Summer break is over, and that’s probably for the best. Though there were some big successes, there were also some big flops this summer. “Weapons” was a critical and commercial triumph, exceeding most professional estimates and solidifying Zach Cregger as a director to look out for. There were also “films” in name only, such as “War of the Worlds,” starring Ice Cube, which snuck up on audiences in late July and has not stopped taking victims.

But we’re done with summer — it’s time for fall. There are some incredible releases upcoming, so some of the more popular selections, such as “Wicked: For Good,” “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” “The Running Man” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” will be excluded from this list. Hopefully, this list will ensure a little bit for everyone this fall.

‘Twinless’ — Sept. 5

Maybe it’s a weird way to start off this list, but do you guys remember the gay sex GIF controversy when this film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival at the beginning of the year? Basically, a bunch of sex scenes were leaked online through Sundance’s remote access system and went viral. That’s pretty much all you need to know about this movie. 

It’s a black comedy about bereft twins, directed by James Sweeney and starring Dylan O’Brien, that had a gay sex GIF controversy.

‘The History of Sound’ — Sept. 12

A queer period romance starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, the film feels like it’s taken a decade for this film to manifest, but it is finally coming out. Oliver Hermanus has made some great films, and this one seems to have some amount of push given the actors attached to it, so this might indicate a positive future for the film. Also, for another queer period romance, check out “Plainclothes,” starring Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth, releasing Sept. 19.

‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ — Sept. 19

Kogonada has made a decent name for himself as the director of the films “Columbus” (2017) and “After Yang” (2021). His latest film, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” seems to be his biggest yet. A romantic modern fantasy, the film follows two strangers — played by Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell — who fall in love with each other as they pass through vignettes of each others’ past lives.

The film sounds great despite how little buzz there has been around it. The marketing has been pretty underwhelming, and considering that all of Kogonada’s previous feature filmography has had poor box office returns, it may be wise to see this film close to its release in case it doesn’t stick the landing with a wide audience.

‘One Battle After Another’ — Sept. 26

The $130 million to $175 million Thomas Pynchon-inspired film comes from Paul Thomas Anderson, who, in a three-decade career, has never achieved a box office over $80 million. It’s redundant to talk about the quality of Anderson’s previous films or that of some of the film’s actors, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Regina Hall and Benicio Del Toro. It is safe to assume that the film will likely be very, very good.

Despite the film’s probable quality, it is difficult to avoid the insane uphill climb it will take for it to be profitable. Variety reported at the start of the year that the film needs to gross upwards of $300 million in order to be profitable, which is almost four times more than Anderson’s most profitable film, “There Will Be Blood” (2007).

‘After the Hunt’ — Oct. 10

This film comes out as Luca Guadagnino’s follow-up to “Challengers” (2024) and “Queer” (2024). The film stars Julia Roberts as a college professor grappling with what to do after one of her colleagues, played by Andrew Garfield, is accused of sexual assault by a young student, played by Ayo Edebiri. Guadagnino’s films are always a little hit-or-miss, so it will be interesting to see how the film turns out. “After the Hunt” will receive a wide release on Oct. 17, one week after its limited release.

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ — Oct. 10

Are we pro-Jennifer Lopez again as a society? The “ham and cheese on a roll with an orange drink” thing was certainly cringey, and the past couple years haven’t been great for her in terms of film roles, but there were days when she was an interesting cultural figure. 

This film, an adaptation of the book and musical of the same name, seems to be a source of some sort of critical acclaim for Lopez. The film follows a political prisoner, played by Diego Luna, who is put in prison with another man, played by School of Dramatic Arts alum Tonatiuh, who recounts stories of his favorite Hollywood actress, played by Lopez. It has a screening right on campus next month, including a Q&A from Tonatiuh.

‘It Was Just An Accident’ — Oct. 15

Director Jafar Panahi has had a long and notable conflict with Iran, which has resulted in the director being arrested and banned from making films by the country. Nevertheless, he has continued to make films and recently won the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his efforts. His latest film follows a former political prisoner, played by Vahid Mobasseri, who kidnaps and prepares to kill a man whom he believes tortured him in prison, played by Ebrahim Azizi. It will no doubt create some ripples in the film community, and in Iranian cinema in particular, for some time to come, especially alongside the rest of Panahi’s filmography.

‘Sentimental Value’ — Nov. 7

Get ready for a busy Nov. 7. Joachim Trier’s first film since “The Worst Person in the World” (2021) stars Renate Reinsve, who was also in Trier’s previous film, as an actress who comes home following her mother’s death. There, she must confront the rest of her family, such as her father, played by Stellan Skarsgård, and her sister, played by Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. It won high praise at Cannes, earning the Grand Prix and a 19-minute standing ovation — one of the longest in the festival’s history. 

‘Hamnet’ — Nov. 27

Despite declining retrospective reviews for “Nomadland” (2020) and, uh, let’s call it “mixed reception” for “Eternals” (2021), the prospect of a new Chloé Zhao film is incredibly enticing. Adding on the fact that it is based on the incredibly emotional and beautiful novel of the same name — and that the screenplay was co-written by Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell, author of the book — it is difficult not to imagine this film being one of the most impactful of the year. Following its limited release on Thanksgiving, it will expand to a wide release on Dec. 12.