Autumn’s crisp air is blowing in a fresh slate of Hollywood film releases.
As cozy weather settles in, this rich seasonal lineup of films is filling theaters with warmth. From long anticipated sequels and renditions to strikingly innovative thrillers, audiences are guaranteed an abundant watchlist this fall.
Read on for the Daily Bruin’s vibrant picks for the golden season.
[Related: Theater preview: From musicals to mysteries, Los Angeles stages will be on spotlight this fall]
“Venom: The Last Dance” (Columbia Pictures)
Eddie Brock and Venom prepare to take their final bow.
Releasing Oct. 25, “Venom: The Last Dance” will be the third and final installment in the “Venom” franchise. After enduring nasty breakups and multiversal travel, Eddie Brock and Venom (Tom Hardy), find themselves on the run together. Hunted by a secret human agency and the symbiote hivemind, the two must make a dire decision that might close the curtain on their misadventures.
Much like the previous live-action Sony Spider-Man outings, this film promises continuity-breaking cameos. Rhys Ifans of “The Amazing Spider-Man” is returning to the franchise, and this film will introduce the treacherous villain Knull, a symbiote god whose fear-inducing throne was teased in the final trailer. If Knull’s appearance is not a fake out, this will have deadly implications for every Spider-Man across the multiverse.
Between the film’s blend of comedy and symbiote action mixed with the potential for multiversal shenanigans, “Venom: The Last Dance” is shaping up to be quite the curtain call.
-Gavin Meichelbock

“Heretic” (A24)
When given the choice between faith and sin, “Heretic” leaves no room for doubt.
A24’s latest horror-thriller will be released in theaters Nov. 8, engaging audiences in a riddled game of cat-and-mouse. The film will star Golden Globe-winner Hugh Grant as the cunning Mr. Reed, alongside Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East as devout Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton. In an attempt to convert a man’s religion, the naive sisters approach Mr. Reed’s unnerving home, where they unexpectedly venture on an inward journey of intellectual reconfiguration.
From the trailer’s crafted tension, the eerie narrative will delve into an unsettling exploration of religion, framed by inescapable debates and life-threatening stakes. Mr. Reed lures the girls with his deceptive brightness, offering false hope before locking the doors, triggering flickering lights and forcing them to reexamine their lifelong beliefs. Directed and written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, this haunting thrill ride is sure to be masterfully navigated by the darkly creative duo.
In a chilling game with no escape, “Heretic” is sure to keep viewers questioning.
– Natalie Ralston

“Gladiator II” (Paramount Pictures)
The arena awaits a new champion in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.”
The sequel film charges into wide theatrical release Nov. 22, following its royal film premiere in London on Nov. 13. Written by Scott, the sequel transports audiences to a Roman Empire on the brink of collapse, where a young gladiator seeks vengeance amid political turmoil. Starring Paul Mescal as the fierce warrior and Denzel Washington as a cunning senator with hidden motives, the film captures a world rife with ambition and betrayal. A striking power struggle between the corrupt Senate and the rising forces of rebellion hints at the epic battles to come.
The second trailer unveils a visceral clash, with Mescal’s character grappling with the haunting question of freedom. As the clash of swords echoes through the arena, viewers are drawn into a heart-pounding fight for survival and legacy.
In a society where loyalty is fleeting and glory is hard-won, the stage is set for a new legend to rise. The battle for power is about to ignite.
– Eric Sican

“Wicked” (Universal Pictures)
Something “Wicked” this way comes.
Adapted from the Tony Award-winning musical – one of the longest-running productions in Broadway’s history – the fantasy film will fly into theaters Nov. 22. Preceding the classic adventures of “The Wizard of Oz,” the bubbling story reveals how Shiz University students Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande) assumed their more famous titles, “The Wicked Witch of the West” and “Glinda the Good.” Movie musical veteran and “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu will helm the project alongside producers Marc Platt and David Stone, who worked on the original stage show.
The film’s leading women, Tony-winner Erivo and Grammy-awardee Grande, will be backed by a dazzling ensemble including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Bowen Yang. The November release – which was rescheduled several times since casting in 2021 – will be the first of two “Wicked” films, although its trailers have kept that information under wraps. Part one will mirror the musical’s first act, concluding with Elphaba’s signature number, “Defying Gravity,” before the rest of her journey is uncovered in 2025.
The wait for “Wicked” has been long, but it will soon be “One Short Day” away.
– Victoria Munck
[Related: TV preview: Fall promises cornucopia of new television series, installments]

“Moana 2” (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
The tide of fall’s fresh films will bring moviegoers on a voyage back to Oceania.
“Moana 2″ will sail into theaters Nov. 27, just in time for Thanksgiving. Disney’s latest sequel arrives eight years after 2016’s Oscar-nominated “Moana,” which was also released at Thanksgiving and grossed over $643 million at the international box office. Auli’i Cravalho will return to voice the titular character, while Dwayne Johnson will reprise his energetic role as Moana’s demigod sidekick Maui.
The events of “Moana 2” are set three years after its predecessor, as Moana joins her ancestors on a new excursion across the ocean. In contrast to the first film, Oscar-nominated songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda will not return to create the film’s musical numbers. Instead, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear – perhaps best-known for their Grammy-winning album “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” – have been tapped to craft the musical comedy’s soundtrack. Other changes in the upcoming film’s plot will include the addition of Moana’s younger sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), to the lively cast of animated characters.
Weaving together themes of family and feminism, “Moana 2” will soon show viewers how far Moana will go on her latest adventure.
– Reid Sperisen
Email Meichelbock at [email protected]
Email Ralston at [email protected] or Tweet @Nralstn.
Email Sican at [email protected] or tweet @EricSicanDB.
Email Munck at [email protected] or tweet @vmunckDB.
Email Sperisen at [email protected].
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