Alright, we’re in the dog days of summer, and this season is almost over. And you know what that means: it’s the season of fall film festival, prestige adult dramas, Oscar contenders, and the occasional blockbuster thrown in for good measure.
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For those that just want adult content, you’ll be mostly very happy as there aren’t many tentpoles; no Marvel, “Star Wars” or “Avatar” movies coming. The closest you’ll get to big blockbusters is the “Beetlejuice” sequel, “Joker: Folie á Deux,” two Sony “Spider-Man” spin-off movies, an animated “Transformers” movie for kids, Amazon’s “Red Ones,” and Disney’s “Moana 2,” “Mufasa.” The rest of the fall is more or less for arthouse genre and horror movies, dramas, Oscar-bait, and more (and note, given that TIFF, Venice, and Telluride are around the corner, depending on buzz, additional films could also suddenly be released into the fall to as an Academy Award contender).
Francis Ford Coppola makes his grand return with “Megalopolis,” and this fall also sees the return of filmmakers like Steve McQueen, Marielle Heller, Robert Eggers, Pedro Almodovar, Jason Reitman, John Crowley, Sean Baker, Jacques Audiard, Jeremy Saulnier, and many more.
Despite it being a season heavy on Oscar-friendly material and films that premiered to much acclaim at Cannes early this year, as per usual, the fall season has something for everyone. So, without further ado, here’s our 2024 Fall Film Festival preview, 50+ films going strong.
“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice”
It’s been 36 years since the first “Beetlejuice.” Since then, there have been rumblings over the years about a sequel, but nothing transpired. That is, until now. Decades later, Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Winona Rider are all teaming up again to bring the playful demon back to life. Joining the fray this time is none other than Jenna Ortega, who previously worked with Burton on “Wednesday.” Not much is known about the plot, but it looks like Burton is bringing back a lot of the same gags we saw in the original. Expect this to be a big blockbuster.
Release Date: September 6 via Warner Bros. – Charles Barfield
“The Front Room”
Robert Eggers (“The Witch”) is apparently not the only horror game in town by an Eggers. His brothers, Sam and Max (who have worked on his films in the past), write and direct a motherhood horror about a diabolical mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) who moves in and tries to get her claws on the child of the newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood). Andrew Burnap and Neal Huff are co-stars.
Release Date: September 6 via A24. -Rodrigo Perez
“Speak No Evil”
English remakes are rarely as good as the original. That said, when the remake features actors such as James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, and Scoot McNairy, then you’re doing something right. “Speak No Evil” is a remake of the 2022 Danish film of the same name. The story follows two families who meet while on vacation. But when one family offers to host the other, things begin to get a bit awkward and, eventually, dangerous. James Watkins directs the film.
Release Date: September 13 via Universal. – CB
“My Old Ass”
Megan Park‘s Sundance trippy comedy centers on a hallucinogenic drug trip where a young girl (Maisy Stella) meets her older self (Aubrey Plaza) and is warned not to fall in love with a young boy who could ruin her life. Percy Hynes White, and Maddie Ziegler costar (our review).
Release Date: September 13, via Amazon MGM. – Edward Davis.
“The Substance”
French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat (known for the feminist rape and vengeance thriller “Revenge”) returns with the cosmetic body horror “The Substance.” Starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, the film, written and directed by Fargeat, centers on an aging star (Moore) fired from her job, who, at her lowest point, is offered a mysterious substance that once injected, transforms her into her younger, more “perfect” self. (read our review from Cannes).
Release Date: September 20, via MUBI. -RP
“Transformers One”
“The Transformers: The Movie” is one of those films that shaped the lives of millions of nerds when it was released in the ‘80s. The animated film was aimed at kids, but it didn’t pull any punches. Decades later, we have “Transformers One,” a new animated film in the franchise, which looks like it’s aimed squarely at the younger population. However, with a voice cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm, there will be plenty of adults interested in this, as well.
Release Date: September 20 via Paramount Pictures. -CB
“Wolfs”
Imagine George Clooney revisiting “Michael Clayton,” but as a crime comedy with buddy Brad Pitt. Taking a break from Marvel and Lucasfilm, writer/director Jon Watts returns to his filmmaking roots with something more human and smaller scale. Co-starring Amy Ryan, Austin Abrams, and Poorna Jagannathan, the film centers on two illiterate fixers (hence the misspelling of “Wolves”) who are double booked for a job and then have to figure out how to work together to save their skin.
Release Date: September 20 via Apple TV+. -RP
“A Different Man”
Written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, this black comedy psychological thriller centers on an aspiring actor (Adam Pearson) who undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But when his new face (Sebastian Stan) loses the role he was born to play, his life turns into an obsessive nightmare to reclaim what he lost. Renate Reinsve, Owen Kline co-star with a cameo by Michael Shannon.
Release Date: September 20 via A24. -RP
“Megalopolis”
Earlier this summer, we saw the big gamble Kevin Costner made with his ‘Horizon’ films fail miserably. But believe it or not, Francis Ford Coppola is taking an even bigger gamble with his upcoming film, “Megalopolis.” Fully funded by the filmmaker, the epic drama tells the story of a visionary architect who aims to rebuild a city after a major disaster. This is a passion project for Coppola, who has been attempting to make this film for well over 20 years. The ensemble cast includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Chloe Fineman, and Dustin Hoffman. (read our review)
Release Date: September 27 via Lionsgate. – CB
“Lee”
Acclaimed cinematographer Ellen Kuras (known for her work with Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and Michel Gondry) makes her feature-length narrative drama debut with “Lee,” a portrait of famed American war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller. Kate Winslet stars as the tough-as-nails journo/photag. The supporting cast includes Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Noémie Merlant, Josh O’Connor, and Alexander Skarsgård. (read our review).
Release Date: September 27 via Roadside Attractions. -RP
