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30 Best Movies On Netflix Right Now (October 2024)

Beetlejuice 2 cast & returning character guide, heartwarming beetlejuice 2 theory explains what adam & barbara’s “loophole” really is.

October has arrived with a good variety of movies , and some of these, along with some of September's most successful releases, are now playing in theaters. After some rough years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 was a big year for cinema, and this streak continues in 2024. So far, this year has seen some big hits on the big screen from different genres, such as the action-comedy The Fall Guy , the drama Challengers , horror with Late Night With The Devil and Longlegs , and the action movie Furiosa .

September saw some of 2024's most anticipated releases and some surprising successes, such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice , the horror movie Speak No Evil , the body horror movie The Substance , the comedy-drama My Old Ass , and the animated adventure The Wild Robot . October is starting on the right foot with the highly-anticipated sequel to Joker , the prequel and sequel to a 2017 drama movie, and a drama movie starring Saoirse Ronan.

From Godzilla Minus One to Under Paris and The Gentlemen, here are our picks for the best movies on Netflix for everyone to enjoy this month.

10 Joker: Folie à Deux

Joker: folie à deux was released on october 4, 2024, joker: folie a deux.

The sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker is now playing in theaters. Also directed by Phillips, Joker: Folie à Deux is set two years after the events of the first movie, catching up with Arthur Fleck at Arkham State Hospital. There he meets Harleen Quinzel, a fellow inmate with whom he falls in love. Through their linked insanity, Arthur and Harleen experience life as a musical , while Arthur’s followers from the movement he started at the end of Joker continue to fight for his freedom.

You can read Screen Rant's Joker: Folie à Deux review here.

9 White Bird

White bird was released on october 4, 2024.

White Bird is a coming-of-age period drama directed by Marc Forster and based on the 2019 graphic novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio. White Bird follows Julian, who was expelled from his former school after bullying Auggie Pullman. To help him turn his life around, Julian’s grandmother, Sara, tells him about her youth in Nazi-occupied France , where a boy sheltered her from mortal danger. Sara and the boy fall in love and do what they can to survive World War II.

White Bird is both a prequel and sequel to 2017’s Wonder .

You can read Screen Rant's White Bird review here.

8 The Outrun

The outrun was released on october 4, 2024.

The Outrun is a drama movie directed by Nora Fingscheidt, based on the memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot. The Outrun is the story of Rona, a young woman who recently got out of rehab after living life on the edge in London. Rona returns home to the Orkney Islands, hoping to continue her healing journey at the place where she grew up. The Outrun premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 and later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival.

You can read Screen Rant's The Outrun review here.

7 Megalopolis

Megalopolis was released on september 27, 2024, your rating.

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Megalopolis

Megalopolis is an epic sci-fi drama movie written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Megalopolis takes place in the decaying city of New Rome , where Cesar Catilina, an idealist architect with the power to control time, plans to rebuild the city as a sustainable Utopia. However, his plans are blocked by corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who is committed to a regressive status quo. To further complicate everything, the Mayor’s daughter, Julia, falls in love with Cesar as she searches for her life’s meaning.

Megalopolis had been in development since 1983.

You can read Screen Rant’s Megalopolis review here.

6 The Wild Robot

The wild robot was released on september 27, 2024.

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot is an animated sci-fi movie based on the book series of the same name by Peter Bron. The Wild Robot tells the story of ROZZUM unit 7134, best known as Roz, a robot shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. There, Roz is forced to adapt to the harsh surroundings, but that also leads her to bond with the animals on the island. Roz ends up becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned runt goose named Brightbill , who also helps her better understand the world around her.

You can read Screen Rant’s The Wild Robot review here.

5 The Substance

The substance was released on september 20, 2024, the substance.

The Substance is a body horror movie written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle, the star of a popular TV aerobics show who, on her 50th birthday, is fired. Elisabeth later gets in a car accident and is offered “ The Substance”, a mysterious serum from the black market that creates a younger and perfect version of the subject it’s injected into. However, Elisabeth isn’t counting on the horrifying side effects of said substance.

You can read Screen Rant’s The Substance review here.

4 Never Let Go

Never let go was released on september 20, 2024, never let go.

Never Let Go is a survival horror thriller directed by Alexandre Aja. Never Let Go is the story of a mother and her twin sons who are tormented by a malicious spirit . The family’s only protection is their home and their bond, so to stay safe, they need to be connected at all times. For that, they tether themselves with ropes and promise to never let go, but when one of the boys begins to doubt if the evil is real, the family’s sacred bond is broken and they have to fight for survival.

You can read Screen Rant’s Never Let Go review here.

3 Transformers One

Transformers one was released on september 20, 2024, transformers one.

Transformers One is an animated sci-fi action movie directed by Josh Cooley. Set on the planet Cybertron, Transformers One tells the origin story of Orion Pax/Optimus Prime and D-16/Megatron , two Cybertronian workers. Pax and D-16 were very close but became archenemies as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Transformers One is the first animated movie in the franchise to get a theatrical release since The Transformers: The Movie , in 1986.

You can read Screen Rant’s Transformers One review here.

2 Speak No Evil

Speak no evil was released on september 13, 2024, speak no evil (2024).

Speak No Evil is a psychological thriller directed by James Watkins and a remake of the 2022 Danish movie of the same name by Christian Tafdrup . Speak No Evil follows the Daltons – Louise, Ben, and their daughter Agnes – who go on a dream holiday to Europe. There they meet Paddy, his wife Ciara, and their son Ant, and they quickly bond. Paddy and his family invite the Daltons to their idyllic country estate, but once there, the Daltons begin to notice their “friends”' strange behavior, while some disturbing truths come to light.

1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice beetlejuice was released on september 6, 2024, beetlejuice beetlejuice.

Over three decades after the release of Beetlejuice comes a sequel, appropriately titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . Once more directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice takes viewers back to Winter River to reunite with Delia and Lydia Deetz, along with the latter’s rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid. When Astrid finds the town’s model in the attic at their old house, she opens the portal to the Afterlife again, letting the legendary and chaotic Betelgeuse back into the human world . To make it even messier, there’s a ghost detective after them as well as Betelgeuse’s ex-wife, Delores.

Several iconic actors from the original are returning for Beetlejuice 2, and they'll be joined in the sequel by exciting new additions to the cast.

You can read Screen Rant’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice review here.

The Best Movies in Theaters Right Now

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There's never been a better time to be a movie fan, especially if you love checking out your local movie theaters . From re-releases of classic titles to exciting big-budget spectacles, it seems as if there's always something new and exciting to stare at over a bucket of popcorn. However, with the popularity of streaming among a huge influx of popular titles arriving in the coming days, how are you supposed to know what the best movies in theaters are?

Thankfully, we're here to address those concerns. We've taken the time to highlight a number of prominent releases, both old and new, that are currently playing in theaters. From terrific dramas to heart-pounding action films, there's certainly no shortage of things to see whenever you head down to your local cinema. Don't believe us? Here are just a handful of the best movies currently playing in theaters throughout 2024 . We'll be updating this list periodically to reflect the best of the best movies as they come and go; first up are the most recent films.

Updated October 3rd, 2024: This collection of the best movies currently in theaters has been updated with brand-new entries.

15 Joker: Folie à Deux

Joker: Folie a Deux

Read Our Review

A sequel to one of the most financially-successful R-rated films of all time has a lot riding on its shoulders. Thankfully, Joker: Folie à Deux brings more of what you love from the original film with a bit more experimentation. Set after the events of Joker , a struggling Arthur Fleck attempts to balance his newfound identity as the Clown Prince of Crime, with things only getting more complicated as a new love interest enters his life. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as longtime Batman fan-favorite Harley Quinn.

A Long-Awaited Sequel

Though Joker was originally conceived as a one-off story, Joker: Folie à Deux brings a brand-new level of creativity to the table. Aside from featuring the wonderful Lady Gaga, who shares some entertaining chemistry with Joaquin Phoenix, the film takes a strange turn into musical territory, melding songs and courtroom drama in an eclectic blend that's sure to turn heads. Is it polarizing? Yes. Some might say it's even more polarizing than the original film. But, it's safe to say that you'll find plenty to appreciate here if you enjoyed its impressive predecessor.

14 Look Back

Friends are often found in the most unexpected of places. Look Back , for instance, tells the story of how two completely different people find solace in their mutual creative interests. Fujino, a poppy girl with a talent for manga art, finds herself at her wit's end when a brand-new student, Kyomoto, threatens to upend her position on the social ladder. However, what starts as misplaced jealousy turns into something far greater as the two bond over their love of drawing. Yumi Kawai and Mizuki Yoshida play Fujino and Kyomoto, respectively.

From Kiyotaka Oshiyama and Tatsuki Fujimoto

That's right, those who have been following the acclaimed manga series Chainsaw Man will be happy to know that this film is adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto's other written works. Likewise, Kiyotaka Oshiyama is directing here, having a plethora of experience in the animation industry via his credits in projects like Devilman: Crybaby , The First Slam Dunk , The Boy and the Heron , and Flip Flappers . It's a surprisingly thoughtful movie that's sure to strike a chord with those who love Japanese animation, especially when you consider how many incredible titles the medium has spawned in recent years. A wider, nationwide release will be available as early as Sunday, October 6.

13 Frankie Freako

Another retro throwback? Sure, but this time around, you have the talented director Steven Kostanski ( Psycho Goreman , The Void ) at the wheel. In a fun blend of irreverence and crass comedy — as well as a fun nod to a bizarre real-life hotline ad — Frankie Freako is as grotesque as it is entertaining. Conor (Conor Sweeney), a frequent workaholic, looks to spice up his life by dialing a bizarre phone number he finds on late night television. Little does he know that its strange host, Frankie Freako, is more than just a marketing gimmick. Adam Brooks, Matthew Kennedy, and Meredith Sweeney co-star.

It's the Party Freak

Loaded with lovingly crafted references to the best (and worst) horror films of the late 1980s, Frankie Freako looks to be a fantastic improvement over Kostanski's previous horror comedy, Psycho Goreman . With Kostanski's blend of horror and comedy, this hilarious flick melds fantastic practical effects, grimy puppets, and an overall refinement of its core ideas into a fun package. It's absurd, it's silly, and it's the perfect way to ring in the Halloween season.

Blink (2024)

Sometimes, even the most heartbreaking of fictional stories pale in comparison to those found in real life. Such is the case with Blink , a documentary whose subject is equally saddening and inspirational. When two loving parents of four discover that most of their children have developed an incurable eye disease, one that will eventually claim their children's sight forever, the family embarks on a globe-spanning adventure to see all the great wonders of the world — before they won't be able to see anything ever again. Edith Lemay and Sébastien Pelletier pull back the curtain on how much of a beautiful and harrowing experience such an adventure would be.

A Family-Friendly Journey

While Blink may not dive into the emotional minutiae of such a situation, it does deliver a fantastic story that's as family-friendly as it is engaging. Co-director Daniel Roher previously won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film for his work on 2022's Navalny , and while this venture doesn't have as much geopolitical intrigue, it certainly carries some impressive production values. You'll also be happy to know that this film was officially produced by National Geographic, whose track record when it comes to informative documentaries is incredibly consistent.

11 The Outrun

Stories about overcoming addiction are always engaging, made all the more apparent by Nora Fingscheidt's The Outrun . This intimate drama follows the journey of Rona (Saoirse Ronan), a young woman who recently completed a rehabilitation program for her alcoholism. After returning home to the Scottish Orkney Islands, she may find her darkest emotions bubbling back to the surface as faces new and old alike form brand-new connections.

A Straightforward Drama

The Outrun wouldn't be what it is without Saoirse Ronan. She's nothing short of incredible, previously dazzling with her lead roles in films like Hanna and The Lovely Bones before nailing her emotionally complex performance here. In fact, it's her performance here that really elevates The Outrun beyond your typical addiction story, made more engaging through its script penned by Nora Fingscheidt and Amy Liptrot. In fact, it's based on the memoir of the same name by Liptrot, lending the film's events and self-reflective themes some additional emotional weight.

10 The Wild Robot

September 27.

The Wild Robot

Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, and Mark Hamill are just a handful of the talented names attached to one of DreamWorks' best movies. The Wild Robot tells the story of an isolated robot in the distant future who crashes onto a remote island, unaware of where they are and how to get home. To survive, they'll have to acclimate to the local flora and fauna, making new friends all the while. Chris Sanders both wrote and directed this movie, having previously directed Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon in 2002 and 2010, respectively.

DeamWorks' Best Movie Yet

After rave reviews from both critics and audiences alike, it's safe to say that The Wild Robot is one of DreamWorks' best movies . It's an incredibly refreshing film for the studio, one that melds the studio's incredible animation with a refreshing take on a classic "fish out of water" story. Likewise, the talented Chris Sanders does an excellent job of translating the film's original book series (penned by the wonderful Peter Brown) into a feature-length story, leading the charge for what will likely become the final in-house animated film produced at DreamWorks. Those familiar with the compositions of Kris Bowers will also recognize his work on the soundtrack, as he previously worked on films like 2023's The Color Purple and King Richard .

9 Never Let Go

September 20.

Never Let Go

Halle Berry returns to the world of horror once more in a thrilling survival tale by Alexandre Aja . Never Let Go places you in the shoes of "Momma" (Halle Berry), a woman living in a sprawling forest with her two children away from the rest of the world, which has presumably collapsed. However, plagued by mysterious visions, Momma finds herself coming face to face with "The Evil" as it attempts to turn their peaceful lives into a living hell. Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins, Matthew Kevin Anderson, and Stephanie Lavigne co-star.

Alexandre Aja Is Back

A director as controversial as they are acclaimed, Alexandre Aja helmed this fantastic fright-fest with the help of cinematographer Maxime Alexandre ( Crawl , Oxygen ) and composer Robin Coudert (2012's Maniac , Gretel & Hansel ). Halle Berry is a fantastic lead in this shocking film, as its psychological horror elements are balanced out by the very real threats in the harsh wilderness. With plenty of disturbing scenes and plans for a sequel in the works , you really ought to catch Never Let Go in theaters if you're at all interested.

8 Transformers One

Transformers One

OG Transformers fans can rest easy, as the latest movie in the long-running science fiction franchise has finally embraced animation . Transformers One , as the title suggests, is a prequel film that tells the origins of both Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry) prior to their eventual leadership of the Autobots and Decepticons, respectively. The duo were friends at one point in their lives, though their split paths ultimately put the fate of their home planet Cybertron at risk. Josh Cooley, who directed Toy Story 4 and co-wrote the screenplay for Inside Out , is directing here, with notable names like Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, and Laurence Fishburne joining the cast.

Fully-Animated Transformers

Being the first animated Transformers film since 1986's Transformers: The Movie , this fun prequel purposefully eschews several pitfalls that plagued previous Transformers movies. There aren't any grounded conflicts on Earth, nor are there any human characters to distract you from the awesome might of transforming machines. Instead, what you get is an impressive cast, a doubly impressive score by Brian Tyler ( The Super Mario Bros. Movie , The Fast and the Furious ), and a return to what drew so many to Transformers to begin with: giant alien robots and the frantic battles that surround them.

Transformers One's Main Autobots and Decepticons, Explained

Transformers One features an all-star collection of characters from across the franchise's 40-year history to tell the epic origin story.

7 The Substance

The Substance

Body horror has seen a pretty notable resurgence in recent years, made all the more prominent by the flashy horror film The Substance . Written, directed, and produced by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance is an international co-production that follows the journey of Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) , an aging television star who is introduced to a mysterious serum after a terrible accident. This serum allows Elisabeth to form a younger clone of herself, with the two feeling as though they are "one" despite existing within separate bodies. However, as one might expect with illicit cloning procedures, things go horribly awry. Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid co-star.

Full of Substance

Those familiar with Coralie Fargeat will likely recognize her fantastic 2017 debut, Revenge . Likewise, Demi Moore continues to lend her talent to the fantastic world of arthouse films, with her performance here reflecting beautifully against critiques of beauty standards and some of the most impressive editing you'll find in cinemas today. Seeing as how Fargeat cited David Cronenberg as one of her biggest creative inspirations , it's no surprise to see that The Substance carries with it a similar level of grotesque body horror and incredibly effective messaging.

6 A Different Man

A Different Man

A24 was always famous for their unconventional stories. This holds true with their latest film. A Different Man is a thrilling black comedy by Aaron Schimberg, who previously directed 2018's Chained for Life . The film follows Edward (Sebastian Stan) , a man who lives with neurofibromatosis. After undergoing a procedure to remove his affliction and start life anew, Edward suddenly finds himself drawn to Oswald (Adam Pearson) — an actor with the same condition who approaches it in a completely different way. Renate Reinsve, C. Mason Wells, and Owen Kline co-star.

A Different Kind of Comedy

In what will likely be one of Sebastian Stan's best roles , A Different Man combines a caustic examination of self-confidence with equal parts thrilling and hilarious scripting. It's a film that turns similar themes found in movies like The Elephant Man on their head, leading you to feel sympathetic to Edward's plights — but not in the way that you would typically expect. Special mention needs to go to composer Umberto Smerilli as well, whose accompanying tunes pair extremely well with the film's exemplary sound design.

5 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

After debuting internationally last year , The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is finally hitting theaters in the United States. Based on the titular book by Rachel Joyce, this drama tells the story of Harold Fry (Jim Broadbent), a retiree who lives a quiet life in the middle of southern England. However, when he receives tragic news surrounding his friend Queenie (Linda Bassett), he opts to send her a letter with his deepest condolences. He heads to the post office. But then he walks past the post office, walking all the way to Queenie's hospice facility hundreds of miles away. Earl Cave, Penelope Wilton, Bethan Cullinane, and Joseph Mydell co-star.

A Sappy But Sentimental Story

Hettie Macdonald directed this sentimental story following her legendary success with the modern Doctor Who revival, with her most famous episode "Blink" winning a BAFTA Award among other accolades. Despite being absent from the world of film for nearly three decades, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a fantastic return to the big screen, carrying with it a level of happiness and emotional investment that you can't help but appreciate. Its cinematography is a notable highlight for sure, with cinematographer Kate McCullough having previously worked on The Quiet Girl , Arracht , and The Last Days of Peter Bergmann .

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4 My Old Ass

September 13.

Have you ever thought about reconnecting with your younger self? Maybe you'd want to give them some token advice, or set them straight before there's no going back. In My Old Ass , such a thing happens to Elliott Labrant (Maisy Stella), a young woman who's visited by her older self (Aubrey Plaza) one fateful day. Though the latter warns the former about falling in love with a certain someone, can she truly resist destiny? Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Percy Hynes White, and Maria Dizzia co-star in this futuristic dramedy.

Maisy Stella's Fantastic Debut

After a breakthrough performance on the musical drama series Nashville , Maisy Stella crushed her feature film debut with the help of Aubrey Plaza. Despite being decades apart from each other, the duo in the film really do come off as the same person. But don't let its fantastical premise fool you. Underneath its setup, there lies a fantastic tearjerker coming-of-age story that's sure to leave you with something to think about. It's cute, it's sentimental, and it's an all-around great time.

Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with director Megan Park and Maisy Stella below.

3 Speak No Evil (2024)

Speak No Evil (2024)

Usually, American remakes of beloved international films tend to drop the ball in at least one, if not several, creative departments. Surprisingly, Speak No Evil managed to not only outperform expectations, but it did so with flying colors. Based on the original film by Christian Tafdrup, Speak No Evil follows what happens when an American family — played by Mackenzie Davis, Scoot McNairy, and Alix West Lefler — shacks up with a friendly British couple at a remote farmhouse. Unfortunately, their friends from overseas may have some nefarious intentions underneath their polite facades. James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi co-star as Paddy and Ciara, respectively.

A Surprisingly Good Remake

Despite carrying the weight of the Blumhouse banner and the challenges of an international remake, Speak No Evil is surprisingly entertaining. James McAvoy is nothing short of fantastic in his role as the enigmatic Paddy, and writer-director James Watkins brings a similar level of horrifying malice to the table after his previous work on Eden Lake and My Little Eye . Jon Harris also edited this feature, having previously collaborated with Watkins on Eden Lake in addition to working on Snatch , The Descent , and Kingsman: The Secret Service .

Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with James Watkins below.

2 The Killer's Game

The Killer's Game

Dave Bautista takes the lead in this thrilling action comedy that's meant to entertain above all else. The Killer's Game , directed by J. J. Perry of Day Shift fame, follows a prolific assassin by the name of Joe Flood (Dave Bautista). Though he's made a career out of killing, the sudden diagnosis of a fatal neurodegenerative disease leads Joe to make a drastic decision. In lieu of living his last few days in pain, Joe opts instead to be assassinated when he least expects it. There's just one problem: his test results were mixed up, and his soon-to-be assassin couldn't care less. Sofia Boutella, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, and Marko Zaror co-star in this dark action comedy.

Dave Bautista Leads a Thrilling Chase

Straightforward action is the name of the game in The Killer's Game. If you're looking for something more contemplative or introspective, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you just want to see Dave Bautista flexing his charismatic muscles in a comparatively silly comedy movie, The Killer's Game is a perfectly serviceable pick. It's been in development hell for nearly two decades, yet the final result is something that's as funny as it is violent.

1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

September 6.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Michael Keaton in messy makeup is back. After nearly four decades, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is finally here to continue the beloved story originally directed by Tim Burton . The acclaimed director helmed this exciting legacy sequel, as the remaining Deetz family makes a surprise return to Winter River following a sudden tragedy. However, when the newest addition to the Deetz family, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), accidentally discovers a portal to the afterlife, the comical bio-exorcist Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) is released once more. Catherine O'Hara reprises her role as Delia Deetz as well, with Willem Dafoe, Burn Gorman, Justin Theroux, and Danny DeVito joining the additional cast.

Beetlejuice Is Beetle-Back

Though Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could never truly outshine its predecessor, its positive qualities make for a fun and engaging sequel with plenty of unexpected surprises. Michael Keaton slipped back into his familiar role like a glove. Jenna Ortega feels like a natural addition to Tim Burton's colorfully moody universe. Better yet, the screenwriting duo of Miles Millar and Alfred Gough ( Wednesday , Into the Badlands , Shanghai Noon ) make for a genuinely engaging story that thankfully doesn't outstay its welcome.

Why the Beetlejuice Sequel Almost Didn’t Make It to Theaters

A difference of $47 million dollars almost caused Tim Burton's hit to head straight to Max.

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The psychology of isolation is a terrifying one utilized by the horror genre.

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10 Spider-Man Movie Quotes That Aged Poorly

Saoirse ronan is absolutely riveting in this speculative sci-fi thriller on prime video, jason statham fans will be anything but furious this month.

For several years, we had “The Best Movies in Theaters” as a running article. We felt it was a helpful utility for those looking for a night out at the movies. Obviously, the pandemic shut all that down pretty quickly, but now that the vaccines are here and widely available, that means there’s a path back to the movies. Let us stress that you should really only be going back to the movies if you’re fully vaccinated. To return to an enclosed space where people may or may not be wearing masks and may or may not be infected with COVID is not a wise decision. While you should still wear a mask whenever possible at the theater (per current CDC guidelines), it’s far safer to go to the movies once you’re fully vaccinated.

If you have been fully vaccinated, you’re probably itching to go back to the movies, and the good news is that there are some great films worth checking out. Below you’ll find our recommendations of films that are currently playing in theaters. While some of these movies are also on streaming, nothing can compare to the theatrical experience, and we think it’s worth going out to see these films on the big screen.

However, what's most important is your health. Please only go to the movies if you're fully vaccinated and feel comfortable being in an auditorium.

Editor's note: Last updated August 2nd to add The Green Knight and Jungle Cruise .

The Green Knight

Writer/Director: David Lowery

Cast: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, and Ralph Ineson.

Fair warning: The Green Knight is weird. If you haven't seen David Lowery 's 2017 movie A Ghost Story , you may be thrown by the kind of unique tone he brings to his adaptation of the medieval chivalric legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight . However, the story is still easy to follow--the young, untested Gawain ( Dev Patel ) meets the challenge of dealing a blow to the Green Knight ( Ralph Ineson ) with the understanding that the blow will be returned in a year's time. When Gawain tries to show off by beheading the Knight, he's startled when the Knight picks up his own head, and says he'll meet Gawain in the Green Chapel one year hence.

So begins an episodic journey where Gawain is repeatedly beset by temptations and challenges as he goes to meet his destiny against a foe who promises to behead him. It's a fascinating, sumptuous film that explores what it means to live with honor in the face of certain death. If you can get on board with what Lowery is doing here, you'll be rewarded with one of the year's best films. - Matt Goldberg

• Jungle Cruise

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Writers: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, and Michael Green

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Édgar Ramírez, and Paul Giamatti.

The latest adaptation of a Disney theme park attraction wisely borrows some plot points and energy from Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl . The film follows scientist Lily Houghton ( Emily Blunt ) and her uptight brother MacGregor ( Jack Whitehall ) as they join with acerbic boat captain Frank ( Dwayne Johnson ) on the search for a mystical flower that's said to have incredible healing powers. However, the trio is pursued by a German officer ( Jesse Plemons ) hoping that the flower will help him win World War I as well as the cursed spirits of Spanish conquistadors.

Jungle Cruise has a light, fun adventure energy that makes it perfect for an afternoon out at the movies. It's charming, Blunt and Johnson have terrific chemistry, and the film is colorful and fast-paced. It's the kind of movie you could easily slot alongside the original Pirates or 1999's The Mummy for a lazy weekend in that it provides a good time without making any heavy demands of its audience. - Matt Goldberg

Director: Janicza Bravo

Writer: Janicza Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris

Cast: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, Ari'el Stachel, and Colman Domingo

Before you turn away at "based on a Twitter thread", give Zola a chance. Yes, the film was based on a famous Twitter thread by Aziah "Zola" King from 2015, but director/co-writer Janicza Bravo turns it into an electrifying and satisfying story of backstabbing, increasing insanity, race, sex, Internet culture, and more. The film follows Zola ( Taylour Paige ) and her odd friendship with Stefani ( Riley Keough ), who says that the two of them can make some easy money stripping in Tampa, but once along for the ride Zola realizes this is not the fun trip she was promised. Thankfully, she always manages to keep her head as everything continues to spin out of control around her. Bravo's razor sharp direction shows she's a filmmaker to watch, and you'll easily get wound up in this stranger-than-fiction tale. - Matt Goldberg

In the Heights

Director: Jon M. Chu

Writer: Quiara Alegría Hudes

Cast: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits

If you’re looking for a big, bold, colorful, and exuberant theatrical experience for the summer, you probably won’t do much better than Jon M. Chu ’s adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’s Tony-winning musical In the Heights . The story follows a group of young Washington Heights residents during the summer and their various dreams. There’s Usnavi ( Anthony Ramos ) who dreams of moving back to his father’s homeland of the Dominican Republic; Nina ( Leslie Grace ) who wants to move back home after making it to Stanford due to feeling like an outsider; and Vanessa ( Melissa Barrera ), who wants to get out of the neighborhood to work as a fashion designer. The story explores the complexities of the immigrant and 1st-generation American experience without ever losing the vibrancy and immediacy of the musical numbers that are destined to get stuck in your head. If there’s an ideal film to welcome people back to theaters, In the Heights is it. - Matt Goldberg

The Sparks Brothers

Director: Edgar Wright

If you’ve never heard of Sparks, that’s okay. The thesis of Edgar Wright ’s first documentary, The Sparks Brothers , is that you’ve never heard about one of the greatest bands of all-time, but your favorite bands have. The massive documentary flies by as Wright covers all 25 albums from Sparks, a band comprised of brothers Russell and Ron Mael . Through interviews with both the band, their admirers, and a wealth of footage, The Sparks Brothers makes the convincing case that Sparks was a game-changing band that never got the recognition they were due despite their creative bravado and willingness to chart their own path. If you’re not a fan of Sparks going into The Sparks Brothers , you will be by the time you leave it. – Matt Goldberg

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• Documentary
• Directed by Alejandro Hartmann

To the extent this documentary about Lyle and Erik Menendez has appeal, it is of the tabloid variety.

By Ben Kenigsberg

Out this week, a period possession movie starring Sarah Paulson, a chef-driven supernatural thriller starring Ariana DeBose and more.

By Erik Piepenburg

Food and Country

• Directed by Laura Gabbert

“Food and Country” argues that our food production systems don’t work and offers potential solutions.

By Alissa Wilkinson

Joker: Folie à Deux

• Crime, Drama, Musical, Thriller
• Directed by Todd Phillips

Todd Phillips’s “Joker” sequel stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga who sing and dance like crazy kids, but the movie is seriously un-fun.

By Manohla Dargis

• NYT Critic’s Pick
• Directed by Daniel Roher, Edmund Stenson

In this travel documentary, two parents take their children on a spectacular world tour before a rare genetic condition may cause blindness.

By Nicolas Rapold

• Comedy, Drama
• Directed by Quentin Dupieux

The French absurdist director Quentin Dupieux did not make a biopic of Salvador Dalí — he adopted the Surrealist painter’s approach to deliver a particularly loopy tale.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

• Adventure, Biography, Drama, Family, War
• Directed by Marc Forster

A boy starts a new school and gets a history lesson from his grandmother, played by Helen Mirren.

By Glenn Kenny

It's What's Inside

• Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
• Directed by Greg Jardin

A limp body-swapping comedy doesn’t really know what makes its subgenre so funny.

• Directed by Nora Fingscheidt

Saoirse Ronan gives another stunning performance in a story about an alcoholic in search of healing.

Intercepted

• Directed by Oksana Karpovych

In leaked phone calls home, Russian soldiers grapple with the war they’re waging. This new documentary sets the calls’ swagger and anguish against images of the invasion’s devastation.

Patrice: The Movie

• Documentary, Biography, History
• Directed by Ted Passon

The emotional core of this crowd-pleasing documentary concerns a couple who cannot marry without jeopardizing their disability benefits.

Will & Harper

• Directed by Josh Greenbaum

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, a former “Saturday Night Live” writer, use a road trip to navigate their relationship now that she is out as a trans woman.

Megalopolis

• Drama, Sci-Fi
• Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The director’s latest is a great-man story about an architect, played by Adam Driver, driven by ideals and big plans. It’s a personal statement on an epic scale.

The Wild Robot

• Animation, Adventure, Sci-Fi
• Directed by Chris Sanders

Chris Sanders’s movie about a robotic assistant and the gosling she raises is defined by dazzling visuals and frank ideas about the circle of life.

By Natalia Winkelman

Killer Heat

• Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
• Directed by Philippe Lacôte

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a detective running from his past in a murder mystery that is mostly a stiff slog to get through.

By Brandon Yu

The Universal Theory

• Drama, Mystery, Thriller
• Directed by Timm Kröger

A physicist becomes embroiled in a conspiracy throughout this German meta-thriller. Shot in black-and-white, the film pays homage to Hollywood classics.

By Beatrice Loayza

• Drama, Sport
• Directed by Sydney Freeland

This inspirational sports movie follows a high school basketball team in New Mexico with deep Native American heritage.

• Biography, Drama, History, War
• Directed by Ellen Kuras

Kate Winslet embodies the tenacity of the photographer Lee Miller, who documented World War II for British Vogue.

By Lisa Kennedy

• Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
• Directed by Jason Yu

A taut and thrilling thriller about sleep issues is also a clever drama about early marriage.

Saturday Night

• Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
• Directed by Jason Reitman

When it debuted 50 years ago, “S.N.L.” was chaotic, rangy, even offensive. But nothing’s wild or crazy in Jason Reitman’s fictional reimagining of its first episode.

Apartment 7A

• Horror, Thriller
• Directed by Natalie Erika James

A lackluster prequel to the 1968 horror classic “Rosemary’s Baby” doesn’t have much to add.

We Will Dance Again

• Directed by Yariv Mozer

In this documentary by Yariv Mozer, Israelis who attended the Nova music festival near the Gaza border describe how they survived the attack last year.

Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field

• Directed by Michael Selditch

“Happy Clothes” covers her work on “Emily in Paris” and “Sex and the City,” as well as her time as a tastemaker in the 1970s and ’80s underground.

Never Let Go

• Drama, Horror, Thriller
• Directed by Alexandre Aja

Halle Berry plays the ultimate helicopter parent in this new horror movie, where evil lurks in the trees beyond the family cabin.

In the Summers

• Directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio

The film, by Alessandra Lacorazza, follows two siblings as they visit their father, played by Residente, in New Mexico.

The Featherweight

• Biography, Drama, Sport
• Directed by Robert Kolodny

In this biopic, a documentary crew follows the boxer Willie Pep during his 1960s comeback.

• Directed by Lisandro Alonso

This intriguingly languorous Western by the Argentine director Lisandro Alonso explores the existential plight of Indigenous Americans in three separate timelines.

All Shall Be Well

• Directed by Ray Yeung

The indignity of being someone’s spouse while they are alive and merely a friend after their death is the theme of this extraordinarily moving Hong Kong drama.

• Crime, Thriller
• Directed by Jon Watts

They play underworld fixers in this trifle of a movie, though really they’re here to look enviably fabulous.

Transformers One

• Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
• Directed by Josh Cooley

An animated prequel maps out a tidy mythology while indulging in the toy-smashing thrills of the ’80s cartoons.

• Daily Newsletter

The Best Movies Now Playing in Theaters

Looking for what to see in theaters? Our feature, updated weekly, highlights our top recommendations for films currently in theaters, from new releases to restorations receiving a proper theatrical run.

While we already provide extensive monthly new-release recommendations and weekly streaming recommendations , as distributors’ roll-outs can vary, this is a one-stop list to share the essential films that may be on a screen near you.

Between the Temples (Nathan Silver)

In a state of arrested development after his wife unexpectedly died from a freak accident, Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) is suicidal, pleading to a truck to just run him over and begging that he be fired from his job as cantor at the local Jewish temple in upstate New York. While this set-up may not scream comedy,  Between the Temples  is in fact hilarious, packed with endless jokes and adoration for physical gags while we witness Ben find new meaning in life through an unexpected acquaintance. Above all, Nathan Silver’s feature, from a script he co-wrote with C. Mason Wells,is a thrillingly alive, nimble piece of filmmaking: shot on 16mm by Sean Price Williams with faces of its ensemble guiding every movement, and edited by John Magary with a frenetic yet defined rhythm,  Between the Temples  is a witty, biting portrait of finding one’s footing in both faith and friendship. – Jordan R. ( full review )

Close Your Eyes (Víctor Erice)

Curious, self-referential, and rich,  Close Your Eyes  has had a difficult passageway into the world, with its Cannes world premiere dogged by reports of conflicts over its runtime, its non-competition placement, and Erice’s own in-person boycott of the screening. Its final form also is a scarcely believable one, singular and self-possessed even amidst all the latter-day auteur work that’s screened in recent days: although it’s studded with other media, such as an unfinished film of Garay’s and trashy Spanish primetime TV, the main bulk is a pokily shot mystery “procedural,” told mainly in one-to-one dialogue scenes, shot in judicious singles with minimal coverage and muted lighting. But Erice is gradually able to accrete a rich character study of Garay and, yes, another meditation on the Grand Power of Cinema––not that we’re lacking in those at the moment––enriched by the fact that this theme, together with memory and longing, has long been the director’s modus operandi. – David K. ( full review )

A Different Man (Aaron Schimberg)

Sebastian Stan’s best performance thus far is finally arriving some eight months after its Sundance debut. Jake Kring-Schreifels said in  his review , “There are a lot of ways  A Different Man  could go and a lot of things it could be. Aaron Schimberg’s uniquely uncomfortable, uncomfortably unique feature sometimes plays as a reverse-Frankenstein medical horror, a tragic life-imitates-art satire, and a spiraling relationship drama. To its ambitious and distinct credit, it attempts packaging them all into ominous-sounding harmony, as if Charlie Kauffman’s surrealist Escher concoctions became a  Twilight Zone  episode modeled after David Lynch’s  Elephant Man  or  Beauty and the Beast.  It’s a dark, hilarious, and deeply unsettling portrait of a disfigured man that’s also an unflinching mirror of a looks-focused industry.”

Eureka (Lisandro Alonso)

One of the most-anticipated films to premiere at Cannes last year was Lisandro Alonso’s Jauja  follow-up  Eureka . An epic spanning three different stories across space and time, with a cast including Viggo Mortensen and Chiara Mastroianni, the Argentine director’s most ambitious work yet is now finally in theaters. Leonardo Goi said in  his Cannes review , “Nine years since that underground epiphany, along comes  Eureka , a film that, for large chunks, seems to emerge from the same hallucinatory terrain  Jauja  opened up. Like all its predecessors, this unfurls as a literal journey dotted with solitary wanderers either searching for or mourning lost relatives. (“All families disappear eventually,” Gunnar was told down the cave, a line that might as well double as the director’s motto.) Old tropes and motifs notwithstanding, Alonso’s latest is his most ambitious: a tripartite film,  Eureka  sides not with the white strangers in strange lands that had long peopled Alonso’s oeuvre, but with the native communities facing these invaders. Its scope is ecumenical, its geography massive. In barest terms,  Eureka ’s designed to sponge something of, and locate parallels between, the experience of Indigenous communities stranded in three markedly different milieus: the Old West; South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation in the present day; and finally the jungles of early-70s Brazil.”

Good One (India Donaldson)

It’s been nearly two decades since Kelly Reichardt’s  Old Joy  showed how the wilderness can be an open canvas to explore the breaking points of male friendship and reckoning with a midlife crisis. While those emotional quandaries are evergreen, it’s appropriate timing to bring an entirely new element to this conceit. India Donaldson’s carefully observed, refreshingly patient, beautifully rendered debut feature  Good One  shifts the perspective, concerning a 17-year-old girl who embarks on a camping trip in the Catskills with her father and his best friend. Through an accumulation of minute details and uneasy glances, the drama becomes a portrait of increasingly crossed boundaries leading to an ultimate breaking point. – Jordan R. ( full review )

Matt and Mara (Kazik Radwanski)

A standout at the 2024 Berlinale, Canadian director Kazik Radwanski’s Matt and Mara reunited him with his Anne at 13,000 ft star Deragh Campbell, joined by Matt Johnson, director of BlackBerry . Savina Petkova said her Berlinale review , “Radwanski hones his intuitive directorial skills into crafting a narrative out of these paradoxes of intimacy that bind the two. What grounds the abstraction is the chemistry Campbell and Johnson share, and the safety they are both equally unwilling to abandon. Matt acts, Mara reacts; to a certain extent, he “activates” her in a way her roles of a tutor, wife, and mother cannot. In a string of minor events highlighting their compatibility and clashes, it becomes less about the “will-they-won’t-they” than about exploring the boundaries of oneself in a controlled environment. Not exactly an experiment, but certainly a testing ground.”

Megalopolis (Francis Ford Coppola)

If you dove head first into Francis Ford Coppola’s  Megalopolis , you would get a concussion. The filmmaker’s supposed opus––a glitzy, gargantuan, long-gestating project that he conceived of in the late ‘70s, attempted to make more than once in the ‘80s, rewrote countless times over the last four decades, and eventually self-financed for $120 million due to lack of external support––has had cinephiles like myself drooling over its scope and potential for years. Alas, there is no deep end in this pool. Don’t let that deter you though. Receive it with a healthy dose of doubt and let it reshape (and perhaps healthily lower) your expectations. Because, at the end of the day, for better and for worse, in awe and in tired confusion,  Megalopolis  is a garish wonder to behold. – Luke H. ( full review )

The Outrun (Nora Fingscheidt)

After a relatively quiet few years, Saoirse Ronan is returning in a major way this fall, leading two new features: Nora Fingscheidt’s Sundance highlight  The Outrun  and Steve McQueen’s  Blitz . The former is set for a release from Sony Pictures Classics this week. Dan Mecca said in  his review , “Maybe the smartest decision made in  The Outrun , directed by Nora Fingscheidt, is its fractured narrative device. Based on the 2016 memoir of the same name by Amy Liptrot (co-writing with Fingscheidt), the film offers a frank, unwavering look at addiction with the great Saoirse Ronan (who also produces) in the lead role. We move forward and backward in time, often relieved to be clear from horrible sins of the past only to be thrust back into them minutes later. In this way, the picture reflects its subject with painful precision.”

The Substance (Coralie Fargeat)

Coralie Fargeat made a splash with her debut  Revenge . But she was only standing in a puddle, endearing niche corners of the global cinephile community to her cinematic bloodlust for sexually violent men and gore-horror filmmaking. With her second,  The Substance , she’s fully submerged in the ocean and making waves. Meet Elisabeth Sparkle, a Demi Moore-esque A-lister (played by Demi Moore) whose stardom has long since faded, leaving her, to great displeasure, in the instructor’s seat of a glam morning-fitness class called “Sparkle Your Life.” We learn about her iconic career through a cleverly designed timelapse that opens the film––a bird’s-eye view of her Hollywood Walk of Fame star being minted, premiered, adorned, celebrated, surrounded, stood on, passed, ignored, and eventually forgotten. – Luke H. ( full review )

More Films Now Playing in Theaters

• Intercepted
• Merchant Ivory
• My Old Ass Wants You to Appreciate Every Moment”> My Old Ass
• Notice to Quit Review: A Father is Engulfed by the City He Lives In”> Notice to Quit
• The Wild Robot

The Best New Restorations Now Playing in Theaters

The below list features newly restored films receiving a theatrical release run. For NYC-specific repertory round-ups, bookmark NYC Weekend Watch .

• The Devil, Probably
• The Spook Who Sat by the Door

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Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

Welcome to our guide of the Best Movies of 2024, featuring every Certified Fresh movie as they come in week by week!

October additions so far: V/H/S/Beyond.   I’ll Be Right There . Things Will Be Different . It’s What’s Inside . Saturday Night . The End We Start From . The Beautiful Game . Exhibiting Forgiveness . 

Spooky season started early in September with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . Sleep and Speak No Evil were there with the assist . We kicked off our guide to the 50 best new action movies with the Netflix’s Rebel Ridge . And the synths had their day with The Wild Robot (way up there on the DreamWorks Animation guide ) and Transformers One (ditto for this on on the Transformers list ) .

August  staved off the typical late-summer doldrums with Alien: Romulus, the first Alien movie to be marked Certified Fresh and not directed by Ridley Scott in some nearly 40-odd years. Sing Sing is keeping Colman Domingo in the awards contender discussion post-Rustin. And more from horror and likewise genre efforts with Blink Twice , Cuckoo , The Substance , and Strange Darling .

July was blockbuster month worthy of the summer season mantle, as Twisters carved its warpath, and fast in its wake Deadpool & Wolverine , Marvel’s sole MCU offering for the year. MaXXXine , Longlegs , and Oddity made a case for one-word horror titles. And in the limited release spectrum, Dìdi is an instant new Asian-American classic , while Hindi-langague Kill thrilled audiences. Those who missed the Hindi-language thriller of course will have their eternal chances to catch it on streaming, or even until the American remake comes out next year-ish.

Let’s talk about the June wide releases that went Certified Fresh. First, there’s Pixar’s Inside Out 2 , which revitalized the box office and brought back the studio in a big, big way . The Bikeriders is a crime drama starring Austin Butler , Tom Hardy , and Jodie Comer . It was directed by Jeff Nichols , who has unassumingly amassed one of the most impressive filmographies of any working director; all six of his directed movies are Certified Fresh. And let’s make some noise for A Quiet Place: Day One , which is now 3-for-3, a true horror rarity outside of George Romero ‘s original Dead trilogy . 

May brought the start of the summer movie season, launching with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt ‘s The Fall Guy . The following weeks saw Mad Max sequel Furiosa , and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , which built upon the reboot trilogy of the 2010s (how to monkey-see the series in order , if you’re so inclined). Glen Powell ‘s Hit Man saw some limited theatrical play before dropping on Netflix, where it’ll be permanently one of the streamer’s 100 best-reviewed movies . Viggo Mortensen directed his second feature, western The Dead Don’t Hurt , while Pamela Adlon made her directorial debut with Babes . In a Violent Nature took viewers on a (very) slow ride from a slasher villain’s point of view. And check out Daisy Ridley’s crowd-pleasing Young Woman and the Sea .

Horror had an unexpectedly strong month in April , with Universal monster movie Abigail , Nic Cage action-hybrid Arcadian , The First Omen reviving the dormant franchise, and indies I Saw the TV Glow ,  Blackout , and  Infested . A24 had their first #1 box office-debuting film with the heated Civil War . Zendaya continued her Certified Fresh streak with Challengers , and Dev Patel made a major directorial debut with Monkey Man ,  which had its own long journey to go from being dumped on Netflix to theatrical major studio distribution.  Nowhere Special   becomes the highest-rated movie of the year.

In March : Love Lies Bleeding and Problemista , both from A24 . One Life , starring Anthony Hopkins. Ordinary Angels , starring Hilary Swank. In horror, we got You’ll Never Find Me and  Late Night with the Devil , the latter which also tops our best horror of 2024 list . Dialogue-free animation Robot Dreams and Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World jockeying for the top spot here.

And what about February ? Dune pretty good, thanks for asking. Part Two went Certified Fresh within an hour after the reviews embargo lifted on February 21st. With it outclassing the first Dune , we took a look at 20 sequels that got better Tomatometer scores than their originals . Otherwise, things got freaky with horror film Stopmotion and the comic zaniness of Hundreds of Beavers taking the crown for the best-reviewed of the year.

We didn’t have a blockbuster January like we did in 2023 ‘s, when genre surprises M3GAN and Plane went Certified Fresh. But Daisy Ridley got her post-Skywalker win with Sometimes I Think About Dying . Mads Mikkelsen re-teamed with his A Royal Affair director Nikolaj Arcel to find The Promised Land. With The Crime Is Mine , Francois Ozon is getting career-best reviews, and his 10th Certified Fresh film over the past decade-and-change. And Netflix scored with The Kitchen , Orion and the Dark , and Good Grief .

Page 1: Movies #1-100 | Page 2: Movies #101+

Nowhere Special (2020) 100%

LaRoy, Texas (2023) 100%

Girls Will Be Girls (2024) 100%

Ghostlight (2024) 99%

Thelma (2024) 98%

The Wild Robot (2024) 98%

Sing Sing (2023) 98%

Robot Dreams (2023) 98%

Good One (2024) 98%

Anora (2024) 98%

The Crime Is Mine (2023) 98%

Molli and Max in the Future (2023) 98%

Aisha (2022) 98%

LOLA (2022) 98%

Late Night with the Devil (2023) 97%

His Three Daughters (2023) 97%

The Promised Land (2023) 97%

Kneecap (2024) 97%

Hundreds of Beavers (2022) 97%

Tótem (2023) 97%

Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (2023) 97%

Tiger Stripes (2023) 97%

Crossing (2024) 97%

Fancy Dance (2023) 96%

Dìdi (2024) 96%

Oddity (2024) 96%

Io Capitano (2023) 96%

The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023) 96%

Sleep (2023) 96%

Red Rooms (2023) 96%

Infested (2023) 96%

The Vourdalak (2023) 96%

Música (2024) 96%

Fitting In (2023) 96%

Hit Man (2023) 95%

Strange Darling (2023) 95%

Rebel Ridge (2024) 95%

In Flames (2023) 95%

Banel & Adama (2023) 95%

Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024) 95%

Love Lies Bleeding (2024) 94%

La Chimera (2023) 94%

New Life (2023) 94%

The Settlers (2023) 94%

Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (2023) 94%

Driving Madeleine (2022) 94%

The Monk and the Gun (2023) 94%

Hoard  (2023) 94%

Femme (2023) 93%

Green Border (2023) 93%

We Grown Now (2023) 93%

About Dry Grasses (2023) 93%

Close Your Eyes (2023) 93%

Gasoline Rainbow (2023) 93%

Limbo (2023) 93%

Housekeeping for Beginners (2023) 93%

20,000 Species of Bees (2023) 93%

Minor Premise (2020) 93%

Dune: Part Two (2024) 92%

My Old Ass (2024) 92%

Touch (2024) 92%

National Anthem (2023) 92%

The Substance (2024) 90%

The Imaginary (2023) 91%

Orion and the Dark (2024) 91%

Stopmotion (2023) 91%

Look Into My Eyes (2024) 91%

In the Summers (2024) 91%

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) 90%

Inside Out 2 (2024) 90%

One Life (2023) 90%

A Different Man (2024) 91%

Cabrini (2024) 90%

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023) 90%

The Devil's Bath (2024) 90%

V/H/S/Beyond (2024) 89%

Monkey Man (2024) 89%

Transformers One (2024) 89%

Young Woman and the Sea (2024) 89%

Kill (2023) 89%

The End We Start From (2023) 89%

The Kitchen (2023) 89%

Disco Boy (2023) 89%

Challengers (2024) 88%

Babes (2024) 88%

Last Summer (2023) 87%

Backspot (2023) 87%

The Three Musketeers: Part II - Milady (2023) 87%

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024) 87%

The Beast (2023) 86%

Problemista (2023) 86%

Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara (2023) 86%

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (2023) 86%

Longlegs (2024) 85%

Janet Planet (2023) 85%

The Dead Don't Hurt (2023) 85%

Between the Temples (2024) 85%

Monolith (2023) 85%

I Used to be Funny (2023) 85%

I'll Be Right There (2024) 85%

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In Theaters

Monster summer.

• Action/Adventure , Horror , Mystery/Suspense

Content Caution

• October 4, 2024
• Mel Gibson as Gene Carruthers; Mason Thames as Noah; Lorraine Bracco as Miss Halverson; Patrick Renna as Umpire; Abby James Witherspoon as Sammy; Julian Lerner as Eugene; Noah Cottrell as Ben; Nora Zehetner as Mom

Home Release Date

• David Henrie

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• Pastime Pictures

Positive Elements   |   Spiritual Elements   |   Sexual & Romantic Content   |   Violent Content   |   Crude or Profane Language   |   Drug & Alcohol Content   |   Other Noteworthy Elements   | Conclusion

Movie Review

It’s the summer of 1997, and Martha’s Vineyard is once again filling with vacationers. As always, people are streaming onto the Massachusetts island for fun and frolicking relaxation on the sandy beachfronts.

Of course, some people live there year-round. They watch the wealthy and über-wealthy blow in for the season, but they just keep their distance and live their typical small-town lives.

Noah is one such kid. He and his friends ride around on their bikes, play ball and get into typical small-town trouble. They generally couldn’t care less about the moneyed tourists and wealthy famous people.

However, Noah has his eye on a couple of people. And that’s mostly due to his desire to be a reporter someday like his deceased dad used to be. So he’s always looking for a good story.

This year, a strange, isolated loner named Carruthers has popped up on Noah’s radar. Rumors say that this guy is, maybe, a murderer . Yeah, they say his family disappeared back in ’65. And he’s probably buried their bodies somewhere on his property. So Noah will keep his eyes peeled.

Another person Noah’s watching this summer is a strange old lady who moved into his single mom’s boarding house. She dresses all in black and rides around the town on a bike—always watching kids. And as Noah watches her, he can’t help but think there could be something a bit creepy going on.

Then something a bit creepy happens.

Noah’s best friend Ben was swimming at night out by the pier and something went wrong. When they pulled him out of the water, Ben was left with a blank stare. It was almost like he didn’t even recognize Noah anymore, like he was some kind of … zombie version of Noah’s bestie.

The local police said it was because Ben was caught in an undertow. It was sorta like PTSD, they said. The girl Ben was with had a different story, though. She said there was a witch cackling on the pier. That’s right, a witch! And then this thing jumped in the water and pulled Ben under. It tugged at her, too.

That may sound crazy. But some of the best stories start out sounding crazy. And Noah has a reporter’s blood flowing through his veins. He’ll investigate and find out what really happened.

And right now, Noah’s got this gut instinct that everything he’s been watching lately … might be linked!

Positive Elements

[ Note: Spoilers are contained in this section. ]

Mr. Carruthers turns out not to be a murderer, but a former cop whose family fell apart after someone kidnapped his son. This retired detective definitely doesn’t believe in Noah’s local witch theories. But after he and Noah meet, he starts to believe that maybe something bad is going on. Carruthers agrees to at least look into things after Noah comes to him for help.

Carruthers and Noah eventually begin to share their sad stories about the people they’ve lost in their lives (Noah’s dad, Carruthers’ son), and they come to understand each other’s grief. Carruthers ends up putting his life on the line for Noah and some other kids. In fact, thanks to the efforts of Carruthers, Noah and Noah’s friends, Sammy and Eugene, a large number of young kids’ lives are restored to normal.

Noah’s mom is concerned about Noah getting in trouble over his “investigations.” But eventually she decides to stop fighting her son’s passion to be like his dad and she gives the boy a box full of his father’s research and articles. She shares her love for them both. Noah replies in kind.

Spiritual Elements

When Noah tells Carruthers about his witch theory, Carruthers balks at the idea, saying, “I believe in real monsters.” But in time and with a gradual accumulation of further evidence, the ex-cop starts to become a believer. In fact, he starts to link kids like Ben (and some other victims that appear in town) to cases involving kids all around the state.

Eventually we do see some magical/spiritual happenings in the form of someone magically transforming into different male and female forms.

A magical force types a message out on Noah’s typewriter and causes lightbulbs to blow up. Scores of kids regain a spiritual energy that was stolen away from them.

Sexual & Romantic Content

At a campfire gathering of teenagers, a pretty girl looks at a nearby guy with a seductive smile. Then she leads him into the woods. As the girl caresses the eager dude’s back, we see her hand momentarily turn gnarled and green.

When Noah gives a story to the editor of the local paper, the editor rejects it as being more of a “peeping Tom” story than the local interest article that he was looking for.

When Ben and a local teen girl go out to swim by the pier, at first it appears as if they’re stripping off their clothes to swim in their underwear. (But then it becomes clear that they had swimsuits on under their clothes.)

Violent Content

Monster Summer begins with a young teen smashing his way out through a house window. He scrambles up from his fall, dropping a gun. And as he runs off, a gnarled, witch-like character picks up a shattered piece of glass with a smear of the boy’s blood on it and licks the shard clean.

That, frankly, is the bloodiest scene in this film. From there on, any truly violent moments are either talked about, verbally threatened, or kept offscreen.

One scene, for instance, features a teen boy and girl who accidentally walk off into a quarantined field holding unexploded WWII ordinances. Offscreen, we hear an explosion. Later we see a crater in the ground and hear that the boy died. (The unknown teen girl did not. But it’s implied that the girl was a transformed witch that was subsequently scarred.)

In another scene, the adult witch figure is shot repeatedly with silver bullets. (It’s stated that all monsters can be wounded by a silver bullet.) As the bullets hit her, small floating balls of light stream out of her torso, representing the spiritual energy stolen from children. Eventually, the struggling witch falls and expires.

That said, we never actually see the above-mentioned energy being siphoned away from those children. Instead, those soul-sapping encounters are implied or suggested. We see someone driving around in an old car and approaching children on the road during the day and at night, for instance. We’re told that witches feed on a child’s spiritual energy and the kids and teens are either grabbed and pulled off or led away. And then, after a flash of light just offscreen, they return with a dazed, zombie-like gaze.

Noah tackles an innocent elderly person, and they both thump to the ground. A predator’s house is littered with scores of children’s shoe (implying that the owners were all murdered by the fiend). A witch measures captive children and suggests she’ll place them in an oven and roast them. A house is set on fire, and it becomes a huge blaze.

Crude or Profane Language

The dialogue contains five uses of “h—” and three of “d–n.”

Drug & Alcohol Content

When Carruthers and Noah go to talk to a glaze-eyed Ben, the ex-cop wonders if Ben smokes weed. And when Noah goes to Carruthers’ house, the older man asks him if he wants a beer. (Then he quickly admits he was just kidding.)

Other Noteworthy Elements

Before actually meeting Carruthers, Noah and his friends sneak into the man’s garage looking for “clues.” And then they run in fear when he catches them there. (But Noah leaves his backpack behind, which Carruthers returns, along with a copy of the book, “All The President’s Men.”)

Ben steals some fireworks from his dad. Noah steals some keys and breaks into a person’s room.

Monster Summer is the kind of witchy, tween-focused horror pic you might see on the Disney Channel—the equivalent of lightweight Goosebumps fare from the 1990s.

The biggest plus here is Mel Gibson’s addition to the cast. Up against his young costars, Gibson sports a scruffy-bearded star power as he wrings everything he can out of his scenes with a languid charm.

There is a small dash of foul language and a bit of thumping, creepy violence, here. But the biggest drawback for families will likely be the transforming and menacing witch that feeds off spiritual energy from children, which is quite dark indeed.

This well-constructed Halloween matinee will likely find an audience among horror-lite fans. That said, many families with young kids may want to sweep their way past that baddie and her mysteriously dark spirituality.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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