Now that the summer movie season has fizzled out, it's time to start gearing up for the rollout of the fall slate, which is typically equal parts excitement, Oscar bait and dramatic fare that's meant to keep us stimulated through the season, capitalizing on the constant holiday breaks and general thirst for something other than big-budget spectacle fare. That's not to say there aren't a few of those, but on the whole we're looking at a pretty diverse group of films, including the return of two of the 80s biggest action stars to franchises that made them, two Stephen King sequels, two clowns wrecking havoc, two TV movie sequels, two Disney sequels and two dope-smoking fiends on yet another road trip. Oh, and of course, The Rock and some lightsabers. And some really creepy looking Cat people. All said, if you can't find anything in that roster to watch, then you can always stay home and Netflix take care of you with a gangster pic from Scorsese. The below list is curated between myself and Chris Bumbray, checking off the films we're most looking forward to, either out of genuine excitement or genuine curiosity in terms of how it will perform. There's certainly more coming out than what's listed here, but these are the ones we'll be keeping our eyes on.
The much-anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing horror film of all time is upon us and expectations are through the roof. Director Andy Muschietti returns to Stephen King's acclaimed novel, bringing the second half to life with the previous cast, as well as an all new adult cast of “The Losers”, including James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader. Oh, and Bill Skarsgard is back to freak everyone out as the infamous Pennywise. Can this sequel top the success of the first? I can't imagine anyone that saw Chapter One would want to miss this. Check out our review tomorrow! – Paul Shirey
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Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julie Stiles, Keke Palmer and more star is this true story about a bunch of strippers who banded together to rob their wealthy clients during the financial crisis. While it may not sound especially commercial, the tracking on this one has been great, and certainly STX thinks the have the goods, securing this one a Gala premiere at TIFF. – Chris Bumbray
Sylvester Stallone returns in one of his most iconic roles in RAMBO: LAST BLOOD, the fifth iteration of the character on the big screen. One might expect the legendary action star to be losing some steam at 73 years old, but Stallone is all in once again, looking like he hasn't missed a beat as the former Green Beret who is NOT to be messed with. This time out he's protecting his family against Mexican cartels in what looks to be another explosive romp in the world of John Rambo. Director Adrian Grunberg (GET THE GRINGO) takes on directing chores this time out and Paz Vega (SPANGLISH) joins in on the action. One of our most anticipated of the season! – Paul Shirey
AD ASTRA hits theaters after months and months of delays. While many are predicting a financial flop, the reviews out of the Venice Film Festival are encouraging, with many saying this take of an astronaut (Brad Pitt) sent out in search of his father (Tommy Lee Jones) is the APOCALYPSE NOW of space movies. It’s directed by James Gray (THE LOST CITY OF Z), who’s never tackled the genre before, but cites Stanley Kubrick as an influence. If anything, it sounds unconventional for a studio tentpole. – Chris Bumbray
Confession time; I've never seen a single episode of DOWNTON ABBEY. That said, there's most certainly an audience for the movie, which picks up after the events of the final season, this time welcoming a royal visit from King George V and Queen Mary to the famed Abbey. Most of the surviving cast is back, including Matthew Goode, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville and many more. While it's a niche title for sure, fans are certainly in for a treat. With The Breaking Bad movie also hitting this fall, it seems everyone gets a little bit more from some of their favorite shows. Why not, eh? – Paul Shirey
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Todd Phillips’s passion project BATMAN prequel/re-imagining, JOKER, is already among the most controversial films of the year. While Joaquin Phoenix apparently gives a magnetic performance, will the film survive the endless thinkpieces that have already been written about it – before it even comes out! Suffice to say, this could be a game changer for comic book movies either way it shakes out. It’s worth noting that early reviews are calling this a masterpiece so… – Chris Bumbray
Read our early review HERE!
Eddie Murphy is back! After a wave of second-string projects, Murphy gets back in the saddle for a biopic about Rudy Ray Moore AKA Dolemite, the legendary actor who helped make the blackspoitation genre the phenomenon it was. Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, American Crime Story), a duo that knows their way around true-life tales and directed by Craig Brewer (HUSTLE & FLOW, BLACK SNAKE MOAN), this one has all the makings of a comeback for Murphy, who is also joined by castmembers Wesley Snipes, Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Rock, Snoop Dog, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, T.I. and Kodi-Smit McPhee. – Paul Shirey
“Fargo”’s Noah Hawley directs this psychological drama, about an astronaut (Natalie Portman) who suffers through depression and an unhealthy relationship with a fellow astronaut (Jon Hamm) when she returns to earth. Apparently based, in part, on the story of Lisa Nowak. Hawley’s TV shows are always highly cinematic, so I’m curious to see what he does with a feature. This one is due for a premiere at TIFF next week. – Chris Bumbray
Ang Lee is back behind the camera in this sci-fi action tale starring Will Smith as an aging assassin who must confront his greatest threat; a younger clone of himself. Written by Game of Thrones' David Benioff, Billy Ray (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS) and Darren Lemke (SHAZAM!), GEMINI MAN looks to be a heavy-handed thriller, polished by Lee's dramatic and energetic style (and shot in high frame rate 3D) and co-stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Clive Owen. The only question now is if audiences will turn up for twice the Will Smith? We'll see… – Paul Shirey
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Aaron Paul returns as Jesse Pinkman in this “Breaking Bad” spinoff film, which is heading for a Netflix debut in October. Not much is known about it, other than the fact that it centers on Jesse following the events of the finale, where he’s still a fugitive and has just survived months of captivity. Vince Gilligan wrote and directed the film, which presumably will feature other “Breaking Bad” alumni, although only Charles Baker’s Skinny Pete is confirmed so far. – Chris Bumbray
Well, this one came out of nowhere and looks like it could be a great little flick for the fall season. ANIMAL KINGDOM's David Michod and Joel Edgerton have crafted a take on the story of Henry V, the English monarch who picks up the crown after his tyrannical father dies. Timothée Chalamet takes on the lead role in what looks to be a juicy middle ages drama with some intrigue, betrayal and violence. Chalamet is joined by a cast that includes Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Pattinson and Sean Harris, giving that much more incentive to give this one a shot. – Paul Shirey
Jay and Silent Bob are back! Kevin Smith brings back the pot-smoking duo first made famous in his debut film CLERKS with a bevy of guest stars from the View Askew Universe and beyond. Joining the comedic hijinks in the JAY AND SILENT BOB REBOOT are, of course, Smith and co-star Jason Mewes, as well as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Hemsworth, Val Kilmer, Melissa Benoist, Rosario Dawson, Justin Long, Joey Lauren Adams, James Van Der Beek, Molly Shannon, Joe Manganiello, Jason Lee, Jason Biggs, Fred Armisen, Craig Robinson and surely some more surprises. At this point you're either in or out for what a Jay and Silent Bob movie has to offer, so act accordingly. I'll be there for sure, even if it's awful. – Paul Shirey
Taika Waititi’s follow-up to THOR: RAGNAROK hits TIFF next week, and certainly has already get some pretty major hype going for it. An irreverent black comedy/satire set in WW2 era Germany, this centres around a lonely German boy who’s imaginary friend is none other than Adolf Hitler – played by Waititi himself. Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant and Alfie Allen co-star. – Chris Bumbray
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It's been 10 years, but the zombie-slaying team of Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and Wichita (Emma Stone) are back in action, re-teaming with director Ruben Fleischer to see if they can hit another home run with the late-to-the-party sequel. With the zombie craze seeming to cool off a bit, you have to wonder if enough people still care enough to watch the comedic brutality of this crew yet again (joined by Zoey Deutch, Luke Wilson, Thomas Middleditch, Dan Aykroyd and Rosario Dawson) or if the undead are actually dead at the box office. – Paul Shirey
Angelina Jolie returns as the former antagonist of Disney’s SLEEPING BEAUTY, who was given a heroic overhaul last time, to the tune of something like $700 million worldwide. She returns in this sequel, which is now directed by KON-TIKI and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES director Joachim Ronning. – Chris Bumbray
It’s finally here! Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster tale, which enters around a real-life gangster, Frank Sheehan, affiliated with Jimmy Hoffa back in the day. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino (as Hoffa) are all, famously, using CGI to look twenty years younger, something which drove the price tag to an estimated $200 million, making it Netflix’s most ambitious film to date. My only worry here is that if the theatrical rollout doesn’t bring it to Montreal I might not get the chance to see it on the big-screen! – Chris Bumbray
Writer/Producer James Cameron returns to the franchise that put him on the map, working with DEADPOOL director Tim Miller to attempt yet another re-launch of THE TERMINATOR franchise with TERMINATOR: DARK FATE. The first step was bringing back Linda Hamilton in her iconic role as Sarah Conner, as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger in some semblance of a role as a T-800. Mackenzie Davis joins the party as the “protector” that's actually an enhanced human rather than a Terminator, while the big bad comes in the form of Gabriel Luna with Natalia Reyes being the protectee. With Cameron saying this could kick off a new trilogy, he's got a lot of convincing and good will to win back after the last three sequels failed to launch anything more than regret. – Paul Shirey
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A longtime passion project for Edward Norton, who not only stars in this adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s novel, but also wrote, produced and directed this epic length detective flick, which departs from the novel by making it a period piece with it’s circa 1955 setting. Norton stars as a gunshoe afflicted with Tourette’s who tries to solve his mentor’s murder. Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw co-star. – Chris Bumbray
Redruuuuum! Another Stephen King sequel comes to theaters this fall, this time a follow-up to his now classic THE SHINING from director Stanley Kubrick (although King famously hated the adaptation). Director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) adapts King's novel of the same name, which picks up years after the events of THE SHINING with a now grown Danny Torrence (Ewan McGregor) protecting a gifted young girl from a cult-like group bent on exploiting her powers for their own good. Rebecca Ferguson, Cliff Curtis, Bruce Greenwood and Jacob Tremblay join the party in what will hopefully be a unique and spooky follow-up to one of the most famous horror movies ever made. – Paul Shirey
I don’t know folks. The trailer for Roland Emmerich’s star-studded retelling of The Battle of Midway really reeks of fromage. It looks like PEARL HARBOR 2, but I also love war movies, so if this turns out to be good no one will be happier. I Just don’t know though. Emmerich’s output recently has not been good, and the trailers don’t sell me, even if it’s got folks like Patrick Wilson, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson on board. – Chris Bumbray
After finishing up her tenure as Khaleesi on Game of Thrones, star Emilia Clarke takes on some lighter fare with LAST CHRISTMAS from director Paul Feig and writer Emma Thompson, which follows a misguided woman who inadvertently finds love while working at a Christmas department store. Henry Golding (CRAZY RICH ASIANS) plays her love interest, while Michelle Yeoh plays her hard-assed boss. The film heralds the use of George Michael music throughout and could very well be the light-hearted fare you get dragged to (or drag someone to) during the holidays. It's sure to have a happier ending for Clarke this time out, as I doubt she'll get killed off by Golding by the end. – Paul Shirey
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James Mangold’s take on Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and Ken Miles’s (Christian Bale) entry for Ford into the 1966 Le Mans race already has critics salivating, getting raves at it’s Telluride premiere. With those two guys in the lead and the always capable Mangold at the helm, I can’t imagine it being anything less than excellent – and that trailer is pulse-pounding, ultra-compelling stuff. – Chris Bumbray
After numerous TV show iterations and two big-budget features, CHARLIE'S ANGELS is taking another crack at box-office gold, this time with director Elizabeth Banks at the helm and new Angels portrayed by Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska with a supporting cast that includes Banks, Patrick Stewart, Sam Claflin and Djimon Hounsou. The first trailer for the film makes it look like a cheaply-made TV movie, but perhaps they just haven't found their groove yet. It's a curious project that hopefully can find its identity before hitting the big screen or this may put the Angels on ice for a good long while. – Paul Shirey
This one carries as asterisk folks. STX has been a little tight on funds lately, and if HUSTLERS doesn’t perform at the box office, this Chadwick Boseman action flick, which stars him as a cop trying to track down cop killers, might not see the light of day for awhile. You’d think that coming off of BLACK PANTHER, Boseman would have been inundated with offers, so I’m psyched to see this old-school looking action flick, which has a hell of a supporting cast (J.K. Simmons, Taylor Kitsch, Sienna Miller and the up-and-coming Stephan James). Produced by the Russo Brothers! – Chris Bumbray
If there's anyone that feels perfect to play the late, great Fred Rogers it's Tom Hanks, who puts on the shoes and sweater vest of the famed children's show host to tell the true-life tale of Rogers friendship with a journalist doing a story on him. Directed by CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?'s Marielle Heller, this has all the makings of the kind of Oscar-bait, feel-good dramatic fare you come to expect from the fall movie season. Hanks name alone can sell a film like this, but there's a certain appreciation and admiration for Rogers' legacy that's sure to be a draw for audiences everywhere. – Paul Shirey
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Confession – I never saw FROZEN. I know, I know. I haven’t seen INSIDE OUT yet either. Or MOANA. So I’m way behind on my Disney flicks. I expect this one to come out and mint money, although only time will tell if we get another “Let It Go” out of it. – Chris Bumbray
Director Rian Johnson takes a break from the big-budget sci-fi world to return to his quirky roots with KNIVES OUT, a whodunit that boasts a shamelessly electric cast, including Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Ana De Armas, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Frank Oz, Katherine Langford and LaKeith Stanfield, who all seem up to task in playing this cheeky bigscreen game. As intriguing as it all looks, one has to wonder if audiences are hip to turning out for a movie that looks more like a play than a film with their once Captain America without a shield and their current James Bond without a mission. The Box Office will solve this crime… – Paul Shirey
Noah Baumbach’s look at the disintegration of a marriage is being called his masterpiece, and based on the trailer and the cast (Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and boss Alan Alda!) I’m inclined to think this will be something really special. It’s currently doing the festival circuit and is primed for a TIFF victory lap next week. – Chris Bumbray
Based on the true story of two weather scientists (Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones) who embark on a mission to learn how to predict the weather by taking a balloon into the skies to study it, THE AERONAUTS looks like a suprisingly exciting adventure, chock full of the kind of things we look for in tales like this; a voyage of discovery, survival and drama, making for a film that opens the book on a relatively unknown event, giving some insight and entertainment all at once. With Redmayne and Jones, you know you have a great cast to take the journey with. Hopefully, this one can sail. – Paul Shirey
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Who expected JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE to become one of Sony’s highest grossing movies of all time? Certainly, it was a fresh take on the original concept, with a great cast that included Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart and Jack Black. This looks like more of the same, but in a good way. – Chris Bumbray
After breaking through with GOOD TIME, The Safdie Brothers tackle their most ambitious film to date, which stars Adam Sandler as a jeweller digging himself into a serious hole with gangsters and everyone else. The early reviews suggest this is a love it or hate it proposition, but Sandler’s been drawing unanimous raves, with some even saying he’s a serious Oscar contender. – Chris Bumbray
The final chapter of The Skywalker Saga arrives in STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, bringing back THE FORCE AWAKENS director JJ Abrams after director Rian Johnson's THE LAST JEDI seemingly left a divide in fans of the long-standing sci-fi yarn. Closing out George Lucas' epic saga is no small feat and will surely have fans talking by the time the credits roll. While there are many more Star Wars projects and films on the horizon, this is truly the end of an era. The big question will ultimately be how well they tie the ribbon on this decades long tale. May The Force be with us. – Paul Shirey
What the…what even is this? With a trailer that seem plucked from the nightmares of children worldwide, this adaptation of the Broadway musical will either be a disaster or the biggest hit of the holidays. There seems like no middle ground here. – Chris Bumbray
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Director Jay Roach gets back in the political realm with another “true-life” tale, this time focusing on the Fox News magnate Roger Ailes (played by John Lithgow) and his subsequent takedown by the female staffers he allegedly sexually harrassed throughout his long career, eventually leading to his resignation from the network. Starring as the female staff that takes on Ailes is Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, with back-up support coming from Alice Eve, Allison Janney, Stephen Root, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell and Mark Duplass. Roach is always good for a take on this kind of material and the cast looks fully immersed and bleached blonde to make it all come to life. – Paul Shirey
Director Sam Mendes takes on his first post-Bond feature with 1917, a WWI drama starring George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as British Soldiers assigned the dangerous task of delivering a message that will save another group of soldiers from certain death. Co-starring Mark Strong, Richard Madden, Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Firth, 1917 is an odd film to open on Christmas Day, but maybe they've got an ace up their sleeve in terms of the kind of film they have vs. what they're selling. It'll be stiff competition with lightsabers, dancing cat-humans and an animated Will Smith, so here's to hoping 1917 can draw in a holiday crowd. Who knows, it could be this years DUNKIRK, although that still may not do much for those on the fence. – Paul Shirey