It looks like this could potentially be a tremendous fall movie season. We all know about the big movies that are scheduled for release – movies like “The Hobbit”, “Skyfall”, “Red Dawn”, “Django Unchained”, “Cloud Atlas”, and my personal most highly anticipated film “Lincoln”. But there are also several movies that will hit the big screen this year that may be flying under the radars of many moviegoers. So instead of listing the most anticipated fall films that you’ll see on many people’s list, I decided to mention five movies that may not be tops on your list but look very, very promising.

#5 – “ARGO”

Ben Affleck has shown that he is a more than capable director. “Argo” is his follow-up effort to last year’s “The Town”. It’s a political thriller that takes place during Iran hostage crisis of 1979. Affleck also stars in the picture which documents a government plan to rescue American hostages by posing as filmmakers in the country to make a fake film. Not only does this sound like an engaging story but it features a fantastic supporting cast including Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, John Goodman, and Victor Garber. This one has a lot of potential.

#4 – “FLIGHT”

“Flight” is director Robert Zemeckis’ first life-action movie since “Cast Away” in 2000. Denzel Washington plays an airline pilot who miraculously saves the lives of everyone onboard his plane after making an emergency landing. But an investigation turns up evidence that the pilot may not be completely innocent. Washington is joined by Don Cheadle, Melissa Leo, John Goodman, and Bruce Greenwood along with Alan Silvestri handling the score. This is an intriguing concept with a superb cast and I’m anxious to see what Zemeckis has in store for us.

#3 – “THE MASTER”

“The Master” is written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the genius behind 2007’s “There Will Be Blood”. “The Master” is getting high praise from critics but not a lot of mention from moviegoers. Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams star in this movie about a charismatic man who starts his own religious organization following World War 2. It looks strikingly funny as well as bold and provocative. This is one that very well may be deserving of the early critical buzz. The best thing is it opens this weekend!

#2 – “ZERO, DARK, THIRTY”

I love Kathryn Bigelow and I was thrilled when she took home her Oscars for “The Hurt Locker”. Now she’s back with a military thriller that documents the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Mark Boal rejoins her and writes the story. Even more exciting is the wonderful cast attached to the project – Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, and Edgar Ramirez. The story has went through a pretty drastic change from its original conception, but I’m still completely sold on this picture. I was really excited about this film at first, but now the teaser trailer has me just plain giddy.

#1 – “LOOPER”

While it’s just now starting to get some TV commercial promotion, it was a while before Rian Johnson’s wild sci-fi thriller “Looper” garnered any attention. But how can you not be excited about a sci-fi action flick starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the beautiful Emily Blunt that’s also from the director of “Brick”? This looks like a stylistic mindbender about hitmen who kill targets sent back to them from the future. From all indications this is a highly original film and one that could be a real treat of the movie year. A spectacular cast, an intelligent director, and some exciting material make “Looper” a must see during the fall movie season.