It’s late October 2025, and the theaters and streaming apps are packed with movies that actually feel worth your time. No more waiting through trailers for half an hour only to realize the movie’s just another rehash. This season, there’s real storytelling, bold visuals, and performances that stick with you long after the credits roll. If you’re wondering what’s worth watching right now, here’s the short list of movies that are getting people talking - not just because they’re new, but because they’re good.
What’s actually good in theaters right now?
You don’t need to scroll through ten streaming menus to find something worth watching. Right now, the best movie in theaters is The Last Light. It’s a sci-fi thriller set on a dying Mars colony, but it’s not about aliens or explosions. It’s about a team of engineers who have to decide whether to save themselves or send the last transmission to Earth - a message that could give humanity a second chance. The lead actor, Lena Voss, gives a performance that’s quiet, raw, and unforgettable. The film’s budget was modest, but the cinematography? It’s hauntingly beautiful. The lighting in the underground tunnels looks like it was painted with ash and moonlight. If you like movies that make you think instead of just shock you, this is the one.
Another standout is The Quiet Season, a small-town drama about a retired teacher who starts a community garden after losing her husband. It’s slow, but not dull. Every scene feels lived-in - the way the protagonist’s hands tremble when she plants seeds, the sound of rain on a tin roof, the silence between two people who’ve known each other for 40 years. It won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance earlier this year, and it’s still playing in 87 cities across the U.S. You won’t see it on every billboard, but if you find a theater showing it, go. It’s the kind of movie you’ll want to watch again with someone you love.
What’s new on streaming platforms?
If you’d rather stay home, here’s what’s worth streaming this week.
On Apple TV+, The Memory Keeper dropped last Friday. It’s a time-loop mystery where a woman keeps reliving the same day - the day her daughter vanished. But each loop, she remembers more. The twist? She’s not the only one stuck. The show’s creator, Ravi Mehta, spent two years researching memory disorders and worked with neuroscientists to make the psychological unraveling feel real. The pacing is deliberate, but the payoff? It’s one of the most emotionally devastating endings you’ll see this year.
On Netflix, Crimson River is making waves. It’s a crime thriller set in the Pacific Northwest, where a detective hunts a serial killer who leaves behind old film reels instead of clues. The reels contain footage from 1987 - footage no one was supposed to have. The movie blends noir with found-footage horror, and the score? A haunting piano piece that repeats like a heartbeat. It’s not perfect - the third act drags a bit - but the atmosphere is thick enough to choke on.
And don’t overlook The Dog Who Knew Too Much on Hulu. Yes, it sounds like a kids’ movie. It’s not. It’s a darkly funny, deeply human story about a woman who inherits a dog that seems to remember her late father’s secrets. The dog doesn’t talk. But it knows where the hidden key is. Where the old bank account is. Where the letters are buried. The film’s written and directed by a first-time filmmaker who used her own dog as the model. The animal performances? Real. No CGI. Just a golden retriever who somehow knew exactly when to look away.
What’s getting overlooked?
There’s always a movie that slips through the cracks. This week, it’s Echoes of the Harbor. It’s a 90-minute film shot entirely on 16mm film in a fishing village in Maine. No dialogue. Just wind, waves, and the sound of a woman repairing nets. She’s grieving. The movie doesn’t say it. But you feel it. The director, Maria Delgado, spent six months living with the locals before filming. She didn’t hire actors - she filmed real people. The result? A movie that feels like a memory you never had. It’s playing in only three indie theaters, but it’s streaming on MUBI. If you’ve ever sat by the ocean and felt like time stopped, this is the movie for you.
What should you skip?
Not everything new is worth your time. Skip Space Cowboys 2. It’s a sequel to a 2002 film with the same cast - now in their 70s - pretending to be astronauts again. The script reads like it was written by someone who hasn’t seen a movie since 2010. The action scenes are recycled. The jokes? Cringe. It’s the kind of movie that exists only because someone thought nostalgia alone could sell tickets.
And avoid The AI Girlfriend on Prime Video. It’s got a $100 million budget, a pop star in the lead, and a plot about a man falling in love with his chatbot. The movie doesn’t explore loneliness. It doesn’t ask hard questions. It just shows a robot crying while playing piano music. It’s cheap, not profound.
Where to watch these movies?
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- The Last Light - In theaters only. Check Fandango or Atom Tickets for showtimes.
- The Quiet Season - In select theaters. Look for indie chains like Alamo Drafthouse or Landmark Theatres.
- The Memory Keeper - Apple TV+ (subscription required)
- Crimson River - Netflix (subscription required)
- The Dog Who Knew Too Much - Hulu (subscription required)
- Echoes of the Harbor - MUBI (subscription required, free trial available)
Most of these are available on platforms you already pay for. No need to sign up for another service unless you’re already a MUBI fan.
What’s coming next?
If you’re looking ahead, November brings The Quiet War - a war drama with no battle scenes, just soldiers waiting in a trench for three days. And The Book of Names, a documentary about a librarian in Ukraine who saved 12,000 books from bombing. Both are already generating Oscar buzz.
But right now? Stick with what’s playing. The best movies aren’t always the biggest. Sometimes, they’re the ones that don’t shout.
Are these movies available on Netflix?
Only Crimson River is currently on Netflix. Other films like The Memory Keeper are on Apple TV+, The Dog Who Knew Too Much is on Hulu, and Echoes of the Harbor is on MUBI. Most of the best new movies this month are spread across different platforms - so check what you already subscribe to before signing up for more.
Is The Last Light worth watching if I don’t like sci-fi?
Yes. While it’s set in space, it’s not about lasers or spaceships. It’s about human choices under pressure - guilt, sacrifice, and what we leave behind. If you liked Arrival or The Revenant, you’ll connect with it. The sci-fi setting is just the backdrop. The story is deeply human.
Are any of these movies suitable for families?
Not really. Most of these films deal with grief, loss, or psychological tension. The Dog Who Knew Too Much is the closest - it’s darkly funny and has a dog as the hero - but even that has mature themes about death and secrets. For families, wait for the November releases. There’s a new animated film called Whispering Woods coming out that’s perfect for kids and parents alike.
Why are some movies only in theaters and not streaming?
Some studios believe certain films - especially those with strong visuals or immersive sound design - need to be seen on a big screen. The Last Light and Earthbound (a new documentary about climate refugees) were made with theaters in mind. Their directors wanted the audience to feel the weight of silence, the crunch of gravel under boots, the hum of machinery in a dying colony. Streaming can’t replicate that yet. If you can, see them on the big screen.
What’s the best movie to watch if I only have an hour?
Go with Echoes of the Harbor. It’s 90 minutes, but it’s so quiet and slow that you’ll feel like you’ve spent an hour just breathing. There’s no plot to follow, no twists. Just images, sounds, and emotion. It’s perfect if you’re tired, overwhelmed, or just need to sit with something real for a while.
Final thought: Don’t just watch - feel
There are hundreds of movies released every month. Most vanish in a week. But a few? They stay. They change how you see people. How you listen. How you sit with silence. This month, those movies are out there. You don’t need to see them all. Just find one that pulls you in. Then let it sit with you. That’s what good movies do.
Samuel Bennett
October 28, 2025 AT 23:01The Last Light? More like The Last Propaganda. They never show you the part where the Mars colony was secretly funded by DARPA to test AI-controlled human sacrifice protocols. You think that transmission was for humanity? Nah. It was a beacon for the next wave of cloned soldiers. I saw the frame where the engineer’s shadow didn’t match his body. That’s not cinematography. That’s a glitch in the simulation.
Rob D
October 29, 2025 AT 03:36Y’all are crying over some indie flicks while the real art is getting buried. The Quiet Season? Cute. But have you seen the budget on Space Cowboys 2? That’s American grit, baby. Old men in space suits kicking alien butt with nothing but grit and a damn American flag. This country used to make movies that made you proud. Now we got people getting weepy over a dog that knows where the key is. What’s next? A cat that solves tax fraud?