There’s nothing quite like a great movie to give you some much-needed escapism from the stresses of work, family, and everything else you’re balancing. And if you’ve already run through the feel-good movies on Netflix or gobbled up our favorite book-to-film adaptations, you’re probably looking for something new. Luckily, there’s a slew of great movies out this season to freshen up your watch list.
It might only be October, but studios are gearing up for awards season. They start releasing all their top contenders now so they’re top of mind when nominations roll around. As a result, we’re knee-deep in thought-provoking, powerful, impressive films that will move and inspire audiences. So far, we’ve got about a political thriller from the famed director of Zero Dark Thirty, a tense academic drama starring Julia Roberts, and the odd story of an escaped prisoner secretly living in a Toys “R” Us. Plus, we’re excited but anxious to watch a film about a mom’s nervous breakdown that’s been repeatedly compared to Uncut Gems.
Best New Movies: Fall 2025
After the Hunt (October 10)
A college professor is thrown for a loop when a star student makes an accusation against one of her colleagues, threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past. Andrew Garfield, Julia Roberts, and Ayo Edebiri star.
A House of Dynamite (October 10)
Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow returns with a new political thriller that’s all but guaranteed to be gripping. At the White House, government officials rush to deal with the threat of a nuclear missile launched by a foreign power at the city of Chicago.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (October 10)
Want to feel some real-deal tension? Here’s a film that’s been consistently compared to both Nightbitch and Uncut Gems. Amid her life crashing down, Linda struggles to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her checked-out husband, a missing person, and a particularly hostile relationship with her therapist.
Roofman (October 10)
After breaking out of prison, convicted thief Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum) finds a hideout in a Toys “R” Us, where he lives undetected for months. But when Jeffrey falls for a divorced mom (Kirsten Dunst), his double life starts to unravel.
Blue Moon (October 17)
This Richard Linklater film is set on March 31, 1943, the opening night of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Rodgers’ former creative partner, Lorenz Hart, who is struggling with alcoholism and depression, tries to maintain his composure despite his troubles.
Frankenstein (October 17)
Pinocchio director Guillermo del Toro returns with the classic tale of a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment. If you can’t catch this in theaters, watch out for its streaming premiere on November 7.
Good Fortune (October 17)
In this supernatural comedy, a well-intentioned angel named Gabriel interferes in the lives of a scrappy gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist. Seth Rogen, Sandra Oh, Keanu Reeves, and Aziz Ansari (who also directed) star.
It Was Just an Accident (October 15)
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was arrested, imprisoned, and banned from making movies by the Iranian government 15 years ago. Since then, he’s been making movies in secret. In this Palme d’Or-winning dark comedy, a mechanic seeks revenge against the government intelligence officer whom he thinks tortured him while in detainment.
The Mastermind (October 17)
Want to catch a heist film this fall? In 1970, Mooney and two associates walk into a museum in broad daylight and take several paintings. When hiding the art ends up being surprisingly difficult, Mooney begins living his life on the run.
Bugonia (October 24)
Two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnap the CEO of a major company (Emma Stone), convinced that she’s an alien who wants to destroy Earth. If you liked Poor Things, you’ll be pleased to learn that this is another collaboration between Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos.
