ScreenRant’s New Movies Team Recs For The Week of Oct. 31

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It can be tough to keep up with all the new movies coming out, and no one wants to waste time on a bad film! Every week, the team at ScreenRant highlights the latest releases – in theaters, for rent, and on streaming services – and shares their recommendations to help you choose what to watch.

October is wrapping up, and that means it’s time for scary movies! But this week offers more than just horror. Alongside serious films hoping for awards, there’s a great mix of exciting blockbusters, interesting independent movies, and genuinely frightening thrillers hitting theaters and streaming.

As a film buff, I’m really excited about what’s coming out this week! There’s a fantastic new movie with Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos – it’s a really unsettling take on a horror classic. Plus, Scarlett Johansson finally made her directorial debut, which is huge! And there’s one horror film everyone’s been raving about. I’m going to break down all the new releases – in theaters, for rent, and on streaming – and let you know what I think you absolutely shouldn’t miss.

New Movies Out In Theaters This Week

  • Bugonia (Wide)
  • Anniversary (Limited)
  • Dracula (Limited)
  • Baahubali: The Epic (Limited)
  • Violent Ends (Limited)

As a big movie fan, I always look forward to Halloween season – it’s the perfect time for a good scare! Luckily, there are some great options hitting theaters this week. I’m especially excited about Anniversary, Dracula, and Violent Ends – they all promise to be pretty intense. Though, if you’re into action or musicals, you absolutely have to see Baahubali: The Epic on IMAX – it’s an experience!

This week’s major new release is Bugonia, which is now playing in more theaters after a limited run last week. Lead New Movies Writer Brandon Zachary believes the film could be an awards contender, praising its strong screenplay and outstanding performances by Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons.

Yorgos Lanthimos’s latest film, Bugonia, is delightfully strange and unique, but never loses touch with real human emotion. Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons deliver exceptional performances, instantly making them awards contenders. Their complex dynamic creates a captivating and often shocking experience, frequently eliciting both laughter and gasps from the audience. Critics at the screening were visibly stunned – a testament to this being Lanthimos’s most accomplished work yet. Bugonia is a darkly comedic and thrilling character study, and easily one of the year’s best films.

New Movies Available On VOD This Week

  • Eleanor The Great
  • The Wrecker
  • Messy

This week’s new streaming releases are mostly independent films, but the biggest release has connections to Hollywood. While both The Wrecker and Messy are interesting options, the standout film is Eleanor the Great, the directorial debut of Scarlett Johansson. Our New Movies Editor/Critic, Rachel LaBonte, was very impressed with it earlier this year.

It’s always interesting to see if an actor can successfully transition to directing, and Scarlett Johansson’s debut film tackles a difficult subject with surprising warmth. Eleanor the Great stars June Squibb as a woman who falsely claims to be a Holocaust survivor – a shocking premise, but handled with care. Thanks to Johansson’s confident direction and Squibb’s charming performance, the film becomes a moving story about loneliness and loss. It’s a story that will likely connect with many viewers, making it a film worth seeing.

New Movies To Check Out On Streaming This Week

  • Hedda (Prime Video)
  • Jurassic World Rebirth (Peacock)
  • Sorry, Baby (HBO Max)
  • Weapons (HBO Max)

This week, streaming offers a wide range of choices, from historical dramas like Hedda and action-packed adventures like Jurassic World: Rebirth, to heartwarming dramedies such as Sorry, Baby, and scary horror films like Weapons. All four are well-made, and our Lead New Movies Writer, Brandon Zachary, especially enjoyed Hedda.

Imagine a movie that blends the elegance of Downton Abbey with the provocative energy of Saltburn. That’s Hedda, a fresh and stylish take on a classic story. Tessa Thompson gives a standout performance in this complex and captivating drama, bringing a modern edge to the original play with explorations of sexuality and gender. Director Nia DaCosta crafts a film where Thompson’s portrayal of the main character is a powerfully destructive force, one that even she can’t control. Hedda is both entertaining and humorous while remaining true to the tragic heart of the source material, making it a truly excellent watch.

Peacock is streaming Jurassic World Rebirth, a hugely popular blockbuster that’s a lot of fun. HBO Max also has two great options this weekend, including Sorry, Baby, praised for its excellent script. But film critic Ross Tanenbaum especially recommends Weapons.

Weapons is a truly original mystery thriller that expertly mixes horror and comedy. The film immediately grabs your attention with a compelling premise: seventeen classmates vanish into the night at the same time. But that’s just the beginning – as the town searches for them, the story takes increasingly unsettling and unexpected turns. Zach Creggers, who previously blended genres effectively with 2022’s Barbarian, has outdone himself with Weapons. I was particularly impressed with how the mystery unfolds through the eyes of different characters. The film also introduces a potentially iconic new horror figure and culminates in an ending that is both disturbing and funny – I won’t give away any spoilers! In a strong year for horror, Weapons is easily one of the best films of 2025.

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2025-10-27 15:22