From Margot Robbie to Leonardo DiCaprio, there’s a lot of star power in theatres this fall
Photos via IMBD.com, collage by Sage Blackwell.
Looking for the perfect de-stress after a long first week back to classes? Forget all your problems for a few hours in front of a new blockbuster, rom-com, or even a blockbuster-rom-com!
But there’s also nothing quite as disappointing as sitting down to a movie that doesn’t deliver. Sifting through the surprisingly long list of upcoming releases this fall, I’ve come up with a shortlist of the ones that, to me, seem likely to stand above.
My strategy? A survey of star-power, length, trailer quality, and innovation. So, don’t blame me if you hated the movie; blame my evaluation system!
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – Sept. 19, 2025
Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell are set to stud your screen with a romantic fantasy as Robbie’s first return to screen since Barbie. Cheesy? Yes. A cute, cozy watch to pretend UVic isn’t a dating desert for a night? Also, probably, yes.
Farrell’s descriptions of the film — “kind of a love story” and “magical realism” — give the idea that this isn’t quite your usual romance. This film seems perfect for a night spent wishing you had a partner, or, being entirely satisfied to stay single a little longer.
One Battle After Another – Sept. 26, 2025
Leonardo DiCaprio turns into an 80’s flannel-clad ex-revolutionary hippie rescuing his daughter. It’s based on the book Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, and according to GQ, Pynchon’s writing will “either breeze by incoherently or sink in and change your life.”
Although the film is nearly three hours long, given the author’s high reputation, the leading man, and the direction by esteemed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, all indicators suggest it’s worth your time.
After the Hunt – Oct. 17, 2025
Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and The Bear’s Ayo Edibiri are a power-packed cast in this drama between a Yale professor and student. The film sets out to address the world of consent in academia through a provocative and “articulate” delivery, said director Luca Guadagnino.
While I can’t promise perfection, Variety is declaring it Roberts’ best role in 20 years. Guadagnino is also responsible for recent hits such as Challengers, Queer, and Call Me by Your Name.
Good Fortune – Oct. 17, 2025
Director and writer Aziz Ansari (Parks and Recreation) stars alongside Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogan, Keke Palmer, and Sanda Oh in a comedy where the Archangel Gabriel (Reeves) makes a trip down to earth to help a freshly fired employee (Anzari).
The poor employee and his wealthy ex-boss (Rogen) are forced by Gabriel to swap lives. One article describes the film as “wickedly wry,” and another claims Reeves’ role is more intriguing than his return to his iconic role in John Wick in Ballerina. The cast alone implies a strong film, and coming in just over an hour and a half in length, it seems surprisingly breezy.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere: Oct. 24, 2025
Jeremy Allen White takes on the massive role of Bruce Springsteen in a biopic that’s also not really a biopic. Rather than creating a predictable story about the singer’s life, this film focuses on the mental health realities Springsteen lived alongside his legendary success. A little history lesson disguised in Allen White, with full storytelling direction from the living legend himself, Deliver Me from Nowhere appears to be a rarely accurate biography, and I’m here for it! I’m also giving it points for landing at exactly two hours in length.
Frankenstein – Nov. 7, 2025 (Netflix)
Jacob Elordi stars as the infamous monster in this classic’s umpteenth remake. The reviews are already up from the film’s applause-filled Venice Film Festival debut, and although it might pass for an unnecessary remake, it seems worth the watch (if you have two and a half hours).
The usual villain complex of the tale appears to be flipped on its head in this adaptation by making the antagonist into Victor Frankenstein’s father, rather than Victor himself. The film is uniquely shot through a wide-angle camera lens, creating a distorted effect.
Frankenstein seems poised to deliver a slow-burning, thoughtful, semi-horror tone — making Halloween season last a little longer!
While there are many more films (Wicked 2, of course), as well as upcoming TV shows to look forward to this fall, these six releases are gearing up for big audiences to kick off the fall. So get your popcorn, grab your friends, and enjoy!
