NYFF 2025 Sneak Peek: 14 Movies You’ll Definitely Want to Catch (and How)

The 63rd New York Film Festival kicks off on September 26, bringing a flood of premieres of highly anticipated movies. Even if you can’t make it to Manhattan for the premieres, you can stay tuned to Mashable’s coverage for reviews and interviews to know what’s worth watching.

1. After The Hunt

The North American premiere of Luca Guadagnino’s latest drama kicks off the festival. The film stars Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, and Andrew Garfield, delving into themes of sex, desire, and betrayal.

2. Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Bruce Springsteen’s story is the focus of this biopic, exploring his journey to stardom while working on his album “Nebraska.” Starring Jeremy Allen White, the film captures the essence of the American rock star.

3. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Rose Byrne shines in this daring dramedy about a mother struggling to balance her responsibilities. Critics have praised Byrne’s performance, making this film a must-watch.

4. Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost

Ben Stiller pays tribute to his parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, in this personal documentary about their comedy duo.

5. Nouvelle Vague

Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague” is a love letter to the French New Wave, focusing on Jean-Luc Godard and his iconic film “Breathless.”
Linklater brings a fresh take on the 20-day shoot of “Breathless,” focusing on Godard’s unconventional directing style and his relationships with actors Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg. The film also features other key figures from the French New Wave, paying homage to the movement’s pioneers and style by shooting “Nouvelle Vague” in black and white on 35mm film.
Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, “Nouvelle Vague” received positive reviews for its authenticity and detailed recreations of key scenes from “Breathless.” For fans of Godard, this film is a must-watch.
Starring: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, and Aubry Dullin
“How to watch: Nouvelle Vague opens in select theaters on Oct. 31 before debuting on Netflix on Nov. 14.

### 6. Sentimental Value
Director Joachim Trier and star Renate Reinsve, known for their acclaimed film “The Worst Person in the World,” return with the family drama “Sentimental Value.” The film, co-written by Trier and Eskil Vogt, follows estranged sisters Nora and Agnes Borg as they reconnect with their father after their mother’s passing. With heart-wrenching performances, the film earned raves at the Cannes Film Festival and won the prestigious Cannes Grand Prix.
Starring: Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, and Elle Fanning
“How to watch: Sentimental Value opens in theaters Nov. 7.

### 7. No Other Choice
From acclaimed director Park Chan-wook, “No Other Choice” is a dark comedy that delves into the evils of capitalism. The film follows a family man pushed to the edge as he navigates a cutthroat job market to secure his livelihood. With unexpected twists, this NEON release promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won
“How to watch: No Other Choice opens in limited release on Dec. 25.

### 8. FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER
Indie director Jim Jarmusch presents “FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER,” a family drama told over three chapters in different settings. With a talented ensemble cast, including Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, and Indya Moore, this film promises a unique and poignant portrayal of family dynamics.
Starring: Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, and more
“How to watch: FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER opens in limited release on Dec. 24.

### 9. Jay Kelly
George Clooney and Adam Sandler team up in Noah Baumbach’s Hollywood satire “Jay Kelly.” The film follows a suave movie star on the brink of a midlife crisis as he embarks on a journey across Europe with his longtime manager. Expect deep conversations, movie star ennui, and stunning landscapes in this acclaimed film.
Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Billy Crudup

How to watch: Jay Kelly opens in select theaters Nov. 14 before debuting on Netflix on Dec. 5.

10. Pillion

Craving something kinky and surprisingly sweet? Then you’ll be excited for Pillion. In his directorial debut, writer/helmer Harry Lighton hits hard with his sensitive adaptation of Adam Mars-Jones’Adam Mars-Jone 2020 novel Box Hill.

Harry Melling, who many remember as spoiled-rotten Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter movies, co-stars with Alexander Skarsgård is an unconventional romance. The former Potter kid plays a timid young gay man who finds himself tumbling into England’s BDSM scene thanks to a domineering and very hot leather daddy, played by Skarsgård. Together, they forge a relationship that’s full of kink, commands, and understanding. Sure, some will gasp at the onscreen sex and flourishing fetishes. But beneath the leather harnesses, Pillionhas a radiant heart. —K.P.

11. A House of Dynamite

Want to feel a deep sense of existential dread? Then make time for A House of Dynamite, the latest from Academy Award–winning director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty).

A nail-biting thriller, A House of Dynamite centers on America’s reaction to an incoming nuclear missile strike. No one knows who sent the missile; all they know is that they have 18 minutes to save the country from a devastating disaster. Bigelow brings viewers into the missile crisis in real time, repeating the same 18 minutes from the perspectives of officers in the Situation Room (Rebecca Ferguson and Jason Clarke), security advisors (Gabriel Basso and Greta Lee), and of course, the U.S. president himself (Idris Elba).

If A House of Dynamite‘s harrowing trailer wasn’t enough to get you intrigued, let the response out of the film’s premiere at the Venice International Film Festival sway you. Critics praised its intensity, and Bigelow and screenwriter Noah Oppenheim’s ability to tap into anxieties about nuclear war. — B.E.

12. The Mastermind

Josh O’Connor is everywhere this fall! The Challengers star just hit theaters opposite Paul Mescal in the queer romance The History of Sound. In the upcoming Knives Out sequel, Wake Up Dead Man, he joins a star-studded cast for a fresh murder mystery. But in writer/director Kelly Reichardt’s unconventional crime drama The Mastermind, he’s front and center.

Set in the 1970s, this film has O’Connor playing a family man, with a nice house, respected parents, and a good job. But he yearns for something more. So naturally, he plots a heist of the local art museum. Despite the title, he’s not as strategic as one might hope. And when things go sideways, this “mastermind” must scramble to get away with his freedom — even if it means sacrificing all else. A wryly comic tale of self-sabotage, The Mastermind is sure to thrill Reichardt fans and give O’Connor lovers a new side to the talented leading man. —K.P.

13. Scarlet

The New York Film Festival doesn’t often showcase animated features. While the 2024 slate lacked them entirely, the 2023 slate did include Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. That means the bar is high for this year’s animated entry, Mamoru Hosoda’s (Belle) anime epic Scarlet.

On paper, Scarlet is a gender-bending twist on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In reality, it’s far, far stranger, asking, “What if, after his death, Hamlet found himself in a fantasy afterlife where he would have to fight legions of dead soldiers (and maybe even a dragon) in order to get revenge on his uncle Claudius?” Well, that’s exactly what happens to Hosoda’s heroine, Danish princess Scarlet (voiced by Mana Ashida). It’s as bonkers as it sounds, backed up by stunning visuals to match. — B.E.

Starring: Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, and Koji Yakusho

How to watch: Scarlet hits theaters Dec. 12.

14. Is This Thing On?

As a filmmaker, Bradley Cooper is entranced by tales of show business. Following his Lady Gaga-headlined remake of A Star is Born and the Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, he has co-written and helmed Is This Thing On? — a dramedy in which co-writer Will Arnett plays a stand-up finding his way in the NY comedy club scene. But that’s not all.

After years together, married couple Alex (Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern) are splitting up. It’s amicable, sure, but it’s still an emotional minefield. So where better to work out his feelings and issues about a failed marriage and co-parenting than in front of an audience with a two drink-minimum?

It’s a concept and setting that should play well to the hometown audience (and critics). So, a fitting film for NYFF’s closing night. — K.P.

Starring: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, and Scott Icenogle

How to watch:Is This Thing On? will open in theaters on Dec. 19.

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

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