The 10 most must-see movies of fall, from 'Dune' to 'Halloween Kills'

The latest James Bond film "No Time to Die" was supposed to be one of our must-see films of 2020. That is, until 2020 was pretty much canceled by COVID-19.

That old British super spy is hard to kill and so is the movie business, so we're daring to get our hopes up for it again because the new action extravaganza is – finally, fingers crossed – coming out this fall. And so are a bunch of other major films that were pandemic-delayed, like another "Halloween," a "Sopranos" prequel and the anticipated sci-fi adaptation "Dune."

For movie fans coming out of the summer-movie season, October is so stacked it looks like July (but with a few more Oscar-ready movies), and folks will be able to find good stuff during the next two months at theaters or on streaming devices.

Here are the 10 movies you absolutely, positively must see this fall. (Suffice it to say, thanks to the delta variant, release dates are tentative and may change.)

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'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' (Sept. 17)

Stars: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Vincent D'Onofrio

Director: Michael Showalter

The skinny: The biopic showcases Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker – she of the over-the-top eyelashes, excessive makeup regimen and peculiar singing style – as the 1970s and '80s televangelist and her husband, Jim (Garfield), crafted the rise and then watched the fall of the world's largest religious broadcasting network.

Where to watch: In theaters

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'Dear Evan Hansen' (Sept. 24)

Stars: Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Amy Adams

Director: Stephen Chbosky

The skinny: Reprising his Tony Award-winning role in the cinematic version of the popular coming-of-age musical, Platt stars as a high school senior with anxiety disorder who finds a way to finally fit in – through self-acceptance and also deception – after the suicide of a fellow classmate.

Where to watch: In theaters

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'The Many Saints of Newark' (Oct. 1)

Stars: Michael Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Vera Farmiga

Director: Alan Taylor

The skinny: In the anticipated "The Sopranos" prequel, Michael Gandolfini takes on his late father James' signature role as a young Tony Soprano. Years before he becomes a crime boss himself, the teenager idolizes his mobster uncle Dickie (Alessandro Nivola) at a time where a brewing gang war threatens the race-torn New Jersey city.

Where to watch: In theaters and on HBO Max

'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' (Oct. 1)

Stars: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams

Director: Andy Serkis

The skinny: In the superhero sequel, San Francisco journalist Eddie Brock (Hardy) is still figuring out daily life with the alien Venom symbiote existing inside of him when he has to deal with a new enemy: convicted serial killer Cletus Kasady (Harrelson), who's transformed into the powerful and vicious Carnage.

Where to watch: In theaters

'No Time to Die' (Oct. 8)

Stars: Daniel Craig, Lashana Lynch, Rami Malek

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

The skinny: Whenever it finally comes out, the 25th Bond film also happens to be Craig's last. And in the new adventure, the British secret agent comes out of retirement and teams with the new 007 (Lynch) as well as a CIA agent (Ana de Armas) to take down a vengeful terrorist (Malek) with technology that threatens the globe.

Where to watch: In theaters

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'Halloween Kills' (Oct. 15)

Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak

Director: David Gordon Green

The skinny: After surviving the last fiery encounter, Michael Myers is again on a bloody killing spree through Haddonfield and an injured Laurie Strode (Curtis), her daughter (Greer) and granddaughter (Matichak) form a vigilante mob to take the masked maniac down once and for all.

Where to watch: In theaters and on Peacock

'The Last Duel' (Oct. 15)

Stars: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer

Director: Ridley Scott

The skinny: Set in 14th-century France and told from male and female perspectives, the historical drama follows a battle-hardened knight (Damon) whose wife (Comer) accuses his friend and squire (Driver) of rape. The husband challenges the man to a duel to the death that affects the lives of all parties.

Where to watch: In theaters

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'Dune' (Oct. 22)

Stars: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac

Director: Denis Villeneuve

The skinny: A young man with a big destiny, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) travels with his family to an extremely dangerous planet, a locale full of monster sandworms and the home of a precious resource that endows people with extraordinary abilities. It's adapted from Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel.

Where to watch: In theaters and on HBO Max

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'The Harder They Fall' (Oct. 22)

Stars: Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Regina King

Director: Jeymes Samuel

The skinny: In the Western drama with a largely Black cast, outlaw Nat Love (Majors) learns his rival Rufus Buck (Elba) has been released from prison and rounds up his old gang – including his former love (Zazie Beetz) and loyal associates (Edi Gathegi and R.J. Cyler) – for a mission of revenge.

Where to watch: In theaters (and on Netflix Nov. 3)

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'Last Night in Soho' (Oct. 29)

Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith

Director: Edgar Wright

The skinny: The psychological horror film stars McKenzie as a young modern-day fashion designer who finds herself transported to 1960s London and into the body of her idol, a glamorous singer (Taylor-Joy), though this dreamy retro life soon turns into a nightmare scenario.

Where to watch: In theaters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fall movie preview: 10 must-see films, from 'Dune' to 'Venom 2'