Fall 2016 Movie Preview Guide

As August winds down and fall rolls around, the weather will change: the temperatures will drop, there will be less sun, and winds will pick up. What better time to find some indoor activities—like going to the movies! Fall always delivers some quality film fare, with movies cycling through festivals like Venice, Telluride, and Toronto before being released all across the world. But with so many movies comes that age old question: which ones should you see?

Here at The Hudsucker, we love a good movie. So we’ve put together a list of ten movies being released from September to November, to help narrow down your options. Here are the ten movies we’ve got our eyes on this fall.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Snowden. Credit: Endgame Entertainment

Snowden

Release Date: Friday, September 16
Plot: A political thriller that follows Edward Snowden (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a geeky American computer professional who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency to The Guardian in June 2013.
Why We’re Excited: By now, everyone has heard even just a little bit about Edward Snowden, and it will be interesting to see the way the film dramatizes his life and the choices he made. Snowden is directed by Oliver Stone, who has had some misses but has also directed some fantastic films. Plus, with a cast like Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Timothy Olyphant, and Rhys Ifans, the film will likely be magnetic to watch.
Trailer: Watch it here.

The cast of The Magnificent Seven. Credit MGM.

The Magnificent Seven

Released Date: Friday, September 23
Plot: As the town of Rose Krick is put under the siege of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, the residents enlist the help of seven outlaws to protect them while they prepare for a violent confrontation. However, after meeting the town’s residents, the Seven find themselves fighting for much more than money.
Why We’re Excited: Honestly, we were a little wary at first! The film is a remake of the beloved 1960 western film of the same name, so many people were skeptical. But first looks and the all-star cast they’ve put together—Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, Peter Sarsgaard, Vincent D’Onofrio, and more!—have piqued our interest. If the film manages to stand up against the original, we’ll be there with bells on!
Trailer: Watch it here.

Emily Blunt in The Girl On The Train. Credit: Amblin Entertainment

The Girl On The Train

Release Date: Friday, October 7
Plot: Divorcee Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) takes the train to work every day and spends her commute fantasizing about a young couple living down the street from her ex-husband. One morning, she sees something shocking and finds herself entangled in a mystery that promises to forever alter the lives of everyone involved.
Why We’re Excited: The film is based on a best-selling novel, so that means the story is coming from compelling source material. Blunt is a fantastic talent, so it will be exciting to see her take on the title role. Plus, The Girl On The Train has been likened to Gone Girl more than once. That’s certainly enough to get us to the theater!
Trailer: Watch it here.

Louis MacDougall in A Monster Calls. Credit: Apaches Entertainment

A Monster Calls

Release Date: Friday, October 21
Plot: Based on fantastical children’s novel by Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls is the story of a young boy who’s struggling to cope with the impending death of his terminally ill mother along with bullies at school. But someone has his back: an ancient monster tree, voiced by Liam Neeson.
Why We’re Excited: The novel has been adapted for the screen by Ness himself, which is always promising. Plus, Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona has produced steadily compelling fare in the past. It’s definitely one to watch out for, fantasy fans!
Trailer: Watch it here.

Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange. Credit: Marvel Studios

Doctor Strange

Release Date: Friday, November 4
Plot: Dr. Stephen Strange, played by fan-favorite Benedict Cumberbatch, is a brilliant but egotistical surgeon whose career is destroyed after an accident ruins his hands. He travels the globe in search of treatment and comes across the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), a sorcerer who trains Strange to defend the world from evil.
Why We’re Excited: Marvel always draws moviegoers, and the latest entry in their Cinematic Universe will surely be no exception. It’s yet to be seen how this relatively unknown property will fare with audiences, especially amid complaints of cultural insensitivity and white-washing. But this is the studio that pulled hits out of Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man—two films that audiences were very skeptical of. Doctor Strange is sure to pique peoples’ interest. And Benedict Cumberbatch will certainly help draw audiences to the theatres.
Trailer: Watch it here.

Amy Adams in Arrival. Credit: Paramount Pictures

Arrival

Release Date: Friday, November 11
Plot: After aliens descend upon earth, a linguist (Amy Adams) is recruited by the United States government to investigate. Also stars Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker.
Why We’re Excited: This is another movie based on a novel, and we’re all about good source material. It’s directed by Dennis Villeneuve, whose last three films—Enemy, Prisoners, and Sicario—have all been well-received. Sicario was even nominated for three Oscars! Plus, this one stars Amy Adams, whom we love. Arrival is one sci-fi that’s definitely on our radar this fall.
Trailer: Watch it here.

Newcomer Joe Alwyn in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk

Release Date: Friday, November 11
Plot: Based on Ben Foundation’s satirical novel, the film follows members of the Bravo Squad on a government-mandated “Victory Tour” to celebrate their heroics in the Iraq War. Their halftime honors at a football game coincide with a call to return to action, and many other smaller melodramas.
Why We’re Excited: First of all, the film is directed by Ang Lee—the man who brought us films like Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. He’s a fantastic director who never plays it safe, so we’re always up for one of his projects. There’s a cast featuring Vin Diesel, Kristen Stewart, Steve Martin, and Chris Tucker, so it definitely has the star power behind it. The film promises to be a new look at war and the complicated morality surrounding it, and we’re certainly interested to see what this film will bring to the table.
Trailer: Watch it here.

Eddie Redmayne in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Credit: Warner Brothers

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Release Date: Friday, November 18
Plot: Decades before Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley ever set foot at Hogwarts, there was another young wizard setting out into the world: Newt Scamander. Scamander, who eventually goes on to author Hogwarts textbooks, visits the Magical Congress of the United States in 1926. Along th way, he loses control of a very special briefcase—one that happens to contain some very dangerous magical beasts.
Why We’re Excited: It’s J.K. Rowling. It’s the Wizarding World. What could be more exciting than that?! So many people in their late 20s and early 30s grew up with the Harry Potter books, and we think there’s still that eleven-year-old inside of us all who can’t wait to dive right back into Harry’s universe.
Trailer: Watch it here.

Jake Gyllenhaal in Nocturnal Animals. Credit: Focus Features

Nocturnal Animals

Release Date: Friday, November 18
Plot: Amy Adams stars as Susan, an art gallery owner who begins receiving the manuscript of her ex-husband’s violent thriller novel. As Susan reads more of the story, she begins to see that the things her ex-husband has written aren’t just words; they’re threats.
Why We’re Excited: Not only is Nocturnal Animals basd on an acclaimed Austin Wright novel from 1933, it’s also the second film from fashion designer-turned director Tom Ford—who surprised audiences with his emotionally poignant film A Single Man in 2009. Add in an all-star cast of Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher, Michael Shannon, Laura Linney, Armie Hammer, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and this is definitely one of our most anticipated films this fall.
Trailer: There’s no trailer yet, but be on the lookout—with a November release, one will surely surface soon!

Moana and Maui on an adventure in Moana. Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios

Moana

Release Date: Wednesday, November 23
Plot: A young woman named Moana (newcomer Auli’i Cravalho) sets sail for a fabled island and is joined by once-mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) along the way.
Why We’re Excited: How could we not be excited? It’s the first story Disney has done about a Polynesian princess, and it’s refreshing to see them expand their repertoire and feature different races and cultures. The movie’s music is done by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, which essentially guarantees the movie will have catchy tunes. Plus, The Rock sings. It’s pretty likely that Disney will have another hit on their hands with this one!
Trailer: Watch it here.

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What movies are you looking forward to seeing this fall? Let us know in the comments below.