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September’s streaming slate suddenly feels like a mini-film festival: 10 notable premieres (from Disney’s live-action juggernaut to three A24 titles) land across Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and more. These are the films critics are already arguing about and the ones likely to dominate weekend charts; some debuted theatrically and hit streaming fast. Want to know which to queue first, which will spark memes, and which deserve appointment viewing? Read on for a ranked, source-backed list and the one embed you’ll want to watch before you hit “play.”
What To Know About September’s Streaming Drop: 5 Fast Facts You Need
- Disney’s Live-Action “Lilo & Stitch” Debuts Sept. 3 On Disney+, after grossing $1 billion worldwide.
- A24 Places Three Major Titles On Streamers This Month: “Friendship,” “Warfare,” “Highest 2 Lowest.”
- “Friendship” Made $16M Domestically In Theaters Before HBO Max Arrival (cult spring hit).
- Several films (Spike Lee’s, Garland’s) Arrive Post-Limited Theatrical Runs—watching at home shifts awards momentum.
- Release Clusters: Early-September (Sept. 1–5) Is Packed—plan a weekend watchlist if you care about premieres.
Which 10 New Films Are Worth Your Streaming Queue In Sept 2025?
#1 – Why Lilo & Stitch’s $1B Smash Demands A Disney+ Night In
If You Loved The Original, Expect Big Budget Heart: Disney’s live-action remake arrives on Disney+ Sept. 3 after grossing $1 billion worldwide — America’s lone billion-dollar movie of 2025 so far. Variety flagged the film as the summer’s biggest hit; the remake trades some cartoon charm for glossy family spectacle. Want a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for kids and nostalgic adults? This is it.
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#2 – What Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” Means For Apple TV+ This Sept 5
A Star-Studded, Moral-Thriller Return: Spike Lee’s NYC-inflected take on Kurosawa lands on Apple TV+ Sept. 5 after a limited theatrical run, with Denzel Washington facing high-stakes moral choices. Critics praised its sensational third act; if you follow prestige directors, this is appointment viewing. Will it fuel awards chatter or spark debates about remakes? You decide.
#3 – Why A24’s “Friendship” Feels Like A Spring Cult Hit On HBO Max Sept 5
Weird, Dark, And Uncomfortably Funny: Tim Robinson’s “Friendship” (bowed theatrically, $16M domestic) lands on HBO Max Sept. 5 and blends black-comedy cringe with star power (Paul Rudd). Expect viral clips and thinkpieces—if cringe comedy is your lane, this will haunt your timeline.
#4 – Why Alex Garland’s “Warfare” Is A Must-Stream Thriller On Sept 12
Tense, Real-Time Combat Drama Now On HBO Max: “Warfare” arrives streaming Sept. 12 with an ensemble including Joseph Quinn and Will Poulter, grounded in co-director Ray Mendoza’s Iraq War experience. If you like edge-of-seat realism and director-driven storytelling, pencil this in.
#5 – Why “Dangerous Animals” Could Be The Scariest Horror To Stream Sept 5
Cannes-Bred Fear, Now At Home: Shudder’s shark-serial-killer shocker drops Sept. 5 after Cannes praise. The hook—an unhinged tour guide who feeds victims to sharks—reads like pure nightmare fuel. Horror fans: this should be on your Halloween warm-up list.
#6 – What The Wedding Banquet’s Rom-Com Twist Means On Paramount+ Sept 8
A Modern Rom-Com With Stakes: Andrew Ahn’s take on Ang Lee’s premise debuts Sept. 8 on Paramount+, mixing IVF, queer family drama, and a marriage caper. If you want a rom-com that leans into real-world stressors, invite this to date-night rotation.
#7 – Why “All Of You” Feels Like Brett Goldstein’s Next Streaming Win Sept 26
Charm, Chemistry, And A Matchmaking Premise: Brett Goldstein’s rom-com “All Of You” comes to Apple TV+ Sept. 26, pairing him with Imogen Poots. Expect warm laughs and a streaming audience that loves character-led charm—perfect if you binge relationship comedies.
#8 – Why “The Man In My Basement” Should Be On Your Hulu Radar Sept 26
A Creepy, Literary Thriller For Curious Viewers: Adapted from Walter Mosley, this Hulu pick arrives Sept. 26 with Willem Dafoe in a menacing role. It’s a slow-burn, uncanny bargain-of-a-watch for readers who like their cinema cerebral and unsettling.
#9 – What To Expect From Netflix’s “The Wrong Paris” On Sept 12
A Light-Hearted Escape With A Location Twist: Miranda Cosgrove’s rom-com (think dating-show chaos) hits Netflix Sept. 12—Paris, Texas, not France. If you want comfort streaming and a low-stakes laugh, this one’s tailored for feel-good scroll-stopping.
#10 – Why Liam Neeson’s “Ice Road: Vengeance” Keeps Netflix Action Alive Sept 15
Big-Budget Action For Late-Summer Streaming: Liam Neeson heads to Nepal in this survival thriller arriving Sept. 15 on Netflix. It’s precisely the kind of adrenaline-laced popcorn flick that climbs Netflix’s charts; if you like brute-force heroics, don’t miss it.
Which 3 Numbers Tell You September’s Streaming Pulse?
| Indicator | Value | Change/Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Titles In This List | 10 Films | Concentrated Sept. drop across platforms |
| Biggest Box Office | $1,000,000,000 | Lilo & Stitch Leads 2025 grosses |
| A24 Titles This Month | 3 Titles | High critical interest, festival-to-stream pipeline |
Which Releases Will Spark The Biggest Reaction This Fall — Will You Stream Or Skip?
Between a $1B Disney blockbuster and multiple A24 prestige titles, September’s slate forces a trade-off: appointment viewing or casual queueing. If you loved theatrical momentum, stream early to stay part of the conversation; if you prefer sleeper hits, mark the A24 and Garland films. Which will you binge opening weekend—and who will dominate your group chat? Pick one and dare your friends to disagree.
Sources
- https://variety.com/lists/best-movies-streaming-september-2025/
- https://variety.com/feature/whats-on-disney-plus-new-shows-movies-1203517920/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2025/09/05/fall-movies-2025/

Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.
