That loud sound you're hearing in the movie world? It's Oscar buzz combined with the whirr of Tim Horton's coffee machines.
The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing as Hollywood brings its awards-ready finest as well as populist fare to the Great White North. There are best picture contenders, naturally, like the legal thriller "Fjord," journalism movie "Ink" and Spanish film "La Bola Negra." Newer voices take the spotlight with Rebel Wilson's directorial debut "Girl Group" and Siân Heder's "CODA" followup "Being Heumann." And all-star outings such as "The Debut" (with Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti) and "Wild Horse Nine" (Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich) help set the tone for the next several months of cinematic conversation.
Follow along with us as we're on the ground in Toronto for the fest (which runs through Sept. 20) and ranking every movie we see:
4. 'River'
The phenomenon "Obsession" premiered last year at TIFF, and this year teams up two recent scream queens, Jane Levy ("Evil Dead," "Don't Breathe") and Jessica Rothe ("Happy Death Day"). In Joshua Giuliano's unnerving directorial debut, they play estranged sisters who meet up with their younger brother (Max Mattern) to spread their late father's ashes over the lake they frequented as kids. Things take a turn for the worse when they see a mysterious masked killer with big Jason Voorhees energy, and they have to survive the night in a slasher movie with awesome sound design and a surprisingly deep narrative tying family matters with bloody terror.
3. 'The Devils'
There were eight minutes cut out of the American release of Ken Russell's 1971 controversial, button-pushing horror drama – and when you see them, you understand why. (No spoilers but they involve wild nuns and a crucifix.) "The Devils" has gotten new life with a NC-17-rated 4K restoration, and while it's very much of its time, the often shocking and gleefully absurdist satirization of church and state also seems extremely relevant now. Based on Aldous Huxley's "The Devils of Loudun," the movie stars a fantastic Oliver Reed as the charismatic priest who makes the wrong enemies with his sexual fervor, while Vanessa Redgrave is memorably divine as the hunchbacked nun lusting after him.
2. 'Being Heumann'
Director Siân Heder showcased the deaf community with her Oscar-winning breakthrough "CODA," and she does it again with another marginalized community in this crowd-pleasing period drama. "Heumann" centers on activist leader Judy Heumann (Ruth Madeley), her work to get people with disabilities equal access and rights and her 1977 sit-in/takeover of the San Francisco federal building – a protest that makes it all the way to the literal doorstep of Joe Califano (Mark Ruffalo), the exasperated secretary of health, education and welfare. Madeley is a revelation as the spitfire Judy amongst a number of talented actors with disabilities, and "Being Heumann" satisfies as a biopic though doesn't pack the same emotional punch as "CODA."
1. 'Fjord'
Cristian Mungiu's legal family drama presents every parent's worst nightmare set against a relatable culture clash and panoramic Norwegian vistas. Mihai (Sebastian Stan) and Lisbet (Renate Reinsve) have recently moved from Romania, though the conservative religious upbringing they follow for their children doesn't sit well with the progressive community around them. When the couple is suspected of child abuse, their five kids are taken away by child protective services. "Fjord" offers up a slew of moral dilemmas for its audience with no easy answers, and courtroom scenes honestly show both sides' thought-provoking points for a gripping experience that doesn't let up.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best movies we saw at 2026 Toronto Film Festival, ranked
