“My Policeman”
After a cameo spot in “Eternals” and “Don’t Worry Darling,” Harry Styles continues his big moves into the movie world with this romantic drama from director Michael Grandage, based on the novel by Bethan Roberts. Styles stars as one part of a love triangle that involves Emma Corrin and David Dawson, and then jumps 40 years later to feature versions of their older selves, played by Linus Roache, Gina McKee, and Rupert Everett. We’ll be getting a look at this movie when it has its world premiere soon at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Release Date: October 21 via Prime Video.
“Ticket to Paradise”
It seems like too long since we’ve seen Julia Roberts and/or George Clooney in something that looks breezy and as charismatic as they can be. Director Ol Parker seems to know this, so the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” director now puts the two in a movie as divorced parents who travel to Bali to intervene at their daughter’s wedding. In general we don’t get these type of movies much from theatrical releases, so here’s hoping that “Ticket to Paradise” is the fun escape it looks to be. Kaitlyn Dever, Billie Lourd, and Lucas Bravo also star.
Release Date: October 21 via Universal Pictures.
“Wendell & Wild”
It turns out that “Nope” isn’t the only original Jordan Peele script we’ll get to see this year: Peele has also co-written a Netflix stop-motion project with director Henry Selick (“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Coraline”). Peele voices a scheming demon, who, with his brother (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), tries to get a teenager to summon them to the Land of the Living. It’s mighty exciting to imagine Peele using his honed horror writing talents with such distinct animation, all the more so that we’re getting a Key & Peele reunion from a visionary like Selick. Additional cast also includes James Hong, Tamara Smart, Natalie Martinez, and Ving Rhames.
Release Date: October 21 in select theaters and available on Netflix on October 28.
“Call Jane”
“Carol” screenwriter Phyllis Nagy makes her directorial debut with this too-timely story about a woman named Joy (Elizabeth Banks) who, in 1968, has to enlist the help of Chicago’s Jane Collective to help get an abortion. Along with the documentary “The Janes,” this is the other film from Sundance to look back on this heartbreaking experience and rebellious movement. Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Wunmi Mosaku, Kate Mara, Corey Michael Smith, and Grace Edwards also star.
Release Date: October 28 via Roadside Attractions.
“Prey for the Devil”
Get it? No, it’s not a typo. Hey, it’s Halloween season, and eventually we get around to demonic possession movies that make nuns into horror heroes or something of the sort. This one seems to speak for itself, though we’re not sure if the script will have even more puns. Daniel Stamm (“The Last Exorcism”) directs this one, which stars Virginia Madsen, Colin Salmon, Jacqueline Byers, and Ben Cross.
Release Date: October 28 via Lionsgate.
October Honorable Mentions
Fans of Halloween, particularly those buying costumes and props, will get the cinematic adaptation of the Spirit Halloween experience when “Spirit Halloween” arrives on VOD on October 11. It’s a shame, though that the makers have (as of yet) not included Nick Lutsko’s multiple catchy theme songs that he wrote for the store; there’s still time to change that. After having its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut “Aftersun” will get a release from A24 on October 14. The 11-year-old Frankie Corio and Paul Mescal star as a daughter and father whose relationship is reflected up 20 years later. One of the best documentaries from Sundance this past year, “Descendant,” will get a release from Netflix in theaters and on streaming on October 21; the film (executive produced by Questlove) documents what happens when a long-rumored slave ship is found in Mobile, Alabama, confirming a story that has long shaped a community and its people.
NOVEMBER
“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”
The latest from Alejandro G. Iñarritu sounds like another form-bending work from the revered Mexican filmmaker, so we’ll let Netflix try to describe it: “An epic, visually stunning and immersive experience set against the intimate and moving journey of Silverio, a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles, who, after being named the recipient of a prestigious international award, is compelled to return to his native country, unaware that this simple trip will push him to an existential limit.” Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Griselda Siciliani, Ximena Lamadrid, and Iker Solano star.
Release Date: November 4 in select theaters via Netflix and streaming everywhere on November 18.
“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
Lest we forget the cinematic masterpiece that was “UHF,” the mind of “Weird” Al Yankovic is further explored with this biopic from director Eric Appel, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the modern accordion-playing poet. Given Yankovic’s parodist ways, maybe we could have another “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” on our hands? (Yankovic and Appel co-wrote the script.) We’ll get our first look at this one at the Toronto Film Festival, where the movie will kick off its Midnight section. Evan Rachel Wood stars in the movie as Madonna, in a cast that also includes Rainn Wilson, Julianne Nicholson, Quinta Brunson, and Toby Huss.
Release Date: November 4 via Roku.
“Armageddon Time”
Director James Gray returns from space after his futuristic epic “Ad Astra” with a reflective movie about his childhood, a period piece set in the 1980s. Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Anthony Hopkins star in this movie that premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival; our critic called it “a clear-eyed and emotionally intelligent work of great empathy.” Given Gray’s track record, it’s sure to be an engaging and visually sumptuous work. Banks Repeta stars as a young boy who learns about his privilege when he befriends Johnny (Jaylin Webb).
Release Date: November 11 via Focus Features.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
This has to be one of the most anticipated Marvel films of all time, given the critical and financial success of “Black Panther” and also the incredibly tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. Now, it’s up to director Ryan Coogler and the cast from the first movie to help us see the power of “Black Panther” in a new way. An incredible supporting cast is a great place to start, including Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Mabel Cadena, and Isaach De Bankolé.
Release Date: November 11 via Walt Disney Studio Motion Pictures.
“The Fabelmans”
After making numerous movies that felt to have pieces of his life, mega director Steven Spielberg takes a closer look at his own coming of age with this secretive project that will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. What we do know about it certainly makes it a must-see, starting with how Spielberg recruited David Lynch for a mysterious on-screen part, sharing a cast list that also includes Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Julia Butters, Jeannie Berlin, Judd Hirsch, Oakes Fegley, and Gabriel Bateman.
Release Date: November 11 via Universal Pictures.
