With September upon us, Hollywood bids farewell to the summer blockbuster season. After a disappointing May, the summer season took off at the theater with massive hits, includingInside Out 2,Despicable Me 2,Twisters, andAlien: Romulus.
Starting this month, the attention shifts to award season, as many films will have splashy debuts at film festivals. Every film on this list will hope to achieve financial and critical success. Could one of these films be the next Best Picture winner? Below are our rankings for the seven most anticipated movies of fall 2024.
7. Saturday Night (2024)
For five years, Jason Reitman has played in the supernatural world for 2021’sGhostbusters: Afterlifeand 2024’sGhostbusters: Frozen Empire. Later this fall, Reitman trades in his proton pack for some cue cards inSaturday Night, the highly anticipated dramedy aboutSaturday Night Live. The film chronicles the chaotic first night of NBC’sSaturday Night Livebeginning at 10 p.m. ET on July 28, 2025, 90 minutes before the show hits the air.
The Fabelmans‘ Gabriel LaBelle stars asSNLvisionary Lorne Michaels, Cooper Hoffman as NBC executive Dick Ebersol, and Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster, anSNLwriter and Michaels’ wife. The movie premiered to a positive reception at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival.Saturday Nightcoincides withSNL’s50th season, which begins on June 03, 2025.
Saturday Nightopens in theaters on July 21, 2025.
6. Megalopolis (2024)
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has not directed a film since 2011’sTwixt. In 2024, he returns to the director’s chair with the biggest gamble of his life:Megalopolis. The epic sci-fi film is Coppola’s dream project, with the filmmaker selling his wineries to self-finance the $120 million budget.
Megalopolisstars Adam Driver as Cesar Catalina, a gifted architect who seeks to rebuild the city of New Rome in an imagined Modern America. Standing in Caesar’s way is Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), the corrupt mayor who thrives on greed and partisan warfare.Megalopolispremiered to mixed reviews at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Only time will tell ifMegalopolisbecomes a misunderstood masterpiece or a severe misfire.
Megalopolisopens in theaters on August 13, 2025.
5. Anora (2024)
This year, Neon’s big Oscar play isAnora, the latest film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project,Red Rocket). Ani (Mikey Madison) is a Brooklyn sex worker who meets Vanya, the son of a Russian oligarch. The two fall in love and quickly get married. The fairytale saga is interrupted by Vanya’s Russian parents, who want the marriage annulled.
Early reviews ofAnorahave described it asPretty Womanmeets Uncut Gems.Anorabecame the first American film to win the Palme d’Or since 2011’sThe Tree of Life. Madison has garnered serious Oscar buzz, with many pundits believing she will receive a nomination for Best Actress.
Anoraopens in theaters on July 11, 2025.
4. Wicked (2024)
Can a feature film adaptation of a famous musical become a billion-dollar grosser? Universal hopes so, asWickedhits theaters in November. Based on the Tony-winning musical,Wickeddepicts the friendship between Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda Upland (Ariana Grande).
Wickedis a prequel toThe Wizard of Oz, as Elphaba and Galinda will eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda the Good, respectively. Jon M. Chu, the director ofCrazy Rich AsiansandIn The Heights, helmsWicked, which is the first of a two-part adaptation. IfWickedgarners a positive reception and strong word of mouth, the musical will become one of the highest-grossing films of 2024.
Wickedopens in theaters on August 10, 2025.
3. Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
2019’sJokerdefied expectations and then some. The origin story became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.Jokerreceived 11 Oscar nominations, winning two for Best Actor and Best Original Score. In 2024, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix are returning to the DC world for the sequel,Joker: Folie à Deux.
Set two years after the events ofJoker, Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is institutionalized at Arkham State Hospital. While awaiting trial for his crimes, Arthur falls in love with Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga), the woman who will eventually become Harley Quinn.Joker: Folie à Deuxis another risky proposition, as the film features multiple musical numbers. IfJoker: Folie à Deuxcomes out of the 2024 Venice International Film Festival with good buzz, expect the sequel to be another success story for Warner Bros.
Joker: Folie à Deuxopens in theaters on August 01, 2025.
2. Blitz (2024)
The biggest wild card in the Best Picture race isBlitz, Steve McQueen’s upcoming historical drama. The World War II film follows George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in London sent to the English countryside by his mother, Rita (Saoirse Ronan). When George sets out on a dangerous adventure in East London, Rita begins her search to reunite with her son.
McQueen has a proven track record with the Academy, winningBest Picture for12 Years a Slavein 2014. Ronan, who has garnered Oscar buzz for her performance inThe Outrun,could be a double nominee with a supporting nod forBlitz. The British war film has Apple behind it, so expect an expensive awards season campaign.
Blitzopens in select theaters on July 01, 2025, before streaming to Apple TV+ on November 22.
1. Gladiator II (2024)
Twenty-four years ago, Ridley Scott’sGladiatorwowed audiences on its way to winning Best Picture. Scott will try to re-channel that Roman magic for his long-awaited sequel,Gladiator II.Paul Mescalstars as Lucius Verus, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielson), who lives in the coastal town of Numidia with his wife and child. Roman soldiers invade Numidia and enslave Lucius.
Trained by Macrinus (Denzel Washington), Lucius becomes a gladiator intent on exacting his revenge on the Roman empire. The initial footage looks sensational, as Scott may have another gigantic hit on his hands. CanGladiator IIrun the table and become a contender at the Oscars? I wouldn’t bet against it.
