As fall approaches, streaming platforms are unleashing a wave of fresh titles perfect for cozy nights in. From long-lost cult classics finally restored to billion-dollar blockbusters making their debut online, September 2025 is packed with must-see films. If you’ve been wondering about the best movies streaming now, here are the highlights you can’t miss.

Best Movies Streaming Now: September Picks

Animated and International Gems

Kicking things off is Ghost Cat Anzu, which landed on HBO Max on September 1, 2025. This French-Japanese co-production blends heartfelt humor and surreal adventure, following a young girl and a mischievous spirit cat. Its hand-drawn style and unusual narrative make it one of the best streaming movies right now, particularly for animation fans.

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Equally noteworthy is Hideaki Anno’s Love & Pop, also on HBO Max on September 1, 2025. Once nearly impossible to find, this restored version of the groundbreaking live-action debut from the Neon Genesis Evangelion creator is a treasure for cinephiles.

Classic Horror for Spooky Season

September is synonymous with Spooky Season, and streaming services are leaning in. Netflix offers Francis Ford Coppola’s lush Bram Stoker’s Dracula on September 1, 2025, while Peacock resurrects cult favorite Phantasm II the same day. Paramount+ joins in with slasher nostalgia in Friday the 13th Part VII: Jason Takes Manhattan and Tim Burton’s gothic delight Sleepy Hollow, both available on September 1, 2025. For gothic romance fans, Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak hit Prime Video on September 1, 2025, adding atmospheric chills with his signature visual flair.

New Releases and Fresh Thrills

Disney+ scored a major win with its live-action Lilo & Stitch on September 3, 2025, which has already passed $1 billion at the global box office. Dean Fleischer Camp directs, staying true to the heart of the original while teasing more sequels to come.

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On September 5, 2025, HBO Max premieres A24’s Friendship, pairing Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in a comedy that veers from awkward laughs to unnerving tension. That same day, Apple TV+ debuts Spike Lee’s bold Highest 2 Lowest, a modern remake of Kurosawa’s High and Low starring Denzel Washington as a music mogul.

Starz joins the lineup with Shadow Force on September 6, 2025. Featuring Kerry Washington and Omar Sy as ex-spies protecting their family, this action thriller mixes slick style with intense R-rated action.

Upcoming September Highlights

  • September 10, 2025: Netflix premieres aka Charlie Sheen, a two-part documentary where the controversial actor reflects on his highs, lows, and lessons learned.
  • September 12, 2025: Netflix launches rom-com The Wrong Paris, starring Miranda Cosgrove in a quirky dating competition twist.
  • September 12, 2025: HBO Max adds Alex Garland’s harrowing war film Warfare, based on real-life combat in Iraq.
  • September 19, 2025: Hulu streams Swiped, a dramatization of Whitney Wolfe Herd’s creation of Bumble, and Shudder drops 1980s-inspired slasher Night of the Reaper.
  • September 25, 2025: Nicolas Cage headlines surreal thriller The Surfer on Hulu.
  • September 26, 2025: Hulu closes the month with The Man in My Basement, starring Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe in a tense thriller.

Why It Matters

Whether you’re in the mood for scares, laughter, or nostalgia, September’s slate proves that streaming continues to rival theatrical releases in scope and variety. For viewers searching for new movies to stream, this lineup is stacked with options that deliver both comfort and surprise. From horror cult classics to daring auteur projects, the best movies streaming now cover every mood this fall.

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