Which are some of the largest films releasing in October 2023? Akshay Kumar leads the most prominent Bollywood release this month with Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue, a biopic that sees him attempt to rescue a group of 65 miners trapped inside a flooded coal mine. The film reunites him with Rustom director Tinu Suresh Desai and is scheduled to release on October 6 in cinemas. One day before that, prepare yourself for an exhilarating tale of espionage, as Tabu is assigned a highly classified mission to track down a spy within the organization in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Secretive. Starring Ali Fazal (Mirzapur) as her counterpart, the spy-thriller will be available to stream on October 5 on Netflix.
Turning to Hollywood productions, Martin Scorsese’s twenty-eighth feature film, Assassins of the Blossom Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, releases in Indian theaters on October 27. Based on David Grann’s eponymous book, the Western crime drama tells an expansive story of American greed and the resulting series of homicides in the 1920s that shook the foundations of the country. The film is later expected to make its way to Apple TV+. Paul Dano (The Batman) and a group of ordinary individuals send the billionaires on Wall Street into a frenzy by betting on GameStop stock in this David v Goliath dramedy based on the real-life YouTuber Keith Gill. Remember when everyone was downloading the Robinhood app on their phone in early 2021? Yep, that’s the seismic event being chronicled in Craig Gillespie’s Dumb Money, out October 6 in theaters.
The Best Horror Movies to Stream Right Now: Hereditary, The Witch, and More
Other notable releases this month include Five Nights at Freddy’s, an adaptation of the eponymous horror video game franchise that kept ‘Let’s Play’ YouTubers relevant for longer than it should have. Produced by veterans in the genre, Blumhouse, the film releases on October 27 in theaters. For your convenience, we have curated the biggest October 2023 releases coming to theaters, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix, which you can check out below. Also, feel free to browse our Entertainment hub to keep track of any other releases that might interest you.
Secretive
When: October 5
Where: Netflix
Krishna Mehra (Tabu), a shrewd R&AW operative, is thrown into an espionage mission when the agency suspects that there is a mole within its ranks. The primary suspect is Ravi Mohan (Ali Fazal), an officer who has been caught copying India’s defense secrets and other unrelated documents to sell to enemy nations for personal gain. As a result, Ravi’s house is placed under 24/7 surveillance, with agents monitoring his family’s conversations and daily activities, revealing Ravi’s sudden extravagant gifts for his wife Mohini (Wamiqa Gabbi).
His veiled arrogance frequently emerges in conversations, but it is difficult for the agency to determine whether he is serious or not. Panic ensues as Ravi’s cover begins to unravel, causing his wife to doubt his intentions and accuse him of treason — an accusation he vehemently denies, asserting that he is simply planning ahead. Juggling her dual identity as a spy and a lover, Agent KM must now track him down, traveling across countries while ensuring the safety of Ravi’s wife and child, who have been forcibly dragged into the situation. Based on Amar Bhushan’s 2012 novel ‘Escape to Nowhere,’ Secretive marks Tabu’s third collaboration with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj. The film also features Ashish Vidyarthi (Kuttey) as senior officer Viraj Surve and Azmeri Haque Badhon as a ghost from Mehra’s past.
Watch the Trailer for Tabu-Led Secretive, Starring Tabu as an R&AW Operative
Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi in a still from Secretive
Photo Credit: Netflix
Dumb Money
When: October 6
Where: Theatres
Following his role as the Riddler, Paul Dano is once again mobilizing people on social media to overthrow the elites of society in Dumb Money. In this film, he portrays Keith Gill aka RoaringKitty, a YouTuber who utilized his financial knowledge to invest in GameStop stock and encouraged his viewers to do the same, in order to raise the company’s value and disrupt the system. Wall Street becomes the main opposing force, betting on the failure of the business and aiming to make millions in profits for a group of hedge-fund managers. The story focuses on three such short-sellers: Gabe Plotkin (Seth Rogen), Ken Griffin (Nick Offerman), and Steve Cohen (Vincent D’Onofrio), all of whom begin to experience losses in their investments, while regular people start making substantial gains.
Keith and his wife Caroline (Shailene Woodley) begin living a luxurious life, his brother Kevin (Pete Davidson) splurges on a Ferrari, and every morning, he is warmly greeted by grateful citizens whose lives have been turned upside-down. Everything goes smoothly until Wall Street decides to fight back and regain control of its financial empire, with Vlad Tenev (Sebastian Stan), CEO of the trading app Robinhood, preventing users from purchasing additional GameStop stocks. The real-life market manipulation sparked widespread criticism, which I expect Dumb Money to address, as it enables the wealthy to remain wealthy.
Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) directs the film, assembling an ensemble cast that includes Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) as a GameStop clerk, America Ferrera (Barbie) as a viewer of Keith Gill, and Dane DeHaan (The Amazing Spider-Man 2).
Watch the Trailer for Dumb Money, the Reddit v GameStop Biopic
Paul Dano in a still from Dumb Money
Photo Credit: Sony Pictures
Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue
When: October 6
Where: Theatres
In 1989, the walls of the Raniganj coal mines in West Bengal cracked under pressure, causing the caverns to flood instantly and trapping 65 miners underground. With water levels rising and oxygen depleting, saving the unfortunate survivors seemed like an impossible task, much to the despair of the villagers. Enter Jaswant Singh Gill (Akshay Kumar), a former additional chief mining engineer, who initiates a rescue operation despite the objections of his colleagues, who believe that the miners may have been swept away and died. Amidst the cries and anger of the onlookers, the team dedicates the next 48 hours to devising unique techniques to rescue the survivors while ensuring that the walls do not collapse due to the vibrations caused by heavy machinery.
The Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue trailer does not fully explain the rescue plan, but it appears that the team descends through a narrow hole using a life-size tube and rescues the survivors one by one. However, there is one problem: how are they supposed to locate the hole? And so, Jaswant ventures in without much protective gear and helps them navigate through the darkness in hopes of saving them all. It is not as if he does not have much at stake here, considering his wife Nirdosh Gill (Parineeti Chopra) also arrives at the site, exhibiting the utmost faith that her husband, who is a miner at heart, will prevail. Frequent Kumar collaborator Tinu Suresh Desai directs this biopic, which also features Kumud Mishra (Mission Majnu), Dibyendu Bhattacharya (Rocket Boys), and Rajesh Sharma (Darlings).
The Exorcist: Believer
When: October 6
Where: Theatres
With the arrival of the Halloween season comes a fair share of horror films, and this year, it is led by The Exorcist: Believer, a sequel to the groundbreaking 1973 film by William Friedkin. Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) is a devout single father who has successfully raised his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) following the death of his pregnant wife 12 years ago. However, one day, Angela disappears into the wilderness with her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum), only to return three days later, bearing scars, disheveled appearances, and no memory of what transpired. As both families attempt to resume their daily lives, a series of unexpected events unfold, ranging from flickering lights to a possessed and bloodied Catherine entering the local church.
Desperate to save the children, Victor seeks help from a familiar face who once encountered a similar spirit firsthand — Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), who had to cope with her daughter’s exorcism in the original The Exorcist film. However, the spirit in question is stronger than ever, forcing our heroes to perform every ritual known to mankind, regardless of culture or religion. What is even stranger is that both girls seem to be possessed by the same demon, with their heartbeats synchronizing and an unpleasant, yellow tint in their eyes. David Gordon Green, best known for Stronger, directs The Exorcist: Believer, bringing Ann Dowd (Hereditary) on board as the family doctor.
The Burial
When: October 13
Where: Amazon Prime Video
Academy Award-winner Jamie Foxx stars in this courtroom drama as real-life attorney Willie E. Gary, an unconventional yet charming lawyer with an impressive track record — often regarded as a legend among the black legal community. However, in 1995, he finds himself thrown into one of the riskiest cases of his career when Jerry O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones), the owner of a funeral home on the brink of bankruptcy, reaches out to him for help. It turns out that Jerry entered into a wrong deal with Raymond Loewen (Bill Camp) of the infamous Loewen Group, a mortgage broker company that began shutting down Jerry’s funeral businesses.
The latter has never set foot in a courtroom and is only seeking to sue for $8 million. However, his eccentric lawyer urges him to dream bigger and aim for $100 million in compensation. While the stakes are incredibly high, The Burial seamlessly integrates Foxx’s comedic flair to create a hilarious and engaging dynamic with his opposing lawyer Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollett), all while developing an unlikely bond with his client. In the process of exposing corporate corruption, he must navigate themes of racial injustice, pre-courtroom superstitious rituals, family drama, and a prejudiced yet comical lawyer played by Alan Ruck of Succession fame.
Tejas
When: October 20
Where: Theatres
Kangana Ranaut (Queen) takes to aerial combat in this upcoming film by debutant Sarvesh Mewara, which chronicles the life and journey of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Tejas Gill. While not a biopic, the film draws inspiration from the country’s historic decision to enlist its first female fighter pilot in 2016 and aims to represent the brave efforts made by defenders of the nation. There is no Tejas trailer available to gather more information, but the film reportedly features Varun Mitra (Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo) as Tejas’ love interest and a musician.
Assassins of the Blossom Moon
When: October 27
Where: Theatres
Renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese is venturing into the Western genre for the first time in his career, delving into the gruesome murders of the oil-rich Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the early 1920s. The story primarily follows war hero Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), who returns to a peaceful life and reconciles with his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro), the villainous cattle rancher who brought an army of Caucasian settlers to “assist” the natives in controlling the sale and distribution of oil. As greed consumes the “great white father,” Ernest is even persuaded to marry a local Osage woman named Mollie (Lily Gladstone) to further his uncle’s claim on the land.
However, when the bodies of Osage natives start appearing in random locations, a large-scale murder investigation is initiated. FBI agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons) suspects a conspiracy, with William being the prime suspect for orchestrating the contract killings. If you haven’t caught on by now, Assassins of the Blossom Moon essentially tells a tale of greedy individuals who use manipulation to commit cruel, racially motivated genocide and profit from the vast oil reserves beneath the land. Meanwhile, Ernest grapples with conflicting loyalties, torn between supporting his loving wife or cowering in fear behind his uncle’s murderous rampage.
Assassins of the Blossom Moon also delves into the courtroom drama genre, with lawyer W. S. Hamilton (Brendan Fraser) representing the cunning William, and John Lithgow (Interstellar) portraying the prosecutor Leaward, who is determined to convict him of the murders. Scorsese co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth (Dune), which is based on David Grann’s eponymous 2017 non-fiction book. Following its theatrical release through Paramount Pictures, the film is expected to later become available for streaming on Apple TV+.
Watch the Trailer for Assassins of the Blossom Moon, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in a still from Assassins of the Blossom Moon
Photo Credit: Apple TV
Pain Hustlers
When: October 27
Where: Netflix
Single mother Liza Drake (Emily Blunt) is going through a difficult period, from losing her job to witnessing her daughter Phoebe’s (Chloe Coleman) deteriorating health condition. However, luck seems to find her when she crosses paths with Pete Brenner (Chris Evans), a sleazy pharmaceutical sales representative who offers her a job at a struggling drug start-up. Soon, Liza finds herself meeting with some of the most unscrupulous doctors in the country, including one portrayed by Brian d’Arcy James (Spotlight), as they attempt to sell painkillers for cancer patients. But with overnight success comes greed, and the company begins to recommend these drugs for less significant purposes.
Under the guidance of her unbalanced boss Jack Neel (Andy García), who is driven by profit, Liza begins to realize the issues with their marketing strategy and the devastation it is causing to unknowing patients who consume these drugs — ultimately prompting her to take a stand against the monstrous empire she helped create. BAFTA-winner David Yates, renowned for his later Harry Potter films, directs Pain Hustlers, which was acquired by Netflix for around $50 million (approximately Rs. 416 crores). Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) also stars as Liza’s mother, alongside Jay Duplass (The Mindy Project).
Five Nights at Freddy’s
When: October 27
Where: Theatres
After being recently fired from his job, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) desperately accepts a position as a nighttime security guard at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, located adjacent to an indoor amusement park. As he settles into his first shift, with his 10-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio) by his side, he realizes that darker forces are at play once the clock strikes midnight. Through constant monitoring of security feeds and with guidance from local police officer Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), he discovers that the group of eerie animatronic mascots — Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy — are actually alive and poised to kill anything that moves.
Similar to the video games, Mike has limited resources and must survive for six long, horrifying hours until daybreak in order to reunite with his lost sister, all the while battling inner demons from his past. A Five Nights at Freddy’s film has been in development since 2015, changing hands between major producers until Jason Blum took charge and worked closely with game creator Scott Cawthon to align with his vision. As part of the project, Blum hired Emma Tammi (Into the Dark) to direct the adaptation and tasked Jim Henson’s Creature Shop with handcrafting the animatronics. An additional note: I would not be surprised if these animatronics were later used in an actual theme park immortalizing Blumhouse Productions’ most iconic works.
Five Nights at Freddy’s releases on October 27, simultaneously in theaters and on the Peacock streaming service in the US. Currently, it is unclear whether the film will be available for streaming on JioCinema in India.
