October is here, and with that comes the scary movies. There are some exciting upcoming movie releases in theaters in October 2025, but there are also movies for those who want something different.
Whether you want a supernatural horror or you need something a little more realistic, there are some big releases in theaters. Of course, there are some expected flops as well, and you can probably wait for those releases when they come to streaming to save a bit of money.
Let’s dive into the theatrical movies to watch and skip in October 2025.
What to watch: Bone Lake
If you love Bleecker Street movies, then Bone Lake is the one to watch in theaters right now. The horror follows a couple on a romantic vacation that ends up being immediately ruined. You see, the lakeside estate is supposed to be a romantic getaway from everyone else, but there is another couple there. It looks like everything has been double-booked by mistake, but what if it wasn’t a mistake?
In a nightmare of lies and manipulation, dark secrets are about to be revealed. On top of that, there are games to play and bodies to come up. This certainly promises to be more than the usual couple vacation in a cabin-style horror movie.
Bone Lake is out in theaters now.
What to watch: TRON: Ares
Who doesn’t love the TRON movies? There’s something about the digital world and the real world threatening to collide that we’ve constantly been pulled into, and TRON: Ares promises to do it again. This time, Jared Leto is in the lead, and he’s in the real world to warn others of the threat of the digital world.
This is certainly poignant for today’s world of AI. In this world, humans are about to encounter AI beings for the first time. What they think is supposed to be a sophisticated program to make problems better becomes a much bigger threat to the world, and Ares wants to help.
TRON: Ares is in theaters on Friday, Oct. 10.
What to skip: After the Hunt
I hate putting movies on a list to skip, but what I really mean is to wait for it to come to streaming. After the Hunt is one that you won’t need to wait too long for, as it’s heading to Prime Video by the end of October, and that’s the place to watch it.
After the Hunt follows a professor caught in a scandal and unsure of how to handle it, and I think it’s something we can all relate to. You see, we think we know how we’ll react, but that’s not necessarily the case. In this case, she’s caught at a crossroad when a star student makes a claim against one of her colleagues, which then threatens a dark secret of her own coming out.
After the Hunt is in theaters on Friday, Oct. 17.
Black Phone 2
Did anyone expect the first movie to be as amazing as it was? There is no doubt that we’re now ready for the sequel, and Ethan Hawke is back as The Grabber. How is that possible when The Grabber was killed at the end of the first movie? Well, remember the supernatural elements to Black Phone, and how that can play a part in the sequel.
Gwen has suffered from bad dreams all her life, and sometimes, those dreams are rooted in reality. When she ends up with visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp with the black phone, she realizes that The Grabber could be back. She and Finn head to the camp to solve the mystery, and it could be exactly what the Grabber planned.
Black Phone 2 is out in theaters on Friday, Oct. 17.
What to watch: Pets on a Train
Are you looking for something for the whole family? Pets on a Train is the movie for you, and it looks like a cute ball of fun! What could possibly be bad about a racoon leading a bunch of animals onto a train for the buffet on offer?
While on the train, they run into a badger who has taken over the train to use it for his own dastardly plans. If they don’t all work together, they could all die, and there are no humans around to save them. Mixed with Falcoln the Racoon and Rex the Police Dog, they will need to find a way to put differences aside and focus on what they need to do.
Pets on a Train is out in theaters on Friday, Oct. 17.
What to skip: Regretting You
One of the dramatic movies of the month is Regretting You, based on the novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, and this is really what puts it on the skip list. Let’s be honest, the book wasn’t the best of Hoover’s works, and the cast has a few issues in the movie.
The story follows a woman who is determined to prevent her daughter from making the mistakes she once did, and that brings up some issues. After all, one of the mistakes was getting pregnant young, which brings up all sorts of questions for the daughter about whether she was really wanted. If you’re going to watch the movie in theaters, then go in knowing that.
Regretting You is in theaters on Friday, Oct. 24.
What to watch: Stitch Head
How about a horror movie that is family friendly? After all, some kids want to have a bit of a scare this time of year, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Stitch Head is the movie to watch this Halloween season.
Rumor has it that a scary castle is full of monsters, and it is, but not in the way that you’d initially think of them. A crazy professor has created a bunch of monsters and creatures, and they’re all safe as long as they remain in the castle. So, what happens when Stitch Head gets the opportunity to join a circus? Will the monsters head to the village to save him?
Stitch Head is out in theaters on Wednesday, Oct. 29