Upcoming Releases, October 2020

 

Regular, major theatrical releases aren't coming back any time soon, but there are still movies to check out. So let's explore some of our October highlights.

Wednesday, October 7:
Hubie Halloween (Netflix): This is the latest from Adam Sandler, a comedy set in Salem on Halloween. It follows a shy outcast, Hubie (Sandler), who loves Halloween and seeks to keep people safe. The local authorities don't take him seriously, but when he stumbles on real trouble he doesn't hesitate to dive in. This one features an all star cast of cameos.

Thursday, October 8:
Charm City Kings (HBO Max): Originally intended for a theatrical release, this coming-of-age film set in Baltimore follows 14-year-old Mouse (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) as he’s pulled between the biker gang of the title and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. 

Friday, October 9:
War with Grandpa: Finally, a theatrical new release. This one is a fun family comedy about a kid who tries his darndest to make his Grandpa (Robert De Niro) move out of the house. Hey, at least it's a theater film.

The 40-Year-Old Version (Netflix): In the latest from Netflix, Radha Blank writes, directs, and stars as Radha, a once-promising playwright who reinvigorates her creativity when she begins rapping. It was a Sundance hit now available on Netflix.

Friday, October 16:
Honest Thief: Another theatrical release, this one featuring Liam Neeson as a bank robber who tries to go straight after falling in love by returning the money. But then people come to take it and threaten his family, and I think we all know what happens when you do that...

2 Hearts: Another theatrical release, this one focusing on two couples as the future unfolds in different decades and different places, but a hidden connection will bring them together in a way no one could have predicted. This looks like an emotional journey.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix): This one comes from Aaron Sorkin and features an all-star cast. It's the latest Netflix entry that has award season aspirations. It focuses on what was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot and the trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.

Clouds (Disney+): This is an emotional film based on the true story of seventeen-year-old Zach Sobiech, a fun-loving high school senior with raw musical talent. A few weeks into his senior year, just as his dream girl finally reciprocates his crush, Zach’s world gets turned upside down when he finds out his cancer has spread, and he now has only six months to live. This feels like an on-brand addition to the Disney+ lineup of offerings.

Saturday, October 17:
David Byrne's American Utopia (HBO): Spike Lee directs a filmed version of David Byrne's innovative stage show which finds him performing Talking Heads classics as well as songs from across his solo catalog with the help of a kinetic, untethered backing band. This was a recent entry in the New York Film Festival.

Wednesday, October 21:
Rebecca (Netflix): This is a Netflix adaptation of the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film, this one starring Armie Hammer and Lily James with a supporting role played by Kristen Scott Thomas. This re-make of the the classic thriller is ideally timed for late October.

Thursday, October 22:
The Witches (HBO Max): This re-make of the Roald Dahl's book comes from writer/director Robert Zemekis and features an all-star cast, led by Anne Hathaway. It was originally intended for a theatrical release, but like so many has moved to streaming.

Friday, October 23:
Connected: Another theatrical release, this one an animated film that is set to debut on October 23. When Katie Mitchell (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to meet “her people” at college are upended when her nature-loving dad Rick (voiced by Danny McBride) determines the whole family should drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time.

Borat Sequel (Amazon Prime): In 2006 Sacha Baron Cohen brought the world Borat and a wild movie that was nothing short of memorable. Now, 14 years later he has a politically-themed follow up dropping on Amazon just prior to the election.

On The Rocks (Apple TV+): Sofia Coppola's latest film is an Apple TV+ exclusive, and it reunites her with her frequent collaborator Bill Murray. He plays the father of a happily married New York mother (Rashida Jones) who begins to suspect that her husband (Marlon Wayans) is having an affair. She enlists her dad to help her investigate, leading to a series of adventures in the city.

Wednesday, October 28:
Holidate (Netflix): Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) hate the holidays. They constantly find themselves single, sitting at the kids table, or stuck with awkward dates. But when these two strangers meet during one particularly bad Christmas, they make a pact to be each other’s “holidate” for every festive occasion throughout the next year. 

Friday, October 30:
Fatale: This one is also still scheduled for theatrical release, but you might still have some questions. In this suspenseful and provocative psychological thriller, a successful sports agent, Darren (Michael Ealy), watches his perfect life slowly disappear when he becomes entangled in a police investigation led by a discredited, disgraced and determined detective (Hilary Swank), with whom he had a wild one night stand. So, they're not all winners.