September film preview: Leonardo DiCaprio endures One Battle After Another

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (September 12)

It is time for the Crawleys to close up Downton. Julian Fellowes’ long-running cultural phenomenon Downton Abbey is shutting its doors and firing its staff. The third in a trilogy of films that began in 2019 and continued with A New Era, The Grand Finale follows the fallout of Lady Mary Talbot’s (Michelle Dockery) divorce. The scandal puts social and financial pressure on the household, causing a total turnover. Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, and much of the original cast are joined by Paul Giamatti, Dominic West, and Alessandro Nivola to say farewell.

The Long Walk (September 12)

Based on a short story by Richard Bachman (Stephen King’s bad-boy nom de plume), The Long Walk puts Cooper Hoffman and Industry‘s David Jonsson on the road to nowhere. Set in a futuristic dystopia, Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence’s movie follows a group of boys in a walking contest where the rules are simple: If they stop marching, they’re shot dead.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (September 19)

Reteaming with Colin Farrell for another sci-fi fantasy, After Yang director Kogonada paints another gorgeous-looking and optimistic view of the near future. This time, a magic GPS directs sad-sack David (Farrell) to the site of his one true love, Sarah (Margot Robbie), who decides to ride shotgun on David’s AI-led adventure. Written by The Menu‘s Seth Reiss, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey brings optimism, romance, and vibrancy to a future that looks anything but.

Waltzing With Brando (September 19)

Who are we to deny Billy Zane of his dream of playing Marlon Brando? More importantly, given the eerie and uncanny makeup job that helps Zane get closer to the god of the method, who are we to deny ourselves the opportunity to watch it? Set between 1969 and 1974, as Brando prepared for The Godfather and Last Tango In Paris, Zane’s Brando enlists an idealistic architect (Jon Heder) to build a workable hotel on his Tahitian island.

MegaDoc (September 19)

The only thing more wild than Francis Ford Coppola selling his vineyard to make the Neil Breen-like epic, Megalopolis, is the story of how he made it. Directed by Mike Figgis, MegaDoc promises to pull the curtain back on the making of one of the strangest and most divisive movies of Coppola’s career. Even Megalopolis deserves its Hearts Of Darkness.

Predators (September 19)

Not to be confused with the upcoming sci-fi action film, Predator: Badlands, Predators is a documentary about the questionable cultural footprint of To Catch A Predator. Directed by David Osit, the film explores the show’s origins, popularity, and aftershocks, asking if the show’s sensationalistic and deceptive brand of justice made America any safer.

Him (September 19)

Justin Tipping’s Him, produced by Jordan Peele, brings scares to sports with the story of rookie quarterback Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers), whose dreams of pro ball turn into a surreal nightmare once his boyhood hero (Marlon Wayans) invites the up-and-comer to his compound for personal training. As their regimen gets underway, Cam learns he’ll need to give more than blood, sweat, and tears to be the GOAT. He’ll have to give everything.

One Battle After Another (September 26)

Justin Tipping’s Him, produced by Jordan Peele, brings scares to sports with the story of rookie quarterback Cam Cade (Tyriq Withers), whose dreams of pro ball turn into a surreal nightmare once his boyhood hero (Marlon Wayans) invites the up-and-comer to his compound for personal training. As their regimen gets underway, Cam learns he’ll need to give more than blood, sweat, and tears to be the GOAT. He’ll have to give everything.

Eleanor The Great (September 26)

The directorial debut from someone named Scarlett Johansson, Eleanor The Great gives June Squibb another opportunity to shine after last year’s starring turn in Thelma. Eleanor, a feisty and sardonic 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, links up with a young journalism student (Erin Kellyman) and her father (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to tell her story. Though the movie frames itself as an uplifting comedy, Squibb makes a meal out of the feisty, sharp-tongued nonagenarian.

More September premieres

September 5

Preparation For The Next Life 

The Threesome 

The Cut

Riefenstahl

September 12

Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie

The History of Sound

Rabbit Trap

September 19

Adulthood

Steve

The Lost Bus

Plainclothes

September 26

The Strangers: Chapter 2