film of the year, and in the years since has blossomed into an all time favourite of mine. It's a film that means the world to me, and now I'll be opening up my 2025 TIFF with Joachim Trier and Renate Reinsve's follow up. This is the ticket I was prioritizing most, especially after rave reviews for it came out of Cannes. Trier is one of my top directors and Reinsve is in my opinion one of the top actors working today, and Sentimental Value brings Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning into the fold. It was just announced that this will be Norway's entry for the International Feature award, and as of now it seems like a pretty sure bet to win. I was beyond excited for this to begin with, but the word on the street that it's one of if not the best of the year has me somehow even more stoked.
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