Summer always comes and goes so fast, but for those who enjoy spending time outside instead of catching a movie, the autumn months offer that reprieve to spend an evening checking out the most recent in-theater offerings. Foractionfans, the fall months of2025are looking particularly exciting with some familiar faces in new features alongside some anticipated sequels. These 8 films should all be on your radar, starting with a new film from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson in September, and ending with an explosive cat-and-mouse action film starring fan favorite Dave Bautista.
Here are 8 must-watch action movies coming to theaters in Fall 2025.
8’One Battle After Another'
In Theaters September 26
Written, directed and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson,One Battle After Anotheris centered around former revolutionary Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is forced to take matters into his own hands when his daughter is kidnapped. Gathering past ex-revolutionaries to his cause, Bob is in a race to save his daughter while also having to evade the tyrannical law-enforcement agent Colonel Steven Lockjaw (Sean Penn).
One Battle After Anotherhas been building hype up to its release thanks to itsphenomenal ensemble cast, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Alana Haim, and Wood Harris. For Anderson, this marks his biggest budgeted project to date, with a reported budget around $140 million guaranteeing viewers will see the director at his biggest and boldest yet. For technical geeks, the movie is also a fun throwback visually, opting for being entirely shot on 35mm film using VistaVision camera.
7’Long Shadows'
Set at the American frontier in the 1880s,Long Shadowsfollows fictional figure Marcus Dollar (Blaine Maye), a young man whose life has been shaped by the murder of his parents and growing up in an orphanage. When he is able to live on his own, Marcus finds a mentor in a guilt-ridden ex-outlaw, Dallas Garrett (Dermot Mulroney). Together, the two navigate a path of ambiguous morality in their quest for revenge in an unforgiving American landscape.
A character-driven Western with spurts of violence,Long Shadowshas seen early praise on the festival circuit for its psychological depth and strong performances. Moreover, the film has been marked as an impressive directorial debut from actor William Shockley, capturing the beauty and potential danger of the wild West with an impressive level of skill for the first-time director.
6’Tron: Ares'
In Theaters October 10
The ultra-stylish world of Tron seeps into the real world, when an advanced AI program known as Ares (played by Jared Leto) crosses over from the digital realm. Initially sent under the intent of harboring peace and a new era of Ai integration into society, as Ares becomes sentient he starts to question his role among humans. With growing distrust towards Ares from various powers, a global conflict soon breaks out.
The Tron films have always been a spectacle, with a push to bring the video-game-inspired action and visuals onto the screen in a big way. For its part, Tron: Ares looks to be the biggest and boldest project yet in the franchise, melding the digital world with ours in a way that looks visually captivating. The exploration of AI also offers a relevant reflection on our own moral quandaries with the emerging technology, givingTron: Aresan engaging cultural relevancy.
5’Mortal Kombat II'
In TheatersOctober 24
With the Mortal Kombat tournament now in full swing, it is up to Earth’s heroes to battle against Outworld’s champions. The stakes? Only the fate of Earth if they cannot beat Shao Kahn at his tournament. The entry in the franchise includes the much-awaited addition of Karl Urban to the cast,stepping into the shoes of the cocky action star Johnny Cage.
Promising to be bigger, bloodier, and more chaotic than the 2021 film,Mortal Kombat IIlooks to bring chaos to the screen in a big waywhen the rated-R film releases on October 24th. Alongside the much-awaited addition of Johnny Cage to the cast, longtime fans of the games and the movies can expect to see the return of Cole Young, Sonya Blade, Liu Kang, Jax, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Kung Lao, alongside new additions like Kitana, Jade, Sindel, Baraka, and the franchises new antagonist Shao Kahn.
4’Predator: Badlands'
In Theaters November 7
Predator: Badlands follows an unlikely protagonist in Dek, a young Predator (know as Yautja), who is abandoned by his clan and forced to prove his merit as a hunter to be welcomed back. Dek finds an unlikely ally in his quest when he comes across a humanoid android named Thia (in an exciting nod to another beloved sci-fi franchise).
Predator Badlandslooks to build on the momentum built up by the franchise’s previous offering,Prey, by taking another unique approach in turning a deadly alien into the film’s protagonist.Predator: Badlandswill further the lore of the fearsome race of alien hunters, and help further expand the long-beloved sci-fi franchise. While the move may seem like a risk, the franchise remains in the capable hands of director Dan Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison, who impressed fans with 2022’sPrey.
3’The Running Man'
In Theaters November 14
Set in a grim, dystopian vision of a near-future America,The Running Manfollows Ben Richards (Glen Powell), a desperate working-class man who enters a broadcast competition to attempt to gain money to save his daughter. As a ‘runner’, Ben must survive 30 days with a bounty on his head while the world’s deadliest assassins are hot on his trail. As Richards begins to defy the odds, his popularity grows, and he soon becomes a tool to fight the greater corruption behind the deadly competition show.
Edgar Wright is the ideal director to tackle the remake of the beloved 1980s action film. Moreover, fans of Stephen King’s original work, published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, are beingpromised a more faithful adaptation of the original novel. Yet, a single watch of the trailer shows what action fans are craving more than anything: stylish, high-octane action delivered under the skilled hands of Edgar Wright.
2’Now You See Me: Now You Don’t'
Talented illusionists and professional criminals, the ‘Four Horsemen’ – Danny Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) – are joined by a new generation of illusionists to pull off the heist of a valuable jewel. The journey takes the team on a globe-trotting adventure across the world.
While the firstNow You See Mewas a hit and a fan favorite, the sequel fell out of favor with audiences, leaving the franchise’s future in doubt. However,Now You See Me: Now You Don’tis set to revitalize the franchise by bringing in a new group of illusionists and an exceptional behind-the-scenes crew.Notably, the movie has brought on writer Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland,Deadpool,Venom) to ensure the series stays true to its roots of punchy comedy and action.
1’Trap House'
Set in El Paso, Texas,Trap Housefollows an undercover DEA agent (played by Dave Butista) who is trying to chase down the hardest target of his career: his own children. Growing up and learning from their father, the teens use their knowledge of infiltration and technology to rip off a violent cartel and head into hiding. This act puts their father in the precarious situation of trying to enforce the law while protecting his children.
Offering an intriguing twist on a familiar formula, the details about Trap House still leave a lot of unknowns, with it being the last action blockbuster of Fall and the first film of the production company Aura Entertainment. Still, the release of a pulse-pounding trailer and the inclusion of Dave Butista, backed by a talented crew in director Michael Dowse (Goon,Stuber) and writers Gary Scott Thompson (Fast & Furiousseries) and Tom O’Connor (Hitman’s Bodyguard) make this one worthy of keeping an eye on as more details arise.
