Fall Movie Preview: Superheroes Collide, Replicants Return, and Horror Goes Haywire

As a rather dismal summer of movies rolls out with August, the fall movie season is shaping up to be one of star-studded powerhouses, suspenseful epics, and plenty of indie appeal. While highly-anticipated superhero team-ups like Thor: Ragnarok and Justice League lead us into the remainder of the year, ambitious horror projects and bold biopics like It and Battle of the Sexes aim to make for a fascinating and diverse slew of movies for the fall. Previewing some of the hottest films on their way, here are my thoughts on which films should be at the top of your must-see list this autumn:

A New Age of Heroes Rise, and the God of Thunder Sparks Again:

Thor: Ragnarok - While it remains one of the weaker links of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, the series of films based around the Asgardian god of thunder aims to rev up its engines in a whole new way with November's highly-anticipated Thor: Ragnarok. Just as last year's superhero epic Captain America: Civil War pit allies Tony Stark and Steve Rogers head-to-head, Ragnarok not only plans to do the same with Thor and the Incredible Hulk, but also intends on embarking on a fast-paced galactic adventure featuring the two Avengers. While the Thor films never truly captured my attention, the third film looks like it could be ballsy enough to be a stand-out in the Marvel Universe.

Justice League - While much of my hype for the massive DC team-up film was already cemented with its first trailer, promising everything from dynamic apocalyptic action to a Batman/Aquaman bromance, the November project still remains a uncertain endeavor for the struggling DC Extended Universe. Nevertheless, even as DC's fate in building the next Hollywood franchise remains skeptical, a number of elements point to Justice League becoming one of the top comic-book films of the year. With Avengers director Joss Whedon leaving his own imprint on the film, with Zack Snyder still in the director's chair, the team-up film could blend the two filmmakers' styles to a surprising success. 

Prepared to Be Scared -- Creepy Clowns & Marital Murder:

It - Already scaring up plenty of cash in the early fall box office, the effective new adaptation of Stephen King's It has easily become one of this season's top films. With director Andy Muschietti cobbling together a brilliant cast of young actors to pit against his titular clown in Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise, the film aims to continue this year's phenomenal run of horror films. While far more paranormal than February's Get Out and plenty more investing than last month's Annabelle: Creation, the first big-screen take on King's scariest creation could promise good things for the season's other horror endeavors.

mother! - Shaping up to be one of the most audacious horror films of the season, Darren Aronofsky's tightly-wound thriller in this month's mother! has already caught my attention not only with its cryptic premise, but also with its star-studded cast. Tossing the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, and Michelle Pfeiffer into an off-the-wall plot of marital tension and one spooky country home, while mother! might have the air of sleeper hit, the film could explode to be one of the best of the year.

Jigsaw - While 2010's Saw 3D might have promised a dismal end to the long-running horror franchise, the exploits of actor Tobin Bell's titular Jigsaw killer and Billy the Puppet don't seem to be fully done with, as October's Jigsaw returns to the vicious world of Saw. While the franchise critics have long described as "torture porn" might have never captured my interest, the eighth installment, no matter how formulaic it will most likely be, could be just what long-term fans of the series want the most.

All-American Adaptations -- Jaded Assassins & Ill-Fated Informants:

American Assassin - Based on the 2010 Vince Flynn novel, the newest adventure of espionage and over-the-top set pieces in this month's American Assassin seems like the perfect thrill-ride to turn your brain off and enjoy. While I never did get around to checking into Flynn's acclaimed spy novel, the film looks to emulate at least a portion of what made the book such a success. With a decent starring role for Maze Runner lead Dylan O'Brien, and a supporting role that could benefit from some good 'ole Michael Keaton, the latest spy adaptation to hit theaters could give us some likable performances amid a formulaic plot to destroy the free world.  

American Made - Assassins don't seem to be the only thing coming out of the land of the free this fall, as this month's flamboyant biopic for DEA informer Barry Seal in American Made aims to make waves at the box office. While its plot might be reminiscent of last year's moderately entertaining Bryan Cranston-starrer The Infiltrator, American Made might just have a leg up on the former with both its director and its leading man. With The Bourne Identity and Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman working again with lead Tom Cruise as Seal, American Made could promise another entertaining drug-focused biopic for the fall season.  

Sequels -- Star-Studded Spy Games & Sci-Fi Successors:

Blade Runner 2049 - Easily one of my most anticipated films of the fall, the highly-coveted follow-up to 1982's renowned sci-fi adventure Blade Runner is already leaving a cryptic trail of breadcrumbs just weeks before its October release. While I may have just recently plunged into the world within the Ridley Scott/Harrison Ford classic, the long-awaited sequel from Arrival director Denis Villeneuve looks to not only evoke the grimy post-apocalyptic feel of the original, but also expand on the enthralling narrative set with the 1982 film. With Villeneuve dropping a trio of short features over the past month detailing the newest characters we find in his film, the hype for Blade Runner 2049 is almost too tantalizing. 

Kingsman: The Golden Circle - Another highly-anticipated sequel releasing this fall can be found in the classy yet completely bonkers follow-up to 2015's unprecedented success, Kingsman: The Secret Service. Reeling back in the fun-filled spy games that channel everything from James Bond to Quentin Tarantino, director Matthew Vaughn hopes to sell fans on yet another star-studded cast kicking butt and poking fun at all the corners of the spy genre. With the likes of Jeff Bridges, Halle Barry, and even musician Elton John joining the fun, the sequel should be, at most, one helluva good time.  

Stories of Spirit -- Troops in Trauma & A Nation Made Stronger:

Thank You for Your Service - In the vein of 2014's American Sniper, which found distraught marksman Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) struggling through PTSD after returning from Iraq, next month's war drama Thank You for Your Service looks to follow down a similar path, as it takes a sharper look at just how post traumatic stress disorder affects soldiers returning from the toils of war. With what looks a promising lead performance from Whiplash star Miles Teller, the film could either be a fascinating dissection of the crippled mind of its leading soldier, or simply a dry attempt at mimicking the acclaim of Clint Eastwood's 2014 film, and others like it.   

Last Flag Flying - From director Richard Linklater, whose extensive career in film has given us tales of heartbreak, truth, and bittersweet comedy, comes yet another project of his to be infused with the joys and turmoils of the human spirit. Based on the 2005 novel by Darryl Ponicsan, Last Flag Flying finds a trio of veteran Marines reuniting years after their service to bury the son of one of their own. Combining the unique mix of drama and comedy of Linklater's filmmaking, as well as the trio of talent in stars Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Lawrence Fishburne, Last Flag Flying looks like it could be a heartfelt, character-driven drama with plenty of humanity to spare.
 

Stronger - Moving out of the battlefield and onto the streets of Boston, this month's Stronger aims to detail another facet of the horrifying Boston Marathon bombing in the spring of 2013. While last year's Patriots Day delivered a compelling portrayal of the minute-by-minute events on ground zero, Stronger sets its sights on detailing the recovery of one of the bombing's toughest hit victims. With Jake Gyllenhaal pulling together another great performance as Jeff Bauman, a spectator of the race who lost both legs in the tragedy, Stronger could shine a new light on the spirit at the heart of one of Boston's most dire moments.

Inspired Indie -- Young Love & Dreams of Disney:

The Killing of a Sacred Deer - From the enigmatic director behind the absurd hit The Lobster, the newest film from Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos already seems destined for indie greatness. After winning over audiences at the Cannes Film Festival, the latest strange venture for Lanthimos and Lobster star Colin Farrell finds the duo tackling cryptic suburban existence and unsettling visitors. With Nicole Kidman coming right off the success of Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled (also starring Farrell), the cast, along with the award-winning filmmaking of the Greek director, could be enough to deliver another fantastically strange hit. 

The Florida Project - If it hadn't been for the peculiar yet vastly entertaining hit in 2015's Tangerine, the latest film from up-and-coming director Sean Baker might have never found its way onto my radar. With The Florida Project, Baker finds himself exploring a broader territory beyond transgender prostitutes and movies shot on iPhones. Detailing the exploits of precocious 6-year-old girl who tackles a misguided childhood in Kissimmee, Florida, Baker looks to deliver a sun-drenched follow-up to one of the best films of 2015.

Lady Bird - After actress-turned-filmmaker Greta Gerwig became a favorite of mine within the independent genre, with films like Mistress America and Frances Ha utilizing her quirky, blunt charisma to propel stories of identity and adulthood, it was no surprise that her first feature as director would focus on a young woman battling with her own adolescence. Channeling her own charisma into star Saoirse Ronan, who butts heads with her on-screen mother Laurie Metcalf in November's Lady Bird, Gerwig could deliver one of the fall's best films in this coming-of-age dramedy.

Call Me by Your Name - Another coming-of-age tale hitting theaters this November arrives into form of Call Me by Your Name. Hailing from Italian director Luca Guadagnino, one of the fall's biggest indie features looks to transport audiences to the beautiful terrain of Italy, similar to how the director did in 2015's A Bigger Splash. Spinning an epic of young love set against the compelling landscape of 1980s Italy, Call Me by Your Name aims to propel two fantastic performances in both Armie Hammer and breakout Timothee Chalamet, all within a dynamic and heartbreaking narrative.  

Impassioned Portrayals -- Monumental Matches & Wrinkles in War:

Battle of the Sexes - One of the more intriguing biographical projects set to release this month is the tennis-themed Battle of the Sexes. Detailing the exciting duel of wit and sport between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973, as the world of tennis was breaching the gap between men and women in sports, Battle of the Sexes is set to deliver an entertaining peek at one of the most iconic matches in tennis. With Steve Carell pulling out a comically cynical performance as Riggs, alongside what could be an award-worthy portrayal of King by Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes could end up being my favorite biopic of the year. 

Marshall - Another powerhouse player in the biographical genre this fall is the Chadwick Boseman-starring drama detailing the first case of African-American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. With Boseman riding off the success of not only his portrayal of T'Challa/Black Panther in last year's Captain America: Civil War, but also his favorable performances as both Jackie Robinson and James Brown in 42 and Get On Up respectively, next month's Marshall looks like it could be the newest hit in the actor's repertoire. With Boseman commanding the screen right from the film's trailer, the film looks like it should be an impassioned portrayal of one of the most influential African-Americans of American history.   

Darkest Hour - While the likes of Carell, Stone, and Boseman might not go through any extensive procedures to mimic their real-life roles, the same can't be said for Darkest Hour's Gary Oldman, who becomes nearly unrecognizable as British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. While this summer's Churchill might have seen Brian Cox as the Prime Minister tackling the arrival of D-Day, director Joe Wright's upcoming film aims to pit the man against Adolf Hitler at the onset of the Second World War. With Oldman's transformative performance as Churchill already garnering him plenty of acclaim, this historical drama could be a major player come award season.
  

Tales of Violence -- Cold Case Crimes & Suburban Suspects:

Murder on the Orient Express - Without a doubt one of the most iconic mystery novels of the 20th century, Agatha Christie's 1934 Murder on the Orient Express has become an renowned subject across both film and television. Shifting into the modern age of cinema, the story of detective Hercule Poirot and the ghastly murder aboard a European locomotive has found its place once more among the major releases of the season. Spinning a tale of classic intrigue, as a reluctant Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) points fingers at a cornucopia of suspects (including Judi Dench, Daisy Ridley, and Johnny Depp), the famous question of "whodunit" is updated with this star-studded adaptation.     

The Snowman - Reeling in audiences of the thriller genre once more, just as he did with the 2011 espionage film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Snowman director Tomas Alfredson aims to pitch another compelling narrative in the October adaptation. Based on 2007 novel by Jo Nesbø, the bone-chilling tale of winter murder in The Snowman follows the path of detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) as he uncovers the plot of an elusive serial killer who has just reemerged. While the film's cast in Fassbender, J.K. Simmons, and Rebecca Ferguson might be enough to make the film enjoyable, it'll have to be a pretty compelling thriller to make its mark before first snowfall.

Suburbicon - Right out of the vein of a great Coen Brothers mystery, George Clooney's frantic comedy-thriller in next month's Suburbicon already has the makings of a sleeper hit. While its plot of chaos in peaceful suburbia and underground crime might appear a bit formulaic, it's the faces at the heart of the project that could make Suburbicon a fantastic dark comedy. While Clooney might be taking the director's chair over a starring role, it's Matt Damon's disgruntled father in Gardner Lodge that really grabs at your interest. Joined by Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac in this ballsy crime caper, Damon, as well the writing and direction of the film, will surely make it a stand-out this fall.  

Ill-Mannered Parents -- Feuding Fathers & Christmas Specials:

A Bad Moms Christmas - With 2016's crude maternal comedy Bad Moms making for a decent box-office success and surprisingly enjoyable summer closer, there was little doubt that the trio of moms in Mila Kunis Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn would return for a regulatory sequel. Tackling the perils of Christmas this time around, the no-holds-barred hilarity of motherhood doubles as the trio's own mothers enter the party. While the comedy sequel might not be at the top of my must-see list this fall, the substantial success of the first film could be enough to make for a delightful pre-Christmas release.

Daddy's Home 2 - Mimicking the similar plot of the Bad Moms follow-up, the November sequel to 2015's Daddy's Home also aims to utilize its protagonists' peculiar parent figures as conduits towards a successful sequel. With Daddy's Home 2 continuing the feud of father vs. stepfather between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg ignited in the 2015 comedy, the dads join the show as the rugged Mel Gibson butts heads with the lovable John Lithgow. While I might have loved the Ferrell-Wahlberg duo in 2010's The Other Guys, I'm not entirely convinced this feuding fathers series can hold any weight beyond its first film.


With a plethora of exciting films set to leave their mark on both the box-office and the upcoming award season, what films are you most excited to see this fall? Let me know your must-see films of the fall season in the comment section below, and stay tuned for my thoughts on the biggest releases I check out in the coming months.