Best films released in the UK this month: October 2025

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Movie lovers have a lot to look forward to in October! Several films that are expected to be contenders for major awards will be released in cinemas over the coming weeks, after having successful premieres at recent film festivals.

Keep an eye out for two upcoming biographical films that are likely to be strong contenders for Best Actor this year. Dwayne Johnson stars as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, and Jeremy Allen White portrays music legend Bruce Springsteen in the biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

Additionally, Netflix is releasing three highly anticipated films in a few chosen cinemas this month *before* they become available on the streaming service. These include A House of Dynamite directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Frankenstein from Guillermo Del Toro, and Ballad of a Small Player by Edward Berger – all coming to theaters soon.

In other film news, director Yorgos Lanthimos is collaborating with Emma Stone again on the fascinating new movie Bugonia. Actor Harris Dickinson is stepping behind the camera for the first time, directing the critically acclaimed drama Urchin, and beloved independent filmmaker Kelly Reichardt has a new feature, The Mastermind, starring the consistently excellent Josh O’Connor.

And naturally, no October is complete without a big new horror movie – and this year, the most anticipated Halloween release is The Black Phone 2, the follow-up to Scott Derrickson’s successful 2022 film.

To make it easier to find something great to watch, we’ve chosen a few of the top films available this month – you can watch a preview in the video above, or continue reading to see our picks.

Best films released in the UK this month: October 2025

The Smashing Machine

Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve been hearing amazing things about Dwayne Johnson‘s work in this new biographical sports film. It tells the story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, and it’s really interesting because it’s directed and written by Benny Safdie – it’s actually his first project where he didn’t work with his brother, Josh. I’m definitely adding this one to my watchlist!

This film, based on a documentary, chronicles the ups and downs of Kerr’s life and professional journey – showcasing the numerous difficult challenges he faced. Emily Blunt co-stars as his wife at the time, Dawn Staples.

Urchin

Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas

Well-known actor Harris Dickinson steps behind the camera for the first time with this gritty, realistic drama. The film focuses on a man experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction, and stars Frank Dillane in the main role.

The film was highly praised after its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and it’s established Dickinson as a promising director – largely thanks to his skillful incorporation of surreal elements.

A House of Dynamite

Release date: Friday 3rd October in cinemas (24th October on Netflix)

Kathryn Bigelow, the director of Detroit (released in 2017), returns with a gripping political thriller. The film focuses on how the USA would react to an approaching nuclear attack, and the screenplay was penned by Noah Oppenheim, who previously worked as a journalist.

The film features a stellar cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Clarke, Anthony Ramos, and Idris Elba – who plays a fictional US President. The story follows the different reactions to a crisis, showing events from three viewpoints and progressively moving up the levels of authority with each new chapter.

I Swear

Release date: Friday 10th October in cinemas

Robert Aramayo stars in this dramatic film, which tells the story of John Davidson – a Scottish activist who bravely lived with Tourette’s syndrome. Davidson was the subject of two highly-praised BBC documentaries and received an MBE in 2019 for his work.

Directed and written by Kirk Jones, and featuring performances by Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan, and Shirley Henderson, the film has all the elements of a popular success, while also thoughtfully exploring the challenges experienced by people living with the condition.

Tron: Ares

Release date: Friday 10th October in cinemas

The third Tron film – and the first since Tron: Legacy in 2010 – essentially restarts the series. Jared Leto plays a brand new character: a highly advanced program called Ares.

The film features performances by Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters, Greta Lee, and returning star Jeff Bridges. The story centers around what happens after Ares, an AI, is transferred from the digital realm to the real world on a risky assignment – representing humanity’s initial contact with artificial intelligence.

Ballad of a Small Player

Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas (29th October on Netflix)

Director Edward Berger, known for Conclave, collaborates with Colin Farrell in this suspenseful psychological thriller. The story centers on a gambler trying to escape his problems in Macau, and also features performances by Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton. Learn more about the cast and the film’s plot!

Chen portrays the enigmatic Dao Ming – who is characterized as “a casino worker harboring her own hidden truths” – and provides assistance to Farrell’s character. However, he soon finds himself facing scrutiny from a private investigator (Swinton) who has been following his movements for a while.

Frankenstein

Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas (7th November on Netflix)

Guillermo del Toro has at last brought his dream project to life – a visually stunning take on Mary Shelley’s famous gothic novel, Frankenstein. It’s a project he’s been developing for a long time.

Oscar Isaac portrays the main character, a troubled scientist, and Jacob Elordi plays the creature he brings to life. The film also features strong performances from Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.

The Black Phone 2

Release date: Friday 17th October in cinemas

Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, and Madeleine McGraw reprise their roles in this follow-up to the 2022 horror movie. Scott Derrickson also returns, serving as both the writer and director.

The movie centers around 15-year-old Gwen (McGraw) who starts getting unsettling phone calls and seeing frightening images of three boys being hunted at a winter camp. This leads her and her brother Finn (Thames) to try and stop the menacing Grabber (Hawke) and uncover the truth behind what’s happening.

After the Hunt

Release date: Wednesday 22nd October in cinemas

The newest movie by director Luca Guadagnino is a drama featuring Julia Roberts as a university professor. She’s facing challenges in both her personal life and career when a coworker is accused of a serious offense.

The film’s cast features Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and frequent collaborators with director Guadagnino, Chloe Sevigny and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas

Jeremy Allen White plays Bruce Springsteen in this movie about the musician’s life. It focuses on the time he recorded his 1982 album, Nebraska, and how he dealt with becoming famous while also confronting difficult memories from his past – needing to “reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past”.

The film also features a strong supporting cast, including Jeremy Strong as Jon Landau, his record producer and manager, Stephen Graham as his father Douglas, and Odessa Young as Faye Romano, his love interest.

The Mastermind

Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas

This art heist film, set in the 1970s, features performances by Josh O’Connor and Alana Haim. It’s directed by Kelly Reichardt, a well-respected indie filmmaker, and received positive reviews after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

O’Connor stars as James Blaine Mooney, a family man who becomes an art thief. He’s compelled to flee after he and two accomplices brazenly steal four paintings from a museum in broad daylight.

Bugonia

Release date: Friday 24th October in cinemas

As a big film fan, I’m really excited about the new movie from director Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone! It’s a sci-fi black comedy where Stone plays the CEO of a huge company, and the really interesting thing is that she might actually be an alien with a plan to destroy Earth. It sounds totally wild and I can’t wait to see it – Lanthimos always delivers something unique!

Inspired by the 2003 South Korean movie Save the Green Planet!, the story centers around two men – portrayed by Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis – who are convinced there’s a conspiracy. They kidnap the CEO of a company to try and prove their belief about who she really is.

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2025-10-01 09:36