September Set to Deliver Horror, Thrills, and Family Fun at teh Box Office
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LOS ANGELES, CA – September 2025 is shaping up to be a diverse month for theatrical releases, with Lionsgate’s continuation of a modern horror saga, a new action thriller from a celebrated auteur, and a family-pleasant adaptation leading the charge.
The Strangers: Chapter 2 | Lionsgate
Premiering at Fantastic Fest this month, The Strangers: Chapter 2 is slated for release on a date originally intended for Saw XI (currently undated). Directed by Renny Harlin and starring Madelaine Petsch, the film builds upon the story begun in 2024’s The Strangers: Chapter 1, which earned $35.2M domestically and $48.1M worldwide. This new Strangers trilogy is a reimagining of the 2008 cult horror hit and was filmed back-to-back in 2022. Harlin has indicated that the sequels will focus on the psychological and emotional consequences experienced by Petsch’s character over four days, expanding the mythology while intensifying the horror.
One Battle After Another | Warner Bros.
Paul Thomas Anderson returns on September 26 with one Battle After Another, a bold action thriller featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro. DiCaprio stars as Bob Ferguson, a disillusioned ex-revolutionary living off-grid with his daughter Willa (Infiniti). When a past adversary (Penn) reappears and Willa goes missing, Bob is compelled to re-enter a life he left behind. The film boasts cinematography by Michael Bauman (Licorice Pizza) and a score by Jonny Greenwood, promising a fusion of Anderson’s artistic style with an action-driven narrative. Reportedly, Anderson trimmed the runtime following positive but insightful test screenings.
gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie | Worldwide Pictures
Also debuting on September 26,Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie brings the popular Netflix preschool series to the big screen in a live-action/animated musical adventure. Directed by Ryan Crego and produced by DreamWorks Animation, the film stars Laila Lockhart Kraner reprising her role as Gabby, alongside new cast members gloria Estefan as grandma GiGi and Kristen Wiig as the villainous Vera. The story follows Gabby as she embarks on a journey through the real world to rescue her dollhouse and Gabby Cats from Vera during a road trip to Cat Francisco. Gabby’s Dollhouse is currently the sole wide-release family film scheduled for September, with no direct competition untill the holiday season.
