Happy October! This month is when we start to get the big, award-hopeful fall releases. Some of the highlights of what’s ahead this month include:

October 3: “Gone Girl,” with Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, and Tyler Perry in the sizzling story of a beautiful missing wife that takes some nasty twists, based on the blockbuster best-seller by Gillian Flynn.

“Left Behind” stars Nicolas Cage as a pilot in a second film based on the post-rapture series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

October 10: “The Judge” is a courtroom drama starring Robert Duvall and Robert Downey, Jr. as estranged father and son, one a judge, the other a slick criminal defense lawyer. When the judge is accused of murder, his son becomes his lawyer.

“Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is based on the classic book by Judith Viorst. But in this version, everyone in the family has a you-know-what kind of day, including the parents (Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner).

“Kill the Messenger” stars Jeremy Renner in the true story of Gary Webb, the courageous and dedicated reporter who uncovered the complicity of the CIA in bringing drugs to the US in exchange for money to support the Contras in Nicaragua.

October 17: “The Book of Life” is a dazzling animated film featuring the voices of Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Christina Applegate, and the musical group Us the Duo.

Nicolas Sparks’ The Best of Me is a “Notebook”-style story about long-parted lovers coming back together, starring Michelle Monaghan and James Marsden.

“Fury” stars Brad Pitt in story set near the end of WWII, when exhausted soldiers and a young newcomer must take the war into the heart of enemy territory.

“Dear White People” is a provocative and very funny satire about race relations in an Ivy League college.

“Whiplash” is a festival favorite with outstanding performances by Miles Teller as a young drummer and J.K. Simmons as his harsh and demanding teacher.

October 24: “St. Vincent” stars Melissa McCarthy as a stressed-out single mother and Bill Murray as the irresponsible neighbor she hires to care for her son.

“Laggies” is about a slacker (Kiera Knightly) who moves in with a single father (Sam Rockwell) and his daughter (Chloë Grace Moretz).

“23 Blast” is based on the true story of a football player who loses his sight.