From left, Denzel Washington stars in the western remake “The Magnificent Seven; Felicity Jones stars in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; a snail takes to the mic in the sing-along comedy “Sing;” and Tom Hanks returns as Robert Langdon in “Inferno.”
By W. Derek Russell
Daily Journal
With summer winding down and school back in session, the lackluster box office returns on what is normally a blockbuster season gave us little in the way of memorable summer films. High profile films like “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” “Warcraft,” “The Legend of Tarzan,” “Independence Day: Resurgence,” “Ghostbusters” and “The BFG” under-performed amid comic book franchise releases like “Suicide Squad” and “Captain America: Civil War.”
With fall just around the corner, the upcoming slate of films doesn’t give much in the way of laughs or family-friendly offerings for a weekend at the cinema. In fact, you’ll see more R ratings on theater posters this season than any of recent memory. Drama reigns supreme from now through the end of the year. Keep reading to find out about new films releasing this year.
“DON’T BREATHE”
Opens Friday
In what some critics are calling one of the most intense horror films of the last 20 years, “Don’t Breathe” follows a group of friends trying to pull off a heist in the home of a wealthy blind man. It’s rated R for violence, terror, disturbing content and language. It’s showing at Cinemark Movies 8.
“MORGAN”
Opens Sept. 1
This intense thriller follows a corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) who is sent to a remote, top-secret location to investigate a terrifying accident, triggered by a seemingly innocent experiment. Paul Giamatti also stars. “Morgan” is rated R for brutal violence and some language.
“SULLY”
Opens Sept. 9
Tom Hanks stars as Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger, the pilot who landed flight 1549 on the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, saving all his passengers. Clint Eastwood directed the drama that’s rated PG-13 for peril and brief strong language.
“SNOWDEN”
Opens Sept. 16
Oliver Stone directs Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. Shailene Woodley, Tom Wilkinson, Melissa Leo, Scott Eastwood and Timothy Olyphant also star in the biopic that’s rated R for language and sexuality.
“BRIDGET JONES’S BABY”
Opens Sept. 16
Renée Zellweger returns as Jones who is working on getting her life together after her most recent break-up from Mark (Colin Firth). Patrick Dempsey also stars in the comedy that’s rated R for language and nudity.
“BLAIR WITCH”
Opens Sept. 16
A sequel to 1999’s “The Blair Witch Project,” the film follows a group of college students venturing into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland trying to uncover what happened to three filmmakers 20 years ago. It’s rated R for language, terror and some disturbing images.
“THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN”
Opens Sept. 23
A remake of the 1960 film of the same name, the story follows the town of Rose Creek, under the deadly control of a wealthy industrialist, who rise up and employ protection from seven outlaws. Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onfrio star in the western that’s rated PG-13 for extended and intense sequences of violence and some language.
“STORKS”
Opens Sept. 23 (take the kids)
Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer lead an all-star voice cast in this animated feature that shows where the storks work at that deliver babies. It’s rated PG for mild action and thematic elements.
“MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN”
Opens Sept. 30
Based on the popular young adult novels, the film follows a boy named Jake that discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times when he uncovers a secret refuge known as the Home for Peculiar Children. It’s rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy action and peril.
“DEEPWATER HORIZON”
Opens Sept. 30
Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell star in the story of the true events that occurred when an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. It’s rated PG-13 for prolonged intense disaster sequences and related disturbing images.
“THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN”
Opens Oct. 7
Based on the best-selling novel, the thriller follows Rachel (Emily Blunt) who sees a shocking event and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds. It’s rated R for violence, sexual content and language.
“MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE”
Opens Oct. 7 (take the kids)
Based on the popular book series from author James Patterson, the comedy chronicles the trials and triumphs of junior high student Rafe Khatchadorian as he uses his wits to battle bullies and the tyrannical, test-obsessed principal. The film has not yet been rated.
“BIRTH OF A NATION”
Opens Oct. 7
Amid the controversy from the film’s director, “Birth of a Nation” is still set for release to tell the story of Nate Parker, a slave and preacher whose financially strained owner accepts an offer to use Nate’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves while orchestrating an uprising in the hopes that it will lead to freedom. The film is rated R for disturbing violent content.
“THE ACCOUNTANT”
Opens Oct. 14
Ben Affleck stars as Christian Wolff, a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people, who works for the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. It’s rated R for strong violence and language.
“JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK”
Opens Oct. 21
Tom Cruise returns as military police agent Jack Reacher from the popular series of novels. Cobie Smulders also stars in the action film that’s rated PG-13 for violence and language.
“KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES”
Opens Oct. 21
One of the few comedies releasing this fall, the film follows an ordinary suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher) who find their ultra-sophisticated new neighbors (Jon Hamm & Gal Gadot) are more than what they bargained for. It’s rated PG-13 for action violence and brief strong language.
TYLER PERRY’S “BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN”
Opens Oct. 21
Just in time for Halloween, Tyler Perry’s popular Madea character returns to the screen to do battle with ghosts, ghouls and zombies. It’s rated PG-13 for crude humor and language.
“A MONSTER CALLS”
Opens Oct. 21 (take the kids)
Based on the award-winning children’s fantasy novel, the film follows 12-year old Conor who attempts to deal with his mother’s illness and bullying from his classmates by escaping into a fantastical world of monsters and fairy tales that explore courage, loss and faith. It’s rated PG-13 for thematic content.
“INFERNO”
Opens Oct. 28
Tom Hanks returns as symbologist Robert Langdon from “The Da Vinci Code” who tries to stop a global genocide scheme by following the clues of Dante’s “The Divine Comedy.” It’s rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence and some language.
“DOCTOR STRANGE”
Opens Nov. 4
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as comic book character Dr. Strange, a self-centered New York surgeon who learns to tap into psychic powers to battle evil in the fourteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star in the action adventure that’s rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence and some suggestive content.
“TROLLS”
Opens Nov. 4 (take the kids)
The popular Troll dolls from the 1980s come to life in this animated film featuring the voice talents of Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, James Corden and Gwen Stefani. The film has not yet been rated.
“ARRIVAL”
Opens Nov. 11
When mysterious spacecrafts begin appearing across the globe, a team of investigators (Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker) is brought in to make contact. The film is not yet rated.
“ALMOST CHRISTMAS”
Opens Nov. 11
The unlikely story of an estranged family that reunite for their first Christmas together since the death of their beloved matriarch stars Omar Epps, Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover and Nicole Ari Parker. It’s rated PG-13 for suggestive material, drug content and language.
“BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK”
Opens Nov. 11
Told through flashbacks from the point-of-view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn who becomes a hero after a harrowing battle in Iraq and is brought home for a victory tour. Ang Lee directed the drama that is not yet rated.
“FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM”
Opens Nov. 18 (take the kids)
Set in New York 70 years before the Harry Potter saga, the film follows New Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) on an excursion to document an array of magical creatures. Written by “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, the adventure has not yet been rated.
“MOANA”
Opens Nov. 23 (take the kids)
Disney and Pixar’s latest offering tells the story of Moana who sets sail for a fabled island with the help of hero, the demi-god Maui. It’s rated PG for some scary action.
“KIDNAP”
Opens Dec. 2
A mother (Halle Berry) will stop at nothing to find her child’s abductors. The thriller is not yet rated.
“OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY”
Opens Dec. 9
Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman and Kate McKinnon star in this comedy of a company that must pull off the ultimate holiday party to impress a new client an close a sale that will save their jobs. It’s not yet rated.
“LA LA LAND”
Opens Dec. 16
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star in the story of an aspiring actress and a dedicated jazz musician who struggle to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking spirits. It’s rated PG-13 for some language.
“ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY”
Opens Dec. 16
Set in the days leading up to 1977’s “Star Wars,” the film tells the story of a rogue band of resistance fighters charged with stealing plans to the Empire’s new weapon, the Death Star. The new installment of the franchise is not yet rated.
“COLLATERAL BEAUTY”
Opens Dec. 16
An all-star cast, including Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton and Keira Knightley star in this drama about a New York advertising executive following a deep personal tragedy that rallies his co-workers to devise a plan to break him out of his depression. It’s not yet rated.
“THE FOUNDER”
Opens Dec. 16
Michael Keaton stars as salesman Ray Krock who maneuvered himself into a position to take over the McDonald’s franchise and create a billion-dollar empire. It’s rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
“ASSASSIN’S CREED”
Opens Dec. 21
Based on the popular video game franchise, Michael Fassbender stars as Callum Lynch who uses revolutionary technology to unlock genetic memories and experience the adventures of his ancestor in 15th Century Spain. It’s not yet rated.
“PASSENGERS”
Opens Dec. 21
Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are two spaceship passengers in suspended animation who wake 90 years too early and are faced with living the rest of their life with only each other. The science fiction drama is not yet rated.
“SING”
Opens Dec. 21 (take the kids)
Set in a world totally inhabited by talking animals – voiced by the talents of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson – the film follows five contestants of a singing competition trying to save a failing theater. Featuring 85 recent songs, the animated children’s comedy is rated PG.
“THE SPACE BETWEEN US”
Opens Dec. 21
One of only two sci-fi offerings in the last half of 2016, the film tells the story of the first human born on Mars. It’s not yet rated.
“WHY HIM?”
Opens Dec. 25
Bryan Cranston stars as an overprotective but loving dad who meets his worst nightmare: his daughter’s new socially awkward boyfriend, played by James Franco. The comedy is not yet rated.
“FENCES”
Opens Dec. 25
Based on the 1985 play of the same name, “Fences” tells the story of a once promising baseball player now working as a garbage collector to make ends meet for his wife and son. The drama is not yet rated.
“GOLD”
Opens Dec. 25
Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a failing businessman and modern-day prospector desperate for a lucky break in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. The adventure film is not yet rated.
derek.russell@journalinc.com
Twitter: @wderekrussell