(Note: This was wrote up and posted hours before Paramount recently delayed both Top Gun: Maverick and Jackass Forever for next year. So, you can say this is a dated list.)
As the summer days are getting shorter and the weather won’t be humid as it is now, there’s no better time than to look forward to the fall. More importantly, what’s going to come out for the rest of the year. A lot of us felt great coming back to the theater to experience the summer movie season, yet I’ll admit this year wasn’t the greatest, mainly because of some underwhelming sequels.
But from the looks at what’s upcoming, we could have some potential favorites in the next four months, which includes a few Oscar contenders. Many of these were pushed back because of the pandemic, so there’s a likely chance it could happen again, which means stop wasting time and get VACCINATED if you haven’t. Hopefully, most of us will be able to see any anticipated films in theaters or streaming. Here, I’ll be counting down my ten most anticipated films of the fall movie season.
These are subject to change, especially since things might be getting worse for obvious reasons (Delta Variant), but here’s hoping they don’t. And unlike last year, there will be more reviews that’ll most likely tie into the movie coming out that weekend, so look forward to those.
Honorable Mentions: King Richard (Nov. 19), Soggy Bottom (TBA), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Nov. 11), The Matrix Resurrections (Dec. 22), The Power of the Dog (Dec. 1 on Netflix), The Last Duel (Oct. 15), House of Gucci (Nov. 24), Jackass Forever (Oct. 22), Tick, Tick… Boom! (Nov. 19 on Netflix)
10) ‘Halloween Kills’ (Release Date: October 15)
We will not go another Halloween season without the return of Michael Myers killing people on his favorite holiday. I’m actually a fan of the 2018 Halloween, and I’m excited to see how director David Gordon Green and company will deliver with Halloween Kills. Without watching the latest trailer, I have a feeling this will be a more bloody and vengeful sequel that’ll keep us in suspense of the next installment.
9) ‘The French Dispatch’ (Release Date: October 22)
For Wes Anderson fans, it’s great knowing his latest film, The French Dispatch, is coming much close than we thought. Just look through the huge ensemble cast and the reactions out of the Cannes Film Festival that indicates this will be another hit for him. It appears to be an anthology picture based on an American magazine organization in France. Knowing him, it’s going to be an original and unique showcase he’s always giving us something entertaining.
8) ‘West Side Story’ (Release Date: December 10)
In the Heights holds the reigns at the best musical of the year, but Steven Spielberg’s reimagining of the classic Bernstein/ Laurents/ Sondheim musical has a strong chance to one of the director’s best work in years. I doubt West Side Story will be better than its 1961 film adaptation, but this needs to capitalize on the same energy as before. Spielberg’s directing is one thing, but I’m very excited to see Rachel Zegler be a true scene-stealer as Maria opposite Ansel Elgort’s Tony.
7) ‘Nightmare Alley’ (Release Date: December 3)
It’s about time Guillermo Del Toro makes his long-awaited follow-up to the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water. Unlike his previous works, where it has some supernatural elements to them, Nightmare Alley, based on William Lindsay Gresham‘s novel, is more of a psychological thriller about Bradley Cooper’s carney gets in way over his head with Cate Blanchett’s psychiatrist. We could see another Oscar-contender from the visionary director.
6) ‘Last Night in Soho’ (Release Date: October 29)
I wish I could attend TIFF this year so I can be one of the first to see Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright’s next film where he’s stepping into the field of psychological thrillers. I’ll see anything he puts his name on, but after watching the trailer and seeing how Thomasin Mckenzie and Anya Taylor- Joy are set to star, the year-long wait better is worth it around Halloween weekend. The mysterious nature surrounding it makes it more intriguing.
5) ‘Eternals’ (Release Date: November 5)
When you have recent Best Director winner Chloe Zhao helming a big-budget Marvel film as her next project, that’s already enough to think Eternals will be a special superhero entry. Little is know about the property of these immortals protecting Earth coming out from hiding. But there’s trust to be had with Zhao and this cast, which includes Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, and Gemma Chan, and others.
4) ‘No Time to Die’ (Release Date: October 8)
No Time to Die was the first blockbuster to be affected by the pandemic. But, hopefully, there won’t be any more major delays to see Daniel Craig’s swan song as the iconic James Bond. From what I’m seeing so far, I think Cary Fukunaga will make a sequel that could top Skyfall just in terms of the action. All I’m asking for is this to meet those expectations and to be an improvement over Spectre.
3) ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (Release Date: December 17)
The secrets Spider-Man: No Way Home has been keeping is having us wonder if the third installment of everyone’s favorite web-slinger exists. Now that we have a trailer, it seems like it will explore the multiverse after many speculations figuring out just based on the characters set to appear in this. Could it be overstuffed? Will it be better received than Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3? We shall see near the end of the year.
2) ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (Release Date: November 19)
Top Gun: Maverick remains my most anticipated sequel of the year, and having to wait an entire year was not making things easier. The fact Tony Scott’s original came out three decades ago has me worried since sequels coming out decades later are hit-or-miss, but this must be another thrilling Tom Cruise sequel after hearing the reactions out of CinemaCon recently. Just give me dog fights, shirtless volleyball, and the need for speed. And yes, it’s another film I’m paying to see in IMAX.
1) ‘Dune’ (Release Date: October 22)
Let’s face it— There’s only one film I and everybody have been dying to see: Dune. Of course, it is because the trailers looked visually pleasing, the cast is stacked, and it’s Denis Villeneuve adapting Frank Herbert’s sci-fi novel in a bigger and better way than portrayed before on screen. I haven’t read the book or watched the David Lynch film, but it does have me considered being lost while watching. Still, Dune could become one of the most popular book adaptations early in the decade if it passes all expectations and hope for the best to gain a sequel.
DC's Take 