11 of the best films to watch in September
Here are some incredible movies you should look out for in the month of September.
Apollo 13: Survival
In April 1970, a dramatic turn of events unfolded when an oxygen tank on NASA's Apollo 13 spacecraft exploded, leading to a perilous situation for the three astronauts aboard. The remarkable story of their return to Earth has been famously portrayed in Ron Howard’s film starring Tom Hanks as Commander Jim Lovell.
Notably, the movie altered Lovell’s calm phrase, “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” into the now iconic, “Houston, we have a problem.”
A new Netflix documentary delves deeper into this gripping tale, presenting perspectives from the astronauts, their families, and mission control. According to Wendy Ide of Screen Daily, the film offers a "white-knuckle" experience enhanced by previously unreleased material, including home videos from the Lovell family.
Directed by Peter Middleton, the documentary blends archive audio, film, and photography with interviews and fresh footage, creating an intense, cockpit-like reconstruction of the mission’s challenges.
The documentary was released globally on Netflix on September 5.
Speak No Evil
As the summer holidays draw to a close, Blumhouse’s intense thriller Speak No Evil hints that it might be for the best. Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy star as an American couple traveling through Europe, who become friends with a British pair played by James McAvoy and Aisling Franciosi. 
When the Americans accept an invitation to stay at the Brits' secluded cottage, things take a dark turn as the visit quickly grows uncomfortable. However, the Americans' reluctance to confront their unsettling hosts may spell disaster.
This film is a remake of a 2022 Danish feature, which Harper's Bazaar critic Tomris Laffly described as a "grueling, lean and mean genre outing" that pushes viewers to the brink. Could this new version take the horror even further?
Speak No Evil is set to release on 12 September in the UK and 13 September internationally.
The Goldman Case
The Goldman Case is part of a growing wave of acclaimed French courtroom dramas, joining the ranks of Anatomy of a Fall and Saint Omer, both widely recognized.
This film is rooted in the real-life story of Pierre Goldman, a far-left activist convicted of a double murder in 1974. By 1975, Goldman (played by Arieh Worthalter) returns to court to appeal his conviction, transforming his trial into a protest against state racism, antisemitism, and corruption. 
Directed by Cédric Kahn, the film earned eight César nominations, with Worthalter winning Best Actor. His intense performance electrifies the courtroom drama, turning the trial into a deeper critique of institutional injustice. The film releases in the UK and Ireland on 20 September.
Wolfs
For fans of mature male charisma, Wolfs is a must-watch, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, reuniting after their Ocean's Eleven collaborations. This comedy-thriller centers on Clooney as a suave mercenary who specializes in discreetly cleaning up grisly crime scenes before authorities intervene. 
He prides himself on being the best at his craft, likening himself to a "lone wolf." However, his confidence is shaken when Pitt's character is hired for the same task, forcing the two to work together.
Directed and written by Jon Watts, known for the Spider-Man films with Tom Holland, the film was such a success that a sequel is already in the works. Clooney praised the experience, calling the shoot a blast and commending Watts for his talent and joyful approach.
Megalopolis
More than 40 years after first mentioning Megalopolis to journalists, Francis Ford Coppola has finally brought his ambitious sci-fi epic to life.
Despite assumptions that the project would never see the light of day, the 85-year-old filmmaker personally funded the $120 million production, culminating in a story about political power struggles and visionary urban design in a futuristic city called New Rome.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Dustin Hoffman.
While some critics were divided, David Jenkins of Little White Lies hailed it as a "celebration of creative freedom," blending handcrafted neo-classical elements with a script that's playful and avant-garde. Megalopolis was released on September 27 across the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Spain, and Sweden.
The Front Room
Robert Eggers, known for his unsettling period horror films like The Witch and The Lighthouse, often collaborates with his brothers, Max and Sam. Max, who co-wrote The Lighthouse, now steps into the spotlight with Sam as they helm their own horror film, The Front Room.
This film, based on a Susan Hill short story (The Woman in Black), stars Brandy Norwood as a pregnant woman who, along with her husband (Andrew Burnap), hopes to inherit money from his elderly, ailing stepmother (Kathryn Hunter).
However, the stepmother turns out to be not only a religious zealot and racist but potentially far more sinister. The film premiered in the US and Canada on September 6, with upcoming releases in Spain (September 20) and the UK (October 25).
