“The Wild Robot”, released on Sept.  27, is a stunning and beautifully woven animated family film that spins a colorful web of plotlines and messages about the nature of life, love and family. Directed by Chris Sanders — the notable co-director of “Lilo & Stitch” and “How to Train Your Dragon” — the newest in Dreamworks’s film lineup, "The Wild Robot,” holds a special place among the top of both of these catalogs. It stars Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor and Mark Hamill, but each voice actor blends into their role perfectly and the film does not rely on its star-studded cast. “The Wild Robot” is a true classic of modern animation; a diamond in the rough of an intellectual-property-dominated industry. It is wonderful within the realm of character, plot and message, but shines exponentially brighter than most in terms of visuals. 

“Megalopolis” is a $120 million, 40-years-in-the-making, self-indulgent fever dream. Despite a loaded cast — Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Dustin Hoffman, to name just a few — the real star of this film, released on Sept. 27, is Francis Ford Coppola. Returning to the big screen after 13 years, the famed director — whose resume includes “Apocalypse Now” and all three parts of “The Godfather” — delivers an entirely self-indulgent project that is impossible to understand. 

“The Substance” is, hands down, the best horror movie to hit theaters in years. A viciously dark satire on the entertainment industry, it’s a wild ride you’ll never forget. Those with a low threshold for gore should watch with caution, however. As I can personally attest, at the Cannes Film Festival premiere this past summer, a fellow audience member passed out and was taken away on a stretcher. Yes, it’s that kind of R-rated movie. Gore galore!

“Transformers One” was released by Paramount Pictures on Sept. 20. The plot follows Optimus Prime, previously Orion Pax, and Megatron, previously D-16, as they attempt to make a name for themselves and escape their boring life as simple energon miners. The film had a disappointing $24.6 million opening weekend as compared to the previously predicted $30–35 million. This is unfortunate, considering the film boasts a talented cast, amazing dynamic between its two leads and great character moments sandwiched between an action-packed plot that stuck the landing.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival in Southern France saw the premiere of many highly anticipated films like “Kinds of Kindness” and “Megalopolis.”  However, audiences were found lining up around the block for a small film directed by Iranian filmmaker, Ali Abbasi. This film was none other than “The Apprentice,” a candid and shocking look at the career of one of the most controversial political figures of the century: former President Donald Trump. Sebastian Stan completely morphs into Trump for what Variety called “2024’s Most Controversial Movie.”

“Speak No Evil” is a tense, slow-burn thriller that reels you in with an unrelenting accumulation of marital discord and microaggressions, never letting go until its final explosive climax. Written and directed by James Watkins, the film is a remake of “Gaesterne,” a relatively unknown 2022 Danish indie horror movie. Bleak and dour, the characters barely fight against their steadily worsening situation, and the film ends not with a bang but a stoic, Scandinavian whimper. 

“Beetlejuice” (1988), arguably the most iconic movie in director Tim Burton’s illustrious filmography, is a tough act to follow. Released on Sept. 6, after 36 years, the famed director took his shot with “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Unlike Burton’s recent theatrical flops, this screwball, supernatural comedy might be a home run. Making it past the page, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is the product of Burton’s recent partnership with actress Jenna Ortega and writers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar after their successful collaboration on the Netflix series “Wednesday” two years ago. 

“The Front Room” premiered in September 2024 from indie film studio A24. A24 has quickly risen to prominence in the film world, releasing hits like “Hereditary” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Needless to say, “The Front Room” had big expectations that unfortunately, it didn’t live up to. “The Front Room” is a return to horror for Brandy Norwood, with her last horror role being Karla Wilson in “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” the commonly panned horror sequel to the cult classic “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Norwood plays Belinda Irwin, a pregnant anthropology teacher and wife to public defender Norman Irwin (Andrew Burnap). “The Front Room” also stars Kathryn Hunter as the controlling step-mother-in-law, Solange. 

“The Deliverance," directed by Lee Daniels, was advertised as the next great Netflix horror film. It is not. “The Deliverance” is the first horror film directed by the Oscar-nominated Daniels, who is best known for his critically-acclaimed dramas “Precious” (2009), “The Butler” (2013) and “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (2021). 

One of the most anticipated releases from Marvel, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” came to the big screen this summer with a wave of excitement from fans and as a hopeful new breath of life for the superhero production company. This film brought the classic character back to the big screen after fans questioned whether Marvel Studios would continue using the man in red since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. An even more unprecedented return was Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and his entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). 

“It Ends With Us” — both the 2016 hit novel written by Colleen Hoover and the new film — tells a story of intricate human love. “It Ends With Us” is also a raw unveiling of perpetual domestic abuse. These two statements are not mutually exclusive, no matter what the film’s thoughtless press tour advertises. 

If one had to describe the ruling genre in Hollywood as we approach the mid-2020s, then sequels, adaptations and remakes would be right at the top of the list. Among these is “Twisters,” a stand-alone sequel of the 1996 blockbuster “Twister.” Despite the only characters it shares with the original being tornadoes, “Twisters” offers a captivating ride, sticking to the “American dream” movie formula of the ’90s.