The Venice Film Festival is off to a star-studded start, featuring big names like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Dwayne Johnson. Netflix returns with high-profile films, including Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'. A24 is taking bigger risks with higher-budget projects like 'The Smashing Machine'. The festival also features politically charged films addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Ukraine. The success of previous Venice premieres, like 'The Brutalist', is being anticipated for returning filmmakers. Finally, pop star Charli XCX's acting debut is generating buzz.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.