I think you should prepare yourself to spend a lot of time at the cinema this September, there are no less than 18 major releases.
I’m surprised by the high number of films that will be released in cinemas this month. I think it might be the most released in a single month this year. From documentaries, to big blockbusters and some amazing local films, there are a lot to look forward to. Coyote vs Acme once again made the list, because its release date was once again moved back.
4 September
By Any Means
This one immediately caught my attention because it is based on a true story and brings together Mark Wahlberg and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The film follows a young FBI agent investigating the murders of civil rights leaders in 1960s Mississippi, but he is forced to work with a notorious mafia hitman to get the job done. I always find stories like this fascinating because they take a real and complicated part of history and turn it into a thriller, while still giving us something to think about.
Fall 2: Deadpoint
If you are afraid of heights, you might want to skip this one. The sequel to Fall once again puts its characters in a situation where getting down is almost impossible. This time, two climbers find themselves trapped thousands of feet above the ground on Thailand’s Mount Kwan. I remember how uncomfortable the first film made me feel just watching it, so I am very curious to see if Fall 2 can create that same feeling again.
Landmyn
Landmyn has made several waves before even debuting in cinemas, it won several awards at the Silwerskerm awards, including Best Feature Film. I think that’s enough reason to go watch it. We don’t usually get a lot of Afrikaans films in cinemas, so it will be great to watch one that has already won these many accolades.
Idiots
This is one of the more unusual films on the list. Idiots tells the story of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky and his wife Anna, played by Johnny Flynn and Aimee Lou Wood. While Dostoevsky struggles with gambling, money and his writing, Anna is the one trying to keep their lives together. I like that the film seems to put the focus on the woman behind the famous writer rather than simply telling another story about a literary genius.
11 September
Runner
This sounds like the kind of movie that will keep you stressed from beginning to end. Alan Ritchson plays a courier who has to transport a liver to save the life of a sick girl, but things go very wrong when criminals realise just how valuable the delivery is. Owen Wilson also stars, and I am curious to see him in what looks like a much more intense role than we normally get from him.
Don’t Look Back in Anger
If you are an Oasis fan, I don’t think you will need much convincing to see this one. The documentary follows Liam and Noel Gallagher during their Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour, giving audiences behind-the-scenes and on-stage access, as well as the brothers’ first joint interviews in more than 20 years. After everything that happened between them, seeing the two of them back on stage together is something that I think will be quite special to experience in a cinema.
The Fix
If you enjoy Liam Neeson doing what Liam Neeson does best, this one should be on your list. The Fix follows a group of former CIA operatives who, after a failed mission in Afghanistan, head to Tehran for one last dangerous job. With Neeson and Zachary Levi leading the cast, I am expecting plenty of action, betrayal and the kind of situation where absolutely nothing goes according to plan.
Practical Magic 2
I honestly never expected us to get another Practical Magic movie, but here we are almost 30 years after the original. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as Sally and Gillian Owens, with the sequel bringing the Owens family back together as they face another dangerous curse. I think this is going to be one of those movies where nostalgia plays a huge part, especially for people who grew up with the original.
18 September
Silas en die Ysbeer op Tafelberg
This family movie is more than I expected it to be, I will publish my review soon, but just make sure you’re ready to shed a few tears when you go watch it. It seamlessly blends fantasy with the real world, and the practical effects make me appreciate local filmmakers. I’m just excited we get to watch two Afrikaans films in cinemas this month.
Echoes of Omusati
Another must watch film, even though this is a documentary, I do think people will appreciate the film’s message. It tells the story of a Zambian-born woman whose search for her father leads her to the Omusati region, years after the realities of the liberation struggle sent many Namibians into exile.
The Uprising
Andrew Garfield takes on a very different kind of role in this historical drama from Paul Greengrass. Set during the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, Garfield plays the leader of a rebellion against King Richard II. I enjoy historical films when they manage to make events from hundreds of years ago feel relevant today, and with Greengrass behind the camera, I am expecting this to be much more intense than your average period drama.
Sacrifice
This is probably one of the strangest films on the list, and that is exactly why it caught my attention. Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Evans, Salma Hayek and Vincent Cassel are among the impressive cast, with the story following a group that kidnaps people because they believe the sacrifice of three people will save humanity. It sounds completely wild, but I think that could make it one of those films that you either absolutely love or really don’t know what to make of.
Coyote vs Acme
After everything this movie has been through just to get to cinemas, I almost feel like we have to watch it. The film was completed and then famously shelved by Warner Bros., only to eventually be rescued and released. The story itself is exactly what you would expect from Wile E. Coyote: after Acme’s products repeatedly fail him, he decides to take the company to court, with a lawyer played by Will Forte taking on John Cena’s Acme lawyer. It sounds like a lot of fun, and after all the drama surrounding its release, I am just happy we finally get to see it.
Resident Evil
I am always interested when a movie franchise decides to go back to its roots, and this new Resident Evil is being described as a reboot that takes more inspiration from the games. Austin Abrams leads the cast, and director Zach Cregger has created an all-new story that follows a medical courier who finds himself caught in a terrifying outbreak. I don’t usually watch horror, but as someone who grew up with the games, I am curious to see what they do with this version.
25 September
Forgotten Island
This might be one of the films I am most interested in seeing with the family. Forgotten Island follows two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who are transported through a mysterious portal to the fantastical island of Nakali. The catch is that their memories of each other are the price they have to pay to get home. I love the idea behind this because it sounds like a fun animated adventure, but also one that could get surprisingly emotional.
Avengers: Endgame Encore
I don’t think I need to explain why this one is on my list. Avengers: Endgame is one of those movies that was made to be experienced in a cinema, and now we get another chance to see it on the big screen before Avengers: Doomsday arrives in December. The Encore release will also include additional footage, making this more than simply another screening of the movie. If you need an excuse to experience that final battle with a cinema full of Marvel fans again, this is it.
Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
I have a soft spot for Shaun the Sheep, and this looks like another fun adventure for the whole family. Shaun, Bitzer and the flock are back at Mossy Bottom Farm, but this time they have to deal with a mysterious beast that is threatening their home. What I particularly like about these movies is that you don’t need complicated dialogue to enjoy them, the animation, expressions and physical comedy do most of the work.
Heart of the Beast
Brad Pitt, a combat dog and the Alaskan wilderness. I don’t think you need much more of a description to know what kind of movie this is. Heart of the Beast follows Special Forces officer James Belmont and his retired combat dog Odin after they crash-land in the Alaskan wilderness. The two have to fight their way through the dangerous environment while trying to make it back to civilisation. I am a big fan of survival movies when they focus as much on the relationship between the characters as they do on surviving, so the bond between Pitt’s character and Odin is what I am most interested in.
