It's fair to say that the 2017 summer movie season ended with a bit of whimper. Last month didn't bring a Suicide Squad-sized hit but rather the biggest success story wound up being Annabelle: Creation, the latest entry in The Conjuring shared universe. Although August also brought a pair of critically acclaimed underperformers in Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit and Steven Soderbergh's Logan Lucky, perhaps the biggest story to emerge from the month was the disappointing franchise non-starter that was the much-anticipated big-screen adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower. Moving into fall, September offers another film based on the prolific author's bibliography and a ton of other films worth checking out.
As always, here are 10 films to check out in September 2017:
Tulip Fever (Release Date: September 1)
Those who have been following its long road to the big screen may not quite believe it, but Tulip Fever is finally playing in theaters. Reportedly shot back in 2014, this film adaptation of the Deborah Moggach novel -- directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) -- stars Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne and a host of others.
Set in the Netherlands during the 17th century, the film follows an artist (DeHaan) who falls in love with a married woman (Vikander) while commissioned to paint her portrait. Fans of erotic thrillers -- especially those that also function as lush period pieces -- should find plenty to enjoy in Tulip Fever, which has already gained plenty of attention for its steamy love scenes.
Check out the latest trailer for Tulip Fever.
It (Release Date: September 8)
It may be one of Stephen King's most iconic works (which is saying a lot, considering his bibliography), but believe it or not, the story has yet to be told on the big screen. Aside from the 1990 TV miniseries that brought us Tim Curry's indelible take on demonic clown Pennywise, the epic novel hasn't been properly adapted. Following years of fruitless development, It is almost upon us.
Like King's book, the film follows a group of childhood friends who become terrorized by a mysterious clown (Bill Skarsgård) in the small town of Derry, Maine. Envisioned as the first in a two-part story covering the breadth of the source material, It -- from director Andy Muschietti (Mama) -- is currently riding a wave of positive buzz on its way to becoming a monstrous hit.
Check out the latest trailer for It.
American Assassin (Release Date: September 15)
He may still be Batman to an entire generation, but Michael Keaton is certainly determined to keep his career renaissance going strong. Following this summer's Spider-Man: Homecoming, the star appears as a legendary Cold War veteran who trains Dylan O'Brien's new recruit to become a black ops agent for the CIA in American Assassin.
Based on the Vince Flynn novel, the film aims to be a worthy addition to cinema's long line of espionage thrillers, complete with all the narrative twists and turns. If director Michael Cuesta's previous film -- 2014 thriller Kill the Messenger -- was any indication, moviegoers may be in store for something divisive here. Still, American Assassin could have what it takes to kill it at the box office.
Check out the latest trailer for American Assassin.
Mother! (Release Date: September 15)
At this point, we don't really blame audiences who may associate Darren Aronofsky with trippy psychological cinematic experiences. Between Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, the director has inspired more than his fair share of nightmares. Nevertheless, he appears to be at it again with Mother!, teaming with Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem.
The details of the film's story have been neatly kept under wraps, with only the basic premise revealed in the marketing. Mother! follows a young woman (Lawrence) whose idyllic life with her husband (Bardem) is thrown off course by the arrival of a pair of mysterious strangers (Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer). Knowing much more than that, we assume, will ruin the experience Aronofsky is aiming to create. Chances are, you already know if you're interested in the latest headtrip from the acclaimed filmmaker.
Check out the latest trailer for Mother!
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Release Date: September 22)
Despite the fact that it is based on a popular comic book by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, no one truly expected Kingsman: The Secret Service to so easily charm its way to a $400 million worldwide box office gross, especially with the supposed limitations of its R rating. Now though, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is essentially a built-in hit, thanks to the warm reception of its predecessor.
Taron Egerton's Eggsy returns a full-fledged member of the British espionage group known as Kingsman, which is forced to turn to U.S. counterpart Statesman when disaster strikes. A bunch of high-profile new cast members join the franchise this time around, including Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore as the leader of the villainous Golden Circle. Oh, and Colin Firth is back. Enjoy.
Check out the latest trailer for Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Page 2: valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='Battle%20of%20the%20Sexes%20and%20more']
The Lego Ninjago Movie (Release Date: September 22)
Brick by brick, Warner Bros. has built its Lego film franchise into a monstrous box office force. Following the 2014 phenomenon that was The Lego Movie, the studio released The Lego Batman Movie to much critical acclaim, though not nearly as much financial success. Now it's doubling down on the Lego appeal with its second big-screen entry of 2017.
Based on the popular line of martial arts Lego sets, The Lego Ninjago Movie introduces moviegoers to Lloyd Garmadon (voiced by Dave Franco), a ninja forced to grapple with the fact that his father is an evil warlord. The mystical aspect of the story nicely dovetails off of the more fantastical elements of The Lego Movie, while potentially giving off a whole new franchise of its own. If it's anything like previous Lego productions, The Lego Ninjago Movie should be an easy win for families this month.
Check out the latest trailer for The Lego Ninjago Movie.
Battle of the Sexes (Release Date: September 22)
Steve Carell and Emma Stone may have previously appeared together in the hit romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love. However, the two stars barely shared any scenes last time, making Battle of the Sexes feel like the first time they've really worked together. Lucky for fans of both, the new film from directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris -- still best known for their debut, Little Miss Sunshine -- gives Carell and Stone a juicy story to tell.
The film follows the titular 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King (Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Carell), with the former answering Riggs' call for a female competitor to challenge him on the court. Battle of the Sexes looks like it will take a lighter approach to the story, following suit with previous Dayton/Faris films that deftly balance drama and comedy. As it arrives in select theaters this month, expect the film to earn plenty of critical acclaim.
Check out the latest trailer for Battle of the Sexes.
Stronger (Release Date: September 22)
Over the last few years, Jake Gyllenhaal has demonstrated an incredible commitment to a wide range of highly praised performances, with his chilling turn in Nightcrawler chief among his career achievements. In Stronger, the actor plays Jeff Bauman, real-life survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, as he attempts to reclaim his life following the loss of his legs.
Based on Bauman's memoir (co-written by Bret Witter), the film -- which hits limited release this month -- marks the latest release from versatile filmmaker David Gordon Green, whose career spans both indies like Manglehorn and broad comedies like Pineapple Express. Stronger clearly aims to inspire, and if it manages to convey the gravity of Bauman's journey, we don't doubt that it can.
Check out the latest trailer for Stronger.
American Made (Release Date: September 29)
It's pretty impressive how long Tom Cruise has managed to remain one of Hollywood's most in-demand stars. In recent years, Cruise has turned to frequent collaborators like Edward Zwick and Christopher McQuarrie. Now, seemingly undeterred by The Mummy's underperformance this summer, Cruise reunites with Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman for his latest release, American Made.
The film ostensibly follows the true story of Barry Seal, a pilot turned drug smuggler in the 1970s. However, by the sounds of it, Liman's film bears no shame in taking great liberties with that tale, giving Cruise the freedom to put his own unique spin on the character. Those looking for an accurate portrayal of Seal's life might be disappointed, but American Made certainly has the makings of a memorable crime film.
Check out the latest trailer for American Made.
Flatliners (Release Date: September 29)
Nostalgia is, of course, all the rage these days. So we shouldn't be too surprised to find that Flatliners is making its way back to theaters. The original 1990 Joel Schumacher film united an ensemble cast that includes Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon in its tale of a group of medical students who experiment with near-death experiences.
While this new film shares the same premise, it ultimately serves as more of a belated sequel than a remake of the original. Sutherland reprises his role in a supporting capacity, with Ellen Page, Diego Luna, Kiersey Clemons, Nina Dobrev and James Norton headlining this time around. It remains to be seen whether director Niels Arden Oplev can recapture or expand upon what made Flatliners a hit nearly 30 years ago, but we're dying to find out (see what we did there?).
Check out the latest trailer for Flatliners.
-
Sure, there may be many more highlights to come in fall 2017, but after all, we're just getting started. Already September offers a wide range of releases for moviegoers, from the family-friendly adventure of a new Lego movie to the psychological terror of Darren Aronofsky's latest. The weeks ahead bring some surefire hits -- notably the broad appeal of Kingsman: The Golden Circle -- along with a few riskier entries, and we look forward to seeing which manage to live up to the hype.
Once again, here are the 10 films to check out in September:
September 1: Tulip Fever
September 8: It
September 15: American Assassin, Mother!
September 22: Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Lego Ninjago Movie, Battle of the Sexes, Stronger
September 29: American Made, Flatliners
Let us know in the comments section which ones you're most excited to see!