The Ultimate Guide to the Spookiest and Most Thrilling Movie Releases

October has always been the month where cinema turns up the chills, but in 2025, it's serving up more than just pumpkin-spiced scares—think pulse-pounding sci-fi revivals, laugh-out-loud comedies with a twist, and prestige dramas that could sweep awards season. With theaters buzzing from summer blockbusters like One Battle After Another and Him, the fall slate promises a diverse feast for every film lover. Whether you're craving the digital dystopia of a long-awaited sequel or the intimate dread of a family horror tale, this October's releases are primed to dominate box offices and streaming queues alike.We've scoured the latest buzz from festivals, trailers, and insider scoops to bring you the highlights. Pro tip: Lock in your seats early on platforms like Fandango for exclusive deals and real-time showtimes—because nothing kills the vibe like sold-out screenings. Let's break down the calendar, starting with the week's biggest openers.October 3: The Smashing Machine – Wrestling with DemonsKicking off the month is Benny Safdie's gritty biopic The Smashing Machine, releasing wide on October 3. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr, this film dives deep into the fighter's brutal rise in the 1990s UFC scene, his battles with addiction, and his improbable romance with future wife Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt). It's a raw, R-rated punch to the gut—think The Wrestler meets Pain & Gain, with Safdie's signature kinetic energy behind the camera.Early reviews from Toronto International Film Festival (where it premiered to thunderous applause) praise Johnson's most vulnerable performance yet, shedding his action-hero armor for sweat-soaked authenticity. Blunt shines as the stabilizing force in Kerr's chaotic life, adding emotional layers to the ring-side mayhem. At 128 minutes, it's a lean, mean drama clocking in under two hours, perfect for a mid-week escape.Why see it? If you're into sports biopics that don't pull punches (pun intended), this one's your knockout. Expect Oscar whispers for Johnson come January. Head to Fandango to snag tickets starting at $12.50—pair it with AMC's recliner seats for ultimate comfort during those intense fight sequences.October 10: TRON: Ares – Digital Dreams ReloadedThe neon underbelly of the Grid lights up screens on October 10 with TRON: Ares, the third installment in the cult-favorite sci-fi franchise. Directed by Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), this sequel catapults us back into a hyper-real virtual world where programs battle for survival. Jared Leto leads as Ares, a sophisticated AI program sent from the digital realm to the real world on a dangerous mission that threatens humanity's future. Joining him are Greta Lee as brilliant but restless coder Eve Kim, and returning vets like Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn.After a 14-year wait since TRON: Legacy, this entry amps up the spectacle with groundbreaking light-cycle chases and disc battles, all rendered in eye-popping 4DX and IMAX. Trailers tease philosophical undertones about AI ethics—timely, right?—wrapped in a synth-heavy score that'll have you humming Daft Punk remixes for weeks. Runtime: 130 minutes, rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence.Film nerds are raving about the practical effects blended with CGI wizardry, calling it a "visual feast for the post-Dune era." It's not just fan service; it's a bold evolution. Secure your front-row glow-up via Fandango, where you can bundle with popcorn combos for under $20. If Oppenheimer's IMAX run taught us anything, it's that big screens demand big tickets—don't miss out.October 17: Double Feature – Good Fortune and The Black Phone 2Mid-month explodes with two polar-opposite crowd-pleasers. First up, Aziz Ansari's directorial debut Good Fortune (October 17), a divine comedy starring Keanu Reeves as an angel possessing Seth Rogen's hapless boss to impart life lessons on everyman Gabriel (Keanu, again? Reeves is everywhere!). With Keke Palmer rounding out the trio, this 105-minute romp skewers corporate drudgery and existential dread with Ansari's razor-sharp wit. Sundance buzz pegs it as "the funniest film of fall," blending The Good Place vibes with Parks and Rec heart. Rated R for language, it's ideal for date nights—grab laughs and loveseat seats on Fandango.Then, for the chills: The Black Phone 2 (also October 17), Scott Derrickson's sequel to the 2022 horror smash. Ethan Hawke reprises his chilling role as the Grabber, terrorizing siblings Finney (Mason Thames) and Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) in a web of supernatural abductions. No major plot spoilers here, but expect ghostly phone calls, sibling bonds tested to the brink, and Hawke's mask game on point. At 110 minutes and rated R, it's a masterclass in atmospheric dread—less jump scares, more lingering unease.Horror hounds are already lining up, with early screenings reporting sold-out crowds. Pair your ticket from Fandango with a theater's "Fright Night" bundle for themed snacks. If the original scarred your dreams, this sequel doubles down.October 24: Bugonia and Chainsaw Man – The MovieSci-fi weirdos, rejoice: Yorgos Lanthimos teams with Emma Stone for Bugonia on October 24, a twisted remake of the Korean hit Save the Green Planet!. Stone plays a CEO abducted by conspiracy nuts (Jesse Plemons and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who believe she's an alien overlord. Lanthimos' signature absurdity—think Poor Things on acid—unfolds in 120 minutes of mind-bending satire on paranoia and power. Critics from Venice are calling it "hilariously unhinged," with Stone's performance a frontrunner for another Oscar nod. Rated R, it's for fans of dark laughs.Anime aficionados get their fix with Chainsaw Man – The Movie (October 24), adapting the explosive Bomb Girl arc from Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga. Voiced by Kikunosuke Toya as Denji, it follows the chainsaw-wielding devil hunter's emotionally charged battles against a nuclear threat. At 135 minutes, this MAPPA production promises fluid action and gut-wrenching twists—think Jujutsu Kaisen with more heart (and gore). Dubbed and subbed options available; book via Fandango for premium formats like Dolby Cinema.October 31: Halloween Horrors – Bring Her Back and FrankensteinClose out spooky season with Bring Her Back (October 31), the latest from Talk to Me directors Danny and Michael Philippou. This A24 chiller stars Sally Hawkins as a sinister foster mom unleashing Munchausen-by-proxy terror on orphaned siblings (Billy Barratt and Sora Wong). Clocking in at 115 minutes and rated R, it's a skin-crawling domestic nightmare that's already haunting festival circuits. Variety dubs it "the scare of the year."Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (limited October 31, wide November) offers gothic grandeur, blending Mary Shelley's tale with Bride of Frankenstein flair. Jacob Elordi as the Creature, Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein—del Toro's vision is a visual poem of isolation and creation. At 140 minutes, it's PG-13 artistry with stop-motion nods to Bernie Wrightson. Catch the IMAX preview on Fandango.Streaming Gems to Balance the Theater TripsNot everything's silver screen-bound. Netflix drops A House of Dynamite (October 24), Kathryn Bigelow's thriller with Idris Elba as POTUS and Rebecca Ferguson in a high-stakes crisis—pure procedural adrenaline. Hulu's The Hand That Rocks the Cradle remake (October 18) stars Maika Monroe in a nanny-gone-wrong shocker, while HBO Max unleashes A24's Sorry Baby (October 20), Eva Victor's Sundance hit about academic betrayal.Wrapping Up: Your October Movie ManifestoOctober 2025's lineup is a love letter to genre mashups—sci-fi spectacle, horror heart-stoppers, and comedies that cut deep. With over a dozen wide releases, it's a box-office bonanza projected to rake in $800M domestically. Whatever your flavor, these films remind us why we love the movies: escape, empathy, and that electric shared gasp in a darkened theater.Ready to roll credits on planning? Jump over to Fandango for instant tickets, rewards points, and theater finder tools. Follow us for more 2025 breakdowns—next up, November's superhero surge. What's your must-see? Drop it in the comments!