2015 Fall Movie Preview: The 38 Movies We Can't Wait to See
Yahoo Movies
Updated
'Something's Gotta Give' director Nancy Meyers' latest bourgie comedy find its title character in the unlikely person of Ben (Robert De Niro), a restless, 70-something widower who takes an entry-level gig at a New York City startup. His suit-and-tie style may clash with all those scruffy millennial hipsters, but he proves an invaluable asset to the company's young CEO (Anne Hathaway), who could use some old-school advice. (Sept. 25)
Last year, she fought aliens in 'Edge of Tomorrow' and sang in 'Into the Woods.'This fall, Emily Blunt continues to prove there's nothing she can't do, playing an FBI agent embroiled in a plot to take down a Mexican cartel in 'Sicario.' The film's violence resulted in some walkouts at Cannes, but Blunt won raves. 'Sicario'is directed by Denis Villeneuve, the man behind the bleak drama 'Prisoners'and the upcoming 'Blade Runner' sequel. (Sept. 18)
Lionsgate
The beloved '80s cartoon gets a millennial makeover. Aubrey Peeples ('Sharknado') stars as Jerrica, a teenage singer-songwriter who adopts a new rock-star persona: the pink-haired, heavily made-up Jem. The film has generated some controversy among longtime fans for straying so far from the animated series, but there are a few nods to the original Holograms generation — notably, the casting of '80s icon Molly Ringwald (who plays Jerrica's guardian) and the presence of keytars. (Oct. 23)
Universal
After packing on muscle for his Oscar-nominated role as soldier Chris Kyle in 'American Sniper,' BradleyCooper is taking charge of the kitchen in 'Burnt.' He plays a hot-shot chef who returns to London to restart his career after nearly destroying his reputation with a caustic brew of arrogance and drug abuse. The ensemble dramatic comedy also features appearances from Lily James, Uma Thurman, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, and Alicia Vikander. (Oct. 23)
The Weinstein Company
One of the most pleasant surprises of this year's Sundance Film Festival was this slyly funny, deeply moving documentary about fame, fortune, and a severed limb. In 2004, John Wood lost a leg in a plane accident, only to later learn that it had wound up in the possession of a North Carolina flea-marketer named Shannon Whisnant. The ensuing legal battle would last for years and force the two men to confront their hang-ups about everything from class division to addiction to their own family histories. (Sept. 25)
Orchard
Veteran screenwriter James Vanderbilt ('Zodiac,' 'The Amazing Spider-Man') makes his directorial debut with this deep dive into the scandal behind “Rathergate.” 'Truth' looks at longtime CBS news anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford), whose career took a blow after a 2004 report about President George W. Bush's military service was later found to have used forged documents. Cate Blanchett co-stars as Rather's producer, while Topher Grace plays a researcher. (Oct. 16)
Sony Pictures Classics
In a role that was originally written for a man, Julia Roberts stars as an FBI agent whose life and career unravel when her unit discovers that her daughter has been savagely murdered. A remake of an Oscar-winning Argentine film of the same name, 'Secret' also marks the first time Roberts has shared the big screen with fellow Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who plays a district attorney investigating the crime. (Nov. 20)
Showtime
The latest drama to tread into 'All the President's Men' territory, 'Spotlight' tells the true story of the 'Boston Globe' reporters who uncovered widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The newspaper won a Pulitzer for its 2002 series on the crimes, which had been systematically covered up by the church and the legal system for decades. A stellar ensemble cast — including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, and Stanley Tucci — brings added gravitas. (Nov. 6)
Open Road Films
Travel back in time to a pre-hipster '50s-era Brooklyn. Adapted from Colm Tóibín's 2009 novel of the same name, the drama from director John Crowley ('Closed Circuit') and screenwriter Nick Hornby ('Wild') depicts the coming-of-age of teenage Irish immigrant Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), who becomes embroiled in a love triangle. Sundance audiences gave the film a warm reception in January, suggesting that New Yorkers aren't the only ones pining for a simpler, high-rise-free Brooklyn. (Nov. 6)
Fox Searchlight
With three Emmys and a Tony under his belt, Bryan Cranston shoots for the acting triple crown with this drama about a dark era in Hollywood and American history. The 'Breaking Bad' vet plays the famed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo ('Roman Holiday,' 'Spartacus'), a Communist Party member who was placed on the infamous Hollywood blacklist and effectively banned from the industry after refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. (Nov. 6)
Bleecker Street Media
In 2008, James Marsh ('The Theory of Everything') won an Oscar for his documentary 'Man on Wire,' which recounts tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring (and illegal) wire-walk between the Twin Towers in 1974. Now, Robert Zemeckis ('Back to the Future,' 'Forrest Gump') is retelling that incredible story and re-creating the stunt in 3D, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing the fearless Petit. (Sept. 30)
Sony
Few men have had a more profound impact on the NFL recently than Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who first proved the link between head injuries in football and long-term brain damage. In a dramatization of Omalu's story, Will Smith plays the brilliant researcher, who had to face down the might of the NFL when his conclusions came to light. (Dec. 25)
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
The story of New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester was first brought to the screen in 2007 in an Oscar-winning documentary short also called 'Freeheld.' Now Hester is being portrayed by one of the best actresses in the biz, reigning Oscar champ Julianne Moore. This third feature from director Peter Sollett ('Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist') depicts the terminally ill Hester's groundbreaking battle to leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner Stacie (Ellen Page). (Oct. 2)
Lionsgate
In his first feature since directing the stunning season one of 'True Detective,' Cary Fukunaga teams up with 'Pacific Rim' star Idris Elba for this adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel about a boy who's drafted into a group of mercenaries in war-torn West Africa. 'Beasts' is one of the first high-profile original features being released by Netflix. The drama will be released in theaters and via its streaming service — a move that has caused no shortage of controversy. (Oct. 16)
Netflix
The historical drama about the British women's suffrage movement starring Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter is anything but dull: The fight for the vote at the turn of the century involved women planting bombs, burning buildings, and even dying for the cause. Meryl Streep is featured in a supporting role as movement leader Emmeline Pankhurst — a part that could very well earn her a 20th Oscar nomination. (Oct. 23)
Focus Features
After a year without a Pixar feature in 2014, the studio is treating fans to a double dose in 2015. It'd be hard to top the emotional heights of 'Inside Out', but the first look at director Peter Sohn's prehistoric fantasy seemed both charming and clever. The film imagines an Earth in which dinosaurs didn't go extinct and co-exist with humans. Instead of 'Jurassic World'–level violence, we get a boy and a dino who help each other on an epic adventure. (Nov. 25)
Disney/Pixar
If you came away from 2013's underrated indie 'Short Term 12' wishing you could see more of Brie Larson, 'Room' will more than accommodate that request. The astonishing actress is front and center in the film version of Emma Donoghue's 2010 novel, playing a woman who has been kidnapped and confined to a single room for seven years, even as she's raising her young son. It's the kind of showcase role that's almost guaranteed to vault her name into the awards race. (Oct. 16)
A24
Tom Hardy was the only one onscreen in 2013's 'Locke,' an acting challenge that will at least be equaled by his role(s) in 'Legend,' a period gangster drama in which he plays identical twins. The actor stars as infamous real-life East London crime bosses Ronald and Reginald Kray, who ran clubs, drugs, and the British social scene for a decade until they were finally brought down in 1969. (Oct. 2)
Universal
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's first film together since 2005's 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' doesn't look like the happiest of reunions — at least not onscreen. This arthouse story puts the famous lovebirds at odds, playing an unhappy married couple sulking their way through a French seaside vacation in the 1970s. 'Sea' marks the third directorial effort of Jolie Pitt, billed for the first time using her husband's name. (Nov. 13)
Universal
Mark Wahlberg's reunion with a certain talking teddy bear may not have generated much laughter (or much dough) this summer, but here's hoping the chuckles are more plentiful when he reteams here with his 'Other Guys' co-star Will Ferrell. As in that underrated 2010 cop comedy, Ferrell is the straight arrow at odds with Wahlberg's hothead. But this time, they're clashing over who is the better father. Whoever wins, those poor kids probably lose. (Dec. 25)
Paramount
Expect 'Girl' star Eddie Redmayne — who won Best Actor for last year's 'The Theory of Everything' — to make another Oscar run with this tale of Lili Elbe, a Dutch artist who's widely recognized as one of the first identifiable recipients of sex-reassignment surgery. 'Girl,' directed by 'The King's Speech' helmer Tom Hooper, documents what happens when Elbe and wife Gerda Wegener ('Ex Machina' star Alicia Vikander) navigate their marriage and careers in the face of adversity. It's about time we got a love story like this. (Nov. 27)
Focus Features
A bloody bath, a dismembered ghost, and Jessica Chastain covered in bruises! That's just a glimpse at the house of horrors that awaits audiences in 'Crimson Peak.' Mia Wasikowska plays an aspiring writer who gets inexplicably pulled into a haunted Gothic mansion, where she's courted by two very different potential lovers (Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Hunnam). Expect this dark fairy tale by director Guillermo del Toro ('Pan's Labyrinth') to involve supernatural oddities, inexplicable brutality, and (ick!) allusions of incest. (Dec. 16)
Universal
Having tackled everything from '60s assassinations ('JFK'), '70s scandals ('Nixon'), and '80s excess ('Wall Street'), director Oliver Stone turns to contemporary U.S. politics with this film about former military contractor and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the title character, a former CIA employee who leaked high-level NSA information — a move that forced him to relocate to Russia, and inspired last year's Oscar-winning documentary 'Citizenfour.' (Dec. 25)
Open Road Films
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reunite in this tale of a real-life Atticus Finch named James B. Donovan — a Brooklyn lawyer who reluctantly agreed to negotiate the release of a downed American pilot in exchange for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance). The decision earns Donovan the enmity of a Red Scare–panicked public and eventually transports him to East Berlin for a tense series of talks with the USSR. At least this time, Hanks gets to actually see the country beyond the airport terminal. (Oct. 16)
Twentieth Century Fox
Originally set to open in March — and now dropping smack in the middle of awards season — Ron Howard's adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's award-winning 2000 book chronicles an attack on a 19th-century Nantucket ship by a massive sperm whale. Look for lots of splashes and clashes in this high-seas tale, which stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland, and which is based on a true story that helped inspire Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick.' (Dec. 11)
Warner Bros.
'50-50' buds Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite with director Jonathan Levine and add a hilarious third wheel in Anthony Mackie for this R-rated holiday comedy. The trio play New York City pals determined to have the most epic Christmas Eve in the history of bro-dom, which means this will definitely include more drugs than anyone has ever seen in a mainstream Christmas movie. It should be the filthiest film of its kind since 'Bad Santa' — and, hopefully, it will also be the funniest. (Nov. 25)
Columbia Pictures
For 'Rocky' fans, there's no more exciting movie this holiday season than 'Creed,' which introduces a new underdog fighter to the 40-year-old franchise. Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed, son of Rocky Balboa's friend and original rival, Apollo. Determined to become the next champion with the Creed name, Adonis ropes in a very familiar trainer — the Italian Stallion himself. 'Fruitvale Station' director Ryan Coogler is taking the directorial reins for 'Creed,' but the film has the original Rocky's blessing: He's both a co-star and a producer. (Nov. 25)
Warner Bros.
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin returns to Silicon Valley territory, following up the Facebook-centric 'The Social Network' with a high-concept biopic about the Apple cofounder and general tech-world giant, played by Michael Fassbender. Structured around three key product launches in the company's history, 'Steve Jobs' explores his often contentious relationships with colleagues such as Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen) and Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet). Because Danny Boyle ('Slumdog Millionaire') is behind the camera, expect a killer soundtrack that you'll immediately want to add to your iTunes library. (Oct. 9)
Universal
Director Todd Haynes is a master at creating lush midcentury melodramas with a modern twist, and 'Carol' could generate even more awards buzz than his Oscar-nominated 2002 film 'Far From Heaven.' Based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel 'The Price of Salt,' the exquisite-looking 'Carol' stars Rooney Mara as a department-store employee who begins an illicit affair with a socialite (the always-wonderful Cate Blanchett). Expect plenty of swooning in the aisles. (Nov. 20)
The Weinstein Company
In director Ridley Scott's adaptation of Andy Weir's surprise best-seller, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead on Mars after his crewmates evacuate amid a treacherous storm. But Watney, an ace scientist, is actually alive, having used his brain to conjure up a series of MacGyver-like survival tactics. And with his time running out, his teammates (including Jessica Chastain) must figure out how to save him. (Oct. 2)
Twentieth Century Fox
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler had a killer sister act during their two-season stint anchoring the 'Saturday Night Live' Weekend Update desk. 'Sisters' casts the duo as a pair of adult siblings who throw one last wild house party before their childhood home is sold. They also each get a taste of romance, with Poehler being paired off with 'The Mindy Project' star Ike Barinholtz while Fey flirts with pro-wrestler — and 'Trainwreck' scene-stealer — John Cena. (Dec. 18)
Universal
Eye-popping masterpiece or epic disaster? Depends which report you've read about director Alejandro González I?árritu's follow-up to the Oscar-winning dark comedy 'Birdman.' The first trailer for this gritty vengeance tale based on the adventures of 18th-century frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) had many viewers appropriately stoked, but the film has also been plagued with production woes that would make Francis Ford Coppola sympathetic. We're optimistic, though: Just look how 'Apocalypse Now' turned out. (Dec. 25)
Twentieth Century Fox
Jennifer Lawrence's run as Katniss Everdeen may be coming to a close (more on that soon), but if her collaborations with director David O. Russell keep turning out like 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'American Hustle,' their work could almost count as a franchise of its own. 'Joy' follows the rise of Joy Mangano, the Long Islander who designed the Miracle Mop —and who hustled to make her creation a must-have. If Russell directs with his signature energy, expect something like 'The Wolf of Wall Street: Home Shopping Network Edition.' (Dec. 25)
Twentieth Century Fox
James Bond's best-known adversary uncurls its tentacles at last, as Daniel Craig's grim-as-the-Scottish-moors 007 goes in pursuit of the multinational criminal organization SPECTRE and its shadowy leader, Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz). Last year's Sony hack may have exposed key plot details online, but there are still several secrets left to uncover, including whether or not “Franz Oberhauser” is actually an alias for “Ernst Blofeld” and how 'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes plans to top that movie's superb set pieces. (Nov. 6)
Columbia
Johnny Depp has been spooky onscreen before: He played the sleek Demon Barber in 'Sweeney Todd,' not to mention the wily Wolf in 'Into the Woods.' But the 52-year-old actor looks downright terrifying here as real-life Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger, who evaded capture for more than 15 years. Easily the most evil character of Depp's career, Bulger and his murderous lackeys terrorized locals for decades while being protected by crooked FBI agents. (Sept. 18)
Warner Bros.
Don't cry: It's the last go-round for Katniss and company, and this time we (finally) have an all-out revolution on our hands. Our heroine (Jennifer Lawrence) is armed and ready to storm the Capitol with her loyal band of rebels to end the injustice once and for all. Francis Lawrence, who directed the past two films, finishes up the franchise, and you can bet it'll be with a bang. (Nov. 20)
Lionsgate
It's been three years since Quentin Tarantino's brutal, brazen, and occasionally gut-busting revenge fantasy 'Django Unchained.' His latest ensemble drama once again finds him heading west, this time for a dark tale about a group of strangers — including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Samuel L. Jackson — brought together during a winter storm. Based on the bloody, brooding footage Tarantino showed at Comic-Con this year, expect 'Hateful Eight' to feature plenty of great vengeance and furious anger. (Dec. 25)
The Weinstein Company
Amid all the advance teasers, official (and unofficial) set photos and Comic-Con concerts, it's sometimes easy to forget that 'The Force Awakens' is an actual movie and not simply a year-long marketing stunt. But the next chapter of the 'Star Wars' franchise is finally ready for its close-up, with director (and noted geek) J.J. Abrams taking audiences on a far-far-away journey that will reunite them with a few familiar faces (the Holy Trinity of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) while also introducing a new generation of characters and stars (John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac). May the force be with them. (Dec. 18)
LucasFilm
38. 'The Intern'
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'Something's Gotta Give' director Nancy Meyers' latest bourgie comedy find its title character in the unlikely person of Ben (Robert De Niro), a restless, 70-something widower who takes an entry-level gig at a New York City startup. His suit-and-tie style may clash with all those scruffy millennial hipsters, but he proves an invaluable asset to the company's young CEO (Anne Hathaway), who could use some old-school advice. (Sept. 25)
38. 'The Intern'
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'Something's Gotta Give' director Nancy Meyers' latest bourgie comedy find its title character in the unlikely person of Ben (Robert De Niro), a restless, 70-something widower who takes an entry-level gig at a New York City startup. His suit-and-tie style may clash with all those scruffy millennial hipsters, but he proves an invaluable asset to the company's young CEO (Anne Hathaway), who could use some old-school advice. (Sept. 25)
37. 'Sicario'
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Last year, she fought aliens in 'Edge of Tomorrow' and sang in 'Into the Woods.'This fall, Emily Blunt continues to prove there's nothing she can't do, playing an FBI agent embroiled in a plot to take down a Mexican cartel in 'Sicario.' The film's violence resulted in some walkouts at Cannes, but Blunt won raves. 'Sicario'is directed by Denis Villeneuve, the man behind the bleak drama 'Prisoners'and the upcoming 'Blade Runner' sequel. (Sept. 18)
Lionsgate
36. 'Jem and the Holograms'
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The beloved '80s cartoon gets a millennial makeover. Aubrey Peeples ('Sharknado') stars as Jerrica, a teenage singer-songwriter who adopts a new rock-star persona: the pink-haired, heavily made-up Jem. The film has generated some controversy among longtime fans for straying so far from the animated series, but there are a few nods to the original Holograms generation — notably, the casting of '80s icon Molly Ringwald (who plays Jerrica's guardian) and the presence of keytars. (Oct. 23)
Universal
35. 'Burnt'
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After packing on muscle for his Oscar-nominated role as soldier Chris Kyle in 'American Sniper,' BradleyCooper is taking charge of the kitchen in 'Burnt.' He plays a hot-shot chef who returns to London to restart his career after nearly destroying his reputation with a caustic brew of arrogance and drug abuse. The ensemble dramatic comedy also features appearances from Lily James, Uma Thurman, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, and Alicia Vikander. (Oct. 23)
The Weinstein Company
34. 'Finders Keepers'
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One of the most pleasant surprises of this year's Sundance Film Festival was this slyly funny, deeply moving documentary about fame, fortune, and a severed limb. In 2004, John Wood lost a leg in a plane accident, only to later learn that it had wound up in the possession of a North Carolina flea-marketer named Shannon Whisnant. The ensuing legal battle would last for years and force the two men to confront their hang-ups about everything from class division to addiction to their own family histories. (Sept. 25)
Orchard
33. 'Truth'
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Veteran screenwriter James Vanderbilt ('Zodiac,' 'The Amazing Spider-Man') makes his directorial debut with this deep dive into the scandal behind “Rathergate.” 'Truth' looks at longtime CBS news anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford), whose career took a blow after a 2004 report about President George W. Bush's military service was later found to have used forged documents. Cate Blanchett co-stars as Rather's producer, while Topher Grace plays a researcher. (Oct. 16)
Sony Pictures Classics
32. 'Secret in Their Eyes'
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In a role that was originally written for a man, Julia Roberts stars as an FBI agent whose life and career unravel when her unit discovers that her daughter has been savagely murdered. A remake of an Oscar-winning Argentine film of the same name, 'Secret' also marks the first time Roberts has shared the big screen with fellow Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who plays a district attorney investigating the crime. (Nov. 20)
Showtime
31. 'Spotlight'
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The latest drama to tread into 'All the President's Men' territory, 'Spotlight' tells the true story of the 'Boston Globe' reporters who uncovered widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The newspaper won a Pulitzer for its 2002 series on the crimes, which had been systematically covered up by the church and the legal system for decades. A stellar ensemble cast — including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, and Stanley Tucci — brings added gravitas. (Nov. 6)
Open Road Films
30. 'Brooklyn'
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Travel back in time to a pre-hipster '50s-era Brooklyn. Adapted from Colm Tóibín's 2009 novel of the same name, the drama from director John Crowley ('Closed Circuit') and screenwriter Nick Hornby ('Wild') depicts the coming-of-age of teenage Irish immigrant Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), who becomes embroiled in a love triangle. Sundance audiences gave the film a warm reception in January, suggesting that New Yorkers aren't the only ones pining for a simpler, high-rise-free Brooklyn. (Nov. 6)
Fox Searchlight
29. 'Trumbo'
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With three Emmys and a Tony under his belt, Bryan Cranston shoots for the acting triple crown with this drama about a dark era in Hollywood and American history. The 'Breaking Bad' vet plays the famed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo ('Roman Holiday,' 'Spartacus'), a Communist Party member who was placed on the infamous Hollywood blacklist and effectively banned from the industry after refusing to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. (Nov. 6)
Bleecker Street Media
28. 'The Walk'
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In 2008, James Marsh ('The Theory of Everything') won an Oscar for his documentary 'Man on Wire,' which recounts tightrope walker Philippe Petit's daring (and illegal) wire-walk between the Twin Towers in 1974. Now, Robert Zemeckis ('Back to the Future,' 'Forrest Gump') is retelling that incredible story and re-creating the stunt in 3D, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing the fearless Petit. (Sept. 30)
Sony
27. 'Concussion'
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Few men have had a more profound impact on the NFL recently than Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic neuropathologist who first proved the link between head injuries in football and long-term brain damage. In a dramatization of Omalu's story, Will Smith plays the brilliant researcher, who had to face down the might of the NFL when his conclusions came to light. (Dec. 25)
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
26. 'Freeheld'
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The story of New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester was first brought to the screen in 2007 in an Oscar-winning documentary short also called 'Freeheld.' Now Hester is being portrayed by one of the best actresses in the biz, reigning Oscar champ Julianne Moore. This third feature from director Peter Sollett ('Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist') depicts the terminally ill Hester's groundbreaking battle to leave her pension benefits to her domestic partner Stacie (Ellen Page). (Oct. 2)
Lionsgate
25. 'Beasts of No Nation'
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In his first feature since directing the stunning season one of 'True Detective,' Cary Fukunaga teams up with 'Pacific Rim' star Idris Elba for this adaptation of Uzodinma Iweala's 2005 novel about a boy who's drafted into a group of mercenaries in war-torn West Africa. 'Beasts' is one of the first high-profile original features being released by Netflix. The drama will be released in theaters and via its streaming service — a move that has caused no shortage of controversy. (Oct. 16)
Netflix
24. 'Suffragette'
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The historical drama about the British women's suffrage movement starring Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter is anything but dull: The fight for the vote at the turn of the century involved women planting bombs, burning buildings, and even dying for the cause. Meryl Streep is featured in a supporting role as movement leader Emmeline Pankhurst — a part that could very well earn her a 20th Oscar nomination. (Oct. 23)
Focus Features
23. 'The Good Dinosaur'
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After a year without a Pixar feature in 2014, the studio is treating fans to a double dose in 2015. It'd be hard to top the emotional heights of 'Inside Out', but the first look at director Peter Sohn's prehistoric fantasy seemed both charming and clever. The film imagines an Earth in which dinosaurs didn't go extinct and co-exist with humans. Instead of 'Jurassic World'–level violence, we get a boy and a dino who help each other on an epic adventure. (Nov. 25)
Disney/Pixar
22. 'Room'
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If you came away from 2013's underrated indie 'Short Term 12' wishing you could see more of Brie Larson, 'Room' will more than accommodate that request. The astonishing actress is front and center in the film version of Emma Donoghue's 2010 novel, playing a woman who has been kidnapped and confined to a single room for seven years, even as she's raising her young son. It's the kind of showcase role that's almost guaranteed to vault her name into the awards race. (Oct. 16)
A24
21. 'Legend'
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Tom Hardy was the only one onscreen in 2013's 'Locke,' an acting challenge that will at least be equaled by his role(s) in 'Legend,' a period gangster drama in which he plays identical twins. The actor stars as infamous real-life East London crime bosses Ronald and Reginald Kray, who ran clubs, drugs, and the British social scene for a decade until they were finally brought down in 1969. (Oct. 2)
Universal
20. 'By the Sea'
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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's first film together since 2005's 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' doesn't look like the happiest of reunions — at least not onscreen. This arthouse story puts the famous lovebirds at odds, playing an unhappy married couple sulking their way through a French seaside vacation in the 1970s. 'Sea' marks the third directorial effort of Jolie Pitt, billed for the first time using her husband's name. (Nov. 13)
Universal
19. 'Daddy's Home'
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Mark Wahlberg's reunion with a certain talking teddy bear may not have generated much laughter (or much dough) this summer, but here's hoping the chuckles are more plentiful when he reteams here with his 'Other Guys' co-star Will Ferrell. As in that underrated 2010 cop comedy, Ferrell is the straight arrow at odds with Wahlberg's hothead. But this time, they're clashing over who is the better father. Whoever wins, those poor kids probably lose. (Dec. 25)
Paramount
18. 'The Danish Girl'
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Expect 'Girl' star Eddie Redmayne — who won Best Actor for last year's 'The Theory of Everything' — to make another Oscar run with this tale of Lili Elbe, a Dutch artist who's widely recognized as one of the first identifiable recipients of sex-reassignment surgery. 'Girl,' directed by 'The King's Speech' helmer Tom Hooper, documents what happens when Elbe and wife Gerda Wegener ('Ex Machina' star Alicia Vikander) navigate their marriage and careers in the face of adversity. It's about time we got a love story like this. (Nov. 27)
Focus Features
17. 'Crimson Peak'
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A bloody bath, a dismembered ghost, and Jessica Chastain covered in bruises! That's just a glimpse at the house of horrors that awaits audiences in 'Crimson Peak.' Mia Wasikowska plays an aspiring writer who gets inexplicably pulled into a haunted Gothic mansion, where she's courted by two very different potential lovers (Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Hunnam). Expect this dark fairy tale by director Guillermo del Toro ('Pan's Labyrinth') to involve supernatural oddities, inexplicable brutality, and (ick!) allusions of incest. (Dec. 16)
Universal
16. 'Snowden'
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Having tackled everything from '60s assassinations ('JFK'), '70s scandals ('Nixon'), and '80s excess ('Wall Street'), director Oliver Stone turns to contemporary U.S. politics with this film about former military contractor and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the title character, a former CIA employee who leaked high-level NSA information — a move that forced him to relocate to Russia, and inspired last year's Oscar-winning documentary 'Citizenfour.' (Dec. 25)
Open Road Films
15. 'Bridge of Spies'
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Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reunite in this tale of a real-life Atticus Finch named James B. Donovan — a Brooklyn lawyer who reluctantly agreed to negotiate the release of a downed American pilot in exchange for captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance). The decision earns Donovan the enmity of a Red Scare–panicked public and eventually transports him to East Berlin for a tense series of talks with the USSR. At least this time, Hanks gets to actually see the country beyond the airport terminal. (Oct. 16)
Twentieth Century Fox
14. 'In the Heart of the Sea'
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Originally set to open in March — and now dropping smack in the middle of awards season — Ron Howard's adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's award-winning 2000 book chronicles an attack on a 19th-century Nantucket ship by a massive sperm whale. Look for lots of splashes and clashes in this high-seas tale, which stars Chris Hemsworth and Tom Holland, and which is based on a true story that helped inspire Herman Melville's 'Moby-Dick.' (Dec. 11)
Warner Bros.
13. 'The Night Before'
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'50-50' buds Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite with director Jonathan Levine and add a hilarious third wheel in Anthony Mackie for this R-rated holiday comedy. The trio play New York City pals determined to have the most epic Christmas Eve in the history of bro-dom, which means this will definitely include more drugs than anyone has ever seen in a mainstream Christmas movie. It should be the filthiest film of its kind since 'Bad Santa' — and, hopefully, it will also be the funniest. (Nov. 25)
Columbia Pictures
12. 'Creed'
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For 'Rocky' fans, there's no more exciting movie this holiday season than 'Creed,' which introduces a new underdog fighter to the 40-year-old franchise. Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed, son of Rocky Balboa's friend and original rival, Apollo. Determined to become the next champion with the Creed name, Adonis ropes in a very familiar trainer — the Italian Stallion himself. 'Fruitvale Station' director Ryan Coogler is taking the directorial reins for 'Creed,' but the film has the original Rocky's blessing: He's both a co-star and a producer. (Nov. 25)
Warner Bros.
11. 'Steve Jobs'
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Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin returns to Silicon Valley territory, following up the Facebook-centric 'The Social Network' with a high-concept biopic about the Apple cofounder and general tech-world giant, played by Michael Fassbender. Structured around three key product launches in the company's history, 'Steve Jobs' explores his often contentious relationships with colleagues such as Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen) and Joanna Hoffman (Kate Winslet). Because Danny Boyle ('Slumdog Millionaire') is behind the camera, expect a killer soundtrack that you'll immediately want to add to your iTunes library. (Oct. 9)
Universal
10. 'Carol'
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Director Todd Haynes is a master at creating lush midcentury melodramas with a modern twist, and 'Carol' could generate even more awards buzz than his Oscar-nominated 2002 film 'Far From Heaven.' Based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel 'The Price of Salt,' the exquisite-looking 'Carol' stars Rooney Mara as a department-store employee who begins an illicit affair with a socialite (the always-wonderful Cate Blanchett). Expect plenty of swooning in the aisles. (Nov. 20)
The Weinstein Company
9. 'The Martian'
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In director Ridley Scott's adaptation of Andy Weir's surprise best-seller, astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead on Mars after his crewmates evacuate amid a treacherous storm. But Watney, an ace scientist, is actually alive, having used his brain to conjure up a series of MacGyver-like survival tactics. And with his time running out, his teammates (including Jessica Chastain) must figure out how to save him. (Oct. 2)
Twentieth Century Fox
8. 'Sisters'
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Tina Fey and Amy Poehler had a killer sister act during their two-season stint anchoring the 'Saturday Night Live' Weekend Update desk. 'Sisters' casts the duo as a pair of adult siblings who throw one last wild house party before their childhood home is sold. They also each get a taste of romance, with Poehler being paired off with 'The Mindy Project' star Ike Barinholtz while Fey flirts with pro-wrestler — and 'Trainwreck' scene-stealer — John Cena. (Dec. 18)
Universal
7. 'The Revenant'
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Eye-popping masterpiece or epic disaster? Depends which report you've read about director Alejandro González I?árritu's follow-up to the Oscar-winning dark comedy 'Birdman.' The first trailer for this gritty vengeance tale based on the adventures of 18th-century frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) had many viewers appropriately stoked, but the film has also been plagued with production woes that would make Francis Ford Coppola sympathetic. We're optimistic, though: Just look how 'Apocalypse Now' turned out. (Dec. 25)
Twentieth Century Fox
6. 'Joy'
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Jennifer Lawrence's run as Katniss Everdeen may be coming to a close (more on that soon), but if her collaborations with director David O. Russell keep turning out like 'Silver Linings Playbook' and 'American Hustle,' their work could almost count as a franchise of its own. 'Joy' follows the rise of Joy Mangano, the Long Islander who designed the Miracle Mop —and who hustled to make her creation a must-have. If Russell directs with his signature energy, expect something like 'The Wolf of Wall Street: Home Shopping Network Edition.' (Dec. 25)
Twentieth Century Fox
5. 'SPECTRE'
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James Bond's best-known adversary uncurls its tentacles at last, as Daniel Craig's grim-as-the-Scottish-moors 007 goes in pursuit of the multinational criminal organization SPECTRE and its shadowy leader, Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz). Last year's Sony hack may have exposed key plot details online, but there are still several secrets left to uncover, including whether or not “Franz Oberhauser” is actually an alias for “Ernst Blofeld” and how 'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes plans to top that movie's superb set pieces. (Nov. 6)
Columbia
4. 'Black Mass'
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Johnny Depp has been spooky onscreen before: He played the sleek Demon Barber in 'Sweeney Todd,' not to mention the wily Wolf in 'Into the Woods.' But the 52-year-old actor looks downright terrifying here as real-life Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger, who evaded capture for more than 15 years. Easily the most evil character of Depp's career, Bulger and his murderous lackeys terrorized locals for decades while being protected by crooked FBI agents. (Sept. 18)
Warner Bros.
3. 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2'
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Don't cry: It's the last go-round for Katniss and company, and this time we (finally) have an all-out revolution on our hands. Our heroine (Jennifer Lawrence) is armed and ready to storm the Capitol with her loyal band of rebels to end the injustice once and for all. Francis Lawrence, who directed the past two films, finishes up the franchise, and you can bet it'll be with a bang. (Nov. 20)
Lionsgate
2. 'The Hateful Eight'
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It's been three years since Quentin Tarantino's brutal, brazen, and occasionally gut-busting revenge fantasy 'Django Unchained.' His latest ensemble drama once again finds him heading west, this time for a dark tale about a group of strangers — including Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Samuel L. Jackson — brought together during a winter storm. Based on the bloody, brooding footage Tarantino showed at Comic-Con this year, expect 'Hateful Eight' to feature plenty of great vengeance and furious anger. (Dec. 25)
The Weinstein Company
1. 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'
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Amid all the advance teasers, official (and unofficial) set photos and Comic-Con concerts, it's sometimes easy to forget that 'The Force Awakens' is an actual movie and not simply a year-long marketing stunt. But the next chapter of the 'Star Wars' franchise is finally ready for its close-up, with director (and noted geek) J.J. Abrams taking audiences on a far-far-away journey that will reunite them with a few familiar faces (the Holy Trinity of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) while also introducing a new generation of characters and stars (John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac). May the force be with them. (Dec. 18)
LucasFilm
This summer at the cineplex was appropriately action-packed. Now it's time for some drama to accompany your popcorn fare. There are still crowd-pleasers galore this fall movie season, including the final installment of the 'Hunger Games' and of course that little ol' 'Star Wars' sequel. But there's also a release schedule packed with prestige projects all looking to entice viewers and make a mark in time for awards season. Click through our preview and start taking notes, because your fall calendar is filling up fast.
