- Play Hard
- 24th Oct 2025
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What we’re watching on the big screen this October
Autumn’s here, which means new films, darker nights and the perfect excuse to spend a few hours in the cinema.
While October is, of course, the month of horror (our Halloween special is on its way) there’s also a strong line-up of action, comedy, drama, and plenty of scares.
The Smashing Machine – out 3rd October
Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) directs this powerful biographical sports drama starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, with Emily Blunt as his wife, Dawn Staples. Based on the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, it captures Kerr’s rise and unravelling during the wild “no-holds-barred” era of early UFC.
Him – out 5th October
From Oscar-winner Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us, Nope) comes a slow-burn psychological horror about ambition, power and fame. A promising young footballer joins an isolated training compound run by an aging superstar (Marlon Wayans). As mentorship curdles into manipulation, the film becomes a nightmarish study of obsession. Expect tension, social commentary, and jump-out-of-your-seat scares.
Night of the Zoopocalypse – out 10th October
Based on a story by horror maestro Clive Barker (Hellraiser), this animated adventure proves even he has a playful side. When a strange cosmic event turns zoo animals into slobbering zombies, the uninfected must survive until dawn. Think Madagascar meets Shaun of the Dead. Chaotic, weird, and surprisingly heart-warming.
Good Boy – out 10th October
A haunted house story told entirely from a dog’s perspective. When a loyal pup senses dark forces haunting his new home, he’ll do anything to protect his owner. Director Ben Leonberg’s film is fast becoming one of the year’s most-talked-about horrors, though be warned: if you can’t handle peril for pets, bring tissues.
Tron: Ares – out 10th October
The digital world collides with reality in Tron: Ares, starring Jared Leto as a program sent into the human world on a dangerous mission that marks first contact between AI and mankind. Directed by Joachim Rønning, it’s sleek, neon-lit and thought-provoking – best experienced in IMAX for full sensory overload.
I Swear – out 10th October
This biographical drama follows real-life campaigner John Davidson and his journey growing up with Tourette’s in 1980s Britain – a time when few understood the condition. Alienated and determined, Davidson fights to live a normal life while educating those around him. A moving, hopeful story about resilience, misunderstanding and finding your voice.
Good Fortune – out 17th October
Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari and Seth Rogen star in this high-concept comedy that’s part Trading Places, part Dogma. When a struggling man swaps lives with his obnoxious boss, thanks to an over-worked guardian angel, both discover that wealth doesn’t equal happiness. Expect body-swap chaos, sharp laughs and a touch of existential charm.
The Black Phone 2 – out 17th October
Four years after escaping his abductor, Finn (Mason Thames) discovers that evil doesn’t die easily. Ethan Hawke returns as “The Grabber” in a chilling sequel that expands the original’s supernatural mythology. With director Scott Derrickson back and author Joe Hill (Stephen King’s son) behind the story, it’s set to be this year’s must-see scare.
Roofman – out 17th October
Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman stars Channing Tatum as Jeffrey Manchester, a former army ranger who robs fast-food chains by cutting through their roofs, before hiding out in a Toys “R” Us for six months. When he falls for a store employee (Kirsten Dunst), his double life unravels. A wild blend of heist, romance and survival story.
Bugonia – out 31st October
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, Poor Things) returns with another darkly comic masterpiece. Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed men (Jesse Plemons and Aiden Delbis) who kidnap a tech CEO (Emma Stone), convinced she’s an alien plotting humanity’s destruction. Expect absurd humour, unsettling visuals and a perfect Halloween release date.
Chris Kingston
Entertainment Writer
Chris is Laura's brother and the font of all knowledge when it comes to anything related to TV, film and books. He provides our popular round-ups on what to watch at the cinema, the TV not to miss, and new cultural releases.
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