Fall Preview 2026: Practical Magic 2, Hunger Games, Shaun the Sheep, Plus Crime, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Quirky Indies and Johnny Depp as Scrooge

Posted on September 1, 2026 at 8:00 am

Fall is usually when we begin to get more dramas, biographical films, and potential award nominees. But there are some likely blockbusters, festival favorites, and long-awaited sequels/prequels, too. Note: we have two movies with almost identical names, both action movies about saving a child. Don’t confuse “The Runner” (Gal Gadot) with “Runner” (Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson) .

Here are some fall 2026 films we are looking forward to most:

September 2

“Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris” The dynamic performer’s appearance in Paris brings you into the arena with more than 60 camera angles so we get a front-row seat to the music, choreography, wild costumes, and stage charisma as Perry explores her earliest hits and newest releases.

“The Runner” Gal Gadot stars in a tense action story about a lawyer out on a morning run who is notified that her son has been kidnapped and to get him back she needs to follow orders, tell no one, and keep running.

September 4

“Mayday” Ryan Reynolds is an American Air Force pilot on a secret missing crashes in the Soviet Union and Kenneth Branagh is a former KGB who wants to help him. (AppleTV+)

“Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day” In 1910 England, as the women’s sufferage movement is gaining momentum and causing controversy and science and technology are taking great leaps forward, a women wants to study astronomy. Stars include Haley Bennet, Lily Allen, and Jack Whitehall.

“By Any Means” In the 1960s a young Black FBI agent (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is sent to Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. He finds himself working with notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg). The cast also includes Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas, Giancarlo Esposito, and David Straithairn.

September 11

“The Fix” Disillusioned by the end of the war in Afghanistan, a group of disgraced, war torn ex-CIA operators set out to Tehran to steal $25 million. The cast includes Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi.

“Practical Magic 2” Time to put the lime in the coconut again — Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back as the witchy Owens sisters, based on the sequel by Alice Hoffman. Can they finally break the family curse?

“Runner” The life of a little girl is at stake when a former solider (Alan Ritchson) has to make a crucial delivery of a new liver despite some very bad people who want to stop him. Owen Wilson co-stars.

September 18

“The Master and Margarita” Fifty years after it was first released, the savagely satiric cult classic novel about the Soviet Union by Mikhail Bulgakov comes to the screen.

“Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom” Our favorite barnyard crew is back! On Halloween Eve at Mossy Bottom Farm, the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch. Shaun tries fixing it with science experiments, but things go wrong when a wild beast appears in the woods.

“The Musical” A middle school principal (Rob Lowe) wants a nice, safe choice for the school musical, so they will make it onto the Southern California Blue Ribbon Schools list. But the school drama teacher, angry because the principal is dating his ex, decides to do something very different.

“The Weight” Ethan Hawke plays a prisoner doing hard time and Russell Crowe plays the warden who offers him a chance at freedom if he can smuggle some gold.

September 25

“Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!” Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi, plays a competitive ballroom dancer who has to start over after the loss of her partner. This gets my vote for the most adorable trailer of the fall.

“Primetime” Robert Pattinson plays “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hanson, filming sting operations.

“The Incomer” Domhnall Gleeson and John Hannah star in the story of siblings who have been the only occupants of a Scottish island for their whole lives and are now about to be evicted.

“Unabomber” This is based on the true story of Ted Kaczynski, dubbed “UNABOM” by the FBI because the bombs he sent were directed at universities and airlines. Jacob Tremblay plays the promising math student turned recluse and domestic terrorist, Russell Crowe is his Harvard professor, and Shailene Woodley is the FBI agent on his trail.

“The Deputy” William H. Macy plays a sheriff who assigns a rookie to guard a dead body. When the body disappears, he teams up with a deputy (Tiffany Haddish) for an investigation that uncovers some dark secrets.

October 2

“Verity” Colleen Hoover’s novel about a writer hired to finish a book by a disabled author is brought to the screen with Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway, and Josh Hartnett, directed by Michael Showalter (“Hello, My Name is Doris,” “The Big Sick”).

“APPOFENIACS” A thriller about deepfakes and the people who explot them. “Appofenia,” by the way, means making connections between things that are unconnected in reality, interpreting random coincidences as something meaningful, usually threatening or foreboding.

“Digger” Tom Cruise in one of his most outrageous roles plays a balding, paunchy zillionaire who is behind an environmental disaster. John Goodman is the US President. This one looks wild.

October 9

“The Social Reckoning” Where “The Social Network” left off, “The Social Reckoning” continues the story of Facebook, this time focusing on the whistleblower, with Oscar-winner Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, who revealed what the company knew and pretended not to know about the damage it was doing. Aaron Sorkin writes and directs and “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White plays Mark Zuckerberg.

“Animals” BFFs Ben Affleck and Matt Damon star in the story of a mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. Also in the cast: Gillian Anderson and Kerry Washington.

October 9

“Angel and the Badman” A wounded gunman (Zachary Levi) is cared for by a gentle woman, the daughter of a rancher in this remake of a John Wayne western.

“Double Trouble” Two young sisters visitng Las Vegas get entangled in the robbery of diamond gauntlet being loaned to a pop star.

“Matchbox: The Movie” Remember Matchbox cars? Jessica Biel and John Cena play childhood friends who learn that their toys are somehow the key to saving the world. Tne amazing cast include many of my favorites: Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Golshifteh Farahani and Danai Gurira.

“Tenzing” Most people remember Edmund Hillary as the first to reach the top of Mount Everest. Fewer know the story of the man who got him there, Tenzing Norgay. This is his story, starring Genden Phuntsok in the title role, with Tom Hiddleston as Hillary.

October 16

“Sense and Sensibility” The beloved Jane Austen classic about two devoted sisters, one who is led by her heart, one by her brain, has a new screen adaptation, starring Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

“California Schemin'” This really happened. Two Scots pretended to be hip-hop artists from California even though they had never been to America. This led to a record deal and then a book and a documentary, and now James McAvoy directs and stars in a movie about it.

“Poetic License” Maude Apatow directs her mother, Leslie Mann, in a film about two friends who fall for an older woman. Co-stars are Cooper Hoffman (“Licorice Pizza”) and Andrew Barth Feldman (“No Hard Feelings”).

“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” John Turturro plays the title character who has to retrieve an item stolen from some very scary bad guys.

“Musk” Oscar-winning documentary director Alex Gibney tells the story of the richest man on earth.

“Masterplan” Stanley Tucci stars in a heist film involving the Louvre and some family connections.

October 23

“Wildwood” I love LAIKA’s goregous stop-motion animation films and this story of a girl who has to go into the forest to rescue her kidnapped brother looks amazing.

“Klara and the Sun” Taika Waititi co-wrote and directs, based on a book by Nobel Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro. Jenna Ortega plays a robot “companion” who changes the lives of a family.

“Wicker” Oscar-winner Olivia Colman plays an unpopular woman in a small 18th century town who asks the local craftsman (Peter Dinklage) to create a husband for her — out of wicker. Alexander Skarsgård and Elizabeth Debicki co-star.

“Wife and Dog” Guy Ritchie directs, and the cast includes James Norton, Rosamund Pike,
Benedict Cumberbatch, and Anthony Hopkins, and Paddy Considine, in a story about a brutal family fight over succession.

“Fatherland” Based on a true story: At the height of the Cold War, the writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler) and his daughter Erika (Sandra Hüller) take a road trip across a Germany in ruins.

November 6

“The Cat in the Hat” Bill Hader provides the voice in this animated story of the beloved Dr. Seuess character who creates chaos and hilarity wherever he goes.

“Jimmy” One of the biggest movie stars in history was also a hero of WWII and this is the story of his service. Jimmy Stewart is played by A.J. Apa (Archie in “Riverdale”).

November 13

“Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol” Johnny Depp takes on the role of the selfish miser who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve, in Charles Dickens’ beloved story. Ian McKellen plays the chain-dragging Marley, “Severence’s” Trammel Tillman plays the merry Ghost of Christmas Present, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” series) plays Bob Cratchit, and Sam Claflin plays my favorite character, Scrooge’s nephew, Fred.

“How to Rob a Bank” Bank robbers brag about their heists on social media. Law enforcement is determined to stop them. The cast includes Nicolas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Pete Davidson, and Christian Slater. Director and former stuntman David Leitch (“Bullet Train”) so you know this one will have cheeky humor and a lot of action.

“I Play Rocky” A week after we see the story of Jimmy Stewart’s wartime heroism, we have another fact-based story of an actor, this time Sylvester Stallone (Anthony Ippolito) insisting on starring in the title role of his screenplay about an unranked boxer punching sides of beef to prepare for taking on the champ (Stephan James as actor Carl Weathers).

November 18

“Madden” Christian Bale and Nicolas Cage star in the story of legendary football coach (and video game entrepreneur), John Madden, directed by David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”).

November 20

“The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” The next chapter in the prequels to the Hunger Games series stars Ralph Feinnes, Elle Fanning, and Jesse Plemons, Kieran Culkin, and Maya Hawke.

“Paper Tiger” James Gray’s film has had a very positive response in festivals. It stars Adam Driver and his “Marriage Story” co-star Scarlett Johansson, along with Miles Teller, in a tense story about two brothers who get entangled in a dangerous Russian mafia scheme that terrorizes their family.

“Steps” We got the Wicked Witch of the West’s perspective on “The Wizard of Oz,” so why not take another look at Cinderella’s step-sisters? This animated film has a terrific voice cast including Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Radcliffe, Peter Dinklage, Stephanie Hsu, and — perfect choice — Bette Midler as the fairy godmother.

November 25

“Hexed” Disney’s big animated Thanksgiving release is a magical coming of age film about a girl (Hailee Stanfield) with magical powers sent to a magical land. Voices include Rashida Jones, Stephen Fry, and Tracey Ullman.

“Focker In-Law ” The “Meet the Parents” folks are back together to make all of our family gatherings feel normal by comparison. Now it’s Ben Stiller’s chance to show some concerns about his son’s girlfriend, played by Ariana Grande. Robert de Niro, Owen Wilson, and Teri Pollo return, joined by Skyler Gisondo and his “Booksmart” co-star Beanie Feldstein.

“Hershey” The man behind the chocolate bars and aluminum foil-wrapped kisses — who kept every employee on the job through the Depression and built a school for orphaned boys — gets a biopic. Finn Wittrock stars as Milton Hershey, with Alexandra Daddario as his wife, Kitty.

“The Adventures of Cliff Booth” Brad Pitt returns to his Oscar-winning “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” role of stunt man turned assistant to a movie star Cliff Booth in this prequel, with Timothy Olyphant returning to the role of James Stacy. Joining the cast: Elizabeth Debicki, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Pitt’s “Ocean 11” co-star Scott Caan. It’s written by Quentin Tarantino, directed by David Fincher.

Related Tags:

Trailers, Previews, and Clips

Summer Movies 2026: Sequels and Remakes, Book Adaptations, Extra-Terrestrials, Romance, Superheroes, Pixar, Comedy, and RuPaul!

Posted on June 1, 2026 at 6:06 am

The big summer movies are coming! We’ve got big new movies from some of the most creative directors in Hollywood. Christopher Nolan takes one one of the oldest epics in the Western canon, The Odyssey. And Steven Spielberg brings us back to the world of extra-terrestrials (possibly not as friendly as the ones in”E.T.” or “Close Encounters of the Third Kind“) in “Disclosure Day.” New stories about old friends are on the way, too. Woody and Buzz are back in “Toy Story 5.” Spider-Man is back in “Brand New Day.” The Minions are back in “Minions and Monsters.” And there’s a new “Scary Movie,” the sixth in the silly parody series.

History comes to the screen in “Pressure,” with Brendan Fraser as then-General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who has to know which of two conflicting weather reports to rely on in planning the battle that will be the turning point of WWII, and a fact-based story of a WWII rescue, “Lucky Strike,” directed by Rod Lurie (“The Outpost“), who co-wrote, and starring Scott Eastwood, Colin Hanks, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. “The Brink of War” tells the story of the delicate negotiations between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that ended the Cold War — and the Soviet Union.

There’s romance in “One Night Only” and comedy in Nate Bargatze’s “The Breadwinner.” And there’s a wild action comedy from RuPaul, who plays the President of the United States in a movie with a title that tells you everything you need to know, the three-exclamation point, cameo-filled “Stop! That! Train!” And every year (usually in August) there is some low-budget film that seems to come out of nowhere that introduces us to a major new talent. That’s what I look forward to the most.

MAY

“Pressure” In this gripping WWII drama, Brendan Fraser plays Eisenhower and Damian Lewis plays Montgomery in this tense drama about the lead-up to D-Day, when every detail matters and none more than the ability to predict the weather. Andrew Scott plays Dr. James Stagg, the real-life meteorologist who provided crucial information to make the Allied invasion successful.

“The Breadwinner” It feels like a remake of Michael Keaton’s “Mr. Mom,” with top stand-up comic Nate Bargatze as a stay-at-home dad trying to cope with domestic responsibilities.

“Tuner” In this tense, well-acted thriller, up-and-coming star Leo Woodall plays a one-time piano prodigy with perfect pitch who now has an ear condition that makes any sound excruciatingly painful. He works as a piano tuner with a mentor played by Dustin Hoffman and he is attracted to a beautiful young pianist (Havana Rose Liu). But when his exceptional hearing comes to the attention of some gangsters who want him to use his ears to crack safes, things get very complicated.

JUNE

June 5

“Masters of the Universe” (June 5) Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) is the good guy who is also known as He-Man and Skeletor (Jared Leto) is the bad guy in a story that brings the beloved 1980s cartoon series to a live action big screen, big budget film.

“Scary Movie 6” 26 years after the last one, the series that makes fun of pretty much everything that is popular returns with the original stars: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans.

“Power Ballad” Rick (Paul Rudd) is a musician who was once almost close to fame but is now a singer in a wedding band, doing covers. Danny (Nick Jonas) is a once-successul former boy band performer who has not broken through as a solo artist. They happen to meet and spend a boozy night jamming together. Danny takes credit for Rick’s song, which becomes a huge hit.

“Office Romance” Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein (“Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking”) have to keep their romance secret because they work together and she’s the boss.

“The Birthday Party” Willem Dafoe plays a very wealth man who is giving an extravagent birthday party for his young adult daughter on his private Mediterranean island in the 1970s. Many guest from different parts of his life want to ask him for help or favors. And his daughter has her own secrets.

June 12

“Disclosure Day” Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, and Josh O’Connor star in a Steven Spielberg film about aliens, but also about trust in our institutions and whether they deserve it.

“Stop! That! Train!”

The name of the runaway train is the Glamazonian Express. RuPaul plays the US President. The packed cast includes Sarah Michelle Geller as “Famous Actress,” Joel McHale as “Male Passenger 2,” Nicole Richie as “Workaholic,” superstars from RuPaul’s Drag Race….and Charo!

June 19

“Toy Story 5” In another love letter to imagination, childhood, and friends, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and the gang are back and facing a new threat — the Lily Pad, an AI device voiced by Greta Lee.

“The Death of Robin Hood” Hugh Jackman plays the legendary hero who is seeking redemption, with Jodie Comer as a mysterious woman, Bill Skarsgård as Little John, along with Murray Bartlett, and Noah Jupe, directed by “A Quiet Place: Day One’s” Michael Sarnoski.

“Finnegan’s Foursome” After the death of their father, four siblings sort through their feelings through continuing his tradition of the family participating in an Irish golf tournament.

June 26

“Supergirl” At the end of the most recent “Superman” movie, we saw Supergirl (Milly Alcock), who is, especially compared to her “trusting is punk rock” cousin. Now she gets her own origin story. Instead of being adopted by a loving farm couple, Supergirl’s flee from the exploding Krypton landed her in an orphanage. Her only friend is Krypto, the dog. When he is poisoned, she has to fight to save him. I’m especially intrigued because of the director, Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya,” “Lars and the Real Girl”) and co-star Matthias Schoenaerts

“Lucky Strike” Rod Lurie co-wrote and directed this fact-based WWII story about a soldier (Scott Eastwood) trapped behind enemy lines during the last major German offensive, The Battle of the Bulge. He has to use the brand-new radio transmission technology to contact his division and his wits to stay hidden.

JULY

July 1

“Minions and Monsters” The little yellow guys are back! And they’re seeking monsters for a movie. What could go wrong? Voices include: Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr, and Trey Parker.

July 3

“Young Washington” In honor of the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, Angel Studios has produced this origin story of our first great general and our first President. The cast includes Sir Ben Kingsley, Kelsey Grammer, Andy Serkis, and Mary-Louise Parker.

July 10

“Moana” Dwayne Johnson repeats his role as the demi-god Maui in this live action remake of the beloved Disney film about the Polynesian daughter of a chief who wants to know more about the world beyond her island.

July 17

“The Odyssey” Matt Damon plays Ulysses in in Homer’s classic story of a soldier’s adventures on the way home. Lupita Nyong’o plays Helen, whose beauty inspired the Trojan War, Tom Holland is Telemachus, the son of Ulysses, and Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, his patient wife. Zendaya is the godess Athena, and Charlize Theron is the nymph Calypso.

July 24

“The Dink” In these divided times, one of the bitterest controversies many communities face is….pickleball. Jake Johnson plays a former tennis player turned country club coach. His father (Ed Harris), runs the club and hates pickleball. Johnson takes up pickleball with a partner played by Mary Steenburgen and finds he likes it. Real-life tennis star Andy Roddick plays a version of himself as Johnson’s nemesis, and the cast includes comedy greats Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, and Chris Parnell.

July 31

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” Tom Holland returns as Spider-Man, who in the last film had to erase everyone’s memory of his identity, including Mary Jane (Zendaya). Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) joins the story.

AUGUST

August 7

“One Night Only” One reason we don’t get many good rom-coms these days is that many of the obstacles that provided the com for the roms in the past have been circumvented by changes in social norms (different views today about sex before marriage) or technology (no races to the airport when people can be reached by cell phone). So, how about inventing a world in which unmarried people are only allowed to have sex one night a year? That is the premise of this film, starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro (“A Complete Unknown”).

“Cookie Queens” If you have ever bought or sold Girl Scout cookies, this documentary will surprise and delight you.

August 14

“The End of Oak Street” Anne Hathaway in one of the FIVE very different movies she has in theaters this year, plays a suburban women whose entire street gets somehow transported to a mysterious other world. It’s the third feature film from David Robert Mitchell, director of “It Follows,” and produced by J.J. Abrams.

“PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” How can you make the PAW Patrol more exciting? Add some dinosaurs!

August 21

“The Magic Faraway Tree” The beloved children’s book by Enid Blyton is about children who move to the country and discover that their new home is next to the Enchanted Wood. Inside is the title tree, a portal to magical lands full of elves, pixies, talking creatures and adventures. The children’s parents are played by Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield.

August 28

“Coyote vs. Acme” In 1990 Ian Frazier published a funny short story in The New Yorker about Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote suing the company that supplies all of the gadgets and other products that have failed to help him catch the Roadrunner for almost 80 years. The movie inspired by that story was made in 2022, combining animation and live action “Roger Rabbit”-style. Will Forte plays the lawyer who agrees to represent Wile E., and John Cena as his opposing counsel. Warner CEO decided to junk the movie to get tax benefits, breaking the hearts of the filmmakers and the many people who were looking forward to it. Ketchup Entertainment came to the rescue. I had the great pleasure of seeing many of the filmmakers and some clips at San Diego Comic-Con last year and expect this to be a great favorite for many people.

Happy 2026! Some Movies To Watch Out For

Posted on January 1, 2026 at 6:01 am

Happy New Year! Lots of great films are coming our way, sequels, superheroes, video games, favorite books (two from Colleen Hoover!), big-budget blockbusters, micro-budget Indies, two new Pixar films, and MIND-BLOWING MUSIC. As always, what I most look forward to are the surprises, the films and performers we don’t know yet but will become indispensable by the end of the year. (And as always, we know more about what is coming in the next few months than the end of the year and release dates may change.)

JANUARY

People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry’s best-seller about a will-they/won’t they couple comes to the screen with Emily Baderand Tom Blyth, co-starring Jameela Jamil, Alan Ruck, and Molly Shannon.

Mercy What if we had AI judges who give people accused of crimes just 90 minutes to prove their innocence? Chris Pratt plays the man accused of murdering his wife and Rebecca Ferguson plays the AI.

Send Help Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien play a pair of co-workers who do not get along well but have to find a way to get along when they are stranded on a desert island.

The Moment Charli XCX stars in a not-documentary about a touring pop star named Charli XCX. The cast includes Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, and Alexander Skarsgård.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die A time-bending sci-fi action story with Chris Pratt, Haley Lu Richardson, Juno Temple, Zazie Beetz, and Michael Peña fighting against the most popular villain of the moment, a rogue AI.

The Internship A top-level trained assassin wants to dismantle the system that trained her. Sounds a bit like “Ballerina,” doesn’t it?

Night Patrol An LAPD policeman has to team up with street gangs to fight a common enemy — crooked cops.

Untitled Home Invasion Romance Jason Biggs directs and stars in the story of a couple trying to repair their relationship with a trip away from home, until a dead body makes things get complicated.

Killer Whale The title says it all — two young woman on a trip to a private lagoon are hunted by an escaped orca out for revenge.

FEBRUARY

Elvis Presley in Concert Director Baz Luhrman discovered legendary missing footage of Elvis when he was working on the film starring Austin Butler. He’s now assembled never-before-seen footage into a concert film.

How to Make a Killing The classic British comedy “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” about a man who kills off every relative standing between him and an inheritance, is relocated and updated with Glen Powell as the would-be heir, co-starring with Margaret Qualley, Ed Harris, Topher Grace, and Bill Camp.

Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte’s gothic classic gets another reboot, this time, directed by a woman, Emerald Fennell, known for a provocative, strongly feminist viewpoint. Margot Robbie stars as Cathy, with Jacob Elordi as the brooding Heathcliff.

MARCH

The Magic Faraway Tree Enid Blyton’s classic children’s book gets a sumptuous treatment and a starry cast in this story of a tree that is a portal to magic lands. Stars include Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Rebecca Ferguson, Nonso Anozie, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Gunning, and Jennifer Saunders.

The Breadwinner Is beloved comedian Nate Bargatze an actor? Or a screenwriter? We’ll find out in this story of a stay at home dad, starring along with Mandy Moore, fellow comedian Kumail Nanjiani, and SNL’s Will Forte and Colin Jost.

Masters of the Universe He-Man and Skeletor make it to the big screen in a live-action epic starring Nicholas Galitzine (He-Man/Prince Adam) with Jared Leto as his nemesis Skeletor. The cast also features Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Sasheer Zamata, James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, Kristen Wiig and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson.

Reminders of Him Another bittersweet romantic story of love and grief from Colleen Hoover book brought to the screen, starring Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, Bradley Whitford, and singer Lainey Wilson.

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft – The Tour (Live in 3D) Billie Eilish singing. James Cameron directing. 3D. Enough said.

Poetic License Maude Apatow, who has shown her acting talent in “One of Them Days” and “Euphoria,” makes her directing debut with a screenplay she co-wrote. She also stars along with her mother, Leslie Mann, Andrew Barth Feldman, Method Man, and Cooper Hoffman.

Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead Three centuries after the Great Flood, the world has fractured into scattered islands, forever threatened by a colossal, unending Storm. The Islanders’ only hope for safety lies in the fortified city-state of Argos – a sanctuary reachable only through perilous trials known as Storm Riding. Yet, among them, a defiant faction believes true salvation lies not within Argos, but beyond the Storm itself, so they undertake the journey through the Storm.

The Bride Maggie Gyllenhaal is the writer/director of this Frankenstein story, with the setting changed to 1930s Chicago. Jessie Buckley is the title character, re-animated to give some company to the first monster, played by Christian Bale.

Hoppers A new animated story from Pixar is about a scientific experiment that has a teenager inhabiting the body of a robotic beaver. The cast includes Meryl Streep, John Hamm, and “SNL” alums Bobby Moynihan, Ego Nwodim, Melissa Villaseñor, and Vanessa Bayer.

Project Hail Mary A book by The Martian author Andy Weir takes us back into space with Ryan Gosling as a schoolteacher who is selected by leading world scientists as the only person who can save the stars.

APRIL

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Following the smash success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” this one has returning voices Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Charlie Day, joined by Oscar-winner Brie Larson and Benny Safdie.

Michael The Michael Jackson story, with the King of Pop played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson (son of Michael’s brother, Jermaine).

Mother Mary Director David Lowrey likes strange, spooky stories. This one stars Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”), FKA Twigs, Kaia Gerber, and Hunter Schafer in the story of a singer and a designer.

MAY

The Mandalorian and Grogu “Iron Man’s” Jon Favreau directs this “Star Wars” spin-off from he Disney+ series, with Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, and “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White.

Over Your Dead Body Samara Weaving and Jason Segel play a married couple who go away for what is supposed to be a weekend to reconnect and repair their relationship, but secretly each is planning to murder the other. Yes, it’s a comedy, from Lonely Island director Jorma Taccone.

I Love Boosters Writer/director Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”) is back with another comic fantasy with social commentary, this time about a group of young shoplifters going after a fashion designer. The cast includes Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, Naomi Ackie, Eiza González, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, and “Sorry to Bother You” star LaKeith Stanfield.

The Sheep Detectives A shepherd who loves his flock (Hugh Jackman) is murdered, and the sheep who loved him decide to take what they learned from the mysteries he read to them and find out who did it. The cast playing suspects, law enforcement, and sheep includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Regina Hall, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Patrick Stewart, Nicholas Braun, and Chris O’Dowd.

JUNE

Toy Story 5 This fifth entry in the series that got Pixar started brings another new toy to disrupt Bonnie’s happy group of playthings: a tablet. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack are joined by Anna Faris, Ernie Hudson, Conan O’Brien, and Greta Lee., and Andrew Stanton (“Wall-E” and “Finding Nemo”) directs.

Disclosure Day What if we all found out that aliens were here? Steven Spielberg directs, and he knows how to get us goosebump-y and emotional about aliens. Stars include Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell.

Power Ballad I’m a big fan of John Carney, who gave us “Sing Street” and “Once.” No one is better at characters who love and are transformed by music. This one has Paul Rudd as a wedding singer and Nick Jonas as a pop star. Jack Reynor, who played the brother in “Sing Street,” also stars.

Supergirl We got a glimpse of Milly Alcock as Superman’s messy Krypton cousin last year. Now we get to see her story. Matthias Schoenaerts is a great choice for villain and Krypto is back, so this looks promising.

JULY

Moana The march of the Disney animation-to-live-action continues with Dwayne Johnson repeating his role as Maui.

Cut Off Don’t we love to see spoiled rich kids have to deal with reality? Jonah Hill directs a terrific cast in a story of siblings whose wealthy parents cut off their funds, starring Kristen Wiig, Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Camila Cabello, Langston, and Chelsea Peretti.

The Odyssey Homer’s classic epic is directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Matt Damon as Odysseys, on his long journey home, Tom Holland as his son, Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as his patient wife Penelope, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, and Charlize Theron as the sorceress Circe.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Tom Holland and Zendaya return for another adventure in the MCU.

AUGUST

The Devil Wears Prada 2 Meryl Streep is back, along with Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, and so are original screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and costume designer Molly Rogers. Reportedly joining the cast: Lady Gaga, Sydney Sweeney, Rachel Bloom, and Lucy Liu. Expect great performances and wildly original costumes.

Coyote vs. Acme Inspired by a witty 1990 Ian Frazier essay in the New Yorker, this is a hybrid animation/live action film, based on the idea that Looney Tunes’ Wile E. Coyote, after decades of backfiring Road Runner-capturing equipment from Acme, decides to sue them for damages. The animation/live action hybrid includes Will Forte as Wile E.’s lawyer, John Cena representing Acme, and Luis Guzman as the judge.

SEPTEMBER

How to Rob a Bank It’s not just about the money in this one. It’s about revenge on a financial system. Stars include Nicholas Hoult, David Leitch directs “How to Rob a Bank,” an action thriller starring Nicholas Hoult, Pete Davidson, Zoë Kravitz, John C. Reilly, and Christian Slater.

Practical Magic 2 Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock return to update us on the witchy Owens sisters, a sequel to the beloved film. Dianne Weist and Stockard Channing will be back, too.

Sense and Sensibility Another version of the Jane Austen story of two sisters, one who leads with her heart, one who leads with her head. Thee cast includes Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood, Esmé Creed-Miles as her sister Marianne, Caitríona Balfe as their mother, and Frank Dillane as the heartbreaker John Willoughby,

OCTOBER

Remain You might not think of writer/director M. Knight Shyamalan, known for spooky twists, and Nicholas Sparks, known for bittersweet romances, as likely to team up. But that is who is behind this spooky romance, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor.

The Social Reckoning This sequel to “The Social Network” has screenwriter Aaron Sorkin taking over directing duties as well, with Jeremy Strong taking over the role of Mark Zuckerberg and Oscar-winner Mikey Madison as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Digger Tom Cruise, Roz Ahmed, and John Goodman star in a film from Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu about a man responsible for impending catastrophe thinks he’s the only one who can stop it.

Verity Another Colleen Hoover book, this one a thriller about a woman hired to ghostwrite books for a successful author who has been injured. The ghostwriter discovers some disturbing information in the author’s files. The cast includes Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett.

NOVEMBER

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping We hear Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson will appear briefly in this prequel that is a sequel to Songbirds and Snakes. It’s got a great cast: Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Ben Wang, Lili Taylor, and Billy Porter.

Jimmy One of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood left the movies when the US entered WWII to become a real-life hero. KJ Apa plays Jimmy Stewart, who specialized in affable guy next door roles on screen but became a decorated B-24 bomber pilot for the U.S. Air Forces, ultimately rising to the rank of Brigadier General.

Madden David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) directed and co-wrote the story of football triple legend John Madden, as coach, as TV sportscaster, and as namesake of the $4 billion video game. Nicolas Cage plays Madden, with Christian Bale as Al Davis and John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins.

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol One of my favorite stories is re-imagined with Johnny Depp “Bah, humbug-ing” in the title role and a cast that includes Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Rupert Grint, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, and Ian McKellen.

Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew Greta Gerwig follows “Barbie” with a reboot of the Narnia chronicles, with Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, and Emma Mackey.

DECEMBER

Dune Part III More sandworms ahead!

Jumanj III More video games come to life ahead!

Shrek V More ogres!

Ice Age 6 More ice age creatures!

Avengers: Doomsday EVERYBODY in the MCU is reportedly in what they’re calling the “penultimate chapter.” Even Robert Downey, Jr., as previewed in the post-credits sequence of the last film.

Related Tags:

Trailers, Previews, and Clips

Movies for the Holidays 2025: Zootopia 2, Eternity, Knives Out 3, Timothee Chalamet, and a Neil Diamond Tribute Duo

Posted on November 24, 2025 at 8:44 am

The holiday season always brings great movies, some destined for Oscar recognition, some for generations to enjoy together, some to make you laugh, and some to make you cry. There are sequels, big-budget extravaganzas, and even a few promising little indies. The ones I am most looking forward to include:

Zootopia 2 (November 26) Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are now partners tracking down a mysterious reptile who arrives in Zootopia. And the sloth is back, too!

Eternity (November 26) If the legendary wit Noel Coward did a remake of Albert Brooks’ after-life fantasy “Defending Your Life,” it might look like this, with Elizabeth Olson as an elderly woman who arrives in heaven to find both of her husbands waiting for her: the one she married when they were young who was killed in the Korean War (Callum Turner), and the man she was later married to for more than 60 years (Miles Teller).

Hamnet (November 26) Jessie Buckley gives one of the most thrilling performances of the year as a woman married to an aspiring playwright named William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, which itself was based on the true story of the death of Shakespeare’s young son.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (November 26) The third in the murder mystery series featuring master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is another all-star treat, this time set in a church in upstate New York, with Josh O’Conner, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, and Thomas Hayden Church.

Merrily We Roll Along (December 5) First it was a legendary flop by powerhouse duo George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. They were known for comedy but they experimented with a serious play told in reverse order, taking a trio of characters from middle age back to their early 20s. Then Stephen Sondheim decided to make it into a musical, where it flopped so badly there is a whole documentary about it, called “The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened.” Then it was remounted on Broadway with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez, and Krystal Joy Brown, where it finally was a huge hit and won Tonys for the two male actors. This is a film of that play.

Jay Kelly George Clooney stars as the title character, a huge movie star en route to a festival in Italy where he will receive a lifetime achievement award. He is accompanied by his manager (Adam Sandler) and publicist (Laura Dern) and tries to reconcile with his older daughter (Riley Keogh) and connect to his younger daughter (Grace Edwards), who would rather travel with her friends. This film, from writer/director Noah Baumbach, is one of my favorite of the year.

Dust Bunny (December 5) An eight-year-old girl asks her hitman neighbor for help in killing the monster under her bed that she thinks ate her family. Rogerbert.com’s Brian Tellerico calls it “playfully twisted.” Note: it is about a child but it is not for children: Rated R.

Merv Zooey Deschanel and Charlie Cox play a separated couple who still share love — and custody — of their dog, Merv. When the dog’s vet tells them their pet is depressed because they are not together, they join forces to take him on a vacation.

Ella McCay (December 12) This is one I’m especially looking forward to because it is from James L. Brooks, the writer/director of “Terms of Endearment” and “Broadcast News.” Emma Mackey plays a young politician who unexpectedly becomes governor of New York. the cast includes Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Woody Harrelson, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Goodbye, June (December 12) Adult siblings who do not get along gather to be with their dying mother. Kate Winslet directed, based on a screenplay by her son. She also stars along with Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, Helen Mirren, Stephen Merchant, and “Ted Lasso’s” Jeremy Swift.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19) Writer/director James Cameron gives us another chapter in the saga of Pandora, again starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang, with Oona Chaplin as the new villain.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (December 19) The residents of Bikini Bottom are back, this time with Mark Hamill providing the voice for the Flying Dutchman, who needs the world’s most innocent soul to break his curse. Who could that be?

Anaconda (December 25) Paul Rudd and Jack Black play bros who decide to remake their favorite movie, the cheesy 1997 film Anaconda. When their fake snake fails, of course they decide to get a real one. What could go wrong?

Marty Supreme (December 25) Timothée Chalamet (with a mustache) and Gwyneth Paltrow (as a movie star) appear in a film about a ping pong champion. Viewers at a recent surprise screening loved it. From the AP’s Jack Coyle: “A madcap ode to strivers. A great New York movie.”

Song Sung Blue (December 25) A documentary about a real life Neil Diamond tribute duo inspired this feature film starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

Fall Movies 2025

Posted on September 1, 2025 at 7:23 am

Back to work, back to school, back to sweaters, raking leaves, Halloween, and Thanksgiving!

And it’s time to go back to one of the best times of the year for movies. Here’s what I’m looking forward to this fall, including two highly anticipated sequels arriving for Thanksgiving. (As usual, release dates may change.)

SEPTEMBER

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (September 12) We met the Crawley family and their servants in 1912. Now it is the 1930s, they are mourning the loss of the Dowager Countess, and, as always, there will be challenges, complications, and romance.

Tin Soldier (September 12) Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Jamie Foxx play a cult leader and the former soldier who challenges him.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (September 12) By now, it may be going to 12. Our favorite mini-Stonehenge metal trio is reuniting, and real-life music superstars are as excited as we are, with on-screen appearances by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Lars Ulrich, Questlove, and Garth Brooks. And, we hope, a new drummer.

A Big, Beautiful Journey (September 19) Kogonada made a deeply moving film about two people walking around talking about architecture and another deeply moving film about a family in the future whose beloved robot nanny breaks. This is what is certain to be a deeply moving film about strangers played by Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie who go on a fantasy journey together as they visit their pasts.

Him (September 19) Jordan Peele produced this film about a promising high school athlete whose dream comes true when he has a chance to be at a training camp run by his idol. It does not go well.

London Calling (September 19) After fleeing the UK from a job gone wrong, a down on his luck hitman (Josh Duhamel) is forced to train the completely inept son of his crime boss (Rick Hoffman) to kill people.

Eleanor the Great (September 26) Scarlett Johansson’s first project as a director stars June Squibb as the title character who moves to New York City for the first time in her 90s, after the death of her best friend.

One Battle After Another (September 26) Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson is always very private when it comes to telling us what to expect from his upcoming films. So we don’t know much beyond the impressive cast: Leonardo di Caprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, and Chase Infiniti.

OCTOBER

The Smashing Machine (October 3) Dwayne Johnson plays MMA fighter Mark Kerr, co-starring Emily Blunt.

Tron: Ares (October 10) Jeff Bridges, star of the 1982 original, returns in a new chapter that promises to be set more in the analog world, with a computer program weaponized to interact with reality. The cast includes Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Cameron Monaghan, Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, Jodie-Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Hasan Minhaj. I saw the new racer and heard the soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails at Comic-Con and both were very cool.

Roofman (October 10) The improbable but true story of Jeffrey Manchester, a former U.S. Army Reserve officer who turned to robbing businesses, particularly McDonald’s restaurants, by drilling through their roofs. After escaping prison, he hid in a Toys “R” Us for six months, living undetected while planning his next moves. Manchester is played by Channing Tatum, co-starring with Kirsten Dunst.

Kiss of the Spider Woman (October 10) Word is that this may be Jennifer Lopez’s Oscar moment. She plays the title character, as remembered by a prisoner, who tells the story of his favorite movie to his cellmate (Diego Luna). “Chicago’s” Bill Condon directs.

After the Hunt (October 10) Julia Roberts plays a professor dealing with conflicting allegations made by the people she is closest to, played by Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri, directed by “Challengers” and “Call Me By Your Name’s” Luca Guadagnino.

Blue Moon (October 17) Lorenz Hart was one of the greatest lyricists of all time and his collaborations with Richard Rodgers, including “My Funny Valentine,” “Mountain Greenery,” and the song that gives this Richard Linklater film its title are a permanent part of the American Songbook. This film takes place as the show Rodgers wrote without him, “Oklahoma,” is opening. Hart was under 5 feet, and there is some movie trickery to make star Ethan Hawke look short and balding.

Stiller and Meara: Nothing is Lost (October 17) I grew up watching “The Ed Sullivan Show” with my family, and my favorite (until the Beatles arrived!) was the comedians. I loved the real-life couple of Stiller and Meara, now better known for their acting work, Jerry Stiller in “Seinfeld” and Anne Meara in movies like “The Daytrippers” and “Awakenings.” This loving documentary is made by their actor/writer/director son Ben Stiller.

Good Fortune (October 17) How has it taken so long for someone to cast Keanu Reeves as an angel come to earth to guide a human? Aniz Ansari wrote and directed a film that is a throwback to mid-century classics like “Here Comes Mr. Jordan” (remade by Warren Beatty as “Heaven Can Wait”) and “A Guy Named Joe” (remade by Steven Spielberg as “Always’). Ansari stars as well, along with Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer.

A House of Dynamite (October 24) Kathryn Bigelow is one of the all-time greats when it comes to action thrillers. This one stars Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson in a tense drama about an attack on the US. The cast also includes Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke, and the screenplay is by NBC news chief Noah Oppenheim.

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (October 24) This musical biopic has “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in 1982, making his sixth studio album, Nebraska, “Studio” is not exactly the right term as it was recorded without his band in Springsteen’s own bedroom.

Regretting You (October 24) Based on the best-seller by Colleen Hoover, this is the story of a mother and daughter following the death of the father of the family. Alison Williams, Mckenna Grace, and Dave Franco star.

Nouvelle Vague (October 31) Another Richard Linklater film, and also based on a true story, this is about the filming of a very influential French movie that was a part of the New Wave (translation of Nouvelle Vague), a movement to make films that were more natural, with a gritty documentary feeling. Zoey Deutch plays Jean Seaberg, the American actress who starred in the film as an expat, with Guillaume Marbeck playing 26-year-old director Jean-Luc Goddard.

NOVEMBER

Frankenstein (November, date not set) Yet another re-telling of the story of the doctor who wanted to create life, but this one is a passion project for Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who has a thing for monsters. Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, Christoph Waltz,.and Oscar Isaac star.

I Wish You All the Best (November 7) A non-binary teen thrown out of the house by their parents moves in with their sister and finds a new world of acceptance and friendship.

Begonia (November 7) Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos have had a very fruitful artistic partnership, including “The Favourite,” “Poor Things,” and “Kind of Kindness.” In their latest, Stone plays a powerful CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien.

Peter Hujar’s Day (November 7) Ben Wishaw plays Peter Hujar, a photographer in New York in the 1970s and 80s. His black and white images were original, striking, and influential. He was known for being both brilliant and difficult when he died of AIDS in 1987. In this film, Rebecca Hall plays writer Linda Rosenkrantz, who interviewed Hujar about how he spent his day. Anything writer/director Ira Sachs does will be unexpected and thoughtful.

Train Dreams (November 7) The team behind “Sing Sing,” Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, adapted Denis Johnson’s novella, Train Dreams, the story of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century.

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (November 14) The magicians of the Four Horsemen are back with more tricks up their sleeves. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco return along with Morgan Freeman, plus some new faces: Dominic Sessa of “The Holdovers” Justice Smith of “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” and Ariana Greenblatt of “Barbie.”

Eternity (November 14) You die, you go to heaven, and you have the chance to live the rest of eternity with the person you married. But what if the first person you married died and has been waiting in heaven for you all this time and the second person you married also thinks he’ll be spending all of eternity with you? Elizabeth Olson, Miles Teller, and Callum Turner star.

Jay Kelly (November 14) You want to make a movie about a huge movie star who is aging and thinking back on whether his life has had meaning. So why not cast a real-life huge movie star? That’s what co-screenwriter of “Barbie” Noah Baumbach has done with George Clooney as an actor named Jay Kelly, with co-stars Adam Sandler and Laura Dern.

Murder at the Embassy (November 14) When a private detective is called to investigate a suspicious murder inside Cairo’s seemingly impenetrable British Embassy, she discovers a second crime has been committed that could ignite a global war. Everyone within the walls of the embassy is a suspect, but the ultimate evil force is lurking right around the corner. Mischa Barton returns as Miranda Green in the follow up to the highly successful film “Invitation to Murder.”

Wicked: For Good (November 26) One of the most highly anticipated films of the year is part 2 of the origin story of the two witches of “The Wizard of Oz.” We’ll learn more about the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Woodman, as well, plus some great songs.

Zootopia 2 (November 26) Everyone’s favorite police bunny is back with her slightly reformed partner in this sequel to the Oscar-winning delight.

Hamnet (November 27) Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, and Jessie Buckley star and Chloe Zhau directs a story imagining William Shakespeare’s wife after the death of her young son, as her husband processes it by writing a play called “Hamlet.” It is based on the acclaimed novel by Maggie O’Farrell.

Related Tags:

Trailers, Previews, and Clips