It’s a joyous time to be a film lover. October’s arrival brings a perfect storm of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, drama and gangsters. It must be awards season.
Seriously, there’s at least two movies worth checking out almost every weekend. To put them all on this list would make for a long article, so here are the honorable mentions: Venom: Let There Be Carnage, V/H/S/94, Lamb and The Last Duel.
Away we go:
The Many Saints of Newark (Oct. 1)
The Sopranos forever changed the television landscape when it debuted on HBO in 1999. James Gandolfini’s iconic performance as mob boss Tony Soprano catapulted the show into stardom, leading to six seasons of a show that bounced around from the comedic to the disturbing.
Many Saints will delve into the origins of Tony Soprano, exploring his upbringing in Newark, New Jersey, and his relationship with his Uncle Dick (Alessandro Nivola). Fans of the show will already make the connection that Dick is the father of Tony’s nephew from the show, Chris. Michael Gandolfini will lead the role his father innovated.
The Many Saints of Newark will be available in theaters and HBO Max on Oct. 1.
Titane (Oct. 1)
Right after watching Many Saints you can go ahead and turn right back around to buy a ticket for Julia Ducournau’s body-horror thriller Titane. The chrome-palate film debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival where it won the Palme d’Or. Preview footage doesn’t give much away in terms of plot, instead flexing the crisp, relentlessly uncompromising imagery that can be seen in her 2016 feature film debut Raw.
The Academy is wishy-washy when it comes to the obscure, but the buzz surrounding the film is encouraging for its chances at being a player this awards season. The BBC has called it “the most shocking film of 2021.” So there you have it.
Check out Titane only in theaters on Oct. 1.
No Time to Die (Oct. 8)
It’s the end of an era. Doing anything for 16 years is a long time, especially when you’re the face of a billion-dollar film franchise. Daniel Craig takes on the iconic role of James Bond one final time in what will be his fifth film as agent 007. Several key cast members return to see the actor off, including Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux and Ralph Fiennes. Welcome additions are also star-studded with the likes of Rami Malek, Ana De Armas and Lashana Lynch.
Cary Fukunaga will helm the project as both writer and director. Fukunaga first splashed onto the scene with his direct involvement in the elite first season of True Detective. He has since gone on to direct feature films such as the war flick Beasts of No Nation and serving as a writer for It. Needless to say, the potential for No Time to Die is off the charts.
No Time to Die will be only in theaters on Oct. 8.
Halloween Kills (Oct. 15)
Can evil ever truly be killed? Eleven films on the subject matter say no. But this is exactly what the twelfth film, Halloween Kills, will attempt to do yet again. Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and Andi Matichak return to end the plague of Michael Myers once and for all, this time with the help of other survivors of Michael’s rampage.
It’s worth noting that Halloween Kills is part of only a select bunch of horror films coming out in October. It probably would be the most anticipated horror film was it not for another certain film on this list. Bone-crunching gore is written all over preview footage, including teasing the removal of Michael’s infamous mask.
Halloween Kills will debut in theaters only on Oct. 15.
The French Dispatch (Oct. 22)
Director Wes Anderson makes what appears to be his most Wes Anderson-y film yet. The French Dispatch is grand in scale yet intimate in its composition. The Texas native continues to build off his unique slapstick-like style in what will be the largest ensemble he’s managed thus far.
The size of the cast alone invites curiosity of how Anderson will balance spectacle and narrative without weighing one down for the other. Although it may not have the momentum the next entry on this list has, Anderson has a loyal audience who will no doubt show their support for the film. The real question will be how movie theaters handle distributing screens to this film and others like it in the shadow of another long-anticipated film debuting the same weekend.
The French Dispatch will be only in theaters on Oct. 22.
Dune (Oct. 22)
It took longer than expected, but Dune has arrived. The sci-fi blockbuster debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival to positive reviews and a standard festival eight-minute standing ovation. There’s been a lot of press surrounding the film that began well before its performance at Venice. It was one of the earliest big-budget films to be delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its director was one of the loudest opponents against Warner Bros. move to day-and-date release.
Furthermore, Dune is betting on itself when it comes to whether there will be a sequel. The film has been touted as being the first of a two-part franchise with the second revolving around Zendaya’s character, according to Denis Villeneuve in an interview with Italian magazine Il Venerdi. The financial success of the film will determine whether there will be a part two, but early international box office numbers indicate the bet may pay off for Warner Bros.
Dune will be available in theaters and on HBO Max on Oct. 22.
Last Night in Soho (Oct. 29)
Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho marks the second horror film to make this list, albeit a much different subgenre from the slasher. The film follows an aspiring fashion designer who is able to teleport to the 1960’s party scene, where she meets a mysterious singer. The glamorous lifestyle presented before her begins to crumble and the past starts to show its teeth. Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie star in Wright’s first feature film since 2017’s Baby Driver. Wright’s film march to their own drum (see Scott Pilgrim vs. The World or Hott Fuzz) and this looks to be no different.
See Last Night in Soho only in theaters on Oct. 29.
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