Thirsty for vengeance? Love a good rom-com? So many new movies for fall 2022 are coming to theaters and streaming services near you, and there's something for every type of viewer: mystery, drama, historical epic, and hilarious family films.
Related: All the Fall TV Shows You Simply Can't Miss
To help you wade through the alarming amount of new movies this fall, here's your guide to the must-watch films of the season, from Netflix's Do Revenge to a highly-anticipated Black Panther sequel.
August
Release date: August 26
Where to watch: Prime Video
Euphoria star Javon “Wanna” Walton is having his moment in Hollywood right now — the actor best known for his role as Fezco’s little brother Ashtray nabbed a recurring role in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy earlier this year and is now leading Prime Video’s latest superhero film Samaritan.
Javon plays Sam, a 13-year-old boy living in Granite City who suspects his mysterious and reclusive neighbor might be the famed superhero vigilante Samaritan (played by Sylvester Stallone). Samaritan was thought to be missing or dead after a legendary battle with the city’s villain 25 years ago. Now, it’s up to Sam to bring Samaritan out of hiding — Granite City needs him more than ever. Samaritan also stars In the Heights’ Dascha Polanco, Disney alum Moisés Arias, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’s Shameik Moore.
September
Release date: September 2
Where to watch: Peacock
In this satirical comedy, Regina Hall stars as Trinitie Childs, the first lady of a disgraced Southern Baptist megachurch. She and her husband, the eccentric Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (played by This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown), are determined to reopen their church, overcome scandal, and make a comeback — one that’s more hilarious than victorious. The delightfully unhinged film, which also stars Nicole Beharie and They/Them’s Austin Crute, was written and directed by Adamma Ebo. Ebo her identical twin Adanne also produced the film alongside Jordan Peele and Daniel Kaluuya.
Release date: September 16
Where to watch: Netflix
Thelma & Louise meets Heathers in this sure-to-be-iconic buddy comedy starring Camila Mendes as fallen-from-grace popular girl Drea and Maya Hawke as Eleanor, the geeky new girl in town. They form an unlikely friendship based on their mutual axes to grind by exchanging bullies and taking their vengeance as they see fit. Between the off-the-charts chemistry Cami and Maya have onscreen and the music and '90s movie fashion references, Do Revenge is one to watch over and over again.
Release date: September 16
Where to watch: Prime Video
Set in 1988, childhood besties Abby and Gretchen are just trying to enjoy their sophomore year of high school. But after a night of risky skinny-dipping ends in disaster, Abby notices that Gretchen is acting a bit… different. Her violent mood swings and proximity to weird, bizarre incidents lead Abby’s investigation of what’s going on with her best friend to a haunting and horrifying discovery… one that might set the power of their friendship up against the devil. The horror film stars Eighth Grade’s Elsie Fisher and Amiah Miller, and is based on Grady Hendrix’s 2016 novel of the same name.
Release date: September 16
Where to watch: Theaters
Viola Davis steps into a real-life epic in The Woman King, which tells the story of a powerful group of women warriors called the Agojie who defended the Kingdom of Dahomey in Africa from European conquerors in the 1800s. She's joined by a stacked cast, including John Boyega, Thuso Mbedu, and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin in this film about war, colonization, and realizing what's worth fighting for.
Release date: September 23
Where to watch: Theaters
Arguably one of the most anticipated films of the fall season is Don’t Worry Darling, Olivia Wilde’s second directorial effort that’s set to hit theaters in mid-September. The film follows Alice and Jack Chambers (played by Florence Pugh and Harry Styles respectively) as they move to the idyllic community of Victory, an experimental company town that houses the men who work for the “top-secret” Victory Project and their families. If the suburban utopia seems too good to be true, it absolutely is. When Alice starts to uncover the sinister truth behind the Victory Project, all hell breaks loose. Director Wilde has spoken at length to hype up the performances of Styles and Pugh, calling Styles “a revelation” and claiming she was “blown the f*ck away” by the “extraordinary” Pugh. Jack Chambers will be Styles’ largest acting role yet — and the world is on the edge of its seat to see if the pop megastar has the acting chops to match.
Release date: September 23
Where to watch: Paramount+
Another one of New York Times bestselling author Angie Thomas’ YA novels is getting the film adaptation treatment. The Hate U Give author’s second novel On The Come Up is coming to the screen, and will tell the story of 16-year-old Bri, a gifted rapper taking the battle rap scene by storm to provide for her family and honor the legacy of her father, a local Hip-Hop legend slain by gang violence. On The Come Up will be directed by Emmy-nominated actress Sanaa Lathan and star Jamila C. Gray, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Method Man, and Lathan herself.
Release date: September 23/October 7
Where to watch: Prime Video
A Lena Dunham passion project years in the making, Catherine Called Birdy brings to life the classic children's novel about rambunctious, bold Birdy, played by Game of Thrones star Bella Ramsey. Birdy is a teenager living in Medieval England who will soon be married off to make money for her family, including her foolish, spendy father, played by Andrew Scott. But she not-so-secretly yearns for adventure and fun, as she comes of age and starts to discover the life she wants to build for herself.
October
Release date: October 14
Where to watch: Netflix
Stranger Things star Priah Ferguson makes a fun career move in the Netflix movie The Curse of Bridge Hollow, playing a teen who unleashes a poltergeist — accidentally — on her Halloween-obsessed town. She teams up with her father (Marlon Wayans) to save the day, and we can't wait to see more of Priah's effortless charm in a big leading role.
Release date: October 14
Where to watch: Theaters
Biographical drama Till will set out to tell the real-life story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s unstoppable pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his family in Mississippi. The film uses nearly three decades of research from filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, whose investigation of and films about the lynching of Emmett Till led to the reopening of Till’s case by the United States Department of Justice in 2004. The film stars The Harder They Fall’s Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie, All American’s Jalyn Hall as Emmett, and other stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Tosin Cole.
Release date: October 21/November 4
Where to watch: Prime Video
Based on the novel by Bethan Roberts, My Policeman is a film of secrets and romance. Set in two different time periods, the film begins with the story of Tom (Harry Styles), a local Brighton police officer falling for elementary school teacher Marion (Emma Corrin). At the same time, Tom falls for Patrick (David Dawson), but as homosexuality is still illegal in the 1950s, the two are unable to pursue the romance they truly want. All appears to be settled, but 40 years later, the trio are reunited, and Tom’s reappearance leads to unexpected consequences.
Release date: October 21
Where to watch: Theaters
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shows off his superhero bonafides in the forthcoming DC blockbuster Black Adam, a spinoff of Shazam!. In the film, Black Adam has been freed from a 5,000-year-long imprisonment and set free into the present day, with a sense of justice that doesn't totally fly in the the contemporary world. Will he end up a hero or a villain? The Rock is joined by Noah Centineo, Viola Davis, Pierce Brosnan, and more in this action-packed adventure.
Release date: October 21
Where to watch: Netflix
Opposites attract, right? Agatha (played by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Sofia Wylie) and Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) are best friends, even though Sophie looks like should be a princess and Agatha is the textbook definition of a witch-in-training. But when both girls are swept away to an enchanted school, Sophie finds herself in the School for Evil and Agatha is in the School for Good. As the girls question their moral destinies and try to swap places, they find it won’t be an easy switch — and besides, they might have to save the world together first. The fantasy film’s star-studded cast includes Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Cate Blanchett, Ben Kingsley, Patti LuPone, and Sex Education’s Chinenye Ezedu.
Release date: October 21
Where to watch: Theaters
If rom-coms are your vibe, then do we have a movie for you. Julia Roberts and George Clooney team up for the rom-com of the decade as a long-divorced couple flying to Bali to stop their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) from getting married to a man she just met and “throwing her career away.” They attempt to pull off a reverse parent trap, interfering in her love life and perhaps finding their own love story in the process.
November
Release date: November 4
Where to watch: Theaters
David O. Russell's highly-anticipated next film Amsterdam certainly has an A-list cast to pique your interest: Margot Robbie, Christian Bale, and John David Washington play three longtime friends accused of murder. The comedic mystery, set in the 1930s, also features Chris Rock, Rami Malek, Zoe Saldaña, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert De Niro, and so many more — and there's even a Taylor Swift cameo.
Release date: November 4
Where to watch: Netflix
Enola Holmes gets a second chance to resume her detective duties. Millie Bobby Brown stars as the titutal character, who is the sister of one very famous Sherlock Holmes. In this sequel, Enola sets out on her own, with dreams of opening her very own detective agency. She’ll have to balance all that with her newest case, which centers around a missing girl.
Release date: November 11
Where to watch: Theaters
Two years after Chadwick Boseman’s passing in 2020, the long-awaited Black Panther sequel is making its way to theaters. Marvel Studios announced soon after the actor’s death that they would not recast his iconic role as T’Challa, instead ushering in a new chapter of life in Wakanda — one potentially without the African nation’s king. This fall, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will follow the leaders of the futuristic kingdom as they reel from T’Challa’s death, and fight to protect Wakanda from invading forces. The film is one of the most highly anticipated projects on the MCU’s 2022-2023 slate, as new characters like Michaela Cole’s Aneka, Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, and Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams/Ironheart will be introduced. According to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Wakanda Forever will end the MCU’s Phase Four.
Release date: November 24
Where to watch: Disney+
Enchanted fans, where are you? If you obsessed over the 2007 flick that charmed the world, you'll love the film's sequel, which has Amy Adams, James Marsden, and Patrick Dempsey reprising their iconic roles. The movie is focused on what happens after the happily ever after, and what it means to truly be happy.
Release date: December 16
Where to watch: Netflix
The musical stage adaptation of Matilda gets the Netflix treatment with this musical film. Expect plenty of magic, and of course catchy musical numbers, from the film that features Alisha Weir as Matilda. Of course, some of the most notorious characters in the Matilda universe are set to return, including Miss Trunchbull, portrayed by Emma Thompson.
Release date: December 16
Where to watch: Theaters
Thirteen years after Avatar made serious critical and financial waves at the theater, the film finally gets its sequel. Directed by James Cameron, Avatar: The Way of Water, takes place nearly ten years after the events of the first film transpired. The story is set to focus on the Sully family, which includes Jake Sully, a former human turned Na’Vi that left his life behind for Neytiri, a future ruler.
Release date: December TBA
Where to watch: Netflix
Pinocchio is sure to look especially mesmerizing with Guillermo Del Toro at the helm. The Pan’s Labyrinth director puts his creative spin on Pinocchio, with a stop-animation film starring Gregory Mann, Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, and Finn Wolfhard. For this retelling, our favorite wooden boy puppet isn’t quite as friendly and rule-abiding as his predecessors.
Release date: November TBD & December 23
Where to watch: Theaters, Netflix
Our favorite Southern-tongued detective Benoit Blanc will make his return to the big screen this year, with Glass Onion, the second installment in the Knives Out universe. Here’s the premise: Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island — but when someone turns up dead in paradise, detective Benoit Blanc is put to the case. The film will be released in November in theaters and then released to streaming on December 23 on Netflix. Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson has rounded up a brand new group of stars for the spiritual sequel: Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Ethan Hawke, and leading man Daniel Craig. In a first look photo of the film, the characters are all gathered around a long dinner table, with Benoit standing at the head — and judging by his facial expression, he’s in the midst of discovering whodunnit.