As we enter October, there’s an onslaught of new films to anticipate. Following the busy September festival schedule, October offers plenty of festival favorites and potential award contenders. Some of these festival favorites, such as “The Outrun,” premiered at the 2024 Sundance. Others, such as “Anora,” have made their way through multiple screenings from Cannes to the Toronto International Film Festival. 
Alongside these buzzy films are independent science-fiction features, streaming releases, and movies perfect for the Halloween season. From psychological thrillers to bloody sequels, there’s plenty for horror fans to dig their teeth into. 
READ MORE: 2024 Fall Film Preview: 50 Movies To Watch
“Joker: Folie à Deux”After winning an Oscar for his performance as Arthur Fleck in the 2019 “Joker,” Joaquin Phoenix reunites with Todd Phillips for the musical sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux.” The sequel follows as Fleck is in custody in Arkham Asylum awaiting trial for the murders he committed in the first film. He’s joined this time by Lady Gaga as Harleen “Lee” Quinn. [Read our review.]Release Date: October 4 via Warner Bros. Pictures. 

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“Its What’s Inside”A big hit out of Sundance earlier this year, produced by Domingo Colman and sold to Netflix for $17 million dollars, “It’s What’s Inside” is genre-defying and hard to categorize. Still, it’s a bit of a mix of body swap, horror, comedy, and mystery thriller. Directed by Greg Jardin, the film centers on a pre-wedding reunion that descends into a psychological nightmare for a group of college friends when a surprise guest arrives with a mysterious suitcase. The big ensemble cast features Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David W. Thompson, and Madison Davenport.Release Date: October 4 via Netflix. 

“The Outrun”Saoirse Ronan stars in one of two major performances this fall in “The Outrun.” The film, directed by Nora Fingscheidt from a screenplay she co-wrote with Amy Liptrot, follows a young woman who returns home after a stay in rehab. The film stars Saskia Reeves, Stephen Dillane, Lauren Lyle, and Paapa Essiedu and had its premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. (Read our review.)Release Date: October 4 via Sony Pictures Classic.

“The Apprentice”Between “A Different Man” and “The Apprentice,” Sebastian Stan is having a major career moment. Stan stars as Donald Trump in “The Apprentice” from director Ali Abbasi (“Holy Spider,” “Border”) and writer Gabriel Sherman. The film follows Trump’s early business career, focusing on the dynamic between him and Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong. Maria Bakalova and Martin Donovan also star. (Read our review.)Release Date: October 11 via Briarcliff Entertainment.

“Rumors”A festival darling, “Rumors” is one of the more peculiar fall releases. Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson, the film stars Cate Blanchett and Alicia Vikander. The political satire follows world leaders who gather for the annual G7 summit to draft a provisional statement regarding a global crisis, soon succumbing to their own incompetence.Release Date: October 18 via Bleeker Street.