By: Justin Kresse
Going to the movies is always a fun time, especially with friends. This list of upcoming movies is perfect for anyone interested in having a blast, and there are even a few titles that are being released on streaming platforms, for those who’d rather enjoy their movies at home.
“Spin Me Round” This is a twisted comedy that has a plethora of great actors like Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Debby Ryan, Fred Armisen and Alessandro Nivola. It follows a woman named Amber (Brie) who manages a restaurant. When she wins a trip to Italy to meet the owner of the restaurant chain (Nivola) and is met with the company’s educational immersion program, she finds a much more interesting experience than she was bargaining for. The film was released in theaters on August 19 but was simultaneously released on AMC+, so by the time you read this, AMC+ might be the only place to watch it.
“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” Have you ever listened to the songs “Amish Paradise,” “Party in the CIA” or “White and Nerdy” and wondered what kind of person could create such marvelous pieces of art? Or maybe you’re a huge fan of the music biopics that have been popular recently and their commitment to historical accuracy? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you’re probably not going to like “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” a deliberately fabricated story about the famous parody musician and his exploits. However, I’ll be watching it solely for the fact that Daniel Radcliffe plays the titular music man—and my guess is that it should be absolutely hilarious. The movie was set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, but if you’re not up for a trip to Canada, it comes out on the free Roku Channel on November 4.
“Don’t Worry Darling” This drama was directed by Olivia Wilde and stars Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. It follows Alice (Pugh) and her husband Jack (Styles). Jack is working on a secret project for his shady company that owns the entire town. Alice’s curiosity eventually leads to problems with the community, and things only get stranger from there. It’s another film with several great actors including Chris Pine, Nick Kroll and Timothy Simons, but I know everyone will be showing up for Pugh and Styles. The film releases in theaters on September 23, and should be available on HBO Max 45 days later.
“Halloween Ends” The “Halloween” series has taken on something of a cult status for certain viewers. If you’re one of those people, then you’ll likely be interested in the thirteenth installment, which comes out right in time for Halloween on October 14 in theaters and on Peacock. The movie takes place four years after the previous film and once again shows Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) who has liberated herself from the fear and rage that used to haunt her. But, when a cascade of terror and violence returns to haunt her, she must finally face the evil head-on.
“Black Adam” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays the title character in this DC Comics anti-hero film. His character is thrust into the modern day from his ancient country of Kandaq. He has to face the Justice Society of America, but must then work with them to fight an even bigger bad. The film releases in theaters on October 21 and should be a fun watch with friends or family.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” This follow-up to Marvel’s massively successful “Black Panther,” which starred the late Chadwick Boseman, is sure to be great. It follows the people of Wakanda as they deal with the loss of their king and the many forces threatening their way of life. Marvel has kept the details of this film under wraps, so it should be even more enjoyable to watch if you’re up to go out for its opening night on November 11. Of course, we all dearly miss Boseman and get to see how this new film will carry on the Black Panther name in his honor.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” Can you believe it’s been 13 years since James Cameron’s “Avatar” came out. I guess all good things take time to perfect? That’s the hope with “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which is set to release in theaters on December 16. This long-awaited sequel tells the story of the Sully family, who we saw in the first film, as they face many challenges in order to stay together. There are three other sequels planned for the “Avatar” franchise, but they won’t start coming out until 2024.
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” If you’re looking for a family movie to watch over winter break (yes, I know we just started the fall semester), then this would be a stellar pick. The film follows Puss in Boots (voiced by Antonio Banderas) and Kitty Softpaws (voiced by Salma Hayek) as they search for the mystical last wish to restore Puss in Boots’ nine lives. It’s set to be released in theaters on December 21.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” This is the final movie coming out this year that is well worth watching. It’s set to release on Netflix on December 23 and should be a heck of a mystery film if it’s anything like the original “Knives Out” movie. This time, however, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) will be the only one returning, with a new supporting cast (Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr. and many more) and a new mystery for Blanc to solve. It’s sure to have all the drama, suspense and intrigue of the first film.
“Oppenheimer” While it won’t be released until July 21, 2023, I had to include Christopher Nolan’s next film because I am so excited about it. The film is a biopic about Robert Oppenheimer, one of the men responsible for creating the atomic bomb, with Cillian Murphy set to play the titular character. With a fantastic supporting cast, I cannot wait for this newest Nolan movie to hit theaters next year.