It’s October, and award season films are beginning to appear in theaters. Tom Cruise’s potential award vehicle Digger is certainly not getting the critical or commercial reception it had hoped for, but the acclaimed documentary NAZA is also starting its rollout today. And if awards season is not your thing, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Verity is also debuting in theaters.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” – Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: September 25th, September 18th, and September 11th.
Writer/Director: Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Filmed at night from Tel Aviv rooftops, this investigative documentary examines the civilian casualties of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the systems behind targeted killings of Palestinians.
What you should know: Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor are two of the Israeli filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
Where to watch: In NYC theaters; expands in coming weeks, and streams on the Guardian’s website for free starting in late November
Stars: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, Brady Wagner
Writer: Nick Antosca, Colleen Hoover
Director: Michael Showalter
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: Lowen Ashleigh, hired to ghostwrite for Verity Crawford, uncovers what appears to be Verity’s autobiographical notes. She wrestles with the confessions about Verity’s husband and finds separating fiction from reality challenging
What you should know: Based on a book by Colleen Hoover.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Logan Marshall-Green, Jessica Rothe, Kiana Madeira, Jackson Bews
Writer: Tony Giglio, Alan B. McElroy, Mike P. Nelson
Director: Mike P. Nelson
Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller
Plot: A team of doctors embark on a local mission in the Amazon rain forest, but it soon becomes clear that not everybody – or everything – is happy to see them. Their sudden appearance draws the attention of an animal predator, the “Boiúna.”
What you should know: A caiman crocodile featured in the film was a puppet named Camila, which was also featured in Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019).
Where to watch: In theaters
Moonlight (2016) Re-release
Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomi Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert
Writer: Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney
Director: Barry Jenkins
Genre: Drama
Plot: A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood.
What you should know: Naomie Harris had to shoot her entire role in three days, in between her promotional tour of Spectre (2015), due to a visa problem. The scenes spanned 15 years in the character’s life, and were filmed out of sequence.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Owen Wilson, Christian Convery, Matt Rife, Christine Ko
Writer: Jeremy Garelick, Luke Burke
Director: Jeremy Garelick
Genre: Comedy
Plot: A father makes a bad parenting choice by taking his young son to a wild hip-hop festival, leading to chaos as they navigate crowds, security, and family dynamics with eccentric companions.
What you should know: Filmed in Miami, Florida from late 2024 through early 2025.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Rob Riggle, Aaron Holliday, Elizabeth Tulloch, Vinessa Shaw
Writer: Tim Tuchrello
Director: Spencer King
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: Tom Monroe, a successful entrepreneur, is haunted by his brother’s death in a motorcycle accident. Years later, a neighbor’s son is in a bike crash, leading Tom to suspect his brother’s spirit has returned.
What you should know: Spencer King last directed 2025’s The Wilderness.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD
Stars: Boyd Holbrook, Kenneth Branagh, Hiam Abass, Gheed
Writer: Dexter Filkins, Reed van Dyk
Director: Reed van Dyk
Genre: Drama
Plot: A troubled marine seeks to reconcile with the survivors of an Iraqi family he and his unit fired on back in 2003.
What you should know: This is co-writer and director Reed van Dyk’s feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters
Stars: Chiara King, Gemma Karlsen, Eos Karlsson, Mike Nybroe
Writer: Anders Jon, Mike Nybroe, Lars Andreas Pedersen
Director: Mike Nybroe
Genre: Horror
Plot: An influencer travels to Copenhagen for a documentary about her online fame, but when an obsessive stalker begins tracking her movements, she must confront the terror and reclaim her power.
What you should know: Filmed in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Where to watch: In theaters
Donnie Darko (2001) Re-release
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne
Writer/Director: Richard Kelly
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Plot: After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a man in a large rabbit suit who manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
What you should know: The Aero Theater in Santa Monica, where the film’s theater scene was shot, traditionally plays Donnie Darko on Easter.
Where to watch: In theaters
Director: Amir Bar-Lev
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: K2’s first winter ascent claimed 5 lives, revealing modern alpinism’s struggles with commercialization, social media impact, and conflicts between marginalized climbers and traditional elites.
What you should know: It’s in English, Urdu and Icelandic
Where to watch: In theaters, and on Apple TV+
More New Releases
Digger (Trailer) from Warner Bros
New to Streaming
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (Trailer) on Netflix and Hulu
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Trailer) on MUBI
The Swan: Behind the Mirror (Trailer) on Hulu and Disney+
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?
