(This article first appeared in the September print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Now that Summer 2026 is in the books, it’s safe to say that the domestic box office is in amazing shape (thanks largely to the record-breaking run of Spider-Man: Brand New Day). All summer releases combined made over $4.4 billion, which is outpacing 2023 (the summer of Barbenheimer), bringing the year’s total heading into this month over $7 billion. September is typically a slower month when studios once again place films that typically miss the mark, but there are a handful of releases that can buck that trend and bring in the crowds. Plus, there are a slew of anniversary and retro screenings like The Nutty Professor (1996), Cars (2006), The Passion of the Christ (2006), Ghost in the Shell (1996), and Avengers: Endgame (to get you pumped for Avengers: Doomsday) to keep in mind. Here are a few noteworthy titles to look into, and as always, be sure to check your local listings for your favorite Showplace Cinemas or AMC Theaters location.
Fall 2: Deadpoint (September 2) – In this unexpected sequel to the 2022 cult classic, a grieving sister (Harriet Slater) goes to Thailand to conquer her fears with her sister’s adventurous friend (Arsema Thomas), finding themselves trapped on a narrow plank 4,000 feet in the air. Veteran horror directing duo The Spierig Brothers (Winchester, Daybreakers) take over the series, with Jonathan Frank and Scott Mann once again penning the script.
By Any Means (September 4) – Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II headline this true-crime actioner about a mafia hitman (Wahlberg) and a young black FBI agent (Abdul-Mateen II) teaming up to investigate the murders of civil rights activists in 1960s Mississippi. The supporting cast includes veteran actors Josh Lucas, Nicole Behaire, David Strathairn and Giancarlo Esposito. Elegance Bratton (The Inspection) co-produces and directs.
Onslaught (September 4) – Director/co-writer/co-producer Adam Wingard has taken a small break from the Godzilla v. Kong universe to bring this action/horror/sci-fi hybrid tale to the screen, with Adria Arjona starring as a retired sniper who must protect her daughter from a rogue squad of genetically engineered super-soldiers deep in the desert. Frequent GvK collaborators Rebecca Hall and Dan Stevens co-star.
Practical Magic 2 (September 11) – The Owens sisters are back! Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return (along with Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest) as everyone’s favorite witchy women. The loveless family curse still haunts the Owens clan, which now extends to the newest generation of Owens witches (played by Joey King, Maisie Williams, and Cassie Bradley). Veteran director Susanne Bier (Bird Box, The Night Manager) takes the helm of this legacy sequel to the 1998 film classic.
The Uprising (September 11) – Based on the story that inspired Robin Hood, a rebellious leader (Andrew Garfield) fights the tyranny of King Richard II to restore justice in England. Paul Greengrass, legendary filmmaker of Jason Bourne and Captain Phillips, directs. The cast includes British stars Jamie Bell, Tom Hollander, Jonny Lee Miller and Stephen Dillane. In a bit of a departure from his horror roots, Jason Blum of Blumhouse fame co-produces this period action film.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (September 18) – Sheep and spooky science experiments are never a good mix, and fans of this Aardman Studios series will be very excited to see Shaun, The Farmer, and the rest of the flock on the big screen for the first time since 2019. Not too many kids’ films this month, but this is sure to be a fun one!
Resident Evil (September 18) – Fresh on the heels of his 2025 horror blockbuster Weapons, writer/producer/director Zach Cregger is hoping fans of this legendary video game series will return to theaters with the same excitement they did for the original series released in 2002. Austin Abrams (Weapons) stars as a slacker courier who is hired to deliver a package to a remote hospital, finding himself in the middle of a zombie outbreak.
Primetime (September 25) – Acclaimed documentary director Lance Oppenheim (Some Kind of Heaven, Ren Faire) makes his fiction film debut with this biopic of the notorious 2006 TV show, “To Catch a Predator,” and its host, Chris Hanson. Robert Pattinson stars as Hanson, with Anna Faris (the Scary Movie franchise), Skyler Gisondo (Superman), Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: Homecoming), and musician Phoebe Bridgers co-starring.
Heart of the Beast (September 25) – Brad Pitt stars in this tale of survival from director David Ayer (A Working Man, The Beekeeper, Fury). Pitt plays a Special Forces officer whose plane crashes deep in the Alaskan wilderness, leaving only him and his combat dog to battle the harsh elements and make it home. Oscar winner J.K. Simmons co-stars.
