With “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” setting the tone for the annual theatrical journey into spooky season, the legacy sequel has resurrected a typically dead September for theatrical releases by grossing over $230 million domestically and topping the weekend box office three times last month. Overall, business may reach the same level of success as last year, albeit with more releases than in 2023. Despite having the usual horror fare we’ve come to expect from Halloween, there are quite a few surprising releases of the non-horror variety that are looking to scare up a different type of treat: early end-of-the-year awards buzz. Here are some of the titles to keep a watchful eye out for this month, and make sure you don’t get spooked out of seeing them by not checking the local listings for showtimes at your favorite Showplace Cinemas or AMC Theaters location!
Joker: Folie a Deux (October 4) – What’s the obvious choice when you want to make a sequel to a legendary DC comic book/Taxi Driver-inspired/billion-dollar hit? Make it a musical! Warner Bros. Discovery, Director Todd Phillips, and Arthur Fleck/Joker return to roll the dice on a $200 million gamble that may end up emulating another infamous Martin Scorsese picture: “New York, New York.” Joaquin Phoenix returns as the title character and is joined by none other than Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2), Catherine Keener (Get Out, Being John Malkovich), and Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin, In Bruges) co-star.
Terrifier 3 (October 11) – Art the Clown is back (like it or not) to unleash his signature brand of gruesome chaos on a small town during the most peaceful of nights, Christmas Eve. Writer/Director Damien Leone returns for the third installment of this polarizing and surprisingly successful low-budget horror franchise, as do series actors David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, and Samantha Scaffidi. Veteran actor Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Narc) joins in on the gruesome fun this time around. Even Santa Claus makes an appearance (allegedly)!
Piece by Piece (October 11) – Not in the gory mood just yet? That same release weekend, Grammy Award-winning artist Pharrell Williams and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville invite you to take a journey through Pharrell’s life and career. Instead of the traditional documentary style, the filmmakers use LEGO animation to tell the story. Superstar musical acts Kendrick Lamar, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg and Daft Punk lend their voices to this innovative documentary/biography.
Saturday Night (October 11) – Ever wondered what was happening before the first episode of Saturday Night Live when it premiered 50 years ago? The team behind the last two Ghostbusters sequels (Jason Reitman and Gil Keenan) attempt to capture what that fateful night must have been like for “The Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” Rising stars Rachel Sennott (Bottoms, Shiva Baby), Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner trilogy), Gabriel LaBelle (The Fabelmans, The Predator), Kaia Gerber (Bottoms, Babylon), and Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza) join established actors Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, Matthew Rhys and Nicholas Braun in what is sure to be peak madcap lunacy of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that may or may not have happened during this legendary comic event.
Smile 2 (October 18) – In yet another horror sequel that was a surprise box office hit back in 2022, the uncanny entity returns to haunt a rising pop star (Naomi Scott), forcing her to face her past traumas. Writer/Director Parker Finn once again helms this highly anticipated new chapter, with series star Kyle Gallner (Scream V, Dinner in America) reprising the role of Joel. Up-and-coming actor Lukas Gage (Road House, How to Blow Up a Pipeline) co-stars.
Venom: The Last Dance (October 25) – Everyone’s favorite symbiote, Venom, is back to close out a trilogy of ups and downs in the life of its favorite host, Eddie Brock. This time around, the duo finds themselves on the run, forcing them to make a decision that may have devastating and lasting consequences. Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Bronson) returns in the dual title role, with Juno Temple (AppleTV+’s Ted Lasso, Atonement), Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man, Notting Hill), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, 12 Years a Slave) co-starring. Kelly Marcel, writer of the first two installments of this successful franchise, writes and takes over the directing duties to end this Marvel/Sony saga.
Henderson resident McManus Woodend is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the University of Southern Indiana and has worked in film, television and commercials for more than 20 years. To see some of his work, visit www.mcmanuswoodend.com.
