It’s officially the month of Halloween, so it’s only appropriate that all of the most anticipated movies of the coming weeks fit the theme in one way or another. Not only is the top film (by a wide margin) about one of the most iconic comic book villains ever (and a perennial staple of cosplayers), but it’s followed up by the sophomore effort from the man who brought us The Witch, a sequel to a zombie horror-comedy, a psychological thriller infused with dark comedy, and another sequel to a fantasy film about one of the most iconic Disney villains ever. In other words, there’s a lot to be excited about this month, so read on to find out the five most anticipated movies of October, as voted by Rotten Tomatoes users and our fans on social media.
8,357 Want-to-See Votes
#1 pick by our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter fans
Opens October 4
No surprise here. Todd Phillips’ realistic take on the Batman arch-villain was always going to be the most anticipated film of the month, if popular buzz was anything to go by. Not only did the film win the top prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year, it’s generated a lot of discussion around its themes and its unflinching portrayal of a severely disturbed man who is driven to violence. Despite all of the controversy surrounding it (or maybe because of it), the movie has mostly impressed the critics and is looking to rack up a monster opening weekend. It was the top pick across all of our social polls, and it racked up the highest total of Want-to-See votes of any film this month by a landslide and a half.
#2 pick by our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter fans
Opens October 18 (limited)
It’s a little bit surprising that The Lighthouse is so high on this list, if we’re being honest, because director Robert Eggers’ first film, The Witch, was an infamous example of the audience’s reaction to the film not lining up with the critical acclaim. The Lighthouse is likely to be divisive in its own way, as its decidedly more experimental and abstract than The Witch was. Filmed in a 4:3 aspect ratio in black and white, the story revolves around a pair of New England lighthouse keepers at the turn of the century who are left alone to tend to their task and slowly go mad. Or do they? This is another film that’s already achieved Certified Fresh status, based on the reviews it got after its premiere at Cannes, but it will be interesting to see if audiences will adjust their expectations of it after their experiences with The Witch.
2,411 Want-t0-See Votes
#3 pick by our Facebook and Twitter fans, #4 pick by our Instagram fans
Opens October 18
Did anyone ask for a sequel to Ruben Fleischer’s wildly popular 2009 horror-comedy Zombieland? Probably not. Does that make us any less excited that we’re getting one anyway? Absolutely not. After the worldwide commercial success of Venom, Fleischer returns to the film that put his name on the map, successfully reuniting the core members of the original cast 10 years later for a follow-up adventure. The first film was Certified Fresh at 90% and became an instant fan favorite; will this new movie be just as well received? It’s hard to say, but as our social polls indicated, there are plenty of fans who can’t wait to find out.
1,137 Want-to-See Votes
#3 pick by our Instagram fans, #4 pick by our Facebook and Twitter fans
Opens October 11 (limited)
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has been a critical darling for almost two decades now (he has yet to direct a Rotten film), and while previous efforts like The Host, Snowpiercer, and Okja certainly found their way into the pop culture conversation, none of them has earned him quite the same kind of praise as Parasite has. As of now, the film is Certified Fresh at 100% — and that’s not a soft 100% either; it’s got over 110 reviews — and the word “masterpiece” is being tossed around like confetti. The story revolves around a family of struggling con artists who cleverly weasel their way into the lives of a wealthy, upscale household before their plans are interrupted by new threat. It won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival by a rare unanimous vote, and some are even talking about potential Oscar nominations. This one opens in limited release, but it may expand if it does well during its initial run.
1,520 Want-to-See Votes
#5 pick by our Facebook Fans
Opens on October 18
Lastly, we have a sequel to the 2014 film Maleficent, which reimagined the titular Disney villain of Sleeping Beauty as a somewhat sympathetic, potentially misunderstood character. Angelina Jolie was spectacular in the role, but critics felt the rest of the film largely fell below expectations, and it ended up with a 53% on the Tomatometer. This film brings Jolie back in the role, as well as Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, who becomes engaged to Prince Phillip (played by Harris Dickinson, who replaces Brenton Thwaites from the last movie) and unknowingly sets into motion a war that may pit her against Maleficent herself. Though the first film didn’t exactly resonate with critics, it made a lot of money, and people loved Jolie in the role, so it makes sense that we’re getting a sequel. Whether or not audiences turn out for this one remains to be seen.
