Fall movie season is here, and even if the leaves haven't started turning yet, Hollywood has changed gears with the season and is getting out of popcorn mode and into prestige mode.

Superheroes are taking the season off, in favor of awards hopefuls. There are some blockbusters-to-be waiting in the wings — hello, "Wicked: For Good" — but mostly the season is about quality, or the veneer of quality, as studios offer up award-caliber films in the hopes of building momentum that will carry them through Oscar season. (The Academy Awards aren't until March 15, so get ready for six months of campaigning and Oscar talk from your favorite film obsessives.)

Here's where our fall preview comes in. This is a ranking of the season's most anticipated movies, in terms of box office potential, awards interest and buzz. It's a very imperfect science, considering that last year in this space, the top two films listed were "Joker 2" and Francis Ford Coppola's "Megalopolis." But at least one of those movies was a big swing from a major director betting it all on himself. (The other was "Joker 2," which is best not ever discussed again.)

So here's to the fall movie season, and all the movies we'll be drinking in until Thanksgiving arrives. Dates, as always, are subject to change, as are the validity of our predictions. But that's the fun of it, right?

1. 'One Battle After Another'

Leonardo DiCaprio is starring in Paul Thomas Anderson's latest, the first team-up of the star and the acclaimed director, who were supposed to link up on "Boogie Nights" before DiCaprio turned down the lead role in the porn epic in favor of making a little movie called "Titanic." Let's see if they make up for lost time in this action thriller based on a novel by Thomas Pynchon. (Sept. 26)

2. 'Wicked: For Good'

She's off to see the Wizard. Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in this second half of the smash musical, which arrives a year after "Wicked" took in $750 million at the global box office and earned 10 Oscar nominations. Does it matter that the good songs were all in the first half? We'll see. Also starring Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh. (Nov. 21)

3. 'The Smashing Machine'

Rock smash. That's how Dwayne Johnson, the pro wrestler turned worldwide box office champ, has treated his on-screen career, carelessly jumping from one franchise to the next. But he's never really slowed down to act, and that's what he's doing here in this biopic of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr, which is being helmed by Benny Safdie in his first film not working alongside his brother, Josh. (Oct. 3)

4. 'Bugonia'

In the latest from visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos ("Poor Things"), Emma Stone plays the CEO of a pharmaceutical company who is abducted by two men who believe she is an alien. Jesse Plemons, an Oscar nominee for "The Power of the Dog," is said to be Oscar-worthy as one of the kidnappers, which, if successful, would make him the first "Friday Night Lights" alum to touch Academy gold. (Oct. 24)

5. 'Tron: Ares'

The third chapter in the "Tron" story — the original "Tron" was released in 1982, its follow-up, "Tron: Legacy," arrived in 2010 — stars series newcomer Jared Leto as Ares, an AI sent from the digital world into the real world. Just as importantly, "Ares" features a red color scheme, trading from the traditional "Tron" blue, and what's sure to be a pulse-racing soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails. (Oct. 10)

6. 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere'

"The Bear's" Jeremy Allen White stars as The Boss in this biopic that focuses on the making of Bruce Springsteen's 1982 album "Nebraska" and the relationship between Springsteen and his manager, Jon Landau ("Succession's" Jeremy Strong). Paul Walter Hauser, Gaby Hoffman and Stephen Graham round out the cast, Scott Cooper ("Crazy Heart," "Out of the Furnace") writes and directs. (Oct. 24)

7. 'Sentimental Value'

This Norwegian comic-drama is writer-director Joachim Trier's follow-up to 2021's "The Worst Person in the World," and concerns a veteran film director (Stellan Skarsgård) who abandoned his family years earlier. The film has been riding a wave of buzz since it arrived at this year's Cannes Film Festival and is tipped to be a best picture contender at the Oscars. Renate Reinsve and Elle Fanning co-star. (Nov. 7)

8. 'A House of Dynamite'

Described as a bracing thriller, Kathryn Bigelow's first film since "Detroit" (2017) concerns another Midwestern city, Chicago, which is under the threat of nuclear attack. Idris Elba plays the president of the United States, Rebecca Ferguson plays a senior situation room officer, and the ensemble cast is rounded out by Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Greta Lee, Jason Clarke and Kaitlyn Dever. (Oct. 10)

9. 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'

In what is said to be a career best performance, Rose Byrne plays a mom in full meltdown mode — her daughter is battling a mystery illness, her husband is nowhere to be found, a flood has displaced her from her home and her relationship with her therapist (Conan O'Brien) is on the fritz — in this comic-drama from writer-director Mary Bronstein. Christian Slater and A$AP Rocky co-star. (Oct. 24)

10. 'Jay Kelly'

"Happy Gilmore 2" is not going to net Adam Sandler an Oscar nomination. But this movie might, as the latest from writer-director Noah Baumbach ("Marriage Story") features the Sandman in what is said to be a moving performance, playing the manager of an aging movie star (George Clooney, the Jay Kelly of the title) who is looking back at his life. Also with Laura Dern, Billy Crudup and Riley Keough. (Nov. 14)

11. 'Die, My Love'

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson are a married couple who move from New York City to Montana, where Lawrence's character starts to experience a sort of slow-burn breakdown, in this psychological drama from director Lynne Ramsay ("We Need to Talk About Kevin," "You Were Never Really Here"). LaKeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte co-star. (Nov. 7)

12. 'The Running Man'

In his latest bid to become America's new favorite movie star, Glen Powell laces up Arnold Schwarzenegger's sneakers in this remake of the 1987 action hit, itself based on a Stephen King novel, about a man participating in a murderous game show for a shot at winning a massive cash prize. Edgar Wright ("Hot Fuzz") directs, and Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo and Michael Cera co-star. (Nov. 14)

13. 'The Long Walk'

Another Stephen King story, this one about a group of 50 young men, sent to walk, and keep walking, until only one walker remains. Fall below 3 mph and you're out. Leave the designated piece of pavement and you're out. How long can you last? Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Judy Greer and Mark Hamill star, and "The Hunger Games'" Francis Lawrence directs. (Sept. 12)

14. 'Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale'

The third "Downton Abbey" feature follows 2022's "Downton Abbey: A New Era" — discussion topic: was it a new era? — as the familiar faces and familiar settings from the hit TV show return for a (final?) visit to the world of creator Julian Fellowes. Maybe "Downton Abbey: Endgame" would have been a better title, but Marvel beat them to it. (Sept. 12)

15. 'Him'

Just in time for football season, this sports-themed horror offering stars Tyriq Withers as a gifted quarterback willing to do anything — anything! — to become the next big thing. Marlon Wayans plays his mentor, who shows the young QB the inner sanctum of fame and wealth, in this film from director Justin Tipping and producer Jordan Peele. (Sept. 19)

16. 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey'

Yay, movie stars! Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell star in this romantic fantasy about two strangers and the journey that bonds them together. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge co-star, and the director here is Kogonada, who worked with Farrell on 2021's decidedly non-commercial "After Yang." Backers are hoping this one has a better landing in the marketplace. (Sept. 19)

17. 'Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake)'

This small, grounded, slice-of-life story, which takes place in Michigan's Interlochen area, tells four barely connected stories that unfold in and around Green Lake. The debut film from writer-director Sierra Falconer, herself an Interlochen native, premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and recently landed a distribution deal, and will charm audiences who seek it out. (Oct. 1)

18. 'Black Phone 2'

Enough Stephen King, this story comes from characters created by Joe Hill, Stephen King's son. Ethan Hawke returns as the kidnapper known as The Grabber — he was killed in 2021's "The Black Phone," so it will be interesting to see how he returns — and Mason Thames is back as the youngster who evaded his clutches the first time around. Scott Derrickson returns as co-writer and director. (Oct. 17)

19. 'Frankenstein'

Horror master Guillermo del Toro, a stickler for detail if there ever was one, takes on Mary Shelley's classic 1818 novel about a madman scientist (played by Oscar Isaac) and his monstrous creation (Jacob Elordi) in this adaptation that is said to be very faithful to the source material. Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz co-star. (Oct. 17)

20. 'Predator: Badlands'

In the second "Predator" movie this year, following the animated "Predator: Killer of Killers," and the seventh "Predator" movie overall — side note: when did "Predator" become such a lucrative franchise? — a young Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) teams up with a synthetic being (Elle Fanning) and "Predator" things start to happen. From Dan Trachtenberg ("Killer of Killers," 2022's "Prey"). (Nov. 7)

Also...

Spinal Tap is back in "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues" (Sept. 12)... Matthew McConaughey drives "The Lost Bus" (Sept. 19)... if you're under 4, you're excited for "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" (Sept. 26)... "The Strangers: Chapter 2" asks, once again, is Tamra home? (Sept. 26)... Scarlett Johansson directs "Eleanor The Great" (Sept. 26)... "Good Boy" is a horror movie told from a dog's perspective (Oct. 3)...

Supernatural horror movie "Shelby Oaks" arrives just in time for spooky season (Oct. 3)... Daniel Day-Lewis is back in "Anemone," a psychological drama directed by his son, Ronan Day-Lewis (Oct. 10)... Jennifer Lopez tries once again for an Oscar in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (Oct. 10)... Channing Tatum is a McDonald's thief who hid out in a Toys R Us in "Roofman" (Oct. 10)... the math adds up in "Orwell: 2+2=5" (Oct. 10)... Julia Roberts stars in "After the Hunt," the latest from "Challengers" director Luca Guadagnino (Oct. 10)...

Jafar Panahi's "It Was Just an Accident" won the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival (Oct. 15)... Keanu Reeves stars as an angel in "Good Fortune" (Oct. 17)... Russell Crowe and Rami Malek go toe-to-toe in "Nuremberg" (Nov. 7)... Joel Edgerton has "Train Dreams" as a man tasked with helping build a cross-country railroad (Nov. 7)... Osgood Perkins follows "The Monkey" with "Keeper," his second film of 2025 (Nov. 14)... the thieving magicians return in "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (Nov. 14)... after death, Elizabeth Olsen faces an existential crisis in "Eternity" (Nov. 14)... Brendan Fraser is an actor who finds his way into a "Rental Family" in the buzzed-about new film from Hikari ("Beef") (Nov. 21).

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