Movie critics love fall. Especially me. It’s the season when good films traditionally outnumber the godawful. What? Am I really saying that art is getting close to winning the war over commerce? Not in this lifetime. Studios need a major return on their investment. Not just to keep the lights on, but to line their pockets so stockholders will keep them in business. But in fall, quality really does become a factor. Mixed in among the cash cows doing the most mooing—I’m talking “Avengers Doomsday” and “Dune Part III”—are movies with the oomph to break out of the pack and maybe make a difference.
2026 Fall Movie Preview
From sequels to “Avengers and “Dune” to actors on a fast track to Oscar, here are my tippy-top picks for every must-see movie contender released between now and year’s end.
By Peter Travers
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