Fall 2025 brought a mix of franchise sequels, original stories and awards-season dramas to theaters and streaming. This is a curated list—not a ranked consensus—with announced release dates and viewing options drawn from Boston.com’s September 18, 2025 preview. Dates reflect what was announced then, not a guarantee of current availability; check the relevant service and your country for streaming access.
September releases
- The Lost Bus — Sept. 19 in theaters; Oct. 3 on Apple TV+. Based on the 2018 Camp Fire, it follows a school bus driver and teacher trying to save 22 children. Its real-world rescue story may appeal to viewers drawn to urgent, human-centered dramas.
- One Battle After Another — Sept. 26, theaters. Paul Thomas Anderson directs this action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Eleanor the Great — Sept. 26, theaters. Scarlett Johansson makes her directorial debut with June Squibb starring.
October releases
- Play Dirty — Oct. 1, Prime Video. Shane Black adapts Donald Westlake’s Parker novels, with Mark Wahlberg. A streaming crime story for viewers who prefer a home premiere.
- The Smashing Machine — Oct. 3, theaters. Benny Safdie’s drama follows MMA fighter Mark Kerr, played by Dwayne Johnson.
- Anemone — Oct. 3, theaters. Ronan Day-Lewis directs a drama starring Daniel Day-Lewis.
- Roofman — Oct. 10, theaters. Channing Tatum plays a prison escapee hiding in a Toys R Us.
- Tron: Ares — Oct. 10, theaters. The third Tron film follows an AI program crossing into the real world, making it the pick for science-fiction and franchise fans.
- After the Hunt — Oct. 10, theaters. Luca Guadagnino directs this thriller starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri.
- If I Had Legs I’d Kick You — Oct. 10, theaters. Rose Byrne stars in Mary Bronstein’s drama.
- Frankenstein — Oct. 17 in theaters; Nov. 7 on Netflix. Guillermo del Toro adapts Mary Shelley’s novel, offering a new screen take on a classic literary work.
- Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere — Oct. 24, theaters. Jeremy Allen White plays Bruce Springsteen during the making of the 1982 album Nebraska.
- Bugonia — Oct. 24, theaters. Yorgos Lanthimos directs Emma Stone as a CEO kidnapped by a man who believes she is an alien.
- A House of Dynamite — Oct. 24, Netflix. Kathryn Bigelow’s thriller centers on officials responding to a missile headed toward the United States.
November releases
- The Running Man — Nov. 14, theaters. Edgar Wright adapts Stephen King’s dystopian story.
- Jay Kelly — Nov. 14 in theaters; Dec. 5 on Netflix. Noah Baumbach directs George Clooney and Adam Sandler in a film with both theatrical and streaming dates announced.
- Wicked: For Good — Nov. 21, theaters. The second part of the musical adaptation continues the story for viewers already invested in its world and characters.
- Rental Family — Nov. 21, theaters. Brendan Fraser plays an American actor in Tokyo who works for a rental-family agency.
- Zootopia 2 — Nov. 26, theaters. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde investigate a new case in the animated franchise sequel.
- Hamnet — Nov. 27, theaters. Chloé Zhao adapts Maggie O’Farrell’s story of Shakespeare and his wife after the death of their son.
December releases
- Ella McCay — Dec. 12, theaters. James L. Brooks’s comedy-drama follows a young politician and her family.
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery — Dec. 12, Netflix. Benoit Blanc returns in the next installment of the mystery series.
- Avatar: Fire and Ash — Dec. 19, theaters. James Cameron’s third Avatar film is the season’s major franchise return for viewers ready to revisit Pandora.
- Is This Thing On? — Dec. 19, theaters. Bradley Cooper directs a drama set in New York’s comedy scene.
- Marty Supreme — Dec. 25, theaters. Josh Safdie’s 1950s drama stars Timothée Chalamet as a table-tennis player.
How to choose what to watch
The fall slate spans different kinds of moviegoing: familiar worlds in Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, Wake Up Dead Man and Avatar: Fire and Ash; new or less familiar stories such as Bugonia, Rental Family and Marty Supreme; and dramas rooted in real people or events, including The Lost Bus, The Smashing Machine and Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere. For a literary starting point, Frankenstein is explicitly an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
F1® The Movie (Blu-ray) | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) - Collector's Edition Blu-ray + Digital | $19.56 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Last Breath (2025) - Collector's Edition Blu-ray + Digital | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![F1: The Movie 2025 (Special Features) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+wTdbtnqL._SL160_.jpg)
|
F1: The Movie 2025 (Special Features) [Blu-ray] [Region Free] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Deathstalker (2025) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Yxus9g39L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Deathstalker (2025) [Blu-ray] | $14.39 | Buy on Amazon |
Release mode may also decide the shortlist: most titles above were announced for theaters, while Play Dirty and A House of Dynamite were listed for streaming, and several films had both theatrical and later streaming dates. Streaming dates and platform access can differ by country or change, so confirm locally before planning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What moviegoers said about fall 2025
In Fandango’s 2025 survey of more than 2,000 ticket buyers, 65% said they planned to see three or more movies that fall, and 70% said they were eager to see films in premium formats such as IMAX. Among horror fans surveyed, 82% preferred seeing scary movies in a theater. These are responses from Fandango’s surveyed ticket buyers, not measures of all moviegoers. Fandango Director of Analytics Shawn Robbins said, “This fall’s movie season looks to offer something for a variety of audiences.”
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Best Value
Rank #4
- Official Blu-ray release of F1: The Movie (2025), capturing the high-speed intensity and emotional drama of professional Formula One racing.
- Region Free Blu-ray edition, fully compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide with no playback restrictions.
- High-definition picture and dynamic surround sound deliver immersive race sequences and cinematic visuals.
- Ideal for motorsport fans, collectors, and viewers who enjoy sports drama, competition, and real-world racing environments.
- Features detailed character-driven storytelling alongside authentic racing atmosphere, offering a complete cinematic F1 experience.
Rank #3
- Runtime: 93 minutes
Rank #2
- Runtime: 126 minutes
#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 155 minutes
Sources
- Boston.com’s September 18, 2025 fall movie preview
- The Associated Press fall movie preview
- Fandango’s 2025 fall moviegoing survey
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
