Beast of War follows a group of Australian soldiers stranded at sea after their ship is sunk during World War II. Their struggle to survive gets even harder when a massive great white shark begins circling the wreckage. Directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, the film blends war drama with over-the-top shark action, led by Mark Coles Smith as a soldier pushed to the edge. | © Well Go USA Entertainment
Anemone is Daniel Day-Lewis’s return to acting, co-writing the script with his son Ronan Day-Lewis, who also directs. Set in Northern England, the story follows a man venturing into the woods to reconnect with his estranged hermit brother after decades apart. With Samantha Morton and Samuel Bottomley joining the cast, the film explores fractured family ties and the weight of the past. | © Focus Features
Good Boy follows Indy, a loyal dog who senses something strange after moving with his owner to a quiet rural home. Told from the dog’s point of view, the story shows him fighting to keep his companion safe as dark events close in. Independently produced and starring director Leonberg’s own pet, the 72-minute film captures emotion without dialogue or digital tricks. | © Independent Film Company
Fairyland adapts Alysia Abbott’s memoir about growing up in San Francisco with her gay father, directed by Andrew Durham and produced by Sofia Coppola. Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, and Geena Davis headline this R-rated drama that reflects on family, identity, and the challenges of the era. It begins in limited release on October 3 before going wide on October 10, offering a heartfelt story of acceptance and change. | © Lionsgate
Bone Lake turns a romantic lakeside escape into a nightmare when a couple crosses paths with a dangerous duo. Directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and starring Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, and Marco Pigossi, the film blends horror with the style of an erotic thriller. Striking visuals and a tense score push the story of betrayal and survival into October’s horror spotlight. | © Bleecker Street
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere casts Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen during the raw and defining Nebraska sessions. Directed by Scott Cooper, the film examines how a bare-bones recording process and personal crossroads shaped both the music and the man. Jeremy Strong and Stephen Graham round out the cast in a story that captures the moment stripped-down storytelling reshaped a rock icon’s path. | © 20th Century Studios
Regretting You adapts Colleen Hoover’s novel with Allison Williams and Mckenna Grace as a mother and daughter struggling to reconnect after a sudden loss. As each processes grief in her own way, hidden truths and new relationships test the fragile bond between them. Directed by Josh Boone, the film highlights family fractures and hard-earned forgiveness when it opens on October 24. | © Paramount Pictures
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc adapts the fan-favorite “Bomb Girl” storyline under director Tatsuya Yoshihara. Denji’s chance meeting with Reze turns into a storm of romance and betrayal, pulling him deeper into battles that blur love and survival. Arriving October 24, the film expands the anime’s universe with high-stakes action and emotional weight that shape what comes next. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
Coyotes follows a Hollywood Hills family caught between spreading wildfires and relentless coyote attacks in Colin Minihan’s horror comedy. Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, and Mila Harris headline as the chaos at home turns both dangerous and darkly funny. Practical and CGI effects drive the tension, making it a fresh Halloween-season entry after its Fantastic Fest premiere. | © Aura Entertainment
Kathryn Bigelow returns with A House of Dynamite, a tense thriller about tracking the culprits behind a mysterious missile launch aimed at the U.S. Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jared Harris lead a cast of operatives racing against time through shifting alliances and scarce intel. Landing on Netflix October 24, the film blends procedural detail with high-stakes suspense across war rooms and the field. | © Netflix
Aziz Ansari makes his directorial debut with Good Fortune, a comedy starring Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, Seth Rogen, and Sandra Oh. The plot kicks off when an angel takes over a man’s boss, sparking a wave of chaos that upends his work and personal life. Mixing body-swap antics with sharp lessons about empathy and growth, the film uses its supernatural twist to reframe what success really means. | © Lionsgate
Black Phone 2 reunites director Scott Derrickson with Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, and the rest of the original cast for another chilling story. The sequel once again centers on the unsettling phone and the shadowy figure known as the Raggedy Man, tying supernatural echoes to real-world terror. Audiences can expect the mythology to deepen as past victims and haunting memories come back into play. | © Universal Pictures
TRON: Ares pushes the franchise into new territory, following a powerful A.I. that breaks into the human world with unpredictable consequences. Jared Leto leads a stacked cast including Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Jeff Bridges, who makes a return in a mysterious role. With Joachim Rønning directing, the film leans into questions of control, consciousness, and the thin line separating digital code from human life. | © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Julia Roberts headlines After the Hunt as Alma Olsson, a Yale professor fighting for tenure while her past and present collide under scrutiny. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film explores the delicate mix of ambition, mentorship, and personal loyalty in an academic world brimming with pressure. With Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri joining the cast, this drama digs into the messy ties that shape both careers and lives. | © Sony Pictures Releasing
Dwayne Johnson takes on the role of MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, a biographical drama directed by Benny Safdie. The film delves into Kerr’s ascent through the fight world, balancing victories in the ring with struggles with addiction and personal challenges outside it. Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader co-star in this raw look at the price of greatness, set against the late 1990s and early 2000s MMA boom. | © A24
October 2025 is stacked with big releases, from high-stakes thrillers to anime adaptations and prestige dramas. Some bring back familiar favorites, while others introduce bold new stories and surprising performances. Here are 15 movies you’ll want on your radar this month.
