61st CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL
By Lori Vernon
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
12 illinoisentertainer. com october 2025
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he 61st Chicago International Film Festival, North America’ s longest-running competitive film festival, takes place from October 15 to 26 and features a lineup of notable films. Highlights include the opening night premiere of Kevin Shaw’ s One Golden Summer, David Freyne’ s closer, Eternity, and the Centerpiece Presentation- Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser. Special features include tributes to Nia DaCosta, HIKARI, Euzhan Palcy, Joel Edgerton, Clint Bentley, and a Kelly Reichardt Retrospective. The festival features 39 World, North American, or U. S. film premieres. Visit www. chicagofilmfestival. com for full details and screening schedules. Here are some other top picks in theaters this month:
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Directed by Scott Cooper Rated NYR • October 24- In Theaters
Chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’ s( Jeremy Allen White) 1982“ Nebraska” album when he was a young musician on the cusp of global superstardom, struggling to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past. Recorded on a 4-track recorder in Springsteen’ s New Jersey bedroom, the album marked a pivotal time in his life and is considered one of his most enduring works— a raw, haunted acoustic record populated by lost souls searching for a reason to believe.
Roofman
Directed by Derek Cianfrance RatedR • October 3- In Theaters
Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester( Channing Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’ s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname Roofman. After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys“ R” Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh( Kirsten Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.
Killing Faith
Directed by Ned Crowley RatedR • October3-InTheaters
In the Arizona summer of 1859, a grieving, faithless doctor( Guy Pearce) reluctantly agrees to escort a former slave( DeWanda Wise) on her 4- day journey across the unforgiving West to cure her daughter, whom she believes is possessed. Bill Pullman and Tim Roth co-star in this supernatural thriller.
TRON: Ares
Directed by Joachim Rønning Rated PG-13 • October 10- In Theaters
Follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’ s first encounter with A. I. beings. The film stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, with Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges. Featuring original music from Nine Inch Nails.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Directed by Bill Condon Rated NYR • October 10- In Theaters
Valentín( Diego Luna), a political prisoner, shares a cell with Molina( Tonatiuh), a window dresser convicted of public indecency. The two form an unlikely bond as Molina recounts the plot of a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna( Jennifer Lopez). Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical hit.
After The Hunt
Directed by Luca Guadagnino RatedR • October 17- in Theaters
In this gripping psychological drama, a college professor( Julia Roberts) finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student( Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues( Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light.
* Black Phone 2 Directed by Scott Derrickson