If you enjoy hearing talented types talk up their work, attendees will be able to see the likes of Al Pacino, William Petersen and John Carpenter at special screenings of movies they appeared in or made.
And that’s not all! Stunt icon Kenji Tanigaki brings his instantly infamous epic-fight-fest, ‘The Furious’, to the Egyptian Theatre for its US Premiere, while Jalmari Helander’s ‘Sisu: Road to Revenge’ will raise the action to another level.
Plus, there is the usual host of retrospective presentations, including Al Pacino discussing the legacy of ‘Dick Tracy’, an event celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Karyn Kusama’s ‘The Invitation’ and Gore Verbinski returns to the Egyptian Theatre for a very special screening of ‘The Ring’.
This year’s event runs between September 23rd –– October 8th.
In partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by distributor NEON, Beyond Fest will screen at the Egyptian Theatre, Aero Theatre and Los Feliz 3. Theatre.
Moviefone has compiled a list of the most anticipated movies opening in theaters and/or streaming in September and October of 2025, which not only includes major studio releases but also smaller independent films that you won’t want to miss.
Paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) take on one last terrifying case involving mysterious entities they must confront.
(L to R) Michael Angelo Covino, Kyle Marvin, Adria Arjona and Dakota Johnson in ‘Splitsville’. Photo: Neon.
When his wife Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to his friends (Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino) for support, only to learn that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.
Michael Strassner in Jay Duplass’s ‘The Baltomrons’. Courtesy of Jon Bregel. An Independent Film Company Release.
After cracking a tooth on Christmas Eve, newly sober Cliff (Michael Strassner) embarks on an unexpected May/December adventure through Baltimore with Didi (Liz Larsen), his emergency dentist.
(L to R) Ruby Cruz, Zoey Deutch, and Jonah Hauer-King in ‘The Threesome’. Photo: Vertical.
Connor (Jonah Hauer-King) is a kind and unassuming young man, who, along with his long-time crush Olivia (Zoey Deutch), engages in a threesome with a sweet, alluring stranger named Jenny (Ruby Cruz). This encounter sparks a relationship between Connor and Olivia, leading them to plan a life together. However, their romance faces challenges when Jenny reappears, thrusting all three into a difficult journey toward true accountability and adulthood.
(L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” and John Turturro as “Boz” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
A retired boxer (Orlando Bloom) intends to return to the ring for one last shot at the title, but first he must make the weight. Holed up in a room in Las Vegas with an unscrupulous trainer (John Turturro), he embarks on an intensive and illegal weight-cutting program.
When Mary (Michelle Dockery) finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial strife, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.
(L to R) Joshua Odjick as Parker, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, David Jonsson as McVries, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, and Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
Every year, fifty teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as “The Long Walk.” Among this year’s chosen crop is “Maine’s Own,” Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman). He knows the rules: that warnings are issued if you fall under speed, stumble, sit down. That after three warnings- you get your ticket. And what happens then serves as a chilling reminder that there can be only one winner in the Walk. The one that survives.
Dev Patel appears in ‘Rabbit Trap’ by Bryn Chainey, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. Photo: Andreas Johannessen.
When a musician (Rosy McEwen) and her husband (Dev Patel) move to a remote house in Wales, the music they make disturbs local ancient folk magic, bringing a nameless child to their door who is intent on infiltrating their lives.
(L to R) Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest in ‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’. Photo: Bleecker Street.
Now estranged, Spinal Tap (Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest) are forced to reunite for one final concert, hoping it will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll.
Rebekah Kennedy as “Abigail” in the horror film, ‘Traumatika’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
A young boy’s night terrors become reality when his mother begins showing signs of demonic possession. What he’s about to experience will haunt him for the rest of his life and claim countless lives across generations.
Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present… and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.
(L to R) Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Julian” and Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
After fleeing the UK from a job gone wrong, a down on his luck hitman (Josh Duhamel) is forced to babysit the son (Jeremy Ray Taylor) of his new crime boss (Rick Hoffman) and show him how to become a man.
Omari Hardwick in ‘Xeno’. Photo: Blue Fox Entertainment.
When a fearless teenage girl (Lulu Wilson) stumbles upon a mysterious alien crash-landed in the desert near her home, she discovers that it’s not the kind of extraterrestrial she expected—it’s powerful, unpredictable, and on the run. As government agents (Omari Hardwick) close in, she must protect her new otherworldly friend while uncovering a secret that could change the fate of both their worlds.
Madelaine Petsch as Maya in ‘The Strangers — Chapter 2’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
On the final day of their cross country road trip, a couple’s vehicle breaks down, forcing them to take refuge in a remote Airbnb. As night falls, three masked strangers terrorize them until dawn. The film stars Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso and Ema Horvath.
Emma Thompson in ‘Dead of Winter’. Photo: Vertical.
A widowed fisherwoman (Emma Thompson), traveling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl’s only hope.
(L to R) Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield in ‘Play Dirty’. Photo: Prime Video.
Expert thief Parker (Mark Wahlberg) gets a shot at a major heist, but to pull it off he and his team must outsmart a South American dictator, the New York mob, and the world’s richest man.
Maddie Hasson in Bleecker Street and LD’s ‘Bone Lake’. Credit: Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment.
A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. In this darkly hilarious and seductive horror story, a dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, bringing terrifying secrets to light and triggering a bloody battle for survival.
(L to R) Guy Pearce and DeWanda Wise star in ‘KIlling Faith’. Photo: Film Bridge International.
In the summer of 1859, a widowed physician (Guy Pearce) reluctantly agrees to take a recently freed slave (DeWanda Wise) and her mysterious Caucasian daughter on a five-day journey through the bloody West to find a distant town’s Faith Healer. The woman believes her daughter is possessed. The doctor believes she simply carries The Sickness. Either way the fact remains that every living thing the girl touches mysteriously dies.
A highly sophisticated Program called Ares (Jared Leto) is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.
(L to R) Daniel Bernhardt and Patton Oswalt in ‘Deathstalker’. Photo: Shout! Studios.
The warrior Deathstalker (Daniel Bernhardt) is tasked by an old witch lady to obtain and unite the three powers of creation – a chalice, an amulet, and a sword – lest the evil magician Munkar get them and use them for nefarious purposes. After obtaining the sword, Deathstalker joins with other travelers going to the Big Tournament to determine the strongest warrior. The false king holds the true princess in captivity, and plots to have Deathstalker killed, and Deathstalker must fight to free the princess.
(L to R) Mark Coles Smith as “Leo,” Maximillian Johnson as “Stan,” Joel Nankervis as “Will,” and Lee Tiger Halley as “Teddy” in the thriller film ‘Beast of War’. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.
When their boat is sunk while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, a young troop of Australian soldiers must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark.
Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
‘Pets on a Train’ opens in theaters on October 17th. Photo: Viva Pictures.
When a train unexpectedly starts up, taking only pets with it, the animals discover that Hans, a badger with a grudge is behind it all. While the crash seems inevitable, the animals can count on Falcon, a roguish Raccoon who will do anything to save them.
(L to R) Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller in ‘Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost’. Photo: Apple TV+.
Ben Stiller tells the story of his parents—comedy icons Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara—exploring their impact on popular culture and at home, where the lines between creativity, family, life, and art often blurred.
(L to R) Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, Seth Rogen as Jeff, and Aziz Ansari as Ari in ‘Good Fortune’. Photo Credit: Eddy Chen.
A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy capitalist (Seth Rogen).
Four years after escaping The Grabber (Ethan Hawke), Finney Blake (Mason Thames) is struggling with his life after captivity. When his sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake, the siblings become determined to solve the mystery and confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.
Tessa Thompson stars as “Hedda Gabler” in ‘Hedda’. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios.
Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson) finds herself torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. Over the course of one charged night, long-repressed desires and hidden tensions erupt—pulling her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal.
Two conspiracy obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company (Emma Stone), convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.
(L to R) Margaret Qualley and Ethan Hawke in ‘Blue Moon’. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.
On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”.
‘Last Days’ opens exclusively in US theaters on October 24th. Photo: Tanasak “Top” Boonlam.
Determined to fulfill his life’s mission, 26-year-old John Allen Chau (Sky Yang) embarks on a dangerous adventure across the globe to convert the uncontacted tribe of North Sentinel Island to Christianity, while a detective from the Andaman Islands races to stop him before he does harm to himself or the tribe.
Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen in ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere.’ Photo: 20th Century Studios.
Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White), a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggles to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Preview:
‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ and more were showcased at Universal’s CinemaCon show.
There was news of sequels to the live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and ‘The Bad Guys.’
The likes of Jon M. Chu and Scarlett Johansson were on stage to support their movies.
Universal’s 2024 was successful partly thanks to Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation ‘Wicked,’ and with follow-up ‘Wicked: For Good’ on the way this year, some of the studio’s focus was always going to be on the movie –– which features two new songs not found in the stage source material.
Beyond that, we were expecting peeks at movies from the studio’s various arms and partners at this year’s CinemaCon presentation, including horror home Blumhouse and DreamWorks Animation, which continues to push the likes of the ongoing ‘Shrek’ franchise and others.
And not forgetting dinosaurs: another jewel in Universal’s crown in the ‘Jurassic Park’/‘Jurassic World’ movies, and with ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ headed to theaters this summer, we’d have been shocked to not see something fresh from that.
(L to R) Luna Blaise and the T-Rex in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Here’s what happened at the studio’s show and tell…
Universal’s big display kicked off sonically, with the company’s President of music and publishing Mike Knobloch introducing Rickey Minor and an all-star orchestra playing a collection of tunes from the studio’s back catalogue –– ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Fast & Furious,’ ‘Despicable Me,’ ‘Jaws’ and even the likes of DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Shrek’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ with clips from the movies on screens.
And, naturally, last year’s huge smash was among them, with ‘Wicked’ fully represented.
Universal chairman Donna Langley arrived on stage to celebrate the fact that the studio has released more theatrical movies since the pandemic than any other. She bypassed the idea that shrinking theatrical windows were to blame for audiences skipping cinemas.
Pete Levinson, the chairman of Universal distribution took over to essentially praise the company for its $3 billion in grosses last year. And to remind us all that ‘Wicked: For Good’ is on the way in November.
Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Noted dino fan Johansson related how she’s tried to get cast in all three previous ‘Jurassic World’ movies without success, eventually collaring Steven Spielberg to plead her case.
Edwards joked she was probably too expensive for the films –– which didn’t seem to sit well with Scarlet (probably all in good fun?)
The director also recalled watching the original ‘Jurassic Park’ as a kid (10 times in a day!) and how much of an honor it is direct this talented cast in a ‘Jurassic’ movie. He dropped mention that Mahershala is an Oscar winner, to which Ali comically corrected him that he has two!
Mahershala Ali is Duncan Kincaid in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ filmed in Thailand, with Johansson recalling many “pinch me’ moments on set and on location.
The trio introduced some fresh footage from the movie –– some of it unfinished. Mahershala said he’d seen it, to which Scarlet joked she was supposed to see everything first per her contract.
As for the footage, it largely tracked what we saw in the first trailer, with Johansson’s specialist leading a team to an abandoned ‘Jurassic Park’ staging island to retrieve genetic material to source lifegiving medical cures. A new hybrid dino we’ve yet to meet
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‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ stomps into theaters on July 2nd.
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Following their short before ‘Dog Man,’ the ‘Bad Guys’ crew will be properly back on our screen later this year.
(from left) Hiccup (Mason Thames) and Stoick (Gerard Butler) in Universal Pictures’ live- action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The live-action/CG take on the tale (which screened earlier in the day at the event to generally great acclaim) had stars Gerard Butler and Nico Parker on stage alongside director Dean DeBlois to talk it up.
They also announced that a sequel has already been greenlit, and that that one will fly into theaters on June 11th, 2027.
Butler was also given the chance to set the orchestra playing some of John Powell’s recognizable score.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’s live-action remake will be flying into cinemas on June 13th.
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The whistlestop presentation moved onto…
‘HIM’
Produced by Jordan Peele, the blend of sports story and horror sees a promising young football player joining an isolated compound to train under a dynasty team’s aging quarterback.
Bob Odenkirk in ‘Nobody.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
The sequel to the 2021 Bob Odenkirk-starring action movie showcased its first trailer, full of more bone-crunching action, with Sharon stone joining the cast. The story this time finds Hutch Parker (Odenkirk) taking the family on vacation, only to run afoul of Stone’s criminal organization. Cue vengeance!
The movie hits cinemas on August 15th.
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Next, it was the turn of Focus Features…
Focus chairman Peter Kujawski took the stage to hype his studio arm’s upcoming titles and say that every film by the company is made for theatrical.
Toy Freddy in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Toy Freddy in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures
The orchestra struck up music of the video game adaptation, which heralded one of the animatronic characters (well, a suit based on them) striding on stage.
After some confusion as to how to remove the head, it turned out to be company boss Jason Blum, who joked he so loves to save money that he was in the costumes the whole time for the original movie.
The original ‘Freddy’s is Blumhouse’s biggest hit of all time, so of course the sequel is already in the works. Blum also apologized for the decision to make that movie day and date on Peacock, so this follow-up will be cinemas only upon release.
And that release? December 5th.
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Blum also cued up a teaser, which sees the return of Josh Hutcherson’s Mike and more animatronic chaos.
Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in ‘The Black Phone,’ directed by Scott Derrickson.
Not done with the costume theatrics, Blum arrived back on stage in a Grabber mask to offer that the sequel to Scott Derrickson’s 2021 kidnap horror thriller will be in theaters on October 17th.
Actor Madeleine McGraw, who returns for the new movie (and is CinemaCon 2025 Rising Star of the Year), joined Blum on stage to talk about the movie, which is Derrickson’s first-ever sequel.
We were treated to a first look trailer for the new movie. The footage finds the two kids (played by McGraw and Mason Thames) dealing with the repercussions of the first movie. Ethan Hawke’s Grabber is back –– even though he died –– but we only hear his voice in the trailer.
‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ director James Wan at CinemaCon 2022. Photos by Eric Charbonneau.
Atomic Monster boss James Wan –– whose company has formed a creative partnership with Blumhouse –– came on stage to talk up ‘Soulm8te,’ which if it sounds like a more grown up take on ‘M3GAN’ (or really, ‘Companion,’ with its story of a female robo-partner who turns out to be an issue), that’s because it’s set in the same universe as the devious doll.
‘Soulm8te’s first look played, followed by word of a January 2md. 2026 release.
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And then…
2026 Universal Preview
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ will open in theaters on April 7, 2023.
Jim Orr, the studio’s president of theatrical distribution, came on stage to discuss even further in the future. To coin a phrase, more sequels!
He confirmed the likes of ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie 2′ (April 2026), ‘Minions 3’ (July 2026) and ‘Shrek 5‘ (yes, featuring Zendaya in a voice role, arriving Christmas 2026).
But there are originals too, including Christopher Nolan’s epic ‘The Odyssey’ (July 2026) and a certain Mr. Steven Spielberg’s still-to-be-titled new event movie, which will arrive in June 2026.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
To the strains of ‘Defying Gravity,’ the presentation wrapped with ‘Wicked’ stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande taking the stage –– and, yes, referring to holding space as per the viral interview meme –– to discuss the follow-up, and thank theater owners for their support.
They were joined by producer Marc Platt and director Jon M. Chu, who joked that this is the third year his movie(s) have closed out a Universal CinemaCon presentation.
Chu quipped:
“It all worked out!”
(Center L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Getting serious to discuss how the new movie follows the ramifications of the young women’s choices from the original.
We got a first look at the movie via an extended trailer, which finds Glinda and Elphaba meeting again after some time has passed since the end of ‘Wicked.’
Elphaba uses her powers to write, The Wizard of Oz Lies!” in the sky, while we get our first clear look at Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.
‘Wicked: For Good’ soars on to screens on November 21st.
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And with that… Universal was done for CinemaCon 2025!
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons will star in ‘Bugonia’.
It’s Yorgos Lanthimos’ next movie.
‘Bugonia’ adapts 2003 Korean film ‘Save the Green Planet’.
Given that she just won an Oscar working with director Yorgos Lanthimos on ‘Poor Things’ (their second collaboration after ‘The Favourite’), it’s hardly surprising that Emma Stone is looking to reunite with the director, who has become a trusted filmmaking partner.
And the pair is bringing along Jesse Plemons, who stars alongside Stone in the director’s next release, the upcoming ‘Kinds of Kindness’, which just debuted to praise in Cannes and will be in theaters on June 21st.
Lanthimos’ next project (which he’ll get working on soon, since both ‘Poor Things’ and ‘Kinds of Kindness’ were squeezed in in quick succession after success with ‘The Favourite’) is an adaptation of a 2003 South Korean fantasy sci-fi comedy called ‘Save the Green Planet’, focused on alien conspiracy theories and kidnapping.
While we’re surprised to see Lanthimos pivot from his own work (though both ‘The Favourite’ and ‘Poor Things’ were adaptations, one of a previously-written script; the other from a novel), the quirkiness of this one does sound like something he’d tackle.
Assuming it follows the rough story of the original, here’s what we know so far…
Director Joon-Hwan Jang‘s 2003 debut follows Lee Byeong-gu (Shin Ha-kyun), who comes to believe that a number of Korean leaders and top business types are secretly reptilian aliens driving an invasion of his beloved planet Earth.
When he abducts several and absconds with them to a basement command centre to start prying information from their scaly brains, the authorities hire a skilled private detective to track him and his victims down. All the while, Byeong-gu’s devoted girlfriend aids his mission, even as she worries his crusade is born out of his traumatic childhood.
‘Succession’ and ‘The Menu’ veteran Will Tracy (who also created ‘The Regime’ for HBO) wrote the adaptation, which Variety mentions as following two young men who kidnap a female CEO, convinced she is an alien leading an attack. So perhaps the perspective of the female lead has switched this time –– we can certainly see Stone wanting to play a meatier role than the girlfriend of one of the kidnappers.
Besides Lanthimos, the team backing the movie includes director Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen, who developed the project for their Square Peg production company. They’ll produce the movie with Lanthimos veterans Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, alongside Lanthimos, Stone and Miky Lee and Jerry Kyoungboum Ko.
Unlike Lanthimos last couple of movies, which were released (or in the case of ‘Kinds of Kindness’ will be released) by Searchlight Pictures, Focus Features has snapped up the rights to send this one to theaters, with Universal taking most international markets.
When will ‘Bugonia’ be in theaters?
Focus Features has yet to specify a release date for the remake.
