Summer may have closed the curtain, but September wastes no time kicking the doors back open. The month blends high-profile studio releases with indie festival finds, horror sequels, prestige dramas, and a few animated favorites returning for milestone celebrations. Whether you’re booking tickets for the big screen, firing up your streaming queue, or chasing down a limited release, here’s your week-by-week guide to what’s on deck for September 2025.
September TBA
Megadoc (2025)
Documentary | Directed by Mike Figgis | Starring Robert De Niro, Laurence Fishburne
Francis Ford Coppola has been chasing this film for decades, and Figgis catches him mid-sprint. One minute it’s scribbles on a legal pad, the next it’s an argument over the shape of a scene. You hear chairs scraping, see coffee cups stacking, and feel the air go heavy when a budget number lands. De Niro and Fishburne drift through like old friends checking in — but the real story is the obsession that won’t let Coppola quit.
September 3
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
PG | Adventure, Family, Live-Action/CGI | Streaming on Disney+ | Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp | Starring Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Maia Kealoha
It’s still the same story—lonely kid, rogue alien—but this time you can see every grain of Kauai sand. Dean Fleischer Camp drops the chaos right into real sunlight, letting the slapstick and sweetness bounce off each other. Lilo stomps, Stitch schemes, and the island just rolls with it. By the end, you forget where the CGI ends and the troublemaking begins.
September 5
The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
Horror, Thriller, Suspense | In Theaters (IMAX) | Directed by Michael Chaves | Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, James Wan (producer)
The Warrens are back, and this one’s got that “last ride” energy. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson slip right back into the rhythm—married demon-hunting with equal parts heart and exhaustion. The case starts with whispers and cold rooms, but it crawls toward something worse. The scares don’t rush; they just hang there, letting you squirm. IMAX doesn’t help—every shadow feels like it’s leaning over your shoulder. Feels familiar, but meaner.
Hamilton: An American Musical (2025)
Drama, Musical | In Theaters | Directed by Thomas Kail | Starring Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs
The stage juggernaut that rewrote the rules of Broadway leaps to the big screen—original cast intact, energy fully charged. Shot live in front of an audience, it captures every smirk, breath, and perfectly timed beat in a way that no soundtrack ever could. The mix of hip-hop swagger, historical storytelling, and razor-sharp wordplay still hits like a lightning bolt, but now every eyebrow raise and choreographed step is writ large for the cinema. It’s Hamilton, unfiltered and impossible to look away from.
Highest 2 Lowest (2025)
R | Thriller, Crime | Streaming on Apple TV+ | Directed by Spike Lee | Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky
Spike Lee reimagines Kurosawa’s 1963 crime drama inside today’s cutthroat music scene. Denzel Washington plays a producer whose knack for finding hits has made him a kingmaker — until a kidnapping drags him into a personal and moral freefall. The story moves between sharp boardroom exchanges and tense street-level searches, never letting the audience settle. Lee’s direction cuts close to the bone, and Washington plays it like a man who’s spent years pretending the ground beneath him is steady.
Everything to Me (2025)
Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Alex Thompson | Starring Lola Flanery, Judy Greer, Utkarsh Ambudkar
Set against the backdrop of Apple’s boom years, this coming-of-age comedy follows a quick-thinking young woman determined to carve out her place in tech’s big leagues. Judy Greer brings a lived-in warmth as the family anchor, while Utkarsh Ambudkar nails the awkward-but-funny beats. The film shifts easily between family squabbles, personal wins, and the messy ambition that comes with chasing a dream in a world moving at lightning speed.
Light of The World (2025)
PG | Animated, Faith-Based | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Tom Bancroft, Matt McPherson | Voices by John Schafer, Brennan McPherson
An animated walk of the New Testament, built with a hand-drawn style that feels a little imperfect in the best way. It hits the big Gospel moments but never stays solemn for too long — there’s music, quick jokes, and little visual touches to keep kids hooked while adults get the bigger picture.
Twinless (2025)
Dark Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Austin Stark | Starring Dylan O’Brien, Lauren Graham, David Permut
Two men meet in a grief group for people who’ve lost their twins, and what starts as small talk turns into a knotty, unpredictable friendship. The tone slides between offbeat comedy and moments that sting, with Dylan O’Brien folding humor into quiet, lonely beats and Lauren Graham grounding the chaos with a dry, steady presence.
The Baltimorons (2025)
R | Comedy, Holiday | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Jay Duplass | Starring Michael Strassner, Drew Langer
A broken tooth on Christmas Eve forces a newly sober man into an all-night trek across Baltimore with a companion who’s equal parts charm and chaos. Jay Duplass steers the detour with his knack for pairing deadpan humor with gut-punch honesty, finding flickers of grace in a holiday that keeps going off the rails.
Preparation for the Next Life (2025)
R | Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Wayne Wang | Starring Michelle Mao, Fred Hechinger, Maxwell Almono
Adapted from Atticus Lish’s award-winning novel, this is an unflinching portrait of love and survival in the margins of American life. An undocumented immigrant and a troubled Iraq War veteran cling to each other as they navigate poverty, trauma, and the looming threat of deportation.
The Threesome (2025)
R | Drama, Comedy, Romance | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Chad Hartigan | Starring Jonah Hauer-King, Zoey Deutch, Arden Myrin
A random meeting pulls three strangers into a single, unpredictable night, where small choices ripple into something far bigger. Chad Hartigan threads humor through moments of quiet awkwardness, letting the film breathe in its silences, while Zoey Deutch’s offbeat charm turns every scene she’s in into something magnetic.
Expedition: Greenland (2025)
Documentary | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Clay Croft
Seven explorers set out to complete the first full crossing of Greenland’s Arctic wilderness, facing brutal storms, bone-deep cold, and the mental strain of endless isolation. The film balances sweeping, icebound vistas with raw, unfiltered glimpses of exhaustion, doubt, and the rare, hard-won moments of triumph.
The Cut (2025)
R | Psychological Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Sean Ellis | Starring Orlando Bloom, Caitriona Balfe, John Turturro
A retired boxer pushes his body past the breaking point with a brutal, off-the-books weight cut for one last shot at redemption. Orlando Bloom strips away the movie-star polish, delivering a performance that’s all grit, sweat, and the uneasy tension of a man gambling everything on a fading dream.
A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant (2025)
G | Documentary | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Bill Banowsky
This deep dive into Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Pat Oliphant captures the razor-sharp wit and fearless satire that made his work both celebrated and controversial. Blending rare archival clips with frank interviews, it’s less a standard biography and more a tribute to art as a weapon against complacency.
September 12
The Long Walk (2025)
R | Thriller, Adaptation | In Theaters | Directed by James Vanderbilt | Starring Mark Hamill, Judy Greer, Thomas Mann
Drawn from Stephen King’s chilling novel, this adaptation traps 100 teenage boys in a deadly endurance test: keep walking or face the gun. James Vanderbilt keeps the tension simmering as alliances shift, tempers fray, and exhaustion strips everyone bare. Mark Hamill looms over it all as the cryptic figure pulling the strings, steering the march toward an ending that lingers.
Toy Story – 30th Anniversary
G | Adventure, Family, Kids, Animated Re-Release | In Theaters | Directed by John Lasseter | Voices by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
Pixar’s debut feature heads back to theaters in a spruced-up anniversary edition, letting fans and newcomers alike see where it all began. Woody and Buzz’s odd-couple journey still charms, and the once-revolutionary CG animation now feels both nostalgic and timeless—a reminder of the film that reshaped modern animation, best experienced on the big screen.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)
PG | Drama, Sequel, Period | In Theaters | Directed by Simon Curtis | Starring Joanne Froggatt, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery
The Crawleys and their devoted staff gather for one last chapter, bringing the Downton Abbey saga to a close. Early 20th-century England provides the grandeur, while the story delivers warm goodbyes, impeccable period style, and a final dose of drawing-room intrigue to keep the estate lively up to the end.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)
R | Sequel, Music, Mockumentary | In Theaters | Directed by Rob Reiner | Starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
The kings of mockumentary rock are back, cranking the volume past eleven for a reunion tour no one asked for but everyone will watch. Decades after This Is Spinal Tap, the band’s blend of improvised chaos, ridiculous set pieces, and deep-cut callbacks promises pure comedic carnage. Rob Reiner returns to direct, keeping the meta madness alive.
Code 3 (2025)
Action, Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Christopher Leone | Starring Lil Rel Howery, Rainn Wilson, Rob Riggle
A weary paramedic agrees to one last 24-hour shift to break in his rookie replacement—only to find the night unraveling into a gauntlet of bizarre calls, near disasters, and laugh-out-loud mishaps. Lil Rel Howery’s rapid-fire humor plays perfectly against Owen Wilson’s deadpan cool, turning this into a buddy comedy where the stakes are high but the charm is higher.
Traumatika (2025)
Horror | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Pierre Tsigaridis | Starring William Gabriel Grier, Rebekah Kennedy, Emily Goss
A young boy’s night terrors take a sinister turn when his mother starts showing chilling signs of demonic possession. Blending classic possession scares with dreamlike, disorienting imagery, the film trades jump scares for a creeping dread that seeps under your skin—and stays there long after the credits roll.
Looking Through Water (2025)
Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Marc Lucas | Starring Walker Scobell, David Morse, Michael Douglas
After a spectacular public downfall ends his career, a corporate executive reluctantly joins his long-estranged father for a fishing tournament in Belize. Amid sunlit waters and quiet tension, the trip becomes less about the catch and more about untangling years of resentment, regret, and unspoken truths.
Tin Soldier (2025)
Action, Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Brad Furman | Starring Jamie Foxx, Robert De Niro, Scott Eastwood
Jamie Foxx commands a militia of battle-hardened veterans in a fortified compound, offering protection and purpose to anyone willing to sign on. But when Robert De Niro’s investigator comes sniffing around, loyalty fractures and egos clash, igniting a chain of explosive, high-stakes confrontations in a gritty, unflinching action drama.
Dreams (2025)
Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Dag Johan Haugerud | Starring Ella Øverbye, Ane Dahl Torp, Selome Emnetu
Johanne, a teenager, falls in love with her teacher, documenting her emotions in intimate detail. The film explores the messy intersections of desire, youth, and self-discovery, told with quiet, observational tenderness.
The History of Sound (2025)
R | Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Oliver Hermanus | Starring Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Chris Cooper
Set during World War I, this romantic drama follows two young men as they travel the American countryside, recording the voices and stories of everyday people. What begins as a shared project deepens into a profound connection, brought to life by the chemistry between Mescal and O’Connor.
Rabbit Trap (2025)
Thriller, Suspense | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Daniel Noah | Starring Dev Patel, Elijah Wood, Rosy McEwen
In 1973, two musicians retreat to a remote Welsh cabin to finish their album — only to encounter strange happenings that threaten their sanity. Atmospheric and moody, the film blends psychological tension with elements of folk horror.
September 16
Just Breathe (2025)
Thriller, Crime | VOD/Digital | Directed by Paul P. Pompa III | Starring Kyle Gallner, E’myri Crutchfield, Shawn Ashmore
After a year in prison, Nick Bianco is determined to win back the love of his life and rebuild from scratch. But the ghosts of his past—both human and emotional—refuse to let go, turning his redemption arc into a tense battle for survival.
The Compatriots (2025)
Drama, Comedy | VOD/Digital | Directed by Caroline Portu, Spencer Cohen | Starring Rafael Silva, Caroline Portu
An undocumented immigrant facing deportation unexpectedly reconnects with his childhood friend. Their reunion forces them to confront shared memories, diverging paths, and the fragile hope of starting over in a country that may no longer welcome them.
September 18
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (2025)
R | Action, Animated | Streaming on HBO Max | Directed by Juan Jose Meza-Leon | Voices by Horacio Garcia Rojas, Omar Chaparro
The Batman legend gets a bold reimagining, transported to the heart of 16th-century Mesoamerica. Combining the grit of Gotham with Aztec warrior mythology, this animated epic promises high-intensity battles, vivid cultural detail, and a Dark Knight unlike any we’ve seen before.
September 19
Him (2025)
Thriller, Horror, Sports, Psychological | In Theaters | Directed by Justin Tipping | Starring Marlon Wayans, Jordan Peele (producer), Quinta Brunson
A legendary quarterback, long past his prime, is tasked with training a gifted but troubled young athlete. As the sessions progress, their relationship veers into unsettling territory, blending sports drama with creeping psychological horror. With Jordan Peele producing, expect tension, social undercurrents, and a final act that sticks in your head.
Xeno (2025)
Adventure, Thriller, Sci-Fi | In Theaters | Directed by Matthew Loren Oates | Starring Wrenn Schmidt, Lulu Wilson
When a deep-space research mission encounters a mysterious life form, alliances are tested and survival becomes the only goal. Mixing claustrophobic tension with bursts of cosmic wonder, Xeno offers a grounded, character-driven take on first contact.
A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey (2025)
Drama, Fantasy | In Theaters | Directed by Bradley Thomas | Starring Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell
Two strangers embark on an improbable journey that transcends geography, time, and logic, forging a connection neither expected. Dreamlike visuals and heartfelt performances make this a quietly ambitious drama-fantasy hybrid.
Swiped (2025)
Drama | Streaming on Hulu | Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg | Starring Clea DuVall, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Sennott
Inspired by the true-life story of Bumble’s founder, this character-driven drama explores ambition, betrayal, and the complex gender politics of modern tech culture. It’s as much about the human cost of innovation as it is about the business of dating apps.
Steve (2025)
R | Drama, Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Tim Mielants | Starring Cillian Murphy, Little Simz, Emily Watson
A reform school headmaster struggles to keep his institution afloat while navigating personal crises, paralleled with the story of a wild horse in captivity. Cillian Murphy anchors the film with a performance that moves between sharp humor and aching vulnerability.
Plainclothes (2025)
Drama, Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Dylan O’Brien | Starring Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Maria Dizzia
Set in the 1960s, a promising undercover officer is ordered to entrap gay men — but his conscience and identity complicate the mission. What follows is a tense, morally complex drama about loyalty, desire, and institutional corruption.
Prisoner of War (2025)
Action, Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Peter Shinkoda | Starring Scott Adkins, Gabbi Garcia
British SAS officer James Wright (Adkins) is captured during a covert mission, sparking a high-stakes fight for survival. With hard-hitting martial arts choreography and tense pacing, this is pure genre entertainment for action purists.
Peacock (2025)
Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Bernhard Wenger | Starring Albrecht Schuch, Julia Franz Richter
Matthias runs a Vienna-based rent-a-friend agency, offering companionship to clients on demand. But his professional distance begins to crumble when he forms a bond with someone he’s supposed to keep at arm’s length, leading to awkward and heartfelt revelations.
Adulthood (2025)
R | Drama, Comedy, Crime | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Alex Winter | Starring Josh Gad, Kaya Scodelario, Billie Lourd
Megan and Noah—siblings scraping by in present-day America—have perfected the art of just getting through the week. But when a moment of desperation pushes them into small-time crime, their lives tilt into a chaotic mix of close calls, questionable choices, and unexpected laughs. Balancing sharp social commentary with the messy warmth of family ties, it’s a crime caper that never loses sight of the human stakes.
The Senior (2025)
Drama, Sports, True Story | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Rod Lurie | Starring James Badge Dale, Rob Corddry
Based on the remarkable true story, 59-year-old Mike Flynt shocks his old teammates when he returns to the football field decades after being kicked off the roster. Determined to leave on his terms, he faces grueling practices, skeptical coaches, and players young enough to be his kids. What unfolds is an underdog sports tale laced with humor, heart, and the reminder that it’s never too late to chase the game you love.
American Sweatshop (2025)
Drama, Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Uta Briesewitz | Starring Lili Reinhart, Daniela Melchior
Daisy Moriarty has followers, brand deals, and a feed that never stops. Off-camera, it’s a mess—public scrutiny closing in, ambition pushing her too far, and threats she can’t scroll past. A tense dive into influencer culture and the price you pay when your life is always on display.
London Calling (2025)
R | Action, Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Joe Lynch | Starring Josh Duhamel, Aidan Gillen
He’s not the best in the business—and after this job, he might be the worst. One wrong pull of the trigger, and his target turns out to be family to London’s most dangerous crime boss. What follows is a messy parade of screw-ups, payback, and pitch-black comedy, where every plan falls apart faster than the last.
Apollo 13 (2025)
PG | Drama, Adventure, Historical | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Ron Howard | Starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris
Back in ’95, it swept audiences — and the Oscars — with a story that still feels impossible to look away from. Three astronauts. One spacecraft. A mid-mission disaster that turns into a race against time. Ron Howard keeps the tension wound tight, and Tom Hanks… well, he makes you believe every flicker of fear, hope, and grit. Nearly 30 years later, it’s headed back to the big screen, and it still lands like a punch to the chest.
She Said Maybe (2025)
Comedy, Romance | Streaming on Netflix | Director TBD | Cast TBD
She’s been living between two lives for so long, she’s not sure where one ends and the other begins. The decision waiting for her isn’t flashy. It’s not the kind of thing that makes headlines. But in her bones, she knows it could change everything. Nobody’s talking specifics yet—call it secrecy, or maybe superstition. What will you get? Moments that make you laugh out loud in public, and others that hit so close to home you’ll want to call someone you miss.
My Sunshine (2025)
Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama | Starring Ryûya Wakaba, Sosuke Ikematsu
Winter here isn’t pretty postcard snow — it’s rough ice, half-melted on the school rink, the puck catching in the cracks. That’s where he grew up, chasing games with friends who’ve mostly moved on. Now he’s staring at decisions he didn’t think he’d have to make this soon. The ferry still runs late, the air still smells like kelp, but something’s shifted, and it’s not the tide.
September 26
One Battle After Another (2025)
Drama | In Theaters (IMAX) | Directed by Edward Berger | Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio Del Toro
When their old enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites for one final rescue mission. What follows is a sweeping blend of high-stakes action, layered political intrigue, and powerhouse performances—delivered with the kind of scale and intensity that practically demands an IMAX screen.
The Strangers: Chapter 2 (2025)
Sequel, Thriller, Horror | In Theaters | Directed by Renny Harlin | Starring Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso
A newlywed couple’s romantic road trip turns into a fight for survival when their car breaks down and they seek refuge in a remote Airbnb. What begins as an inconvenience spirals into a relentless home-invasion nightmare, with the tension wound so tight it barely lets you breathe until the final moment.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (2025)
G | Family, Kids, Animated, Spin-off | In Theaters | Directed by Traci Paige Johnson | Voices by Laila Lockhart Kraner, Kristen Wiig, Ego Nwodim
Gabby embarks on a cross-country journey with her grandmother, where every stop brings new friends, unexpected wonders, and a sprinkle of magic. Bursting with color, music, and playful charm, it’s a cinematic celebration for fans of the beloved children’s series—and a warm introduction for newcomers.
Long Shadows (2025)
Western | In Theaters | Directed by Shelley Reid | Starring Tom Brady, Dermot Mulroney
Set in the American West of the 1880s, this quietly powerful western observes a community at a crossroads, where the arrival of new technology and changing politics threaten the traditions that have long defined it. With restrained storytelling and sweeping landscapes, it captures both the beauty and the unease of an era fading into history.
Eleanor The Great (2025)
PG-13 | Drama | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Scarlett Johansson | Starring June Squibb, Jessamine Burgum
In Scarlett Johansson’s warm and witty directorial debut, a 90-year-old Floridian strikes up an unexpected friendship with a 19-year-old college student in New York City. What begins as a chance connection turns into a tender, funny, and sharp exploration of generational gaps and the humanity that bridges them.
Dead of Winter (2025)
Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Lloyd Hutchinson | Starring Emma Thompson, Dalton Leeb
Trapped in a blizzard on the desolate backroads of rural Minnesota, a grieving woman must battle the elements—and her unraveling mind—to make it out alive. Blending stark survival stakes with the raw weight of loss, it’s a tense, wintry descent into isolation.
All of You (2025)
R | Drama, Romance | Limited Theatrical + Streaming on Apple TV+ | Directed by Harry Wootliff | Starring Brett Goldstein, Imogen Poots
Two lifelong friends, separated by time and circumstance, are unexpectedly drawn back into each other’s orbit by a shared crisis. What unfolds is a quiet, heartfelt study of connection—blending unspoken history, missed opportunities, and the hope that some bonds can survive anything.
BFFs (2025)
Comedy | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Michael Bacall | Starring Terrence Howard, Taye Diggs
Old friends reunite and slip back into a familiar rhythm of practical jokes—only this time, each stunt is bigger, riskier, and harder to walk back. What starts as harmless fun spirals into a sharp-edged buddy comedy about pride, boundaries, and the fine line between laughing with someone and laughing at them.
The Ugly (2025)
Drama, Thriller | Limited Theatrical | Directed by Yeon Sang-ho | Starring Park Jeong-min, Kwon Hae-Hyo
A filmmaker chronicling his blind father’s daily life gets a phone call that upends their quiet routine. Yeon Sang-ho turns the premise into a slow-burning thriller, layering intimate family drama with creeping unease until it swells into a full-blown mystery.
What September 2025 Means for Movie Fans
From live-action reimaginings and long-awaited sequels to festival darlings and unexpected streaming gems, September delivers one of the most diverse cinematic lineups of the year. It is a month where horror fans get their chills, drama lovers find rich character studies, and families have fresh options for movie nights.
Whether you are stepping into an IMAX auditorium, settling into a local indie house, or queuing up the latest release at home, September proves that the fall movie season has something for everyone. Stay tuned to ScreenDollars for box office updates, in-depth features, and your first look at the big October premieres.
