Wonder Watchlist

I am a fall and winter person through and through; as a Michigander, I thrive during the cozy chill of the season. In September, I watched seventeen titles, most of them new releases. It’s that time of year when I get sent numerous emails to check out films released throughout the year to consider for Michigan Movie Critics Guild’s award season. An exciting time of year, but I still wanted to mix in some older titles to keep me going as I wade through some of the best and worst movies released in 2026. What I wasn’t expecting when I jumped into September was just how mind-blowing some of my movie experiences would be, and thankfully I was able to cross a lot of films off my watchlist that had been there for far too long!

As this little slice of the internet reaches more and more people, which I have to thank you all for your continued support, I get lots of messages that this series in particular is a favorite. If you are a fan of these posts, I post a ranking of all the films I watch in September over on Instagram (including the bad stuff), so follow me there if you’d like!

For our runners-up this month, there are quite a few: Resident Evil (2026), Mārama, Night Moves, Ah Girl, and By Yourself.

Faces of Death Dir. Daniel Goldhaber

Synopsis: “A woman, employed as a website content moderator, comes across a series of violent videos reproducing death scenes from a film.”

My quick thoughts: I am so mad at myself for waiting until September to watch this one. It’s easily one of the best, and most timely, horror films released this year. In the Hollywood ecosystem, a legacy sequel done like this is a breath of fresh air. I loved the score, and it’s tied with Mother Mary for my favorite film score of 2026. Barbie Ferreira absolutely nails her role as Margot Romero; she’s instantly likable, even with a job I truly don’t envy. The film itself has some wild kills that shocked me more than once. Glad I went in as blind to this as I could with Faces of Death, and I can’t wait to catch it again.

Akira Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo

Synopsis: “A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath that only two teenagers and a group of psychics can stop.”

My quick thoughts: I have been waiting for the perfect time to watch Akira, and with its re-release this year, I finally took my fiancé up on his offer to watch it. It takes nearly no thought for me to say that this is literally the best anime film I’ve ever seen. While watching it, I thought of that meme of Leo in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood where he snaps his fingers and points. So many iconic shots, themes, and visuals from Akira have found their way into so many films since its release. The best part was sitting next to my partner as his face lit up at his favorite moments, and seeing what about the films resonated with him so much.

Hope Dir. Na Hong-jin

Synopsis: “In the remote South Korean village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok and officer Sung-ae are called to investigate a mysterious creature wreaking havoc on the community. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.”

My quick thoughts: Hands down Hope is the wildest film I watched in September. To this very moment, I couldn’t tell you what I was expecting when I walked into my showing of Hope. And honestly, even weeks later, it’s still hard to do it in just a few sentences. The best way I can describe it is a blend of something George Miller and James Cameron would concoct if they were one person. Some of the best action pieces and car chase scenes happen in Hope. I was instantly hooked with its use of slow motion when Hoyeon showed up and kicked major butt. For the film’s entire runtime (almost), I wondered when Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender would show up, and I had a big smile on my face when the film ended.

Emily Dir. Frances O’Connor

Synopsis: “The imagined life of one of the world’s most famous authors, Emily Brontë, as she finds her voice and writes the literary classic Weathering Heights. Explore the relationships that inspired her – her raw, passionate sisterhood with Charlotte and Anne; her first aching, forbidden love for Weight-man and her care for her maverick brother whom she idolises.”

My quick thoughts: I wasn’t the biggest fan of this year’s Weathering Heights from Emerald Fennell. Personally, I didn’t feel the gothic yearning and toxicity I do with other interpretations of Emily Brontë’s classic novel. But thankfully, I found a copy of Emily at my local thrift store and snagged it as quickly as possible. I am in love with this film; its chilly, whispering winds over never-ending moors decorate the life of a uniquely talented young woman. It has everything: forbidden love, steamy intimacy, and an uplifting nature for all odd lover girls out there. Watching this in in September aided the ambiance; I got completely lost in this film.

Primetime Dir. Lance Oppenheim

Synopsis: “In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history, turning an undercover investigation into one of the most controversial cultural phenomena of the decade.”

My quick thoughts: As a child who grew up in the early 2000s, I knew Chris Hansen as a household name. To Catch A Predator was at the height of popularity when I was a kid, so when Primetime was announced with my favorite actor as the lead, I was excited to say the least. Primetime is now my favorite film of 2026 because of the way it explores child and teen exploitation, both from sexual predators and entertainment vultures, neither of which is acceptable. Pattinson is on a completely different level than I’ve seen him at before; his performance as Chris Hansen had me laughing but quickly falling into a panic as the film progressed.

Thanks for checking out my favorite first watches of September! Make sure you subscribe for more reviews, lists, and interviews.