10 Must-See Fall Movies

Sure, fall might not start until Sept. 22, but I’m already looking forward to the cooler weather, pumpkin-flavored everything and of course all the movies that come out this time of year. Whether you’re into action, comedy, drama or sci-fi, I’ve got you covered.

CBGB
Oct. 11

Why you should see it: CBGB may now be home to a John Varvatos clothing store that peddles slightly distressed leather jackets and $400 jeans, but one time not so long ago it was the music club for punk, alternative and a host of other genres outside the mainstream. CBGB tells the storied venue’s history along with a cast that includes Alan Rickman, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, Rupert Grint, Justin Bartha and Johnny Galecki.

The Counselor
Oct. 25

Why you should see it: I’m gonna be honest with you: Even after watching the trailer for The Counselor,I still have no idea what the film is exactly about. There seem to be some bad guys, some more bad guys, some hot girls, lots of drug money and a whole lot of scenes that look like they were shot in the same desert as parts of The Hangover Part 3 were. But here’s what I do know: The film is the first original screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, the author behind No Country For Old Men and The Road. And the cast, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz, isn’t too shabby either.

Dallas Buyers Club
Nov. 1

Why you should see it: The film tells the true story of Ron Woodroof (played by Matthew McConaughey), a man who takes matters into his own hands after being diagnosed with HIV and told he only has 30 days to live. When the treatments he needs aren’t available in the States, he goes to Mexico and starts smuggling in drugs, with the help of Rayon, a transgender woman also suffering from HIV (played by 30 Seconds To Mars frontman Jared Leto.) McConaughey, who lost 47 pounds for the film, is already being talked about as an Oscar contender for his role.

Don Jon
Sept. 27

Why you should see it: For most of his career, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has played the kind of guy your mother is always telling you to bring home. He first stole our hearts in 10 Things I Hate About You. Then he did it again in (500) Days Of Summer. (Zooey Deschanel, what the hell were you thinking?) And what woman, after watching 50/50 and hearing Gordon-Levitt say, “I want to make you pancakes sometime,” didn’t look at her man and quickly demand to know why he had never made her breakfast. Still, putting all that encouraging evidence aside, I’m looking forward to seeing this eternal good guy play the boy your mother warned you about.

The Fifth Estate
Oct. 18

Why you should see it: Benedict Cumberbatch, who played Khan in this summer’s Star Trek Into Darkness, is taking on a decidedly different role in The Fifth Estate. Cumberbatch plays WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange who became a permanent fixture in the news in 2010 when he released thousands of classified U.S. military files to the public. The film raises many questions: Is Assange a hero or a traitor? Where is the line between what the public needs to know and wants to know? And how much dye did Cumberbatch have to use to get his hair the same shade of bleached blond as Assange’s?

Gravity
Oct. 4

Why you should see it: The trailer starts off nicely enough. Oh look, there’s Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, floating along in space, enjoying the view of Earth from the safety zone outside their space shuttle when CRASH! BOOM! Said space shuttle is destroyed and that view just got a whole lot less appealing. Forget chainsaw-wielding killers, creepy spirits and demonic children: Gravity might be the most terrifying film you see all year.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Nov. 22

Why you should see it: First off, if you haven’t jumped on the Hunger Games bandwagon, stop dawdling and hop on. There’s plenty of space, and we know you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve read the books, you know what’s in store for heroine Katniss Everdeen. And if you haven’t, here are the main points: Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) are still doing the whole will-they-or-won’t-they-date dance. Meanwhile, the people of the districts are sick of the Capitol and President Snow’s shit. (I mean, it’s about time: Crazy man and his predecessors have been sending your children off to fight each other to the death for 74 years and you’re just now getting upset?) An uprising is brewing once again in Panem, but this time the people aren’t staying quiet.

Kill Your Darlings
Oct. 18

Why you should see it: The film is equal parts thriller, drama and biography, telling the story of the 1944 murder of David Kammerer by Lucien Carr. The case drew public attention because of its cast of characters: Allen Ginsberg (played by Daniel Radcliffe), Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, the poets of the Beat Generation. Kill Your Darlings narrative looks to be as unforgettable as the stories and poems Ginsberg, Kerouac and Burroughs wrote.

Runner Runner
Oct. 24

Why you should see it: When musicians and actors decide to switch roles and give each others careers a go, the results are often ghastly. (unless you’rr Justin Timberlake and everything you touch turns to gold dollar bills). After playing Napster founder Sean Parker in The Social Network, audiences and critics realized Timberlake can do more than the old song and dance. In Runner Runner, he plays a Princeton student looking to put his gambling skills to use and pay for his tuition. He’s eventually taken under the wing of gambling con man Ivan Block, played by Batman—I mean, Ben Affleck.

Thor: The Dark World
Nov. 8

Why you should see it: Now that every season is required to have at least one superhero movie, you might as well accept it, grab some popcorn and watch this fall’s offering: Thor: The Dark World. The sequel to 2011’s Thor picks up where The Avengers left off: Thor is back home in Asgard, but must now stop Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) who, like any good villain, is looking to take over Earth, and a few other places. Fortunately, Thor knows a villain, too (enter his brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston), and he enlists his services. Let the sibling rivalry begin (again).