Despite the lingering uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic, movies have been making a steady return to theaters after more than a year of setbacks and a new reliance on streaming.
The box office is now shaping out to be incredibly busy this fall, with big films like “Dune”, “Halloween Kills” and “No Time to Die” finally set to premiere in October after delays.
There’s something for everyone hitting theaters this October. Here are 10 major titles to look out for next month.
(Release dates are subject to change and reflect the latest information as of publishing.)
Venom: Let There Be Carnage: Actor and motion-capture veteran Andy Serkis directs this sequel to the 2018 anti-hero flick, “Venom”. The film stars Woody
Harrelson and Tom Hardy in a battle between two iconic comic book characters. (In theaters Oct. 1)
Titane: Upstaging the strangeness of her debut film “Raw” (2018), French director Julia Ducournau returns with the genre-bending “Titane.” Already an award-winner overseas, this unconventional film follows the story of a woman (Agathe Rousselle) whose journey into the titanium underground leads her to dark and dangerous places. (In theaters Oct. 1)
Lamb: In this latest A24 film, a childless couple in Iceland discovers an unnatural creature birthed in their sheep barn. Deciding to raise the strange child as their own, the couple soon finds themselves haunted by sinister forces determined to tear the new family apart. A tip from a Cannes Festival filmgoer: go into this unsettling flick blind. (In theaters Oct. 8 )
No Time To Die: This latest installment in the James Bond saga has spent plenty of time awaiting a theatrical release after being delayed since April 10, 2020. Daniel Craig stars in his final portrayal of the beloved globe-trotting spy, finding conflict with a new villain played by Oscar award-winner Rami Malek. (In theaters Oct. 8 )
The Last Duel: As one of two films from Ridley Scott this season, “The Last Duel” adapts the true historical account documented in Eric Jager’s book of the same name. The film stars Matt Damon as a knight whose wife (Jodie Comer) accuses a squire (Adam Driver) of rape — a conflict that is resolved in a classic medieval duel. (In theaters Oct. 15)
Halloween Kills: Iconic slasher villain Michael Myers returns to the big screen in “Halloween Kills”. Directly following the events of the 2018 installment, Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode, haunted by the events of her past and determined to put an end to Michael Myers’ reign of terror once and for all. (In theaters and Peacock Oct. 15)
Dune: We recently covered this upcoming adaptation in-depth, but in summary: Denis Villeneuve directs this star-studded adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science fiction novel. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, the young son of a royal family, fighting to survive on a hostile planet and navigating his fate within the universe. (In theaters and on HBO Max Oct. 22)
The French Dispatch: Timothée Chalamet also stars in this ensemble film by acclaimed director Wes Anderson. In this vibrant love letter to French cinema and journalism, “The French Dispatch” follows the stories written by the team on a fictional magazine inspired by The New Yorker — featuring performances by Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Elizabeth Moss, and more. (In theaters Oct. 22)
Antlers: Readers looking for a good fright around Halloween are sure to find it in “Antlers”, an upcoming horror film based on the short story by novelist and screenwriter Nick Antosca.The film follows a teacher (Keri Russell) in a small Oregon town who becomes convinced one of her students (Jeremy T. Thomas) is hiding a vicious, otherworldly creature inside his home. (In theaters Oct. 29)
Last Night in Soho: Edgar Wright (“Baby Driver”) tops the month off with his vintage thriller, “Last Night in Soho”. Thomasin McKenzie plays a fashion student settling in modern-day London. Upon arrival, she discovers her mysterious ability to travel back in time to 1960s London, where she becomes intertwined in a deadly mystery surrounding an aspiring young singer (Anya Taylor-Joy). (In theaters Oct. 29)