Depth might be returning to Hollywood’s offerings this fall. The season is short on mega-hyped movies, but a closer look reveals many projects whose taglines and trailers inspire an “Ooh, that looks kinda good.” Horror and superhero fans will be well taken care of, and if you like biopics and historical dramas, a boom cycle might be ahead. Here are my picks for 10 movies worth checking out in the cozy season:
“The Substance” (Sept. 20, limited release)
The pedigree: This might be 2024’s best candidate to push body horror in a creepy new direction, chronicling an actress who will pay any price to regain her youth. It’s a pretty on-the-nose(job) Hollywood theme, but a strong cast is in place, with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley playing older and younger-looking versions of the actress.
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” (Sept. 21, limited release)
The pedigree: While fall is not immune to new superhero movies (indeed, I have one later on this list), I find a documentary about an earlier tights-and-capes acting great to be a refreshing throwback. Reeve was a beloved and by all accounts great guy who led an interesting life, and this docu has not been Kryptonite to early reviewers.
“Apartment 7A” (Sept. 27, Paramount Plus)
The pedigree: Do we need a prequel to “Rosemary’s Baby”? No, of course not. Will I watch a prequel to “Rosemary’s Baby”? Shamefully, yes. And since theorizing about the goals of the baddies in that horror classic is part of the enjoyment, it makes sense for someone to explore it on film. If you hate their interpretation, mentally discard it.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” (Oct. 4, theaters)
The pedigree: If you love fresh takes on “Batman’s” Rogues Gallery, this is a good fall for you, as TV’s “The Penguin” continues from “The Batman” and this sequel follows from Todd Phillips’ 2019 “The Joker,” which won over many and at least drew strong opinions from others. Phillips returns as director and co-writer, and – just as Joaquin Phoenix carved out room for his Joker – Lady Gaga will attempt to make room for a new Harley Quinn.
“Saturday Night” (Oct. 11, theaters)
The pedigree: Director/co-writer Jason Reitman has been nostalgic of late – bringing back the O.G. Ghostbusters – and he goes back further in time for in this one, chronicling the launch of “Saturday Night Live” in the 1970s. This is one of my riskier picks for the list, but I’m picturing something like “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” only with real-life absurdities rather than fictional ones.
“We Live in Time” (Oct. 11, theaters)
The pedigree: Early reviews peg this classy romance as the legitimate tear-jerker of the season. It’s hard to imagine Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh not having chemistry with anyone, let alone each other.
“Woman of the Hour” (Oct. 18, Netflix)
The pedigree: While I wasn’t totally won over, I did love the vibe of “Late Night with the Devil” – how it combined 1970s studio TV with horror. In this similarly vibed movie, Anna Kendrick (who makes her directorial debut) stars as a woman who wins a dating-game show. The twist (remarkably based on a true event): Her date is a serial killer.
“Heretic” (Nov. 15, theaters)
The pedigree: A movie just above it alphabetically will get more hype on Nov. 15 – the Robert Zemeckis/Tom Hanks collaboration “Here.” But I’m intrigued by the thematic possibilities of this horror film about door-to-door missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who knock on the wrong door, with Hugh Grant going against type as a not-so-God-fearing stranger. Writers-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood previously dreamed up the “Quiet Place” saga.
“Nosferatu” (Dec. 25, theaters)
The pedigree: Another horror remake, sure, but how many tackle source material that’s more than 100 years old? Though I haven’t been won over by Robert Eggers’ post-“The Witch” work, I really liked “The Witch,” so I’ll bite on his interpretation of the classic vampire tale.
“A Complete Unknown” (Dec. 25, theaters)
The pedigree: Director/co-writer James Mangold chronicles the music-world breakthrough by a young Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet). Mangold previously helmed one of the best superhero movies ever, “Logan,” and – more pertinent to this topic – the strong Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.”