It’s been an explosive summer and maybe, by now, you’re a little sick of things being so consistently explosive. Good news: the fall movie season is here. Settle into a seat and get prepared for movies with dialogue. Alright we’ve got action and comedies and cartoons too, but somehow in the latter half of the year, it all just feels so much more comfortable.
It’ll be weeks before the leaves start turning and the snow starts falling but fall’s movies are here and so are we, to help you wind your way through the end of the year in theaters. We’ve got Oscar bait, falling food, politically charged fat men, brilliant detectives, talking frogs, blue aliens, zombies, vampires, and even gentlemanly broncos. They may not all be good, but we’ve got a look at some of the movies most likely to grab your attention in the next few months. Use this as your guide to the must see movies rolling their way into movie theaters this fall. Click the titles below for detailed information on each film, and for a more detail listing of everything hitting theaters for the rest of the year, visit our Upcoming Movies section.
Extract
Why you should care: It’s the new movie from the mind behind Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill, Office Space, and the under-appreciated Idiocracy. Early reviews have been mixed, but it’s Mike Judge. He deserves your eyeballs.
9
Why you should care: Because unlike the other movie being released this year with nine for a title, it doesn’t contain any singing or dancing. It’s based on an Oscar winning short, and now Shane Acker is taking his visually stunning, computer animated world to the big screen.
Sorority Row
Why you should care: See it if you like gratuitous boobies and old fashioned, sort of silly, R-rated horror. Or see it because it ahs Carrey Fisher with a shotgun. Just don’t expect anything subtle or smart. Where’s the fun in that?
Whiteout
Why you should care: A good alternative to Sorority Row, since it’s everything that Sorority Row is not. Stark, tension-filled horror with great early buzz and the ethereal beauty of Kate Beckinsale.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Why you should care: It’s based on a great book and early word is that it’s surprisingly hilarious. Hey remember when animation used to be funny? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a good alternative to the teary-eyed world of Up or the grim, post-apocalyptic future of Shane Acker’s 9.
The Informant!
Why you should care: It’s directed by Steven Soderbergh who seems to have decided he’d rather be one of the Coens. The trailer is strange and hilarious, plus it has fat Matt Damon. You can’t miss fat Matt Damon.
Jennifer’s Body
Why you should care: Megan Fox is in it and she’s eating boys. Both of the meanings you’ve just attached to that sentence are entirely correct. It’s also written by Diablo Cody, her first gig since being wildly overrated for coming up with Juno. Heavens to blog! With Megan Fox in a schoolgirl outfit, even she can’t mess this up.
Capitalism: A Love Story
Why you should care: Michael Moore is back and this time he’s taking on corporate fat cats. Actually he’s done this before in his first movie Roger and Me, the only thing he’s made that both liberals and conservatives agree is kind of good. It’s unlikely they’ll agree on this one, but conservatives will see it to get angry and liberals will see it for the experience of gratuitous head nodding. Either way, don’t miss out on the politically charged fun.
Fame
Why you should care: The original movie is generally regarded as pretty good and there’s always the chance that their attempt to update it and repackage it for an American Idol era audience could, even by accident, recapture some of that magic. Yeah, I don’t think so either.
Surrogates
Why you should care: Bruce Willis gest to live out his lifelong fantasy of having hair when he’s replaced by a robot surrogate with a badly dyed, blonde do. The concept is interesting and Bruce Willis will kill a lot of robots.
Pandorum
Why you should care: It’s been a good year for science fiction and maybe Pandorum will continue that trend. Or maybe it’ll be a shlocky low-budget horror movie on a spaceship. It’s hard to tell right now, but if you enjoy watching people pull their skin off then this is definitely for you.
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell
Why you should care: It’s based on a controversial book by Tucker Max, a guy who’s either a cultural hero or a sick, sexist pig, depending on which side of the fence you’re standing on. If you see it, make sure you at least pretend to like it or there’s a very good chance Tucker Max’s followers will beat you to death in the back of a blind alley. That’s just how these douchebags roll.
The Invention of Lying
Why you should care: Ricky Gervais has yet to actually become a movie star, but it seems impossible for him not to succeed as the guy who literally invents lying. Plus if this one flops like Ghost Town did, he may wind up like his character on Extras, and nobody wants to see him stoop to that.
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D
Why you should care: Whether or not they’re in 3D, Toy Story movies back in theaters is worth seeing. Maybe 3D will give it an added dimension, but even if it doesn’t, we’re more than ready to revisit the world of Buzz and Woody the way they were meant to be seen: on the big screen.
Whip It
Why you should care: Ellen Page. Roller derby. Girls kicking ass. A groovy Southern, mid-70s setting. I'd keep telling you why it's worth looking forward to Drew Barrymore's (yes, Drew Barrymore's) directorial debut, but if you know what's good for you, you're already strapping on skates and preparing to throw some elbows.
Zombieland
Why you should care: It was going to take something seriously original to make zombies seem fresh again, but Zombieland looks like it's exactly what we need. Whether you see it for Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson as unlikely zombie hunters or the truly amazing zombie kills shown off in the trailer, it seems like the kind of movie that's equal parts funny and gory, a.k.a. perfect for Halloween month viewing.
A Serious Man
Why you should care: A new Coen Bros. movie is always something to look forward to, but the intense, elegant trailer for this movie featuring no stars mean it might be more of a must-see than their last lark, Burn After Reading. Plus it'll be one of the few potential Oscar contenders out that early, so you can sound smarter than everyone else who saw Zombieland instead.
Couples Retreat
Why you should care: Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn are back together, and they're bringing Kristen Bell, Ken Jeong, Faizon Love and others with them to a tropical location that will look a lot more appealing when it's no longer hot outside. The comedy itself could go either way, but won't you just enjoy watching these two kvetch at each other for a while?
Where the Wild Things Are
Why you should care: If you are partial to wearing lots of plaid and growing inventive facial hair, or are friends with people who do, you don't need any reason to see this movie beyond Spike Jonze and Karen O doing the soundtrack. But then again, this beautiful looking adaptation of a childhood classic ought to keep anyone with a smidgen of imagination happy. Let the wild rumpus start!
The Road
Why you should care: It seems like we’ve been waiting forever to see Viggo Mortensen’s post-apocalyptic father-son movie, but this October it finally shows up in theaters. It’s based on a beloved Cormac McCarthy novel and early buzz has it pegged either as an instant Oscar contender or the worst movie of the year. I for one can’t wait to see which it is.
Amelia
Why you should care: I don't actually know if you should be anticipating this, since this giant piece of Oscar bait might be full of great performances and inspiring visuals, or might just be a pretentious piece of crap. But Mira Nair made the glorious Monsoon Wedding, and that earns her at least a decade's worth of blind goodwill. Don't squander it Mira!
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Why you should care: Maybe you're sick of the sparkly Twilight vampires or the sexy True Blood ones, but I bet you have room for a vampire/circus ringleader played by John C. Reilly. Plus there's Salma Hayek as a bearded lady, Jane Krakowski as a woman who can grow new limbs, and a gorgeous visual style. It's one of fall's weirdest coming-of-age stories, with just the right supernatural vibe for October.
This Is It
Why you should care: Whether you're a diehard Michael Jackson fan, a child of the 80s or just someone with a weird interest in the newly dead, there's some fascination to be found in the final concert footage Jackson ever recorded. Early glimpses show he still had the dance moves even hours before his death, and as much anxiety as he had about preparing for the London concerts, he did appear to be genuinely excited about going back before his fans. No matter how this concert movie turns out, it'll be worth watching.
Youth in Revolt
Why you should care: The trailer seems to suggest that it's finally a change of pace from Michael Cera's usual aw-shucks roles, meaning it might start to be OK to like him again. It's also directed by Miguel Arteta, who hasn't made a feature since 2002's nice and edgy The Good Girl. Glad to have him back.
Gentlemen Broncos
Why you should care: It could just be a complete retread of Napoleon Dynamite, a quirk-laden disaster forcing us to question what we were thinking back in 2004. Or it could have some of the Flight of the Conchords lunacy thanks to Jemaine Clement, making it silly, schticky fun. But you have to see it to know for sure!
The Box
Why you should care: Richard Kelly’s quest to prove Donnie Darko wasn’t a fluke with a new movie starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden. It’s based on a short story by Richard Matheson in which a couple is given a choice: Push a button and get a million dollars, or don’t push it and save a life.
The Fourth Kind
Why you should care: The marketing campaign seems focused almost entirely on presenting it as if it’s a real event. It’s slick, well done, and if you’re one of those believers who actually thinks ghosts are out to get you then odds are you’ll buy in, go see it, and scare yourself silly.
The Men Who Stare At Goats
Why you should care: It the title alone hasn’t convinced you then check out the cast: George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges in full on hippy mode as aging soldiers who were once trained by the American government as, well, Jedi warriors. George Clooney is a Jedi… at least in his own mind.
A Christmas Carol
Why you should care: Robert Zemeckis refuses to give up on the creepy, computerized motion capture technology he used on The Polar Express and he’s put it to work on yet another holiday themed movie. This time it stars Jim Carrey as Ebeneezer Scrooge, and idea which seems good whether or not its animated.
2012
Why you should care: The end of the world is coming, or it would be if Roland Emmerich had his way. Once upon a time he was pretty good at these disaster movies, but it’s been awhile since Emmerich has really gotten the formula right. Will this be a return to Independence Day form or are we in for another 10,000 BC? You’d think he’d have learned to stop using dates for movie titles by now.
Women In Trouble
Why you should care: Alright let’s face it, there’s only one reason to see Women in Trouble so let’s not dance around it: Carla Gugino plays a porn girl. So ironically, a movie called Women in Trouble probably holds no particular appear for actual, well, women. If you’re a guy though, see you there, ticket in hand.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Why you should care: Stop-motion animation is always worth your time, but especially when it’s being done for the first time by Rushmore director Wes Anderson. The trailers have received mixed reaction but with a star-studded voice cast and Anderson behind the scenes slowly moving those stop-motion figures The Fantastic Mr. Fox is worth a look.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Why you should care: There’s a very good chance that this could literally end up being the biggest movie of the year. Every woman in America has already bought a ticket and, almost certainly, forced their boyfriends to buy one as well. The first movie did well last year but in the interim, with conventions and fan rallies popping up around the country, the Twilight franchise has become a national obsession.
Nine
Why you should care: It’s a new musical from the guy who brought you Chicago, a movie which won more than its fare share of Oscars and probably the best musical made in at least twenty years. This time Marshall has enlisted the talents of Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench and a whole host of other famous people whom you had no idea could dance let along sing.
Ninja Assassin
Why you should care: Ninja Assassin reunites the creative team responsible for the underrated 2005 movie V for Vendetta. Only this time, McTeigue and the Wachowskis are promising more actual action and less guy in a mask navel gazing.
Old Dogs
Why you should care: It’s November’s only real family movie, which I suppose makes it the default film to see with your grandma after stuffing yourself with turkey over Thanksgiving. Maybe it helps that it has Robin Williams, but you’ll have to endure John Travolta. After grandma goes to bed make sure you pull out Pulp Fiction to serve as a proper cleanser. Better times.
Brothers
Why you should care: Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire look so damn much alike that Jake almost replaced Tobey as Spider-Man, so now things have come to their logical conclusion-- they're playing brothers. With Natalie Portman coming between them it's a collection of some of the best working young talent, and Jim Sheridan captured family dynamics so well in In America that it seems safe to count on him pulling it off here.
Everybody's Fine
Why you should care: It would sound like the usual generic family drama if it weren't for the cast-- despite whatever bad roles they may have played, Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell all together demand attention. We're not expecting Rockwell to turn in a performance like the one he gave in Moon or anything, but something to justify all that new attention wouldn't be a bad idea.
Did You Hear About The Morgans?
Why you should care: I know, I know, a Hugh Grant-Sarah Jessica Parker rom-com sounds like exactly the kind of thing you'll get stuck seeing with your mom during Christmas, and then watching on cable next July, completely having forgotten you ever saw it. But every holiday season needs one of these, so just embrace it and move on.
The Lovely Bones
Why you should care: Based on a heartbreaking, beautiful book, featuring a great cast from Saiorsie Ronan to Stanley Tucci, and oh yeah, directed by geek god Peter Jackson. It's the must-see movie about a murdered teenage girl for Holiday Season 2009.
Invictus
Why you should care: If anyone but Morgan Freeman were starring as Nelson Mandela in this movie, we'd have a national crisis on our hands. But luckily Freeman is paired with fellow old coot Clint Eastwood, making this a likely Oscar shoo-in that will make your dad, your anti-apartheid cousin, and even your rugby fan friends happy.
The Princess and the Frog
Why you should care: It opens in limited release around Thanksgiving, but Disney's return to hand-drawn animation is very much a holiday movie, the kind of crowd-pleaser that entire extended families will see. Early looks at footage are promising, and we're way more than overdue for a black princess, even if she spends the bulk of the movie as a frog. At least since she's voiced by Anika Noni Rose, she'll work in some killer musical numbers in the meantime.
Avatar
Why you should care: It's the movie so big that nothing else is opening against it. It's the movie so big that James Cameron has spent a decade making grandiose promises about it, even though only about half of them will probably come true. It's the movie so big that you might already be sick of talking about it. But that doesn’t mean you won't be seeing it opening weekend like everyone else.
Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel
Why you should care: If you saw the first one, you probably already know you'll wind up seeing this one too. If you avoided it, like I did, you'll have something to complain about in that dead period between Christmas and New Year's. Either way, everyone is entertained. It's a Christmas Miracle!
It's Complicated
Why you should care: You can practically get an estrogen overdose just from watching this trailer, but fans of Meyers' 2000 film Something's Gotta Give will know exactly what to look forward to here. Though, given that Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep and Steve Martin are all nearly universally loved these days, it's hard to imagine anyone not getting something out of this, even if you wind up shoe shopping and gabbing with your girlfriends for hours afterward.
The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
Why you should care: This, not The Dark Knight, is Heath Ledger's last film and getting it done presented significant challenges to director Terry Gilliam. Ledger died before filming was finished and so his part will be played by multiple actors (Johnny Depp, Collin Ferrel, Jude Law) attempting to fill in the gaps he left.
Sherlock Holmes
Why you should care: Bringing your necessary dose of shirtless fights to your holiday season, not to mention the steamy bromance between Holmes and Watson. Everything about the trailers suggests a Pirates of the Caribbean tone plus added Robert Downey Jr. smolder, which all sounds fine by us. A pipe and an "Elementary, Dear Watson" would just be a bonus at this point.
