The summer movie season has passed and fall is upon us, the time of year when we start getting serious about movies as awards season begins to take shape.

This fall, a healthy mix of awards fare and blockbuster hopefuls await moviegoers. Some movies might check both of those boxes, some might not check either.

But that’s what we go to the movies for, isn’t it? The surprises. Will Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga make magic in “Joker: Folie a` Deux?” Will Americans learn how to pronounce “Folie a` Deux?” These are the questions that will get answered in the coming weeks and months.

Here are 24 movies to watch for between now and Thanksgiving as the leaves turn, the air gets crispy and we look for a good movie to get us through what could be an otherwise arduous election season.

(Note: as always, release dates are subject to change.)

‘Joker: Folie a` Deux’

Director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix return for the sequel to their 2019 smash, which was nominated for 11 Oscars, including best picture, and netted a win for Phoenix as best actor. Lady Gaga joins the fray as Joker’s main squeeze, Harley Quinn, in this musical that is sure to toy with expectations and rattle fans of superhero fare. For the whole crazy ride of it all, nothing ranks higher on our fall must-see list. (Oct. 4, in theaters)

‘Megalopolis’

Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is betting the farm on this production, having spent a reported $120 million of his own money to fund his gonzo vision about a utopian society and the key to life, or something like that. The massive cast includes Adam Driver, Shia LaBeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Aubrey Plaza and Jason Schwartzman, and early reaction has been decidedly mixed in a way that only adds to the intrigue. Even if it’s a spectacular failure, it sounds like the thing every movie fan must experience for themselves. (Sept. 27, in theaters)

‘Gladiator II’

Sir Ridley Scott, 86 years young and cranking through films at a breakneck pace (he’s made “The Last Duel,” “House of Gucci” and “Napoleon” in the last three years), revisits the world of his 2000 best picture winner for this sequel, which takes place two decades after the original and stars Paul Mescal as the onetime heir to the Roman Empire who must battle a Roman general (Pedro Pascal) with the help of a former slave (Denzel Washington). Are you not entertained? (Nov. 22, in theaters)

‘Wicked’

Part one of this adaptation of the hugely successful “Wizard of Oz”-based stage musical — part two is due out in November 2025 — tells the story of Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), who goes on to be the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good. Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage and Bowen Yang round out the supporting cast in this feature from “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu. (Nov. 22, in theaters)

‘Here’

If you want an audacious premise for a movie, here’s one: Robert Zemeckis reunites his “Forrest Gump” team of Tom Hanks and Robin Wright for this movie about a single plot of land and those who dwell there, taking place over many generations and filmed in one unmoving shot. Paul Bettany and “Yellowstone’s” Kelly Reilly co-star in this drama, which employs de-aging technology on its stars and is based on a graphic novel. (Nov. 1, in theaters)

‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

Some 36 years after moviegoers first said his name three times, “Beetlejuice” returns to the screen, with Michael Keaton returning as the titular creepster and Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara reprising their roles from the original horror comedy. Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux and Willem Dafoe join in on the fun, with Tim Burton returning to direct, and that sandworm is bound to make an appearance somewhere. (Sept. 6, in theaters)

‘Anora’

Writer-director Sean Baker (“The Florida Project,” “Red Rocket”) returns with this Palme d’Or-winning comic drama, which stars Mikey Madison as the title character, a Russian stripper who elopes with Vanya (Mark Eidelstein), the son of a Russian oligarch, and everything hits the fan. Few handle down-and-out characters with more empathy and compassion than Baker, and “Anora” is said to be him working at the top of his game. (date TBA, in theaters)

‘Wolfs’

George Clooney and Brad Pitt — do you think they argued over whose name would be listed first? — star as two professional fixers, the guys you call when a job goes awry, who are forced to work together despite their individualistic natures. Writer-director Jon Watts (the recent “Spider-Man” trilogy) and the two stars are already signed up for a sequel, so let’s hope the story is worth continuing. (Sept. 27, Apple TV+)

‘Saturday Night’

As “Saturday Night Live” approaches its 50th anniversary, director Jason Reitman takes on the events leading up to the series’ first episode, in Oct. 1975. Gabriel LaBelle (“The Fabelmans,” “Snack Shack”) plays Lorne Michaels, and the large cast includes Nicholas Braun (as Andy Kaufman, and as Jim Henson), Rachel Sennott (as “SNL” writer Rosie Shuster), Cory Michael Smith (as Chevy Chase), J.K. Simmons (as Milton Berle) and Ella Hunt (as Gilda Radner). (Oct. 11, in theaters)

‘A Real Pain’

Jesse Eisenberg writes, directs and stars in this drama about two cousins (Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) who take a Holocaust tour through Poland to honor their grandmother. Eisenberg plays a neurotic New Yorker, but it’s Culkin’s emotionally volatile performance that steals the film. It’s touching, funny and sad, and a relatable character study about larger-than-life personalities and the darkness their outward behaviors oftentimes masks. (date TBA, in theaters)

‘Speak No Evil’

James McAvoy and Scoot McNairy star in this remake of the incredibly upsetting 2022 original, a horror thriller about manners and vacation friends and how those friends are best left on vacation. Featuring a trailer that gives away way too much of the story. (Sept. 13, in theaters)

‘The Wild Robot’

A robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is dumped off in the wild and must learn to fend for itself in this animated tale that seems to recall 1999’s beloved “The Iron Giant.” From Chris Sanders, director of “How To Train Your Dragon” and “Lilo Stitch.” (Sept. 27, in theaters)

‘Heretic’

Hugh Grant goes full feel in this horror thriller about a pair of Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who attempt to convert a man, but things don’t go quite as planned. From “A Quiet Place” screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. (Nov. 15, in theaters)

‘Smile 2’

The sequel to the surprise 2022 horror hit stars Naomi Scott (2019’s “Aladdin”) as a pop singer whose life takes an unsuspected turn when everyone around her starts smiling in fiendish, dastardly, menacing ways. Say cheese! (Oct. 18, in theaters)

‘We Live in Time’

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star as a young couple brought together by unforeseen circumstances in this decade-spanning romantic drama from director John Crowley (2015’s “Brooklyn,” 2019’s “The Goldfinch”). (date TBA, in theaters)

16. ‘The Substance’

Coralie Fargeat (2017’s “Revenge”) writes and directs this body horror experiment about youth, beauty and cosmetic shortcuts starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. Fargeat’s script won Best Screenplay honors at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. (Sept. 20, in theaters)

‘A Different Man’

Sebastian Stan stars as a man with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to form throughout the body, in this psychological thriller about a man who becomes obsessed with another man playing him in a theater production based on his life. (Oct. 4, in theaters)

‘Piece by Piece’

“Happy” hitmaker Pharrell Williams’ life is told, through Legos, in this animated documentary that takes a thoroughly unique approach to its subject. Filmmaker Morgan Neville (“20 Feet From Stardom,” “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain”) directs. (Oct. 11, in theaters)

‘Flight Risk’

Mel Gibson’s first directorial effort since 2016’s “Hacksaw Ridge” stars Mark Wahlberg as a pilot who is also a hitman in this action thriller that looks like the kind of lowbrow seat filler that Hollywood doesn’t make enough of anymore. (Oct. 18, in theaters)

‘Emilia Pe´rez’

French filmmaker Jacques Audiard writes and directs this musical comedy about a lawyer (Zoe Saldan~a) who assists the leader of a Mexican cartel with undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Co-starring Karla Sofi´a Gasco´n and Selena Gomez, who all shared a Best Actress win with Saldan~a at this year’s Cannes Film Fetival. (Nov. 13, on Netflix)

‘Venom: The Last Dance’

More “Venom.” Tom Hardy returns for the third chapter in this series about an alien symbiote and his relationship to his host. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple and Rhys Ifans co-star. (Oct. 25, in theaters)

‘Blitz’

The latest from Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) is set in WWII London and centers on a mother (Saoirse Ronan) looking desperately for her missing son. Co-starring Harris Dickinson and Elliott Heffernan. (Nov. 22, on Apple TV+)

‘My Old Ass’

If you gave your future self advice, would you listen? Maisy Stella and Aubrey Plaza star in this comedy that stretches the limits of that question. Megan Park (2021’s “The Fallout”) writes and directs. (Sept. 20, in theaters)

‘Terrifier 3’

The gore-pushing boundaries of the “Terrifier” series are tested in this Christmas-set threequel from writer-director Damien Leone. If early word is to be believed, hang on to your stomach. (Oct. 11, in theaters)

A few more ...

Brandy stars in the horror thriller “The Front Room” (Sept. 6) ... Kevin Smith writes and directs the coming-of-age comedy “The 4:30 Movie” (Sept. 13) ... Dave Bautista plays “The Killer’s Game” (Sept. 13) ... Halle Berry learns to “Never Let Go” (Sept. 20) ... your favorite convertible robots go back to the beginning in the animated “Transformers One” (Sept. 20) ... Hayden Panettiere gets a notification on her phone in “Ambert Alert” (Sept. 27) ... the world of “Rosemary’s Baby” is revisited in “Apartment 7A” (Sept. 27) ... summer fun gets taken over by monsters in “Monster Summer,” starring Mel Gibson (Oct. 4) ... the dystopian nightmare world of “The Platform” returns to Netflix in “The Platform 2” (Oct. 4) ... Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis star as a father and daughter in the parenting comedy “Goodrich” (Oct. 18) ... the legacy of Smith’s “Chasing Amy” is examined in “Chasing Chasing Amy” (Nov. 1) ... Dwayne Johnson and J.K. Simmons star in the pumped-up Santa tale “Red One” (Nov. 15).

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