Killer Clowns, Festival Dramas and the Final Frontier: A Fall 2019 Movie Preview
In the face of scorching heat, a heaping uptick of pumpkin-flavored products has made its way to stores everywhere to signal fall’s commencement. This means we are turning the corner on a brand new season of movies. As we leave the summer blockbusters behind, they are replaced by riskier studio fare, some genuine awards contenders and all things spooky.
It is difficult to stay on top of it all, but the following list will assist in keeping track of the major releases coming this fall. (The list will only include nationwide theatrical releases—no limited or special releases).
September:
“It: Chapter 2” - Sept. 6
This nearly three-hour Stephen King adaptation is the followup to 2017’s “It” which followed a group of kids in Derry, Maine in 1989. The self-named “losers club” fights against “It”, a creature who feeds on fear, most commonly taking form as Pennywise, the dancing clown. The first “It” went on to become the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, so there are a lot of expectations for “It: Chapter 2.” The story picks up with the adult version of the “losers club” 27 years later when they go back home to finish the job. (Click here to read my 2017 review of “It: Chapter 1”).
Genre: Horror
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James McAvoy
Rated R
“The Goldfinch” - Sept. 13
Genre: Drama
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Nicole Kidman
Rated R
“Ad Astra” - Sept. 20
The first of a few different space adventures coming this fall, “Ad Astra” is a starring vehicle for Brad Pitt from director James Gray. This film will be enjoyable for several reasons. For one, James Gray is somewhat of a hidden talent to most people, and I was a big fan of his last film, 2017’s “The Lost City of Z.” But more than that, we have had a string of great sci-fi and space films come out each fall for the last several years. This year, the festival buzz indicates this is another hit.
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi
Starring: Brad Pitt, Liv Tyler, Tommy Lee Jones
Rated PG-13
“Downton Abbey” - Sept. 20
Genre: Drama
Starring: Maggie Smith, Matthew Goode
Rated PG
“Rambo: Last Blood” - Sept. 20
Genre: Action
Starring: Sylvester Stallone
Rated R
“Abominable” - Sept. 27
Genre: Family, Animation
Starring: Chloe Bennet
Rated PG
October:
“Joker” - Oct. 4th
I do not know what in the world Warner Bros. is doing with their DC Comics properties, but “Joker,” based on the iconic Batman villain, is a 70’s set crime movie following the downward spiral of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he descends into madness. There’s no Batman in this picture, and director Todd Phillips certainly has an interesting new take on the character that has been done time and time again. Festival buzz is strong, as the film even took home the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beats
Rated R
“The Addams Family” - Oct. 11
Genre: Family, Animation
Starring: Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloe Grace Moretz
Rated PG
“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” (Netflix) - Oct. 11
Genre: Crime, Drama
Starring: Aaron Paul, Charles Baker
Not Yet Rated
“Gemini Man” - Oct. 11
Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Starring: Will Smith
Rated PG-13
“Jexi” - Oct. 11
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Adam Devine, Rose Byrne
Not Yet Rated
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” - Oct. 18
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, Elle Fanning
Rated PG
“Zombieland 2: Double Tap” - Oct. 18
The followup to the zombie comedy hit comes out a full 10 years after the original, but the cast is back together with director Ruben Fleischer once again at the helm. Getting a sequel to “Zombieland” at all seems odd, especially so long after the fact, but I’m hoping they can spark some of the same kind of fun energy as the original.
Genre: Comedy, Action, Horror
Starring: Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg
Rated R
“Black and Blue” - Oct. 25
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Starring: Naomie Harris, Frank Grillo
Not Yet Rated
“Countdown” - Oct. 25
Genre: Horror
Starring: Anne Winters, Elizabeth Lail
Not Yet Rated
“The Current War” - Oct. 25
Genre: Drama, History
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Tom Holland
Rated PG-13
“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix) - Oct. 25
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Wesley Snipes
Rated R
“The Last Full Measure” - Oct. 25
Genre: Drama, War
Starring: Bradley Whitford, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan
Not Yet Rated
November:
“Arctic Dogs” - Nov. 1
Genre: Family, Animation
Starring: Jeremy Renner, James Franco, Alec Baldwin
Rated PG
“Harriet” - Nov. 1
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe
Not Yet Rated
“The King” (Netflix) - Nov. 1
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Robert Pattinson
Rated R
“Motherless Brooklyn” - Nov. 1
Genre: Crime, Drama
Starring: Edward Norton, Bruce Willis
Rated R
“Terminator: Dark Fate” - Nov. 1
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Not Yet Rated
“Doctor Sleep” - Nov. 8
“Doctor Sleep” is the film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. As the marketing suggests, it is a follow-up to King’s “The Shining,” picking up years later with an adult Danny Torrence played by Ewan McGregor. The primary reason I’m interested is because of director Mike Flanagan, who is responsible for last years smash Netflix hit “The Haunting of Hill House” among other films and projects that get me looking forward to whatever he does next.
Genre: Horror
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson
Rated R
“Last Christmas” - Nov. 8
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson
Rated PG-13
“Midway” - Nov. 8
Genre: Action, Drama, War
Starring: Luke Evans, Patrick Wilson
Not Yet Rated
“Playing With Fire” - Nov. 8
Genre: Family, Comedy
Starring: John Cena, Judy Greer
Not Yet Rated
“Charlie’s Angels” (2019) - Nov. 15
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Starring: Kristin Stewart, Naomi Scott, Elizabeth Banks
Rated PG-13
“Ford v. Ferrari” - Nov. 15
“Logan” director James Mangold helms one of the buzziest awards. He is hopeful in this year’s race car drama “Ford v. Ferrari.” Mangold has proven himself to be a talented director, and with stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale, it’s hard not to look forward to this one.
Genre: Biography, Drama
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale
Not Yet Rated
“The Good Liar” - Nov. 15
Genre: Drama
Starring: Ian McKellan, Helen Mirren
Rated R
“21 Bridges” - Nov. 22
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons
Not Yet Rated
“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” - Nov. 22
Coming hot off the tail of last year’s excellent Mr. Rogers documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Tom Hanks takes on the role of Mr. Rogers in this bio-pic set to come out in prime awards season. Festivals are praising Hanks for his performance, and it's looking like it may have captured what makes Fred Rogers so important to so many people. This is a definite must-watch this fall for anyone who has an affinity for Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and the man behind it all.
Genre: Biography, Drama
Starring: Tom Hanks
Rated PG
“Frozen 2” - Nov. 22
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
Starring: Kristin Bell, Idina Menzel
Rated PG
“The Irishman” (Netflix) - Nov. 27
Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. “The Irishman” brings Scorsese back to his roots of gangster films, as well as reconnects him with longtime collaborator Robert De Niro for the first time since “Casino” in 1995. To top it off, he got mob movie veteran Al Pacino and convinced Joe Pesci, who had effectively retired from acting, to come back for this crime epic. The fact that it is available on one’s couch through Netflix the day it comes out is insane.
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
Rated R
“Knives Out” - Nov. 27
This year’s go-to Thanksgiving movie will certainly be Rian Johnson’s whodunnit, “Knives Out.” The film centers around a family coming together following the mysterious death of their patriarch and the investigation that takes place. Critics from festivals are proclaiming this star-studded mystery to be a total blast.
Genre: Mystery, Crime, Comedy
Starring: Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Jaime Lee Curtis
Rated R
“Queen & Slim” - Nov. 27
Genre: Crime, Drama
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith
Rated R
And that’s what we have in store this Fall at the movies. Keep in mind that November is notably packed, and any of these dates could change before they come out. Hopefully this can help you when you're trying to decide what to go see this semester.
