Here Are All the Movies Releasing in Theaters This Week, Including ‘Him’

This week brings a lively mix of premieres, fan-favorite re-releases, and special event titles across genres—from sci-fi adventures and true-crime examinations to concert cinema and anime classics. Below you’ll find concise rundowns for each film opening between September 15 and September 21, 2025, with quick plot essentials and who’s behind and in front of the camera.

Dates are noted inside each blurb so you can plan what to see on which day. To keep it useful, each entry focuses on story, cast, and creative teams—so you know what each title is about and who made it—without diving into distribution or rollout details.

‘The Jester 2’ (2025)

Arriving September 15, 2025, ‘The Jester 2’ continues the masked-killer mythology set around Halloween night, this time centering on teen magician Max as she faces a supernatural trickster whose illusions turn lethal. The sequel builds on the original’s lore while returning to the tone of the viral short films that inspired the franchise.

Writer-director Colin Krawchuk returns, with the sinister Jester performed by Michael Sheffield. The cast includes Jessica Ambuehl, Josie Ryanne, and Kaitlyn Trentham. Krawchuk also scripts, expanding the backstory and cat-and-mouse set pieces that drive the Halloween-set narrative.

‘Bauryna Salu’ (2025)

Opening September 17, 2025, ‘Bauryna Salu’ follows 12-year-old Yersultan, who was given to his grandmother at birth under the Kazakh custom “bauryna salu.” After her death, he is sent back to parents he barely knows, setting off a quietly devastating coming-of-age journey rooted in tradition and family.

The semi-autobiographical drama is written and directed by Askhat Kuchinchirekov and stars Yersultan Yermanov, Aydos Ayesbaev, Bigaisha Salkynova, and Dinara Shymyrbaeva. The film premiered in San Sebastián’s New Directors section and went on to represent Kazakhstan in the international feature race.

‘Brownsville Bred’ (2025)

Arriving September 19, 2025, ‘Brownsville Bred’ adapts writer-director Elaine del Valle’s award-winning autobiographical story, following a girl coming of age in 1980s Brownsville, Brooklyn, and the resilience of a family navigating hardship and hope.

The feature marks del Valle’s first narrative film as both writer and director and stars April Hernandez Castillo, Victoria N. Alcala, Karina Ortiz, and Adrienne Acevedo Lovette, expanding a tale that began as an Off-Broadway one-woman show and later a festival-winning short.

‘Apollo 13’ (1995)

Touching down again on September 19, 2025, Ron Howard’s ‘Apollo 13’ dramatizes NASA’s ill-fated 1970 lunar mission as Mission Control races to bring astronauts safely home. The film chronicles the onboard explosion, improvised fixes, and the tense, collaborative push for re-entry.

The docudrama stars Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell, Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert, and Bill Paxton as Fred Haise, with Ed Harris as flight director Gene Kranz and Gary Sinise as backup pilot Ken Mattingly. The screenplay is by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert, adapted from Lovell’s book.

‘Waltzing with Brando’ (2024)

Opening September 19, 2025, ‘Waltzing with Brando’ dramatizes Marlon Brando’s late-1960s plan with architect Bernard Judge to create an eco-friendly retreat on Tetiaroa while he prepared for roles in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Last Tango in Paris.’

Written and directed by Bill Fishman, the biopic stars Billy Zane as Brando with Jon Heder as Judge, joined by Richard Dreyfuss, Camille Razat, Tia Carrere, and others. The film is adapted from Judge’s memoir and blends Hollywood history with Brando’s environmental ambitions.

‘Dirty Boy’ (2024)

Landing September 19, 2025, ‘Dirty Boy’ follows Isaac, a reclusive young man raised inside an oppressive cult, who discovers he’s being framed by its leaders for ritual murders; to clear his name, he must stop the next crime and expose the sect from within.

Written and directed by Doug Rao, the psychological folk-horror stars Stan Steinbichler as Isaac with Susie Porter, Graham McTavish, and Honor Gillies. Shot against striking Alpine backdrops, the film mixes cult dynamics with an unreliable-mind thriller framework.

‘Xeno’ (2025)

Opening September 19, 2025, ‘Xeno’ centers on a teenage girl who befriends an alien after a crash in the desert, pulling her into a secret-laden adventure that tests loyalty, trust, and the boundaries of first contact.

The sci-fi adventure is written, directed, and edited by Matthew Loren Oates and produced by Hartbeat Productions, with Lulu Wilson leading the cast alongside Omari Hardwick and Paul Schneider. Composer Ryan Taubert provides the score.

‘The Senior’ (2025)

Hitting theaters September 19, 2025, ‘The Senior’ tells the true story of Mike Flynt, who returned at age 59 to play college football as a linebacker, confronting unfinished business and generational expectations along the way.

Directed by Rod Lurie and written by Robert Eisele, the drama stars Michael Chiklis as Mike Flynt, Mary Stuart Masterson as Eileen Flynt, Brandon Flynn as Micah Flynt, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry. The film was shot in Texas football venues and runs 99 minutes.

‘Predators’ (2025)

Arriving September 19, 2025, ‘Predators’ re-examines NBC’s ‘To Catch a Predator,’ tracing how the show drew massive audiences and sparked ethical debates around vigilantism, law enforcement partnerships, and televised shaming.

Directed by David Osit, the documentary features new interviews—including with host Chris Hansen—and extensive archival material to explore the program’s rise, fallout, and cultural afterlife. The film premiered earlier this year on the festival circuit.

‘Him’ (2025)

Kicking off September 19, 2025, ‘Him’ is a supernatural psychological sports horror film about a young athlete drawn into the orbit of a legendary champion whose mentorship curdles into manipulation and terror.

Directed by Justin Tipping from a screenplay by Tipping, Zack Akers, and Skip Bronkie, the film stars Marlon Wayans, Tyriq Withers, Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and Jim Jefferies. Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions produces, with a score by Bobby Krlic.

‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ (2025)

Opening September 19, 2025, ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ follows two strangers, Sarah and David, who meet at a wedding and are thrust into a fantastical odyssey that lets them revisit pivotal moments from their pasts and consider the futures they want.

The romantic fantasy is directed by Kogonada from a script by Seth Reiss, starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell with Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Benjamin Loeb serves as cinematographer, and the score is by Joe Hisaishi.

‘In Whose Name?’ (2025)

Arriving September 19, 2025, ‘In Whose Name?’ is a feature documentary filmed over six years inside Ye’s (formerly Kanye West’s) creative and personal orbit, drawing from more than 3,000 hours of footage to capture artistic peaks, controversies, and family moments.

Directed and edited by Nico Ballesteros, the film runs 106 minutes and features appearances from figures across Ye’s world while maintaining an observational approach. Promotional materials emphasize that it offers an unfiltered portrait without on-screen commentary.

‘London Calling’ (2025)

Dropping September 19, 2025, ‘London Calling’ follows Tommy Ward, a down-on-his-luck hitman who flees the U.K. after a botched job and ends up mentoring his crime boss’s son, forcing him to confront his choices in unexpected, darkly comic ways.

Directed by Allan Ungar and written by Omer Levin Menekse, Quinn Wolfe, and Ungar, the action-comedy stars Josh Duhamel, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Rick Hoffman, and Aidan Gillen, with a score by Trevor Morris and a runtime of about 114 minutes.

‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004)

Gliding back into cinemas on September 20, 2025, ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ adapts Diana Wynne Jones’s novel about Sophie, a young woman cursed into old age who finds refuge in the roaming home of the wizard Howl and his fire demon Calci fer, setting off on a tale of courage and compassion.

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, the Studio Ghibli classic features voice performances (Japanese) by Chieko Baishō, Takuya Kimura, and Akihiro Miwa, with music by Joe Hisaishi and editing by Takeshi Seyama.

‘Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe’ (2024)

Singing into theaters on September 21, 2025, ‘Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe’ offers intimate access to the tenor’s life and artistry, weaving personal reflections with performance footage and portraits of family and collaborators.

Directed by Cosima Spender, the documentary features Andrea Bocelli with appearances by Veronica Berti and musical peers including Zucchero and Caterina Caselli. Production and release details note its origins around major festival play and a global cinema rollout.

Share which of these you’re planning to see this week—and why—in the comments!