September is serving a buffet of movie moods: monster mayhem, cozy witchy sequels, rugged survival sagas and a couple of documentaries and period pieces to make you think (or cry). Here’s a playful, no-fuss guide to ten films worth queueing for this month — snacks optional, emotions likely.
1. Resident Evil
Zach Cregger takes the video-game classic back to its grimy, creepy roots with a reboot that looks darker and meaner than the forgettable earlier outings. Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a regular guy courier on a mission to deliver an organ to Raccoon City — which, surprise, is full of very hungry zombies. Think tense, gory set pieces and one dude trying not to become lunch. International release: 16–18 September.
2. Primetime
Robert Pattinson sinks his teeth into a real-life drama about the controversial sting-style TV show To Catch a Predator. Pattinson portrays Chris Hansen in a film that revisits the ethics, chaos and courtroom-adjacent fallout of the original series. Expect heavy themes, a lot of awkward interrogations, and maybe an awards whisper or two. Release (US & Canada): 25 September.
3. The Weight
Ethan Hawke plays a desperate single dad in a Depression-era story that mixes heartbreak with a road-trip-of-sorts — except the road involves forced labor and a promise from a shady warden (Russell Crowe) to free him if he hauls stolen gold across the country. Gritty, tense and emotionally raw, with stakes that are equal parts legal and paternal. Release (US & Canada): 18 September.
4. Practical Magic 2
The cult-fave witches are back. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock return as supernatural sisters navigating love, family and a curse that dooms any man they fall for. Familiar faces return and new cast members join as the next generation learns the family’s spooky rules. Cozy coastal houses and witchy wardrobe included. Release: 11 September (US, UK & Ireland); 18 September (Canada & Australia).
5. Forgotten Island
DreamWorks’ colorful new animation leans on Filipino myths to tell a bittersweet friendship fantasy. Two schoolgirls, voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, tumble into a magical realm full of monsters and loss — and the longer they stay, the fuzzier their memories of one another get. It’s big on heart, folklore and eye-popping visuals. Release (US & Canada): 25 September; Release (UK & Ireland): 16 October.
6. Onslaught
Directed by Adam Wingard and backed by A24, this one is pedal-to-the-metal sci-fi action. Adria Arjona stars as a tough-as-nails single mother and ex-sniper whose trailer park life gets upended when enhanced super-soldiers break loose from a secret lab. Expect fast, violent thrills and tense, close-quarters firefights. Release (US & Canada): 4 September.
7. Heart of the Beast
Brad Pitt plays a wounded veteran trying to make it out of an Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash — and he’s not alone: his military dog Odin is along for the lumbering, tear-jerking ride. Directed by David Ayer, it’s survival cinema with emotional muscle, plus a canine co-star apparently capable of stealing every scene. International release: 24–25 September.
8. Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
Alex Gibney’s documentary revisits the shocking 2022 attack on Salman Rushdie and the long shadow cast by his writing. Using intimate footage and interviews, the film explores recovery, resilience and the life of a writer who’s been both celebrated and hunted. Expect moving personal moments and a strong journalistic throughline. Release: 17 September (US); 30 September (UK).
9. The Uprising
Paul Greengrass turns to medieval history with a gritty retelling of the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Andrew Garfield stars as a common farmer-turned-rebel who challenges the power structure of his day. It’s raw historical drama with a populist spark — swords, mud and righteous fury included. Release (US & Canada): 11 September.
10. Hope
Imagine a monster movie that also wears a cowboy hat and loves chaos. Na Hong-jin’s Hope is a relentless two-and-a-half-hour ride starring Hwang Jung-min as a sheriff on the hunt for a rampaging ogre. It mixes horror, action and noir-ish thrills into something gloriously wild and exhausting in the best way. Release: 9 September (US); 10 September (Australia); 25 September (UK).
That’s the cinematic buffet for September — pick your flavor: spooky, silly, soulful or straight-up savage. See you in line for popcorn.
