Woman of the Hour
In 1978, Rodney Alcala was a contestant on The Dating Game, where he "won" a date with Cheryl Bradshaw, unaware that he was a serial killer responsible for five murders and had a history of child molestation. This chilling true-crime story forms the basis of Anna Kendrick's directorial debut, Woman of the Hour, in which she stars as Bradshaw, confronting a world of sexism and predatory behavior in Los Angeles. Meagan Navarro from Bloody Disgusting notes that the film starts as a charming exploration of 70s gender dynamics but quickly turns into a suspenseful, stranger-than-fiction tale. Kendrick's vision blends horror and humor with nonlinear storytelling, creating a poignant and unsettling debut.
The film premiered internationally on Netflix on October 18.
In Smile, a person cursed by a demonic "Smile Entity" is driven to suicide after seeing someone else with a broad grin. This chilling premise launched Parker Finn’s debut horror film, which was made for just $17 million but grossed $217 million at the box office in 2022. The success inevitably led to a sequel. Lukas Gage, who stars alongside Naomi Scott, revealed that filming Smile 2 was so terrifying it made him feel sick. "It was the first time I was genuinely afraid on set," he said on The Jess Cagle Show. "It was incredibly gory and disgusting. The crew was terrified because Parker Finn knows the genre so well."
The film was released in cinemas internationally on October 18.
Smile 2
In Smile, a person cursed by a demonic "Smile Entity" is driven to suicide after seeing someone else with a broad grin. This chilling premise launched Parker Finn’s debut horror film, which was made for just $17 million but grossed $217 million at the box office in 2022. The success inevitably led to a sequel. Lukas Gage, who stars alongside Naomi Scott, revealed that filming Smile 2 was so terrifying it made him feel sick. "It was the first time I was genuinely afraid on set," he said on The Jess Cagle Show. "It was incredibly gory and disgusting. The crew was terrified because Parker Finn knows the genre so well."
The film was released in cinemas internationally on October 18.
The Last of the Sea Women
For centuries, the all-female haenyeo divers of Jeju Island, South Korea, have harvested seafood from the ocean depths without oxygen. Their captivating yet perilous lives could fill a documentary on their own. However, The Last of the Sea Women, directed by Sue Kim and produced by Malala Yousafzai, takes a pressing turn when the Japanese government announces plans to dump radioactive wastewater into the sea, prompting the divers to become eco-activists. Kayleigh Donaldson from Pajiba describes it as "a sturdy and impeccably warm documentary" that reveals the human cost of environmental disaster and highlights the struggles of marginalized communities. "By the end of this film, you’re ready to march on the streets with the haenyeo and support their mission for future generations."
The film was released internationally on Apple TV+ on October 11.
One of the most acclaimed films of 2024, Nickel Boys is adapted from Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, inspired by real events. Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson star as Elwood and Turner, two inmates in a brutal Florida reform school in 1962, where torture and murder are commonplace. Their friendship is their only source of strength. What sets Nickel Boys apart is director RaMell Ross's focus on the story from the friends' perspectives, allowing viewers to experience their struggles firsthand. David Ehrlich of IndieWire describes it as "as major and memorable an achievement as any American film this decade," emphasizing its transformative cinematic adaptation (co-written by Ross and Joslyn Barnes) and its poignant reminder that America's enduring narratives can change when viewed in a different light.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 25.
The films in "Sony's Spider-Man Universe" haven’t always performed well, with Morbius and Madame Web being notable disappointments. However, audiences have embraced Venom, thanks in large part to Tom Hardy’s compelling dual portrayal of investigative journalist Eddie Brock and the mischievous alien symbiote that bonds with him. In this third and final installment, giant monsters from the symbiote's home planet invade Earth, raising the stakes and the budget. "By the third one, we've been given so much creative support to push it," Hardy told Jeff Conway at Forbes. "We want to go out with a bang and lay the foundations for future possibilities because it's been such a great ride."
The film was released internationally in cinemas on October 25.
Saoirse Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, returns to a major dramatic role in The Outrun, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and adapted from Amy Liptrot's memoir. Ronan plays a young biologist who struggles with alcoholism while studying in London. After rehab, she returns to her family home in the remote Orkney Islands, where the rugged landscape may aid her recovery, but her divorced parents (Stephen Dillane and Saskia Reeves) present challenges. Emma Simmonds from The List notes that this "sometimes devastating, but ultimately hopeful drama... feels bracingly authentic." She adds that while The Outrun is beautifully shot and explores the healing power of home, it remains unsentimental about Ronan's relationships with her family and community.
The film was released on October 2 in France, October 4 in the U.S., and October 5 in Germany.
If this year's Netflix adaptation of One Day left you craving more British romantic tragicomedy, check out We Live in Time, directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn). Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star as two thirtysomethings in London—he’s a breakfast cereal marketer, and she’s an ambitious chef—who share a passionate relationship until she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The screenplay by Nick Payne cleverly shifts between three different time periods, juxtaposing their happiest moments with the most challenging ones. "There's an achingly palpable, playful chemistry between Pugh and Garfield that leaps off the screen," says Michael Rechtshaffen in The Hollywood Reporter. He adds that the film offers an unflinchingly honest take on mortality that feels transcendentally life-affirming.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 11.
Sean Baker’s latest screwball comedy-drama, Anora, won the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and is expected to garner more awards. Mikey Madison delivers a standout performance as Ani, a Russian-American strip-club dancer who attracts the attention of Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the excessively spoiled son of an oligarch. He proposes to pay her to be his girlfriend for a week, but Anora diverges from the typical fairy-tale narrative. It’s tougher, earthier, and more farcical, enhancing its charm. "Sean Baker's powerful, spirited, and rollicking Anora... is nothing short of pure movie magic," praises Tomris Laffly at RogerEbert.com. She notes that Baker's skillful storytelling evokes both laughter and tears, often within the same scene, while highlighting the underlying sorrow.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 18.
Pharrell Williams's iconic single "Happy," featured in Despicable Me 2, sets the tone for Piece by Piece, a unique documentary about his life and music. Directed by Morgan Neville (Won't You Be My Neighbor?), this animated film takes a playful approach, resembling a "blockumentary" in the style of The Lego Movie. It features the voices of Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, and others, who recount Pharrell's journey from being discovered in Virginia to producing countless pop hits—all as vibrant Lego figurines. "Pharrell's rags-to-riches story is a familiar tale re-energized by his unique sound and the decision to animate his life," notes Radheyan Simonpillai in The Guardian, calling it "a hilarious, propulsive, and disarmingly joyous ride."
The film was released on October 11 in the U.S. and Canada.
What would happen if the leaders of the free world were faced with a zombie apocalypse? This quirky political comedy, set during a G7 summit, explores that scenario. Co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan and Galen Johnson, Rumours stars Cate Blanchett as the German chancellor and Charles Dance as the U.S. President. As they and their fellow leaders relax at a stately home in Germany, attempting to draft a joint statement, a thick fog rolls in, and 2,000-year-old mummified bog people emerge from the gloom. "The ineffectiveness of rhetorical politics and symbolic diplomacy is kookily but ruthlessly skewered in a wildly entertaining shaggy-dog satire," says Guy Lodge in Variety, highlighting its blend of broad humor, surrealism, and sharp political critique.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 18.
The Apprentice is one of the year's most provocative films, chronicling how Donald J. Trump became a real estate mogul in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Sebastian Stan portrays a bumbling young Trump, whose lofty ambitions remain unrealized until he meets the ruthless attorney Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong (Succession). Directed by Ali Abbasi, the film is described by Phil de Semlyen in Time Out as an "entertainingly salacious tragicomedy" that intricately explores the master-pupil dynamic. Your perception of the film may hinge on your views about Trump; de Semlyen notes that The Apprentice can be seen as either an inspiring tale of bromance and entrepreneurship or a grim origin story for a capitalist who discards his humanity in pursuit of wealth.
The film was released on October 11 in the U.S. and Canada, and on October 18 in the UK.
In 2019, Todd Phillips's Joker redefined the superhero genre with its gritty portrayal of a supervillain, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for Best Actor. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, pushes boundaries even further, primarily set within an asylum and a courtroom. When Arthur/Joker begins singing and dancing with Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga), the film transforms into a full-blown musical. "Folie à Deux is just as edgy and disturbing as its predecessor," writes Geoffrey Macnab in The Independent, capturing the essence of modern American cities as volatile powder kegs on the brink of explosion. The film defies comic-book conventions to explore psychological depth, making us empathize with Arthur even in its most apocalyptic and violent moments.
The film was released internationally in cinemas on October 4.
Nickel Boys
One of the most acclaimed films of 2024, Nickel Boys is adapted from Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, inspired by real events. Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson star as Elwood and Turner, two inmates in a brutal Florida reform school in 1962, where torture and murder are commonplace. Their friendship is their only source of strength. What sets Nickel Boys apart is director RaMell Ross's focus on the story from the friends' perspectives, allowing viewers to experience their struggles firsthand. David Ehrlich of IndieWire describes it as "as major and memorable an achievement as any American film this decade," emphasizing its transformative cinematic adaptation (co-written by Ross and Joslyn Barnes) and its poignant reminder that America's enduring narratives can change when viewed in a different light.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 25.
Venom: The Last Dance
The films in "Sony's Spider-Man Universe" haven’t always performed well, with Morbius and Madame Web being notable disappointments. However, audiences have embraced Venom, thanks in large part to Tom Hardy’s compelling dual portrayal of investigative journalist Eddie Brock and the mischievous alien symbiote that bonds with him. In this third and final installment, giant monsters from the symbiote's home planet invade Earth, raising the stakes and the budget. "By the third one, we've been given so much creative support to push it," Hardy told Jeff Conway at Forbes. "We want to go out with a bang and lay the foundations for future possibilities because it's been such a great ride."
The film was released internationally in cinemas on October 25.
The Outrun
Saoirse Ronan, a four-time Oscar nominee, returns to a major dramatic role in The Outrun, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and adapted from Amy Liptrot's memoir. Ronan plays a young biologist who struggles with alcoholism while studying in London. After rehab, she returns to her family home in the remote Orkney Islands, where the rugged landscape may aid her recovery, but her divorced parents (Stephen Dillane and Saskia Reeves) present challenges. Emma Simmonds from The List notes that this "sometimes devastating, but ultimately hopeful drama... feels bracingly authentic." She adds that while The Outrun is beautifully shot and explores the healing power of home, it remains unsentimental about Ronan's relationships with her family and community.
The film was released on October 2 in France, October 4 in the U.S., and October 5 in Germany.
We Live in Time
If this year's Netflix adaptation of One Day left you craving more British romantic tragicomedy, check out We Live in Time, directed by John Crowley (Brooklyn). Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star as two thirtysomethings in London—he’s a breakfast cereal marketer, and she’s an ambitious chef—who share a passionate relationship until she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The screenplay by Nick Payne cleverly shifts between three different time periods, juxtaposing their happiest moments with the most challenging ones. "There's an achingly palpable, playful chemistry between Pugh and Garfield that leaps off the screen," says Michael Rechtshaffen in The Hollywood Reporter. He adds that the film offers an unflinchingly honest take on mortality that feels transcendentally life-affirming.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 11.
Anora
Sean Baker’s latest screwball comedy-drama, Anora, won the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and is expected to garner more awards. Mikey Madison delivers a standout performance as Ani, a Russian-American strip-club dancer who attracts the attention of Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the excessively spoiled son of an oligarch. He proposes to pay her to be his girlfriend for a week, but Anora diverges from the typical fairy-tale narrative. It’s tougher, earthier, and more farcical, enhancing its charm. "Sean Baker's powerful, spirited, and rollicking Anora... is nothing short of pure movie magic," praises Tomris Laffly at RogerEbert.com. She notes that Baker's skillful storytelling evokes both laughter and tears, often within the same scene, while highlighting the underlying sorrow.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 18.
Piece by Piece
Pharrell Williams's iconic single "Happy," featured in Despicable Me 2, sets the tone for Piece by Piece, a unique documentary about his life and music. Directed by Morgan Neville (Won't You Be My Neighbor?), this animated film takes a playful approach, resembling a "blockumentary" in the style of The Lego Movie. It features the voices of Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, and others, who recount Pharrell's journey from being discovered in Virginia to producing countless pop hits—all as vibrant Lego figurines. "Pharrell's rags-to-riches story is a familiar tale re-energized by his unique sound and the decision to animate his life," notes Radheyan Simonpillai in The Guardian, calling it "a hilarious, propulsive, and disarmingly joyous ride."
The film was released on October 11 in the U.S. and Canada.
Rumours
What would happen if the leaders of the free world were faced with a zombie apocalypse? This quirky political comedy, set during a G7 summit, explores that scenario. Co-directed by Guy Maddin and Evan and Galen Johnson, Rumours stars Cate Blanchett as the German chancellor and Charles Dance as the U.S. President. As they and their fellow leaders relax at a stately home in Germany, attempting to draft a joint statement, a thick fog rolls in, and 2,000-year-old mummified bog people emerge from the gloom. "The ineffectiveness of rhetorical politics and symbolic diplomacy is kookily but ruthlessly skewered in a wildly entertaining shaggy-dog satire," says Guy Lodge in Variety, highlighting its blend of broad humor, surrealism, and sharp political critique.
The film was released in the U.S. on October 18.
The Apprentice
The Apprentice is one of the year's most provocative films, chronicling how Donald J. Trump became a real estate mogul in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. Sebastian Stan portrays a bumbling young Trump, whose lofty ambitions remain unrealized until he meets the ruthless attorney Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong (Succession). Directed by Ali Abbasi, the film is described by Phil de Semlyen in Time Out as an "entertainingly salacious tragicomedy" that intricately explores the master-pupil dynamic. Your perception of the film may hinge on your views about Trump; de Semlyen notes that The Apprentice can be seen as either an inspiring tale of bromance and entrepreneurship or a grim origin story for a capitalist who discards his humanity in pursuit of wealth.
The film was released on October 11 in the U.S. and Canada, and on October 18 in the UK.
Joker: Folie à Deux
In 2019, Todd Phillips's Joker redefined the superhero genre with its gritty portrayal of a supervillain, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who won an Oscar for Best Actor. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, pushes boundaries even further, primarily set within an asylum and a courtroom. When Arthur/Joker begins singing and dancing with Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga), the film transforms into a full-blown musical. "Folie à Deux is just as edgy and disturbing as its predecessor," writes Geoffrey Macnab in The Independent, capturing the essence of modern American cities as volatile powder kegs on the brink of explosion. The film defies comic-book conventions to explore psychological depth, making us empathize with Arthur even in its most apocalyptic and violent moments.
The film was released internationally in cinemas on October 4.
