Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.
Oscar Isaac’s creating monstrous life. Dwayne Johnson’s beating people up. Emma Stone’s getting kidnapped. Jeremy Allen White’s singing Springsteen.
And, most importantly, awards season has begun.
Summer movies gave us “Superman” and Tom Cruise, but from now until the end of the year Oscar will be the name on many film lovers’ lips. September and October are starting us off well, too, with high-profile performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lopez, plus films from iconic directors like Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro. Those two have theatrical releases – “A House of Dynamite” and “Frankenstein,” respectively – that could put Netflix squarely in contention for something the streamer has never won: best picture.
It’s not all about the awards: Halloween season is upon us, so there are scares to be had in the next two months. (Welcome back, “The Conjuring”!)
Here’s an exclusive peek at new 15 movies you absolutely, positively must see in theaters this fall:
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ (Sept. 5)
The fourth installment of the freaky horror franchise brings back Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga one more time as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Their newest case involves a haunted mirror, though more personal matters – like Ed’s health and their daughter’s well-being – are also top of mind.
‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ (Sept. 12)
The English period drama, which went from being a popular TV series to a big-screen franchise, closes a chapter for the Crawley family and their staff. The new movie brings fan-favorite characters into the 1930s as Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) is at the heart of a scandal and the Crawleys face financial troubles and social disgrace.
‘The Long Walk’ (Sept. 12)
Based on the Stephen King novel, Francis Lawrence’s dystopian thriller brings together a host of fresh-faced talent. Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Charlie Plummer and more play competitors in a grim state-sponsored contest in which each has to walk at 3 mph or be executed until only one is left standing.
‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ (Sept. 19)
The fantastical romantic drama directed by Kogonada stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell as two single folks who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding. Then the two strangers become something more as they go on an adventure that touches on the pasts that made them who they are while figuring out what the future may hold.
‘Him’ (Sept. 19)
In the football horror film produced by Jordan Peele, Tyriq Withers is a rising star who could be the San Antonio Saviors’ next franchise player. First, though, the team’s legendary quarterback (Marlon Wayans) wants to put him through his own extreme training regimen to see if the kid’s worthy.
‘One Battle After Another’ (Sept. 26)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s genre-bending action thriller centers on Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former member of a revolutionary vigilante group who needs help from his old friends (including Benicio Del Toro) when his daughter is captured by their longtime military nemesis (Sean Penn).
‘The Smashing Machine’ (Oct. 3)
Could “The Rock” be an Oscar nominee? Dwayne Johnson has his biggest awards play and most transformative role to date in Benny Safdie’s sports biopic. The former pro wrestler stars as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, who weathers ups and downs alongside his wife, Dawn (Emily Blunt), to become a champion.
‘A House of Dynamite’ (Oct. 10)
Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”) returns with another white-knuckle political thriller. When a nuclear missile is launched at the United States, White House officials scramble to figure who’s responsible and how to respond in a drama featuring Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso and Jared Harris.
‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ (Oct. 10)
An adaptation of the the Broadway show, director Bill Condon’s musical drama stars Tonatiuh as a gay window dresser named Luis who shares a cell with political prisoner Valentin (Diego Luna). They bond as Luis recounts the plot of his favorite film, which unfolds as a movie-within-the-movie with a legendary screen diva (Jennifer Lopez).
‘Roofman’ (Oct. 10)
Based on a stranger-than-fiction story, the drama stars Channing Tatum as a former Army Ranger who robs McDonald’s eateries by entering through their roofs. He gets caught, escapes prison and winds up living in a Toys ‘R Us, though he has to keep his double life a secret after falling for a divorced mom (Kirsten Dunst).
‘Tron: Ares’ (Oct. 10)
Jared Leto is the latest A-list newcomer to Disney’s sci-fi action franchise. He plays the title program, a digital warrior from the Grid sent to the real world, while Greta Lee is a programmer targeted by high-tech antagonists and OG “Tron” dude Jeff Bridges returns as Flynn in a sci-fi action flick fueled by Nine Inch Nails songs.
‘Frankenstein’ (Oct. 17)
Monster-movie master Guillermo del Toro finally gets his chance to tackle Mary Shelley’s Gothic horror masterwork. Oscar Isaac is the genius, ego-fueled scientist Victor Frankenstein, who embarks on a bold experiment to create life, and Jacob Elordi plays the resulting Creature whose existence threatens both of them.
‘Bugonia’ (Oct. 24)
Emma Stone teams again with her “Favourite” collaborator Yorgos Lanthimos for this dark comedy. Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis play conspiracy-obsessed dudes who kidnap a high-profile and powerful CEO (Stone) because they believe she’s an alien bent on annihilating Earth.
‘Regretting You’ (Oct. 24)
Colleen Hoover hive, rise up! Based on the bestselling author’s novel, the romantic drama centers on a mom (Allison Williams) and her brother-in-law (Dave Franco) who face tragedy when their spouses die in a car accident, then have to deal with the emotional fallout and family secrets behind why their loved ones were together.
‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ (Oct. 24)
Is Jeremy Allen White born to run as Bruce Springsteen? “The Bear” standout plays The Boss in Scott Cooper’s music drama, which chronicles Springsteen in the early 1980s as the New Jersey rocker navigates newfound superstardom and faces his traumatic past to craft his landmark album “Nebraska.”