Fall movies: From 'Blonde' to 'Black Panther 2,' the films you won't want to miss

Dana Barbuto, The Patriot Ledger
·7 min read
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After a summer of blockbusters  – “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Thor: Love & Thunder,” “Jurassic World: Dominion” – September traditionally marks the start of the awards season, with Hollywood rolling out its heavy hitters. Lucky for movie lovers, the fall season looks exciting, with a range of titles, including: films shot in Massachusetts; Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s “Blonde”; a pair of pictures from pop star Harry Styles; Marvel’s return to Wakanda; Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans”; and a Julia Roberts-George Clooney rom-com. Swoon!

Here is a sampling of what’s coming to a local cinema or streaming service near you between now and Thanksgiving.

Jon Hamm as Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in "Confess, Fletch" in a scene that was shot at the Oaks Estate in Cohasset.
Jon Hamm as Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in "Confess, Fletch" in a scene that was shot at the Oaks Estate in Cohasset.

Made in Massachusetts

In "Confess, Fletch," Jon Hamm subs for Chevy Chase as the wisecracking reporter in a reboot of the 1985 comedy. Greg Mottola  (“Superbad”) directs. Cohasset’s sprawling, 45-room, waterfront Oaks Estate was the backdrop for key scenes, including the climactic sequence.  The movie will have a limited theatrical release and Video-on-Demand debut Sept. 16, before landing on Showtime on Oct. 28. Other shooting locales included Boston’s South End, and the Worcester police station and the Telegram & Gazette offices in the city’s Mercantile Center.

As the Sanderson sisters, Kathy Najimy (left), Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker return for more witchy fun in "Hocus Pocus 2."
As the Sanderson sisters, Kathy Najimy (left), Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker return for more witchy fun in "Hocus Pocus 2."

Almost 30 years later, the Sanderson sisters return to their witchy ways in "Hocus Pocus 2" after three young women accidentally summon them on Halloween. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles in the live-action comedy directed by Anne Fletcher (“27 Dresses,” “The Proposal”).  Excitement has been brewing locally since the production began filming in October in Providence, Newport and Lincoln, R.I., all doubling for Salem, Mass. It premiers Sept. 30 on  Disney+.

Family friendly

A singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) takes Manhattan in “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” a live-action adaptation of the 1965 children’s book by Bernard Waber (Oct. 7). “White Bird: A Wonder Story” is a spinoff of 2017's surprise hit, “Wonder,” by R.J. Palacio. Henry Selick (“Coraline”) teams with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key for the spooky, stop-motion “Wendell & Wild” (Oct. 21, Netflix).  Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock Holmes’s sister sleuth in “Enola Holmes 2” (Nov. 4, Netflix).

Letitia Wright's Shuri returns in the sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
Letitia Wright's Shuri returns in the sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

Super heroes

Dwayne Johnson makes his DC superhero debut in “Black Adam,” a formerly enslaved man with god-like powers (Oct. 21). Two years after the death of star Chadwick Boseman, Marvel continues the “Black Panther” franchise with “Wakanda Forever” (Nov. 11), partially shot in Worcester and Cambridge.

"Ticket to Paradise" (Oct. 21, theaters): George Clooney and Julia Roberts star in the romantic comedy as a divorced couple who travel to Bali for their daughter's surprise wedding and agree to work together to stop her from making the same mistake they did.
"Ticket to Paradise" (Oct. 21, theaters): George Clooney and Julia Roberts star in the romantic comedy as a divorced couple who travel to Bali for their daughter's surprise wedding and agree to work together to stop her from making the same mistake they did.

Romantic comedies

Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco embark on a time-travel romance in "Meet Cute" (Sept. 21, Peacock). Judd Apatow produces the same-sex rom-com “Bros,” starring Billy Eichner (Sept. 30). Julia Roberts and George Clooney play a divorced couple trekking to Bali to sabotage their daughter’s wedding in “Ticket to Paradise” (Oct. 21).

"Amsterdam" (Oct. 7, theaters): In David O. Russell's period mystery comedy, Valerie (Margot Robbie, center) reunites with her friends, World War I veterans Burt (Christian Bale) and Harold (John David Washington) when they're accused of murder.
"Amsterdam" (Oct. 7, theaters): In David O. Russell's period mystery comedy, Valerie (Margot Robbie, center) reunites with her friends, World War I veterans Burt (Christian Bale) and Harold (John David Washington) when they're accused of murder.

Laugh out loud

“See How They Run” is an Agatha Christie spoof set in 1950s London, with Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody and David Oyelowo (Sept. 16). Lena Dunham’s medieval comedy “Catherine Called Birdy” stars “Game of Thrones” scene-stealer Bella Ramsey (Sept. 23). Peter Farrelly follows up his Best Picture-winning “Green Book'' with a fact-based, action-comedy about a bud (Zac Efron) traveling to the frontlines of the Vietnam War to deliver his friends some Bud in “Greatest Beer Run Ever” (Sept. 30, Apple TV+). David O. Russell gathers Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington in “Amsterdam” for an outrageous murder mystery (Oct. 7). Writer/director Martin McDonagh’s black comedy, "The Banshees of Inisherin," reunites his “In Bruges” stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as feuding friends (Oct. 21). In “Raymond and Ray,” Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are half-brothers reuniting to honor their estranged father’s final wish for them to dig his grave (Oct. 21, Apple TV+).  “Weird” Al Yankovic co-writes his own biopic starring Daniel Radcliffe (Nov. 4). “The Menu” is a culinary horror-comedy starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult as travelers summoned to a remote island for an immersive dining experience in which the chef (Ralph Fiennes) serves shocking surprises (Nov. 18).

Michelle Yeoh (from left), Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington star as professors at an enchanted school in the Netflix fairy-tale adventure "The School for Good and Evil."
Michelle Yeoh (from left), Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington star as professors at an enchanted school in the Netflix fairy-tale adventure "The School for Good and Evil."

Fantasy flicks

Paul Feig directs Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Michelle Yeoh, and Cate Blanchett in “The School for Good and Evil,” about students training to become fairy-tale heroes and villains (Oct. 19, Netflix). Francis Lawrence (“Hunger Games”) directs Jason Momoa (“Aquaman”) in “Slumberland,” a comic-book adaptation about a little girl embarking on a fantastical journey to reunite with her father (Nov. 18, Netlfix).

Prestige dramas

“Tár” could nab Cate Blanchett her third Oscar for playing the fiery conductor of a German orchestra (Oct. 7). Pop star Harry Styles is caught in a forbidden love triangle in “My Policeman” (Oct. 21). Director James Gray (“Ad Astra”) casts Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Strong in “Armageddon Time," an autobiographical coming-of-age tale set in 1980s’ Queens, N.Y. (Oct. 28). Florian Zeller follows up “The Father” with “The Son,” about a teenager moving in with his dad (Hugh Jackman) after his parents’ divorce (Nov. 11). Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams and Paul Dano star in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” a semi-autobiographical story of growing up in post-war Arizona (Nov. 11).

"Blonde" (Sept. 28, Netflix): Based on the Joyce Carol Oates book, director Andrew Domink's NC-17 drama explores the public and personal lives of Marilyn Monroe with Ana de Armas starring as the Hollywood icon.
"Blonde" (Sept. 28, Netflix): Based on the Joyce Carol Oates book, director Andrew Domink's NC-17 drama explores the public and personal lives of Marilyn Monroe with Ana de Armas starring as the Hollywood icon.

Historical dramas

In “The Woman King,” Viola Davis leads a female army protecting the 19th-century West African kingdom of Dahomey (Sept. 16). Ana de Armas dons a platinum wig and bright-red lipstick to become Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde” (Netflix, Sept. 28). “Till” recounts Mamie Till Mobley’s pursuit for justice after the 1955 lynching of her 14-year-old son, Emmett Louis Till (Oct. 14). In “Call Jane,” Elizabeth Banks plays a 1960s housewife joining the Jane Collective, a group helping women obtain safe abortions before Roe v. Wade (Oct. 28). Starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, “She Said” tackles the New York Times’ investigation into Harvey Weinstein (Nov. 18).

Naomi Watts stars as a mom fresh out of surgery who earns side-eye from her twin sons (Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti) in the horror remake "Goodnight Mommy."
Naomi Watts stars as a mom fresh out of surgery who earns side-eye from her twin sons (Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti) in the horror remake "Goodnight Mommy."

Horror

Something isn’t right with Mom (Naomi Watts) after cosmetic surgery in “Goodnight Mommy,” a remake of the Austrian horror hit (Sept. 16). “Pearl” is Ti West’s sequel to the slasher flick, “X” (Sept. 16).  "My Best Friend’s Exorcism" returns to the 1980s for demonic madness (Sept. 30, Amazon). Jaeden Martell (“It”) talks to dead people (Donald Sutherland) in “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” an adaptation of the Stephen King short story (Oct. 5, Netflix). Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) meets archnemesis Michael Myers one last time (we hope) in “Halloween Ends” (Oct. 14, theaters and Peacock.)

Harry Styles and Florence Pugh play a young married couple living in an idyllic, 1950s-style community in the psychological thriller "Don't Worry Darling."
Harry Styles and Florence Pugh play a young married couple living in an idyllic, 1950s-style community in the psychological thriller "Don't Worry Darling."

Thrillers

A grieving college professor (Thandiwe Newton) feuds with a pair of hunters in “God’s Country” (Sept. 16). Olivia Wilde’s Stepford-wife knockoff, “Don’t Worry Darling,'' arrives with possibly more off-screen drama than on (Sept. 23). Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe and Rachel Brosnahan lead Walter Hill’s Western, "Dead for a Dollar" (Sept. 30). A woman’s (Mila Kunis) mysterious past is exposed in “Luckiest Girl Alive” (Oct. 7, Netflix). In “Decision to Leave,” Korean director Park Chan-wook ("Oldboy") weaves a tale about a detective becoming romantically involved with a murder suspect (Oct. 14).  A nurse (Jessica Chastain) discovers her colleague (Eddie Redmayne) might be a serial killer in “The Good Nurse” (Oct. 26, Netflix).

"Moonage Daydream" (Sept. 16, theaters): Director Brett Morgan's documentary chronicles the art and influence of rock icon David Bowie using trippy imagery, personal archive footage, unseen performances and anchored by Bowie’s own music and words.
"Moonage Daydream" (Sept. 16, theaters): Director Brett Morgan's documentary chronicles the art and influence of rock icon David Bowie using trippy imagery, personal archive footage, unseen performances and anchored by Bowie’s own music and words.

Documentaries

Brett Morgen profiles David Bowie in “Moonage Daydream” (Sept. 16). Sidney Poitier is the subject of “Sidney,” an Oprah Winfrey-produced offering (Sept. 23, Apple TV+). Country music star Tanya Tucker and Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile team in “Return of Tanya Tucker” (Oct. 21). In “Shoemaker of Deams,” Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”) traces the life of Salvatore Ferragamo from impoverished cobbler to luxury footwear designer (Nov. 4). Hillary and Chelsea Clinton produce “In Her Hands,” about Zarifa Ghafari, the first – and youngest – female mayor in Afghanistan (Netflix, Nov. 16).

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Reach Dana Barbuto at dbarbuto@patriotledger.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Fall movie preview: From 'Confess, Fletch' to 'The Fabelmans' to 'Tár'