26. THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN (SEPTEMBER 28)



Plot Summary: THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), from his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck), who becomes captivated with Forrest’s commitment to his craft, and a woman (Sissy Spacek), who loves him in spite of his chosen profession.


The Breakdown: This real life crime drama sounded interesting from the get-go, based on its premise and the involvement of writer/director David Lowery - the same filmmaker responsible for Disney's whimsically melancholic Pete's Dragon re-imagining and last year's label-defying reflection on love, loss, and the cosmos, A Ghost Story. The news that The Old Man and the Gun will be Robert Reford's last movie before he retires means this is now a must-see for film buffs and makes Redford's turn as an old-timer out for one final thrill all the more interestingly meta in nature. Here's hoping The Sundance Kid rides out with style.

25. VENOM (OCTOBER 5)



Plot Summary: One of Marvel's most enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom.


The Breakdown: Venom's trailers may have a kitschy 1990s comic book movie vibe to them (dubious one-liners and all), but the mere fact that an Eddie Brock solo film exists is still something of a miracle, after so many false starts. Tom Hardy as Mr. Bock is equally inspired casting and may yet prove to be the glue that holds Sony's potential Spider-Man antihero movie franchise launcher together. Venom's success or lack thereof will further depend on director Ruben Fleischer being able to balance flashy action, body horror, and cheeky humor in the same way that he did on his breakout hit Zombieland, nine years ago.

24. A STAR IS BORN (OCTOBER 5)



Plot Summary: In this new take on the tragic love story, Bradley Cooper plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers - and falls in love with - struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer... until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.


The Breakdown: A Star is Born is a well that Hollywood keeps on going back to, with Bradley Cooper's film being the third remake of the original 1937 romantic melodrama. Even so, this version (Cooper's directorial debut and Lady Gaga's first major film vehicle) seems rather promising at the moment and will even hit the film festival circuit before its nationwide release in theaters. That suggests Warner Bros. is confident about Cooper's take on the material and feels it might even have a shot at awards glory, down the road. If everything falls into place, this one could go down as 2018's Crazy Heart, in that regard.

23. BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE (OCTOBER 12)



Plot Summary: Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption... before everything goes to hell.


The Breakdown: If "Cabin in the Woods meets Coen Brothers noir" sounds like your cup of tea, then Bad Times at the El Royale should be high on your list of most anticipated fall releases. This is also the first movie that Drew Goddard has directed since Cabin, though his work over these last six years (writing The Martian, creating Marvel/Netflix's Daredevil, and serving as a key contributor on The Good Place) suggests his storytelling has simply gotten sharper with time. Throw in a cast that includes (mostly shirtless) Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, and Dakota Johnson, and it seems Bad Times may yet become a dark horse hit.

22. FIRST MAN (OCTOBER 12)



Plot Summary: On the heels of their six-time Academy Award-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’ First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost - on Armstrong and on the nation - of one of the most dangerous missions in history.


The Breakdown: As obsessed as Damien Chazelle is with Jazz, his efforts directing Whiplash and cowriting both Grand Piano and 10 Cloverfield Lane suggest he enjoys a good thriller just as much. First Man has given the La La Land helmsman the chance to demonstrate his skills at generating suspense and white-knuckle tension in a whole new arena (namely, outer space) and, by the look of its trailers, the film may prove to be even more intense than classic NASA dramas like The Right Stuff and Apollo 13 before it. At the least, Chazelle and Gosling are on-course to go two-for-two with their second venture.