As summer comes to a close, vacations end, and kids head back to the classrooms, so ends the summer blockbuster season in order to make way for Oscar hopefuls as well as the films looking to entertain moviegoers this coming holiday season. It also means it’s time once again for the Fall Movie Preview. What can movie fans expect to see up on the big screen this fall and holiday season? Among the films headed to the theaters in the last few months of 2016 are a remake of a classic Western, the story of a pilot who became a worldwide hero, a permanently injured surgeon who becomes a superhero, a wizard hunting magical creatures, a WWII epic, and another new adventure in a galaxy far far away.
SULLY – Starring Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, and Laura Linney (Release Date 9/9)
The Plot – On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.
Outlook – Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks and Aaron Eckhart, Sully looks to be a stirring drama that just might lead to a few Oscar nominations for both its star and director. The story is still fresh in potential ticket buyers’ minds, and with Hanks in the lead Sully should perform strong at the box office. The only thing potentially holding it back are Clint Eastwood’s recent highly controversial comments on racism.
SNOWDEN – Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Rhys Ifans, and Melissa Leo (Release Date 9/16)
The Plot – Snowden reveals the incredible untold personal story of Edward Snowden, the polarizing figure who exposed shocking illegal surveillance activities by the NSA and became one of the most wanted men in the world. He is considered a hero by some, and a traitor by others. No matter which you believe, the epic story of why he did it, who he left behind, and how he pulled it off makes for a compelling story.
Outlook – Directed by Oliver Stone and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the film hopes to capture the paranoia and fear that drove the main character to become the most wanted man in U.S. history. But will it draw in moviegoers who are tired of Stone’s conspiracy films and his style of filmmaking? The buzz hasn’t been quite as loud for this particular film as you’d expect.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Byung-Hun Lee, Martin Sensmeier, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Vincent D’Onofrio, Peter Sarsgaard, and Haley Bennett (Release Date 9/23)
The Plot – With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns – Sam Chisolm (Washington), Josh Farraday (Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Hawke), Jack Horne (D’Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Lee), Vasquez (Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.
Outlook – With a great cast and the director of the film Training Day at the helm, this remake might be an above average Western. However, it’s going to be compared to the 1960 original film which starred Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and Eli Wallach and is still considered by movie fans and critics to be one of the best Westerns ever made. What may save it is its appeal to a younger demographic that likely hasn’t seen the classic film.
STORKS – Voiced by Andy Samberg, Kelsey Grammer, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele (Release Date 9/23)
The Plot – Storks deliver babies…or at least they used to. Now they deliver packages for a global internet retail giant. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable and wholly unauthorized baby girl. Desperate to deliver this bundle of trouble before the boss gets wise, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, race to make their first-ever baby drop – in a wild and revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.
Outlook – The trailer looks like combo of silly and zany, but at least it does boost a talented voice cast. There’s a possibility this goofy animated film will draw in families who are desperate for another animated movie to fill some weekend hours. However, the trailer for Storks just doesn’t hold up when compared to earlier 2016 animated offerings. Hopefully, the bird-friendly, family-friendly film is better than its promotional videos.
QUEEN OF KATWE – Starring Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, and Madina Nalwanga (Release Date 9/23)
The Plot – Queen of Katwe is based on the true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.
Outlook – Based on a truly inspirational story, Queen of Katwe could be the inspiring underdog film of the year or it could be another forced misfire like the film Hands of Stone. Working in its favor are two award-winning lead actors and critically acclaimed director Mira Nair at the helm.
DEEPWATER HORIZON – Starring Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, and Dylan O’Brien (Release Date 9/30)
The Plot – On April 20th, 2010, one of the world’s largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. Directed by Peter Berg, this story honors the brave men and women whose heroism would save many on board, and change everyone’s lives forever.
Outlook – The Deepwater Horizon disaster is still relatively fresh in our minds and the movie based on the devastating event may wind up being one of 2016’s best action films. Wahlberg reunites with his The Lone Survivor director Peter Berg who brought out the best in the rapper-turned actor, and the rest of the cast is also strong. Also working in its favor in building up momentum as it heads into theaters is an impressive trailer.
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN – Starring Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, and Chris O’Dowd (Release Date 9/30)
The Plot – When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.
Outlook – Tim Burton returns and his fans have been waiting for another Burton fantasy adventure, but is Miss Peregrine’s the right match of director and story? Also, for those who haven’t read the book series by Ransom Riggs the trailers thus far have made it seem like the world of Miss Peregrine’s is a lot like that of the X-Men franchise. This will be a real test to see if Burton has found his footing again and if Miss Peregrine’s is the launch a successful new film franchise.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION – Starring Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, and Aja Naomi King (Release Date 10/7)
The Plot – Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner (Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates and uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
Outlook – The Birth of a Nation was a hit at Sundance and started off as a sure Oscar contender following its successful festival screenings. However, the film’s box office and awards season run will take a hit after Parker’s alleged involvement in the rape of a fellow college student once again has become a hot button topic.
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN – Starring Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett, Justin Theroux, and Luke Evans (Release Date 10/7)
The Plot – In the thriller, Rachel (Blunt), who is devastated by her recent divorce, spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day, until one morning she sees something shocking happen there and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.
Outlook – The trailer perfectly captured the story and the tone of the best-selling novel. The Girl on the Train is possibly this year’s Gone Girl – that rare film that remains true to the source material and entertains audiences who have not yet picked up the book.
THE ACCOUNTANT – Starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, Jon Bernthal, and J.K. Simmons (Release Date 10/14)
The Plot – Christian Wolff (Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department’s Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise.
Outlook – There really hasn’t been much of a theatrical release promotional campaign yet for The Accountant, which is unusual given the film’s star power. It’s tough to tell if this thriller will deliver the goods, but at least the premise sounds interesting.
AMERICAN PASTORAL – Starring Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly, and Dakota Fanning (Release Date 10/21)
The Plot – American Pastoral follows a family whose seemingly idyllic existence is shattered by the social and political turmoil of the 1960s. Ewan McGregor stars as Seymour “Swede” Levov, a once legendary high school athlete who is now a successful businessman married to Dawn (Connelly), a former beauty queen. But turmoil brews beneath the polished veneer of Swede’s life. When his beloved teenage daughter, Merry (Fanning), disappears after being accused of committing a violent act, Swede dedicates himself to finding her and reuniting his family. What he discovers shakes him to the core, forcing him to look beneath the surface and confront the chaos that is shaping the world around him.
Outlook – Directed by first-time feature film helmer Ewan McGregor and based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, American Pastoral may be an Oscar contender judging solely on its impressive first trailer. Philip Roth’s bestselling novel was published in 1997 but the story that unfolds is just as timely today as it was 20 years ago.
JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK – Starring Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, and Aldis Hodge (Release Date 10/21)
The Plot – Major Susan Turner (Smulders) is the Army Major who heads Reacher’s old investigative unit. She is arrested for Treason and knowing that she is innocent, Jack Reacher (Cruise) must break her out of prison and uncover the truth behind a major government conspiracy in order to clear their names and save their lives. On the run as fugitives from the law, Reacher uncovers a potential secret from his past that could change his life forever.
Outlook – Like him or not, Cruise knows how to make a high-energy action thriller, something he’s proven with the Mission Impossible franchise. 2012’s Jack Reacher made $218 million worldwide before exiting theaters and given the lack of real action hits in 2016, this Jack Reacher sequel may even do better.
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES – Starring Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm, and Gal Gadot (Release Date 10/21)
The Plot – An ordinary suburban couple (Galifianakis, Fisher) finds it’s not easy keeping up with the Joneses (Hamm, Gadot) – their impossibly gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated new neighbors – especially when they discover that Mr. and Mrs. “Jones” are covert operatives.
Outlook – If the film is half as funny as the trailer, this will be the comedy hit of the fall season. Please don’t let the funniest parts be in the trailer.
INFERNO – Starring Tom Hanks, Ben Foster, and Felicity Jones (Release Date 10/28)
The Plot – Inferno finds the famous symbologist (Hanks) on a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. Together, they race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.
Outlook – 2006’s The Da Vinci Code made $758 million worldwide and the sequel, 2009’s Angels and Demons, exited theaters after only ringing up $485 million. There wasn’t much of a demand for a third film, but with Hanks and director Ron Howard back on board Inferno moved forward. But at this point do we really need another Robert Langdon story? It’s likely the other Langdon novel, The Lost Symbol, will never see the light of day as a feature film if Inferno doesn’t match or best Angels and Demons.
DOCTOR STRANGE – Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, and Rachel McAdams (Release Date 11/4)
The Plot: Doctor Strange follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
Outlook – With a great cast and a very impressive trailer that debuted during the San Diego Comic-Con, it seems that Marvel will have another superhero hit making a killing at this year’s box office.
HACKSAW RIDGE – Starring Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, and Teresa Palmer (Release Date 11/4)
The Plot – Hacksaw Ridge is based on the extraordinary true story of conscientious collaborator Desmond Doss (Garfield) who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun. He believed the war was just, but killing was nevertheless wrong; he was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon. As an army medic, Doss single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braved fire while tending to soldiers and was wounded by a grenade and hit by snipers. He was the first conscientious objector to ever earn the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Outlook – Director Mel Gibson is still a polarizing figure and his films do not open as huge as they did a few decades back. That said, this one’s generating a fair amount of buzz and Gibson even received a lengthy standing ovation after a screening at the Venice Film Festival.
TROLLS – Voiced by Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, and Russell Brand (Release Date 11/4)
The Plot – Trolls stars Anna Kendrick as Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls, and her polar opposite, Branch, played by Justin Timberlake. Together, this unlikely pair of Trolls must embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the only world they’ve ever known.
Outlook – Even with so many great animated films already released this year, Trolls might be worth the price of admission if the songs are original and strong. And, hopefully, there’s enough humor and fun dialogue to make this revival of the classic Trolls dolls worthy of a theatrical release.
ARRIVAL – Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker (Release Date 11/11)
The Plot – When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team – lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Adams) – are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers – and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.
Outlook – A solid cast led by Adams and a little different approach on the classic ‘aliens making contact story’ should be worth the price of admission. The film just premiered at Telluride to rave reviews including one by Time UK critic Kate Muir who said, “Less Close Encounters of the Third Kind and more Linguistic Encounters of the Academic Kind, this is a sci-fi movie with intelligence, cerebral and emotional.”
BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK – Starring Joe Alwyn, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel, and Kristen Stewart (Release Date 11/11)
The Plot: Bravo Company and 19-year-old private Billy Lynn survive a harrowing Iraq battle that is captured by news cameras. They are brought home by the US administration for a promotional tour, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of a Thanksgiving Day football game, all while facing an imminent return to the war. Almost the entire movie takes place during the day of the game, with flashes back to the underlying events and Billy’s heroism.
Outlook – The film’s set to debut as the opening night movie at the New York Film Festival and is expected to be a serious awards contender. Directed by Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi), Billy Lynn‘s marks the first feature film shot in 4K and native 3D at 120 frames-per-second which Lee believes will create a sharper, more realistic viewing experience. It’ll be interesting to see if audiences embrace the technology which, no matter what, will set this much-anticipated drama apart from the rest of the fall and holiday releases.
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM – Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Colin Farrell, and Ezra Miller (Release Date 11/18)
The Plot – Eddie Redmayne stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander. The film opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
Outlook – Harry Potter veteran David Yates directs an original screenplay by J. K. Rowling which was inspired by a book at Hogwarts. And while it’s minus Harry, Ron, and Hermione, there’s no doubt Muggles worldwide will be anxious to visit Rowling’s return to the world of witches, wizards and magical creatures which will lead to a huge box office take for Warner Bros.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – Starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges (Release Date 11/18)
The Plot – In Manchester by the Sea, the life of a solitary Boston janitor is transformed when he returns to his hometown to take care of his teenage nephew. The story of the Chandlers, a working-class family living in a Massachusetts fishing village for generations, Manchester by the Sea is a deeply poignant, unexpectedly funny exploration of the power of familial love, community, sacrifice and hope.
After the death of his older brother Joe (Chandler), Lee Chandler (Affleck) is shocked to learn that Joe has made him sole guardian of his nephew Patrick (Hedges). Taking leave of his job, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea to care for Patrick, a spirited 15-year-old, and is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife Randi (Williams) and the community where he was born and raised. Bonded by the man who held their family together, Lee and Patrick struggle to adjust to a world without him.
Outlook – Already a critical favorite at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (it currently sits at 95% fresh on RottenTomatoes), this drama has generated Oscar Best Picture buzz with critics calling it “absorbing,” a “wrenching family tragedy,” and “the most artful tearjerker of the year.”
ALLIED – Starring Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Lizzy Caplan, and Matthew Goode (Release Date 11/23)
The Plot – Allied is the story of intelligence officer Max Vatan (Pitt), who in 1942 North Africa encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Cotillard) on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Reunited in London, their relationship is threatened by the extreme pressures of the war.
Outlook – Robert Zemeckis helms this romantic thriller set during World War II that’s one of Paramount’s big awards hopefuls. The teaser trailer didn’t win everyone over and the plot sounds a bit like a soap opera, but big budget romantic thrillers are few and far between which means there may be an adult audience out there just waiting for this sort of production. Prognosticators have this one on their Oscar shortlists.
MOANA – Voiced by Auli’i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson (Release Date 11/23)
The Plot – Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why. Moana follows an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
Outlook – Disney’s animated holiday offering was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (Aladdin, Hercules, and The Little Mermaid) and features new music from Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights). With Dwayne Johnson bringing the demi-god to life, Moana might just be the animated adventure families are looking for around the holiday season. It certainly looks gorgeous.
RULES DON’T APPLY – Starring Lily Collins, Alden Ehrenreich, Warren Beatty, Haley Bennett, and Taissa Farmiga (Release Date 11/23)
The Plot – It’s Hollywood, 1958. Small town beauty queen and devout Baptist virgin Marla Mabrey (Collins), under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes (Beatty), arrives in Los Angeles. At the airport, she meets her driver Frank Forbes (Ehrenreich), who is engaged to be married to his 7th grade sweetheart and is a deeply religious Methodist. Their instant attraction not only puts their religious convictions to the test, but also defies Hughes’ #1 rule: no employee is allowed to have any relationship whatsoever with a contract actress. Hughes’ behavior intersects with Marla and Frank in very separate and unexpected ways, and as they are drawn deeper into his bizarre world, their values are challenged and their lives are changed.
Outlook – Warren Beatty wrote, directed, produced, and stars as billionaire Howard Hughes in Rules Don’t Apply which marks his first time behind the camera in 15 years. The romantic comedy/drama was chosen as the opening night film at the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest, a significant honor that should signal the start of Fox’s Oscar campaign for Beatty’s filmmaking return.
LA LA LAND – Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Finn Wittrock, and J.K. Simmons (Release Date 12/2)
The Plot – La La Land is a modern take on the classic Hollywood romance, which is heightened by spectacular song-and-dance numbers, as two dreamers struggle to make ends meet while they pursue their passions in a city known for destroying hopes and breaking hearts. Mia (Stone), an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions, and Sebastian (Gosling), a dedicated jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail piano gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
Outlook – Even Tom Hanks took time out from promoting his own movie, Sully, to praise La La Land following a screening at the Telluride Film Festival. This one’s a lock for awards consideration, but even better – it’s an old school type movie musical that will bring back the glory days of the genre. A must-see according to international critics, put this one on your list to check out as soon as it opens in theaters.
MISS SLOANE – Starring Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Michael Stuhlbarg (Release Date 12/9)
The Plot – A ruthless and highly successful political strategist, Elizabeth Sloane (Chastain), exposes the cutthroat world of D.C. lobbyists working on both sides of the gun debate. New legislation requiring more stringent background checks for gun purchases is gaining traction in the Senate, and Sloane is approached to spearhead the campaign, pitting her against formidable and powerful political opponents. Deploying her notorious skills and driven by a desire to win at all costs – she jeopardizes those closest to her, and puts her own career at risk.
Outlook – Will audiences be interested in a political thriller so close to the election? It’s possible this film, despite having a stellar cast and director John Madden at the helm, may be left out in the cold in favor of more escapist fare. After all, it’s opening in the holiday season.
THE FOUNDER – Starring Michael Keaton, Linda Cardellini, Laura Dern, BJ Novak, and Patrick Wilson (Release Date 12/16)
The Plot – The Founder is a drama that tells the true story of how Ray Kroc (Keaton), a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.
Outlook – With buzz building around Michael Keaton’s performance, The Founder was pushed back from an August theatrical release to a limited opening in December in order to qualify for awards consideration. Keaton fans are hoping this is the role that finally earns him a Best Actor Oscar.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY – Starring Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, and Riz Ahmed (Release Date 12/16)
The Plot – Lucasfilm’s Rogue One, which takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, tells the story of unlikely heroes who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.
Outlook – Is it strange that there’s another Star Wars film heading to theaters this year and there isn’t really any buzz surrounding its release? Reshoots, questions about the film’s tone, and a trailer that left some Star Wars fans questioning the point of the new movie, this sci-fi action movie has some major hurdles to get over if it’s to generate a Star Wars-sized audience.
ASSASSIN’S CREED – Starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, and Michael K Williams (Release Date 12/21)
The Plot – Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Outlook – The Pros: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and a trailer that shows off the action. The Cons: It’s a yet another video game-inspired film and we all know what that usually means.
PASSENGERS – Starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence (Release Date 12/21)
The Plot – On a routine journey through space to a new home, two passengers, sleeping in suspended animation, are awakened 90 years too early when their ship malfunctions. As Jim (Pratt) and Aurora (Lawrence) face living the rest of their lives on board, with every luxury they could ever ask for, they begin to fall for each other, unable to deny their intense attraction… until they discover the ship is in grave danger. With the lives of 5000 sleeping passengers at stake, only Jim and Aurora can save them all.
Outlook – The success of Passengers depends on the chemistry of the film’s two leads. At this year’s CinemaCon, movie theater owners gave the footage screened a solid round of applause and that was mostly due to the fact the pairing of Pratt and Lawrence works. Now it’s all about whether the effects and story will stand up.
SING – Voiced by Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, and Seth MacFarlane (Release Date 12/21)
The Plot – Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Sing stars Buster Moon (McConaughey), a dapper Koala who presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal optimist—okay, maybe a bit of a scoundrel—who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now facing the crumbling of his life’s ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.
Outlook – Think American Idol but with animals. With a strong voice cast and a Christmas release, Sing is seeking to capture families looking for something to do during the holiday season. The trailers are fun and the tunes are catchy, so it’s possible Sing will finish out the year of animated movies on a high note.
FENCES – Starring Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Mykelti Williamson, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Russell Hornsby (Release Date 12/25)
The Plot – Set in the 1950s, Fences focuses on an African American father and his struggles with race relations in the United States.
Outlook – Washington stars in and directs this feature film adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. Washington and Davis reprise their Tony Award-winning roles in what’s sure to be not only a moving film but also one that will be mentioned often during awards season. Washington may even earn a 2017 Oscar hat trick as director, actor, and producer.
(Additional reporting by Rebecca Murray.)
This post was last modified on September 22, 2016 10:08 pm