It’s the beginning of the craziest time of year, at least if you love movies, music, and/or television. This summer saw some massive totals at the box office, and Hollywood’s gearing up for both additional large releases and indie projects vying for Oscar statues.
So where can you possibly start? We’ve narrowed down a slew of new releases to ten, which will hopefully provide you with a place to start.
Grandma
Lily Tomlin takes the lead in a film for the first time in nearly three decades for Grandma. In the film, she plays Ellie, a lesbian poet dealing with the death of her long-term partner. When her 18-year-old granddaughter comes to Ellie for help paying for an abortion, the two make their way through different people in Ellie’s life to scrounge up the money.
Opens in Atlanta theaters Sept. 18
Stonewall
Roland Emmerich, the openly gay director behind films like Independence Day and White House Down, directs a different sort of explosive story with Stonewall. The film is focused on a fictional character who finds himself in the middle of the Stonewall Riots, though the creative team behind the film are saying real figures like Marsha P. Johnson are prominent in the film as well.
Opens in Atlanta theaters Sept. 25
The Martian
When a mission to Mars goes bad, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead and left behind by his crew. Watney has to fight the environment and find a way to send a signal back towards Earth letting someone know he’s still alive. Based on the best-selling book, the film includes an all-star cast (Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels and more), plus direction from Ridley Scott.
Opens nationwide Oct. 2
Bridge of Spies
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks reunite for this story set in the 1960s, based on true events. Hanks stars as James B. Donovan, a lawyer thrust into the center of the Cold War when he’s tasked with negotiating the release of a pilot whose plane was shot down over the Soviet Union.
Opens nationwide Oct. 16
Crimson Peak
Just in time for Halloween comes a new tale of horror from Guillermo del Toro. Set in 19th century Cumbria, Crimson Peak follows Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), a young author who falls in love with Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). After marrying him, though, she learns that he and his sister (Jessica Chastain) are harboring supernatural secrets in their abode.
Opens nationwide Oct. 16
Freeheld
Julianne Moore and Ellen Page star in this film, based on a true story about Lauren Hester (Moore) and Stacie Andree (Page), a couple who have to fight for Stacie to receive Lauren’s police pension after Lauren is diagnosed with cancer. Out on Film attendees get a special advance screening of this powerful film on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Opens nationwide Oct. 16
SPECTRE
Picking up where Skyfall left off, Daniel Craig’s James Bond finally crosses paths with SPECTRE, the organization behind some of the character’s most well-known film entries. Stepping up as the film’s primary antagonist this time is Christoph Waltz, while the film’s Bond girls this go-around are played by Léa Seydoux and Monica Bellucci.
Opens nationwide Nov. 6
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
The Hunger Games series comes to a close with Mockingjay – Part 2. Picking up where Part 1 ended, Panem is now in the middle of a total revolution. With a small team supporting her, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) will come face to face with President Snow (Donald Sutherland). But will the fall of Snow bring peace to Panem? Or will Katniss find herself in the middle of something bigger?
Opens nationwide Nov. 20
The Good Dinosaur
Pixar returned to everyone’s good graces with this summer’s Inside Out. Now, they’re presenting an all-new story in a world where Earth was never hit by an asteroid and dinosaurs still roam. At the center of this story is Arlo, an Apatosaurus who finds himself lost far from home. While trying to return, he befriends a caveboy who he names Spot.
Opens nationwide Nov. 25
The Night Before
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and writer/director Jonathan Levine reunite after collaborating on cancer comedy 50/50. This holiday-themed feature finds childhood friends Ethan (Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) reuniting in New York City for one last go at their annual Christmas Eve tradition of partying all night.
Opens nationwide Nov. 25
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Originally published in David Atlanta.
Elijah Sarkesian 