From full-fledged action films to horror films meant to provide you with an immersive Halloween experience, October 2023 is full of movies of varying genres. Even if you are someone who does not like watching spooky movies, you can find light-hearted flicks or enjoy the iconic Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film on the screen.
Another noticeable aspect of the movies releasing in October is that there is a variety of sequels, adaptations, and original films releasing, so cinema lovers will have a chance to pick their favorite one from this large collection. Let’s look at these various movies hitting the screens in October.
The Exorcist: Believer (Oct 6)
There have been various sequels, prequels, and spin-offs to the iconic 1973 film The Exorcist. However, the upcoming The Exorcist: Believer is the direct sequel to the original film. This is the first time that Ellen Burstyn is returning as Chris MacNeil to the franchise. It means that even if you have not watched the other films in the franchise, you only have to watch the first Exorcist film to enjoy this sequel.
The Exorcist: Believer is one of the most anticipated sequels, and it is arriving at the perfect time for the Halloween season. It will lay the foundation for a new trilogy, as the second film, titled The Exorcist: Deceiver, is currently set to release in 2025. The trilogy is in the good hands of David Gordon Green, as he has proven to be a successful director with the Halloween sequel trilogy.
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (Oct 6)
Pet Sematary was a box office success in 2019, but the film did not explain the mythology or the background of the cemetery that can bring the dead back to life, so there are a lot of stories left to be explored in the franchise. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines aims to do just that. It is a prequel to Pet Sematary and is set 50 years before the first film.
The film follows young Jud Crandall (Jackson White), who wants to escape his hometown, Ludlow, but he discovers evil secrets surrounding a family legacy and cemetery. He unites with his childhood friends to unravel these secrets and confront the evil plaguing his town. The film is written and directed by Lindsey Anderson Beer.
Totally Killer (Oct 6)
If you love comedy, horror, and sci-fi time travel all in one movie, then you are likely to love Totally Killer. This Nahnatchka Khan directorial follows Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) traveling back in time to 1987 to partner up with her mother and stop a young would-be-killer to prevent the murder of her mother’s friends on Halloween. Olivia Holt, Julie Bowen, and Randall Park play prominent roles in the film. Other than the pure horror films hitting the theaters this Halloween season, Totally Killer is a light-hearted release that is coming directly on Amazon Prime Video.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Oct 6)
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is an adaptation of the 1952 novel The Caine Mutiny. The adaptation is directed by William Friedkin; one of his last films before passing away. The film revolves around court-martial proceedings against Lt. Steve Maryk (Jake Lacy), a naval first officer who took control of the USS Caine from its captain during a dangerous sea storm.
The officer is defended by Barney Greenwald (Jason Clarke), who raises pertinent questions throughout the trial to determine whether Lt. Stephen committed mutiny or acted courageously to sail through the storm. The film has an impressive cast, including Monica Raymund, Lewis Pullman, Jay Duplass, Tom Riley, and late actor Lance Reddick.
Foe (Oct 6)
Foe is a sci-fi psychological thriller film directed by Garth Davis. It is based on Iain Reid’s novel of the same name, and he has also co-written the screenplay for the film. The film follows a happily married couple, Henrietta (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal), living on a secluded farm.
However, their lives are turned upside down when a stranger (Aaron Pierre) arrives at their safe haven and informs them that Junior has been selected to be sent to a large space station and a robot will be taking care of his wife in his absence. The novel received critical acclaim for discussing numerous themes, such as the effects of loneliness, isolation, and modern technological advancements, so the film is also expected to touch upon these themes.
The Burial (Oct 6)
The Burial is a legal drama film loosely based on a true story. It is directed by Maggie Betts. The film follows Willie E. Gary (Jamie Fox,x), a personal injury lawyer with a record of winning cases with unconventional tactics. He helps a funeral home owner, Jeremiah Joseph O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), in suing a large-scale funeral home company called the Loewen Group. The Burial received good critical reviews when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Desperation Road (Oct 6)
Action thrillers never go out of fashion. Desperation Road is one such film that promises a lot of action and suspense. It is based on the novel of the same name, and both the film and the novel are written by Michael Farris Smith. Nadine Crocker is directing the film adaptation.
The film has an impressive cast, with Garrett Hedlund and Mel Gibson in the lead roles, while Willa Fitzgerald, Kat Foster, Ryan Hurst, Ella Thomas, Woody McClain, and Pyper Braunstars are in prominent roles. It is an R-rated film set in a small Mississippi town and follows themes of justice and lawlessness. The story primarily revolves around three characters, Russell Gaines (Garrett Hedlund), Mitchell Gaines (Mel Gibson), and Maben (Willa Fitzgerald), and how they are haunted by their past mistakes and a secret that binds them.
Miranda’s Victim (Oct 6)
True crime movies have been becoming more and more popular with time, as they not only entertain people but also inform them about the major cases in history. Miranda’s Victim is also a biographical true crime film based on the life of Patricia “Trish” Weir.
The case became a huge point of discussion in 1963 when it was discovered that Patricia was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by Ernesto Miranda. Other than depicting Patricia’s life, the film will also tell the audience about the origins of Miranda’s warning.
Michelle Danner is directing the film with an ensemble cast. Abigail Breslin plays Trish Weir, while Sebastian Quinn plays Ernesto Miranda. The film also has other prominent actors, including Luke Wilson, Andy García, Donald Sutherland, Ryan Phillippe, Kyle MacLachlan, Mireille Enos, Taryn Manning, Emily VanCamp, Josh Bowman, Enrique Murciano, and Brent Sexton.
Cat Person (Oct 6)
Kristen Roupenian’s short story called Cat Person became an internet sensation when it was published in 2017. People around the world found the story highly relatable because of the way it depicted dating in today’s time.
After about six years, the viral short story is being adapted into a feature-length film directed by Susanna Fogel. Michelle Ashford has written the screenplay based on the original short film.
It is a black comedy film that follows a 20-year-old sophomore college student, Margot (Emilia Jones), who has a brief relationship with an older man, Robert (Nicholas Braun). Since it was originally a short story, readers did not get to dive deep into this world.
However, the film adaptation has many other cast members, including Geraldine Viswanathan, Hope Davis, Fred Melamed, and Isabella Rossellini, in prominent roles, so the viewers will definitely get to witness the dynamics of Emilia and Robert’s relationship through different lenses.
Dark Harvest (Oct 11)
Dark Harvest is a horror mystery film directed by David Slade. It is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Norman Partridge. The film seems to have the perfect release date around Halloween, as per its plot. It is set in a cursed town where, every Halloween, a supernatural being emerges from the cornfields, and one who is able to successfully confront the creature will receive a prize.
A group of young boys join forces to stop the monster. They come across unexpected revelations as the hunt progresses, and they have to make a choice to end the curse once and for all. The film stars Casey Likes as Richie Shepard, E’myri Crutchfield as Kelly Haines, Dustin Ceithamer as Sawtooth Jack/October Boy, Elizabeth Reaser as Donna Shepard, and Jeremy Davies as Dan Shepard.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Oct 13)
Taylor Swift’s surprise announcement to release Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film before the conclusion of the entire tour shocked a lot of fans. The good thing is that the concert film is no longer limited to limited theaters, as it is going to have a global release. The fans (popularly known as ‘Swifties’) have already broken several records with a $37 million first day of pre-sales in the USA alone. With a duration of 2 hours and 48 minutes, the concert film will provide a chance for fans to enjoy the Eras Tour and performances of all of Swift’s hit songs on the big screen.
Dear David (Oct 13)
Adaptations from different source materials are not something that is new in the entertainment industry. However, the fact that the horror film Dear David is being adapted from a Twitter thread is definitely something that can shape the entertainment industry and encourage more people to share their stories in the hope of going viral.
BuzzFeed writer Adam Ellis wrote the thread called Dear David in 2017, in which he describes his encounter with a ghost. The story quickly went viral, and Ellis got more than a million followers on Twitter (now called X).
Now, BuzzFeed Studios and Lionsgate Films have partnered up to bring this story to the big screen. The film stars Augustus Prew as Adam Ellis, a former BuzzFeed employee who becomes haunted by a demonic entity. The film also has Andrea Bang, René Escobar Jr., and Cameron Nicoll in prominent roles, while Justin Long is playing the head of BuzzFeed.
Killers of the Flower Moon (Oct 20)
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the most anticipated films of 2023. It is an epic Western crime drama based on the highly successful novel of the same name. With stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro attached to the film, the film is already expected to receive lots of Oscar buzz and be a major contender in other awards.
The film has an intense story as it revolves around the murder of members of the Osage tribe in northeastern Oklahoma in the 1920s, leading to a major investigation led by Tom White (Jesse Plemons). Killers of the Flower Moon has an ensemble cast and is mounted on a huge budget of about $200 million.
Old Dads (Oct 20)
Bill Burr is an acclaimed actor and stand-up comedian. He has been ranked as one of the best stand-up comics of all time by Rolling Stone. Burr is making his directorial debut in Old Dads. The film follows a middle-aged father, Jack (Bill Burr), and his two friends, played by Bobby Cannavale and Bokeem Woodbine, as they sell their company to a millennial. However, as they step into the modern world, they find it quite difficult to navigate due to the rapidly changing culture and what it means to be a father. It has a stellar cast, and with Burr at the helm of the film, the audience can expect to enjoy lots of hilarious moments in the film.
Butcher’s Crossing (Oct 20)
Butcher’s Crossing is a Western drama film based on the 1960 novel of the same name. The film follows Will Andrews (Fred Hechinger) as he leaves Harvard to go on an adventure to the Colorado wilderness. He meets a team of bounty hunters in the Old West, led by Miller (Nicolas Cage). They must survive a harsh journey to survive. Just like the novel, the film is expected to be a commentary on human nature, survival instincts, masculinity, and man’s relationship with Mother Earth. Gabe Polsky is making his narrative feature film directorial debut with Butcher’s Crossing.
The Persian Version (Oct 20)
The Persian Version is a comedy film starring Layla Mohammadi, Niousha Noor, Bijan Daneshmand, Bella Warda, and Tom Byrne. Maryam Keshavarz has directed and written the film. It revolves around Leila (Layla Mohammadi), a young Iranian-American woman who often clashes with her mother. She learns of a deep family secret after her father gets a heart transplant. The film has already received critical acclaim and two awards at the Sundance Film Festival.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (Oct 27)
It is not surprising that the adaptations of video game franchises are booming after the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Five Nights at Freddy’s is a horror film adaptation of the video game of the same name. Emma Tammi is directing the adaptation.
It revolves around Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), a security guard, who gets a nighttime job at a family entertainment center called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. He discovers four highly dangerous animatronic mascots at the center who are used to killing anyone who stays there after midnight.
Fans of the video game have been demanding a faithful adaptation for many years now. As per the trailers, the film is expected to impress the fans, and the studio already has plans for a second and third film that can cover the events of the other games in the franchise.
Freelance (Oct 27)
Pierre Morel has directed some of the most memorable action films, such as Taken and Peppermint. He is returning to the director’s seat with the action comedy film Freelance. It follows Mason Pettits (John Cena), a former Special Forces operator, who takes a job as a personal security guard for journalist Claire Washington (Alison Brie) as she plans to interview Juan Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba), president of Paldonia. Their plans are turned upside down when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, and they are forced to take shelter in the jungle to save their lives.
Pain Hustlers (Oct 27)
David Yates has enjoyed critical acclaim for his unique directorial style in the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises. Pain Hustlers is the first major feature film he has directed for Netflix outside the Wizarding World. The film has an impressive ensemble cast, including Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy García, and Catherine O’Hara, among others.
It is a crime drama film that follows Liza Drake (Emily Blunt), a high school dropout who gets a job at a pharmaceutical startup on the brink of complete failure. She gets involved in a criminal conspiracy with dangerous consequences. Pain Hustlers will be released in select theaters, but will have a global debut on Netflix on Oct 27.
The Killer (Oct 27)
David Fincher’s The Killer is an action thriller film that has generated a lot of hype since its announcement by Netflix. It follows a professional assassin called The Killer (Michael Fassbender), who goes on an international manhunt against his employers without any explanation. Both Fincher and Fassbender are coming back to films after a few years, and the early reviews suggest that the film is going to impress the viewers.
The Holdovers (Oct 27)
Gran Via Productions
The Holdovers is a comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne. It is set in the early 1970s and follows Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a highly disliked teacher at Burton Academy, assigned the duty of supervising students who cannot go back to their homes during the Christmas holidays. One of his students, Angus (Dominic Sessa), is a troublemaking individual, but Paul has to deal with him and help him go through the loss of his father. While the film’s plot might seem too simple at first, it is full of emotional moments and powerful performances, due to which critics are calling it to be one of the best movies of 2023.
Fingernails (Oct 27)
Fingernails has a unique combination of science fiction and romance elements. It follows Anna (Jessie Buckley) as she starts working at an institute that is working to determine if the romance in a couple is real or not. Anna starts testing the nature of her own relationship with Amir (Riz Ahmed), Anna’s co-worker and love interest. Other than the lead couple, Fingernails has an interesting cast, including Annie Murphy, Jeremy Allen White, and Luke Wilson.
