August 2023 was full of big releases like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, The Meg 2: The Trench and Red, White & Royal Blue, among others. While many of the films, such as Blue Beetle, did not perform well at the box office, audiences will see a wide variety of films in September 2023.
Whether it’s horror films to kick off the pre-Halloween festivities or new installments of popular action franchises, we’ll be getting films from many different genres in September. Let’s explore all the major films coming to theaters and streaming platforms this month.
The Equalizer 3 (September 1st)
Stefano Montesi/Columbia PicturesFans of the vigilante action genre love The Equalizer franchise. a new episode, the equalizer 3, finally comes after a gap of nine years. It is the third and final part of the trilogy. Like the previous two films, this one will be directed by retired US Marine Robert McCall (Denzel Washington).
The film follows McCall’s move to southern Italy to escape his dark past, but he ends up making new friends who are actually controlled by the Sicilian mafia. It forces Robert to accept his past and protect his friends at all costs. The action thriller also stars Dakota Fanning as Emma Collins Eugenio, Mastrandrea as Gio Bonucci, David Denman as Frank Conroy, Sonia Ben Ammar as Chiara Bonucci and Remo Girone as Enzo Arisio in supporting roles.
The Good Mother (September 1st)
Vertical EntertainmentKnown for her powerful performances, Hilary Swank returns to film with her after three years The good mother. This crime thriller follows journalist Marissa Bennings, who teams up with Paige (Olivia Cooke), the pregnant girlfriend of her murdered son, to find those responsible for the terrible crime.
As they begin to delve deep into the criminal world, they discover many secrets and shocking revelations involving drugs and a web of lies. The film’s director, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, said the idea for this plot first came about when he had on-set discussions about the opioid epidemic while directing “As You Are” in 2016.
Have fun and games (September 1st)
Vertical EntertainmentAs the name indicates, All fun and games is all about the childhood games that most of us played. However, Ari Costa and Eren Celeboglu have given these games an interesting twist as they now include demons and horror elements.
The horror film is about a group of teenagers from Salem who find a cursed knife that unlocks a demon. The demon forces the teenagers to play violent and deadly versions of childhood games where no one can win but there may be survivors in the end. The main roles are played by Asa Butterfield and Natalia Dyerand. There’s also an interesting supporting cast including Annabeth Gish, Benjamin Evan, Ainsworth Laurel, Marsden and Keith David.
The Nun II (September 8th)
Warner Bros. PicturesThe Conjuring is one of the most successful franchises, both critically and financially. So there is no doubt that Warner Bros. Pictures is continuing the franchise The Nun II. It is a sequel to the 2018 hit film The Nun and the ninth installment of The Conjuring Universe. Michael Chaves returns to the franchise as director of The Nun II after directing The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
“The Nun II” takes place four years after the end of the first film, in which Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) and Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet) assumed that they had succeeded in banishing Valak / Nun (Bonnie Aarons). However, in “The Nun II,” Sister Irene has to compete against Valak again at a boarding school in France. Jonas Bloquet also returns as Frenchie, while the sequel has added several new cast members including Storm Reid, Bonnie Aarons, Anna Popplewell and Katelyn Rose.
According to Michael Chaves, The Nun II is the most violent film in The Conjuring Universe. So audiences should definitely buckle up and expect things to be much darker, violent and spooky in this supernatural film.
Related: The Nun II Aims for a $30 Million Opening, Proving There’s Still Much to Fear in the Conjuring Universe
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (September 8th)
focus functionsThe fan-favorite My Big Fat Greek Wedding series is also getting a new installment after seven years, as My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 was released in 2016. A lot has changed in these years, especially the death of Michael Constantine, who played Costas. Gus” Portokalos in the films.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 will pay homage to Constantine and his character Gus. It follows that after Gus’ death, Portokalos’ family travels to Greece for a family reunion. Just like the previous two films and the TV series, the latest romantic comedy film is also expected to feature many twists and turns full of emotional, romantic and hilarious moments with the Portokalos family.
The cast is great including Nia Vardalos as Toula, John Corbett as Ian Miller and Louis Mandylor as Nick Portokalos. and Elena Kampouris as Paris Miller. Nia Vardalos wrote the previous two parts. This time she also takes on the role of director while writing the new chapter of the adventures of the Portokalos family.
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe (September 8)
Big Swing Productions / 3pas Studios / LimelightComing-of-age romantic films never go out of style, and this is the future Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe The film also relies on this fact to lure people into the cinemas. It is based on the 2012 hit novel of the same name by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. The film version was written and directed by Aitch Alberto.
It follows two Mexican-American teenagers, played by Max Pelayo and Reese Gonzales, as they forge an instant friendship and deal with the complexities of their racial identity, sexuality and family dynamics. The film is set in 1987 El Paso, Texas, which further reinforces the importance of entertainingly portraying these complex storylines. Aitch Alberto is already considering a film adaptation of the book’s sequel, but it all depends on how this film performs.
A Haunting in Venice (September 15)
20th century studiosSeptember 2023 is packed with supernatural movie releases. A spook in Venice is another such supernatural mystery film. It is a sequel to Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express.
Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh returns as director and also stars as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. This film is based on the 1969 novel “Halloween Party” by Agatha Christie. Two of the previous films were pure mystery films. However, the new part contains some supernatural elements. It is followed by Poirot, now retired and reluctantly attending a séance. One of the guests at the séance is murdered and Poirot must return to his detective role to solve the murder.
According to Kenneth Branagh, A Haunting in Venice is a supernatural thriller and not a full horror film. The cast is impressive: Michelle Yeoh, Kyle Allen, Emma Laird, Jamie Dornan, Camille Cottin and Tina Fey. The director has already indicated that this film will not mean the end of the Poirot films.
Dumb Money (September 15)
Release of Sony imagesMany people around the world have heard of “GameStop” in 2021, even if many were not familiar with it or did not understand what exactly happened that made international headlines. However, this was huge news in the middle of the global pandemic, so it’s no surprise that the upcoming stupid money The film is based on this true story.
The film itself is based on the non-fiction book “The Antisocial Network” by Ben Mezrich, which tells the true story of how a group of investors on the Reddit site banded together to pressure hedge funds that were betting on a decline in GameStop shares had . This caused massive volatility in stock prices and the incident shook the whole of Wall Street. All of these events are likely to be portrayed in the film.
Aside from the interesting plot, Dumb Money also features a great ensemble cast including Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Anthony Ramos, Shailene Woodley, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan and Seth Rogen.
Love at first sight (September 15th)
Netflixlove at first sight is a romantic comedy based on the novel The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. Vanessa Caswill directs the film. The release will be direct to Netflix.
The film stars Haley Lu Richardson and Ben Hardy as Oliver and Hadley Sullivan, respectively. It follows Hadley and Oliver falling in love on a flight from New York to London. However, since they have no way of contacting each other after getting off the plane, the film explores how and if fate brings them together in the vast city of London. Also starring are Dexter Fletcher, Rob Delaney, Sally Phillips and Jameela Jamil.
Expend4bles (September 22nd)
LionsgateThe future of The Expendables franchise was in doubt after The Expendables 3 underperformed both financially and commercially. A major criticism of The Expendables 3 was its PG-13 rating, as original fans of the series were disappointed.
The good thing is that, like in the coming year, the franchise is going back to its roots Expend4bles has an R rating. The film follows the Expendables team as they are tasked with stopping Suarto Rahmat (Iko Uwais), the leader of a terrorist group, from smuggling nuclear weapons that could trigger an all-out war between the United States and Russia.
It will be directed by Scott Waugh, best known for directing Need for Speed. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Randy Couture and Dolph Lundgren are returning to the franchise. The film also added several new impressive cast members, including Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Andy Garcia and Jacob Scipio.
As Sylvester Stallone returns to film, the actor himself has confirmed it will be his final appearance as Barney Ross. He will pass the torch to Statham’s Lee Christmas. It suggests that Expend4bles probably won’t be the last installment in this action series.
Spy Kids: Armageddon (September 22)
NetflixRobert Rodriguez reboots the original Spy Kids franchise Spy Kids: Armageddon. The film will be released on Netflix. The film stars Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla and Connor Esterson, with Gina and Zachary playing one of the world’s greatest secret agents and Everly and Connor being their children.
The film follows Patty (Everly Carganilla) and Tony (Connor Esterson) as they unknowingly help a powerful game developer release a computer virus that gives him complete control over the technology. As a result, Patty and Tony are forced to become spies and save their parents and the world.
Cassandro (September 22)
Prime VideoBiographical dramas are very popular among audiences as they allow viewers to not only entertain themselves but also learn about popular historical figures and celebrities. Cassandro is a biopic about the life of popular gay wrestler Saúl Armendáriz / Cassandro. Top director Roger Ross Williams celebrates his narrative directorial debut with this film.
The story takes place in the early 1980s, when Saúl Armendáriz (played by Gael García Bernal) lived in El Paso, Texas, and regularly visited Mexico to compete in Lucha Libre wrestling matches. Eventually he is discovered by his new trainer Sabrina (played by Roberta Colindrez), who suggests that he take part in games as Exótico, which leads to his enormous popularity as Cassandro.
Flora and son (September 22nd)
AppleTVflora and son is a musical comedy-drama film from Apple TV+ starring Eve Hewson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Orén Kinlan and Jack Reynor. It’s about Flora (Eve Hewson), a single mother struggling with her estranged, rebellious teenage son Max (Eve Hewson). Flora finds an old guitar and tries to get Max to turn it into a hobby. However, she discovers that music could be her own passion. The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and received critical acclaim.
It Lives Inside (September 22)
NEONIt lives inside is a horror film that combines supernatural elements with larger questions about one’s identity and ethnicity. Directed by Bishal Dutta. “It Lives Inside” follows Sam (Megan Suri), who refuses to embrace her Indian heritage in order to fit into the Western world and be like everyone else at her American high school. However, her former best friend becomes possessed by a demonic spirit, forcing her to explore her heritage to defeat malevolent forces.
The Kill Room (September 28)
Scream! StudiosThe Killing Room is a dark comedy thriller with an impressive cast including Uma Thurman, Joe Manganiello, Maya Hawke, Debi Mazar, Dree Hemingway and Samuel L. Jackson. It’s the first time Maya Hawke has worked on a project with her mother Thurman. This Nicol Paone film has an interesting plot involving a hitman, his boss, an art dealer, and a money laundering scheme that turns an assassin into an overnight sensation and leads her to pit the art world against the criminals.
The Creator (September 29)
20th century studiosThe creator is coming to theaters at a perfect time, as there’s a huge debate raging in the real world about autonomous AI. Gareth Edwards, known for directing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, directed this sci-fi action thriller with a well-known cast including John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe and Sturgill Simpson.
It is set in the middle of a future war between humans and AI, where Joshua (Washington), a former special forces agent, is hired to kill the Creator, the person responsible for developing the advanced AI system. However, the AI has actually taken the form of a small child, complicating the entire mission.
Related: The 13 Best Movies About Sentient Artificial Intelligence
Saw X (September 29)
LionsgateAs the name indicates, Saw X is the tenth part of the Saw series. However, this is the first time in a decade that the franchise has returned to the original timeline, with Saw X set between Saw and Saw II. Since it is a direct sequel to the first time, Shawnee Smith returns as Amanda Young. The cast also includes Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand and Michael Beach.
The film follows John Kramer / Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) as he travels to Mexico to find a cure for his cancer, but he discovers it’s all a scam. As a result, Kramer embraces his core instincts and begins to “punish” the cheaters through his crazy traps.
Overall, “Saw
Fair Play (September 29)
NetflixChloe Domont wrote and directed the erotic thriller fair play for Netflix. It stars Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich as Emily and Luke, respectively. The film shows how Emily and Luke’s relationship goes through a serious crisis after Emily receives an unexpected promotion at a highly competitive hedge fund firm instead of Luke. The film had already received widespread critical acclaim when it premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The film will be released in limited theaters on September 29th, followed by a global Netflix release on October 13th.
Dicks: The Musical (September 29)
A24Musical comedies have become very popular in Hollywood in recent years. Dicks: The Musical is based on the off-Broadway musical F****** Identical Twins by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson. Larry Charles adapts the musical into A24’s first musical feature film. It’s about two business rivals realizing that they are actually identical twin brothers, so they decide to swap locations in order to reunite with their divorced parents and become a family again. The cast includes Megan Mullally, Megan Thee Stallion, Bowen Yang, Nathan Lane, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson.
She came to me (September 29th)
Vertical entertainmentRebecca Miller returns to the director’s chair after a few years She came to me. It’s a romantic comedy about Steven Lauddem (Peter Dinklage), a struggling composer trying to make a big opera comeback. Patricia (Anne Hathaway), Lauddem’s wife, suggests that he go looking for inspiration. The film also stars Marisa Tomei, Joanna Kulig and Brian d’Arcy James in prominent roles.
Overall, September 2023 looks to offer a perfect mix of sequels, spin-offs, IPs, and originals hitting both theaters and streaming platforms. So the audience can expect a lot of entertaining films this month.