Between the pandemic and Hollywood’s new way of doing things, summer is no longer the only season that boasts blockbusters. Fall has its share, too.
But what’s better: We don’t have to line up around the block. Some of these autumn releases are coming straight to our homes, too, either through a streaming service or a rental option.
All films on this list are theatrical only, unless otherwise noted in parentheses. And, of course, release dates are subject to change (although not as much as they were a year ago). I’ve also put a spotlight on seven buzzworthy films.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 10
“The Card Counter” – This is the latest revenge thriller from legendary filmmaker Paul Schrader, writer of “Taxi Driver,” who this time also directs.
SPOTLIGHT
“Malignant” (HBO Max) – After “Insidious,” “Sinister” and “Malevolent,” here’s the next adjectival haunting saga. James Wan directs Annabelle Wallis, already a genre veteran from the “Annabelle” films, as we kick off a decent-looking fall for horror flicks.
“Queenpins” – This Kristen Bell comedy chronicles a coupon scam.
Sept. 15
“My Son” (Peacock) – The filmmaking approach is unusual in this kidnapping drama. James McAvoy (the “X-Men” films) works without a screenplay or even a plot, and instead reacts to what’s happening.
Sept. 17
“Best Sellers” (rent) – Aubrey Plaza runs a struggling book publishing company in this dramedy.
“Blue Bayou” – This drama delves into deportation fears with Alicia Vikander (“Tomb Raider”).
“Cry Macho” (HBO Max) – Director/star Clint Eastwood delivers his latest redemption story.
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” (Amazon Prime) – This film adapts the stage musical about a teen drag queen.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” – We get a portrait of the televangelist, starring Jessica Chastain.
“Lady of the Manor” (rent) – Melanie Lynskey stars in a ghostly comedy. Justin Long co-writes, co-directs and co-stars.
“Prisoners of the Ghostland” (rent) – Nicolas Cage doles out his latest wacky-looking actioner.
Sept. 24
“Birds of Paradise” (Amazon Prime) – The brutality of the ballet world is explored yet again.
“Dear Evan Hansen” – This film adapts the stage musical about social anxiety. Kaitlyn Dever, Julianne Moore and Amy Adams star.
“The Starling” (Netflix) – We get a new dramedy from actress Melissa McCarthy and writer-director Theodore Melfi, who previously teamed in the strong Bill Murray flick “St. Vincent.”
OCTOBER
Oct. 1
“The Addams Family 2” – The animated children’s hit gets a sequel.
“The Guilty” (Netflix) – Screenwriter Nic Pizzolatto (“True Detective”) delivers a cop drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
“The Many Saints of Newark” (HBO Max) – David Chase gives us a prequel to TV’s “The Sopranos,” starring Michael Gandolfini as a younger version of his late father’s character.
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” – Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams and Woody Harrelson are on board for this sequel to the 2018 surprise hit in Sony’s branch of the Spider-verse.
Oct. 6
“There’s Someone Inside Your House” (Netflix) – James Wan has a producer role in this slasher.
Oct. 8
SPOTLIGHT
“No Time to Die” – The fifth and final Daniel Craig James Bond film should be good if the odd-numbered quality trend continues after “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall.” It also features Ana de Armas, who co-starred with Craig in the excellent 2019 mystery-comedy “Knives Out.”
Oct. 15
SPOTLIGHT
“Halloween Kills” (Peacock) – The sequel to the 2018 incarnation of the Michael Myers saga brings back writer-director David Gordon Green and star Jamie Lee Curtis. In this 12th overall installment, our heroes attempt to finish off Michael once and for all … until the next reboot.
“The Last Duel” – Ridley Scott helms a knighthood drama penned by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who also star.
“Needle in a Timestack” – This time-travel love story stars Orlando Bloom and Freida Pinto.
Oct. 22
“Dune” (HBO Max) – The new adaptation of Frank Herbert’s SF novel is the latest lush epic from Denis Villeneuve (“Blade Runner 2049”). Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya are among the cast.
“The French Dispatch” – Timothee Chalamet’s big weekend continues as he stars in Wes Anderson’s latest.
Oct. 29
“Antlers” – Small-town Oregon is the setting for this horror flick led by Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons.
“Army of Thieves” (Netflix) – “Army of the Dead” came out earlier this year, but already it has a prequel, with Zack Snyder only providing the story this time.
“Finch” (Apple TV Plus) – Tom Hanks, who showed his post-apocalyptic bona fides in “Cloud Atlas,” plays one of the last surviving humans.
SPOTLIGHT
“Last Night in Soho” – Time travel, horror and a ton of slick nightscape imagery combine under the guidance of Edgar Wright. The cast includes star-of-the-moment Anya Taylor-Joy and star-in-the-making Thomasin McKenzie (“Old”).
NOVEMBER
Nov. 5
“Eternals” – Starring Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie, this film expands the outer-space side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe saga.
Nov. 10
“Passing” (Netflix) – Set in the 1920s, this film follows two black women (Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga) who can “pass” as white. One chooses to do so, one doesn’t.
Nov. 12
“Home Sweet Home Alone” (Disney Plus) – The latest in the sprawling “Home Alone” saga (but the most-hyped since “Home Alone 2”) stars British youngster Archie Yates (the friend in “Jojo Rabbit”) in the position originated by Macaulay Culkin.
“Red Notice” (Netflix) – Dwayne Johnson’s latest actioner also stars Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds.
Nov. 19
SPOTLIGHT
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” – The third entry in the proper saga (as 2016’s “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call” is on a different timeline) mixes the original cast with youngsters Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”) and Mckenna Grace. Jason Reitman, son of the original’s director Ivan, directs.
“King Richard” – Will Smith (LOL) plays Richard Williams as he shapes daughters Venus and Serena into tennis superstars.
“tick, tick … BOOM!” – Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote “In the Heights,” tries something new (directing) but sticks with a familiar genre (musicals). Vanessa Hudgens and Andrew Garfield star.
Nov. 23
“Clerk” (rent) – This documentary chronicles indie filmmaker Kevin Smith, who broke through with “Clerks.”
Nov. 24
“Bruised” (Netflix) – Halle Berry directs and stars as a down-on-her-luck mixed martial artist.
Nov. 26
“Encanto” – It’s the latest Disney animated film.
“House of Gucci” – Ridley Scott’s epic stars Salma Hayek, Adam Driver, Jared Leto and Al Pacino.
“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” – The SF action saga gets a prequel.
DECEMBER
Dec. 1
“The Power of the Dog” (Netflix) – Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Thomasin McKenzie star in this 1920s-set Western.
Dec. 10
“Encounter” (Amazon Prime) – This alien SF thriller stars Riz Ahmed as a family man.
“The Unforgivable” – This drama about re-entering society stars Sandra Bullock and “Daredevil” veterans Jon Bernthal and Vincent D’Onofrio.
“West Side Story” – Steven Spielberg gives his take on the famous musical, with Ansel Elgort starring.
Dec. 17
“Nightmare Alley” – Here’s the latest stylized monster flick from writer-director Guillermo del Toro” (“The Shape of Water”).
SPOTLIGHT
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” – The MCU’s third “Spider-Man” film continues to delve into the multiverse with connections to the 2000s “Spider”-flicks. Tom Holland, Zendaya and Angourie Rice return to the characters we fell in love with in “Homecoming” and “Far From Home.”
Dec. 22
SPOTLIGHT
“The Matrix Resurrections” (HBO Max) – Director Lana Wachowski goes solo to resurrect the franchise that put her (and her sister Lilly) on the map. In this fourth entry, Keanu Reeves (who also has a fourth “John Wick” in the pipeline) is joined by Jessica Henwick (“Iron Fist”) and Christina Ricci (the Wachowskis’ “Speed Racer”).
Dec. 24
“American Underdog” – Rams quarterback Kurt Warner’s comeback story is dramatized by Zachary Levi and Anna Paquin.
“Don’t Look Up” – Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star in Adam McKay’s smaller-scale take on the comet-approaching-Earth genre.
“A Journal for Jordan” – Denzel Washington is in the director’s chair for this family drama starring Michael B. Jordan.
“The King’s Man” – Matthew Vaughn’s action saga gets a prequel.
“Sing 2” – The music-driven animated kids’ movie gets a sequel.