16 Can’t-Miss Movies for Fall 2023
The season of summer blockbusters may be behind us, but this fall's theatrical offerings have all kinds of magic in store for movie lovers everywhere.
From highly anticipated sequels (and prequels) to based-on-a-true-story epics and horror hits just in time for Halloween and new holiday faves, the upcoming film season has a little bit of everything for every type of film fanatic. If you're not sure what films you're going to see next, just keep scrolling to check out the top can't-miss movies of fall 2023.
Gran Turismo – Aug. 25
Film adaptations of video games don't have the best track record, but Gran Turismo is in a league of its own. The film follows the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teen and top Gran Turismo player who became a professional racecar driver. At its core, it's really a sports film and underdog story driven by gripping racing and a feel-good, inspiring narrative.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah – Aug. 25 (On Netflix)
You don't have to head to the movies to see Adam Sandler's newest comedy, because starting this Friday, it's streaming on Netflix. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah stars Adam's real-life daughters, Sadie and Sunny, with the latter in the leading role as Stacy Friedman. Stacy and her best friend, Lydia, have always dreamed about turning 13 and having the perfect bat mitzvahs, but when reality falls short of their expectations, drama ensues, getting in the way of their friendship and the important coming-of-age event.
The Equalizer 3 – Sep. 1
The third film in Denzel Washington's The Equalizer series is promising to be the most action-packed and exciting yet. When Robert McCall retires from his life as a government assassin, he moves to Italy in an attempt to move on from his violent past. However, he quickly gets swept up in a conspiracy involving the Sicilian mafia, and decides to utilize his finely honed skillset to set things right.
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The Nun II – Sep. 8
It's never too early to get into the Halloween spirit, and the terrors of The Nun II set the scene perfectly. This sequel to 2018's The Nun sees the return of the demonic nun, Valek, four years later, as she continues to haunt and torment Sister Irene. If the atmosphere and jumpscares are anything like the original, we already know we're in for a treat.
After Everything – Sep. 13
After Everything is the fifth film in the After series, and we can't wait to see where actors Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford's chemistry takes them next. This time around, Tessa and Hardin have separated after Hardin published his tell-all book about their relationship without her knowledge. Now struggling as a writer, he realizes the only way to move forward is to make things right with those he's wronged. But will it be enough to bring the two back together?
A Haunting in Venice – Sep. 15
A Haunting in Venice is especially interesting because it's a horror sequel in a series that previously focused on murder mysteries. This adaptation of Agatha Christie's Hallowe'en Party sees the return of Kenneth Branagh's famous detective Hercule Poirot. When he's invited to attend a séance in Venice, one of the guests is murdered, and it's up to him to see past the smoke, mirrors and ghouls to solve the case.
Dumb Money – Sep. 22
The true story behind Dumb Money is so strange you couldn't make it up. It follows the story of small-time investors who came together on a Reddit forum and banded together to short-sell Game Stop stock, making loads of money in the process—until billionaire investors started fighting back. If you know even a little bit about the story, detailed in Ben Mezrich's The Antisocial Network, this is one you can't miss.
Killers of the Flower Moon – Oct. 6
Killers of the Flower Moon is yet another upcoming film inspired by true events. In the early 1900s, oil drilling brought untold wealth to the Osage Nation, but others soon learned about these riches, stopping at nothing to get their own piece. This epic western, directed by Martin Scorsese, blends romance with a tale of crime and betrayal to create a haunting story you won't soon forget.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour – Oct. 13
It's felt like 2023 has been the year of Taylor Swift, with her biggest shows ever in the form of her mind-blowing tour—and now fans around the world can catch the fun in theaters with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. This nearly three-hour spectacular is the perfect representation of what it was like to be there in the audience, taking us through Taylor's music over 17 years and 10 studio albums. Whether you missed the tour or simply want to relive it, you have to check this one out.
Five Nights at Freddy's – Oct. 27
Five Nights at Freddy's may be a movie based on a jumpscare video game, but we think it has some real potential to be full of actual scares, with some fan service mixed in for good measure. It's the story of a security guard with a difficult past who begins working at Freddy Bazbear's Pizza, only to discover that at night, the joint's animatronic characters come to life—and they're out for blood.
Dune: Part Two – Nov. 3
The story of Denis Villeneuve's Dune's was far too expansive to fit into just one film, and we can't wait to see how things get wrapped up in Dune: Part Two. This time around, Paul Atreides' journey continues as he joins forces with Chani and seeks vengeance against those who wronged his family while working to finally bring peace to Arrakis. And for this highly anticipated sequel, the star-studded cast is even bigger.
The Marvels – Nov. 10
The Marvels promises to be a massive event for the MCU, bringing together Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan (aka Ms. Marvel) as cosmic events cause their respective powers to tangle. Every time one of these heroes uses their abilities, they swap places with each other, and the trio must figure out how to team up and work together in order to stop a threat to the universe itself. As fans of both Ms. Marvel and Wandavision, we can't wait to see how it all comes together.
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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Nov. 17
It's hard to believe it's been nearly eight years since The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, and the prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, will finally show us the world of Panem in the early days of The Hunger Games. 64 years before the events of the original films, Coriolanus Snow wasn't a dictator, but a teenager put in charge of mentoring a tribute from District 12 named Lucy Gray Baird. Recognizing her charisma, he sees an opportunity to swing the games in their favor—but will helping her put him on the path to darkness?
Wish – Nov. 22
Get ready to meet the next Disney princess in Wish. Asha is a princess of Rosas, the kingdom of wishes, where King Magnifico uses his magical powers to grant people their deepest wishes—but only when he wills so. When one of Asha's wishes summons Star, a literal ball of celestial energy from the sky, the two set off on an adventure to defeat the king and save the land. This sweet musical comedy is at the very top of our must-watch lists.
Candy Cane Lane – Dec. 1
Ready to get fully into the festive spirit? Candy Cane Lane stars Eddie Murphy as a man willing to do anything to win his local Christmas decorating contests, but when he accidentally signs a deal with a mischievous elf, the town falls under a 12 days of Christmas spell that's way more than he bargained for. It looks positively full of Christmas magic, and since it airs on Amazon Prime on Dec. 1, you don't even have to leave home to soak in the holiday cheer.
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Wonka – Dec. 15
At long last, it's time to finally get to know the man behind the chocolate factory with December's Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet. This prequel shows us how Willy Wonka became the mysterious chocolate maker and confectionary innovator we know and love, with magical music and whimsy at every turn. The film is also directed by Paddington writer and director Paul King, so we're already confident it's going to warm our hearts.
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