Prep the popcorn.
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’s fall, which is when particularly riveting films start debuting in anticipation of awards season. As the weather cools, we head inside theaters to enjoy the very best that Hollywood has the offer — career-defining performances, clever writing, gorgeous cinematography, and daring direction. Devoted movie buffs can expect the 2024 turnout to include dramas big and small — from a scrappy little biopic about a group of aspiring comedians to a science fiction epic that plays with space and time. No matter your taste, you’ll end the season with a bevy of new favorite films to root for during those winter awards shows.
Best New Movies Out Now: Fall 2024
The Substance
In the mood for a psychological thriller? Try this drama that won the best screenplay at Cannes. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, a renowned aerobics star. When she’s fired on her 50th birthday, a nefarious lab offers her a substance that promises to turn her into an enhanced version of herself — think anti-aging technology taken to the extreme.
Never Let Go
In this horror film, Halle Berry stars a mother caring for her two children after an unspeakable evil has taken over the world. But when one of her boys begins questioning whether the evil is even real, the family’s deep bond is broken, leaving them to fight for survival.
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola wrote and directed this epic science fiction drama, which is veritably star-studded (Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, and Laurence Fishburne are members of the cast, to name a few). In an imagined modern version of America, architect Cesar Catilina (Driver) battles a corrupt mayor (Esposito) to decide how to remake the city of New Rome after it’s devastated by disaster — and a new material, “megalon,” lies at the center of their fight.
Lee
Nothing hits the spot like a good biopic. In this riveting drama, Kate Winslet stars as photographer Elizabeth “Lee” Miller, a model turned trailblazing war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.
The Outrun
Craving a quiet film? Based on the memoir of the same name, The Outrun follows Rona (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman who returns to her rural home in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Expect deep, frank reflections on a troubled past.
Joker: Folie À Deux
On the other hand, you might be in the mood for an action-packed story rooted in the world of superheroes (and villains). Joaquin Phoenix stars in this sequel to Joker — with Lady Gaga joining him as his love interest, Harley Quinn. Trapped in the notorious Arkham Asylum, the two engage in mutual musical madness as a revolution brews outside.
White Bird
Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren star in this sequel to the critically acclaimed 2017 film, Wonder. Julian (Bryce Gheisar) goes to visit his grandmother (Mirren) who tells him about her youth as a young, Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
Bad Genius
The American remake of this hit Thai film follows a cohort of crafty high school seniors who take down a rigged college admissions process, thanks to the help of one highly-gifted student. If you still have nightmares about the stresses of SAT prep, this one’s for you.
Saturday Night
Anyone with a television set has seen Saturday Night Live — but few of us are well-versed in the fast-paced story behind the long-running program. In Saturday Night, tensions run high as young producer Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) and a raucous troupe of immature comedians and writers prepare for the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Expect drama, laughs, and a hefty serving of utter chaos.
Rumours
In this clever black comedy, world leaders meet at the G7 political forum to compose a joint statement on an unnamed global crisis — until they get lost in the woods. Surrounded by impenetrable fog and a series of surreal obstacles, they navigate the tortured passions between them.
