Fall Movie Preview 2015

Star Wars, The Hunger Games, James Bond and more in our Fall Movie Preview

The fall movie season is upon us, and as the leaves brown and tumble to the streets below, they will be crushed by the feet of eager passersby on their way to the cinema to see one of many filmic gifts the studios have gift-wrapped for us. Obviously Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, and the new James Bond movie, SPECTRE, will lead the pack, but the fall movie season also brings more sober adult dramas and awards contenders.

Check out our selection of the hottest items coming out from September through December in the gallery below where we will give you the inside scoop on the most anticipated films with the biggest stars!

Which film in the Fall Movie Preview are you looking forward to the most?

On a desktop, click on Full Screen to read each entry!

Fall 2015 Movie Preview

The Transporter Refueled (Sept. 4)

The fourth, Jason Statham-less entry in EuropaCorp's action series finds Ed Skrein ("Game of Thrones") taking over the role -and, consequently, the three-piece suit - of freelance driver Frank Martin. Mayhem of a martial arts as well as vehicular variety shall ensue.
The Perfect Guy (Sept. 11)

The stunning Sanaa Lathan (The Best Man Holiday) is at the center of a deadly love triangle between the mysterious and potentially unstable man in her life (Michael Ealy) and her concerned ex (Morris Chestnut). Early trailers paint Ealy as the psycho, but could there be a twist involved in this Hitchcockian thriller?
The Visit (Sept. 11)

Long overdue for a comeback, former golden boy auteur M. Night Shyamalan returns to his low-budget horror roots (The Sixth Sense) after some costly misfires (After Earth). The story concerns two children whose visit to their grandparents house takes an ookie spooky turn when granny starts acting more than a little funny.
Black Mass (Sept. 18)

Johnny Depp is nearly unrecognizable as notorious real-life Boston mobster/multiple murderer Whitey Bulger, whose snake-like eyes betray the cobra within that can and will strike at a moment's notice. Joel Edgerton plays the FBI agent who makes a deal with the devil in order to position Bulger as an FBI informant, but at what cost?
Captive (Sept. 18)

Based on the memoir "An Unlikely Angel" by Ashley Smith, this film chronicles Smith's (Kate Mara) harrowing experience of being held hostage by a murderer named Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) and how she used the Rick Warren's bestselling Christian tome "The Purpose Driven Life" to talk her captor down.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (Sept. 18)

James Dashner's bestselling YA series returns to the screen as Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers face an even more formidable challenge than last time: The Scorch. Once again they will face terrible obstacles as they navigate the barren post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Everest (Sept. 25)

The 1996 Mount Everest disaster in which twelve people died trying to reach the summit over the course of the season is the same event that inspired Jon Krakauer's bestseller "Into Thin Air," although this is a fictionalized account. A star-studded cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke and Josh Brolin, with some actual on-location shooting in Nepal that should be breathtaking in IMAX.
Hotel Transylvania 2 (Sept. 25)

Everyone is back for a second stay at the biggest monster mash this side of Bobby Pickett. This time around, Adam Sandler's Drac is trying to teach his grandson how to be a proper ghoul, but he'll need some help from his own dad, as voiced by comedy legend Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein, The Producers). Animation master Genndy Tartakovsky once again directs a screenplay by Robert Smigel.
The Intern (Sept. 25)

Leave it to Robert De Niro to show a bunch of twenty-something yuppies how to be a dignified man who's never heard of BuzzFeed. Anne Hathaway plays the young CEO of a startup that agrees to hire a senior citizen as an intern, only to learn a few lessons herself. Chick flick grandmaster Nancy Meyers (It's Complicated, Something's Gotta Give) continues her make-work program for actors of a certain age.
Sicario (Sept. 25)

The title of this movie translates as "hitman," represented by Benicio Del Toro's mercenary tracker hired to work with an idealistic FBI agent (Emily Blunt) to track down a drug dealer operating between U.S. and Mexican borders. Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve orchestrates the chaos in this high-tension action drama.
The Martian (Oct. 2)

Representing the American ideal, Matt Damon plays astronaut/botanist Mark Watney as a resourceful (and snarky) guy who will do whatever it takes to figure out how to survive on Mars after he becomes stranded on the desolate planet. Ridley Scott (Prometheus, Blade Runner) presents a more hopeful vision of the future with an all-star cast including Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Pan (Oct. 9)

Filmmaker Joe Wright showed an extraordinary visual flourish with his adaptation of Anna Karenina, and now he takes things to a whole other level with this inventive prequel to J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan mythos. Hugh Jackman plays the dread pirate Blackbeard, Garrett Hedlund plays a sympathetic younger James Hooks and newcomer Levi Miller takes the title role of the boy who never grew up.
Steve Jobs (Oct. 9)

After endless delays and a game of lead actor musical chairs (Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio both flirted with the role and ultimately turned it down), we can finally get Michael Fassbender as a definitive screen Steve Jobs to wipe away the memories of Ashton Kutcher. Seth Rogen co-stars as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak while Kate Winslet plays Jobs' second-in-command Joanna Hoffman. The biopic comes from the pen of Aaron Sorkin, with Academy Award-winner Danny Boyle behind the camera.
The Walk (Oct. 9)

Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Flight) will use his uncanny skill at blending visual effects with top-notch performances as he takes on the true story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's 1974 walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes on the lead role, while the 3D vistas of the now-fallen buildings will be the true main attraction.
Bridge of Spies (Oct. 16)

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, The Terminal) reunite for their first outing in over a decade. Rather than going for safe blockbuster territory, they've chosen a sober Cold War-era political thriller in which Brooklyn lawyer James B. Donovan (Hanks) has to negotiate an exchange of prisoners between the U.S. and Russia. Mark Rylance and Amy Ryan co-star.
Crimson Peak (Oct. 16)

If anyone can make a 19th century gothic romance palatable for ADD-addled millennials it would be Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth). For this ghostly outing, the horror master has a cast straight out of an Edward Gorey drawing (Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam) and one seriously menacing haunted house, not to mention visuals so lush they might be mistaken for The Age of Innocence if not for the gallons of blood promised in the trailers.
Goosebumps (Oct. 16)

Early word has it that, despite a series of recent box office misfires, Jack Black is back in fine form in this meta homage to the cheeky YA horror novels of R.L. Stine. Black plays a fictionalized version of the author himself who must deal with all variety of abominable snowmen, mummies, vampires and ventriloquist dummies sprung to life from his own writing. The tone seems very '80s Amblin, and the beasties look amazing.
Burnt (Oct. 23)

Ten years ago, Bradley Cooper played a celebrity chef modeled after Anthony Bourdain in the short-lived FOX show "Kitchen Confidential," and now he's tying the white apron back on for a new story about a similar culinary firebrand. A drug addiction and some bad behavior cause chef Adam Jones (Cooper) to lose his restaurant, so he takes a sojourn to London and Paris in order to win back his three Michelin stars.
Jem and the Holograms (Oct. 23)

The cult '80s cartoon series is given a grounded, low-budget take from director Jon M. Chu (Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) that eschews the more truly outrageous aspects of the Hasbro property. This version involves fledgling singer Jerrica Benton (Aubrey Peeples) trying to navigate the sharky music industry with the help of her bandmates and a tiny robot named Synergy.
The Last Witch Hunter (Oct. 23)

Vin Diesel's latest passion project/potential franchise posits the bald one as a centurys-old immortal witch hunter who partners with an actual witch ("Game of Thrones" star Rose Leslie) in order to stop New York City covens from destroying humanity with a plague.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Oct. 23)

Gregory Plotkin, editor of the last four entries in the highly-successful supernatural found-footage franchise, takes the directorial reigns for what is promised as the ultimate culmination of the series. This time, a new family must deal with the demon that has inhabited Katie (Katie Featherston) and delve deeper into the mythology behind the haunting.
Our Brand is Crisis (Oct. 30)

A remake of Rachel Boynton's 2005 documentary of same name, this political dramedy follows retired political consultant Calamity' Jane Bodine (Sandra Bullock) who uses American campaign strategies to help an unpopular Bolivian president win re-election. The always-interesting David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, George Washington) directs a cast that also includes Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie and Zoe Kazan.
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (Oct. 30)

The writer/director responsible for several entries in the Paranormal Activity series, Christopher B. Landon, takes the reigns of this comedic take on zombies told from the point of view of three dorky Boy Scouts played by Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tye Sheridan and Logan Miller as they stumble their way through saving their town from the outbreak.
The Peanuts Movie (Nov. 6)

Charles M. Schultz's beloved comic strip has been adapted many times for the big and small screen, but this will be the first time the characters will be rendered in computer animation. So far, it seems that Blue Sky Studios has retained the classic look and feel of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang, but let's hope they can keep the modern-day pop music to a minimum.
SPECTRE (Nov. 6)

Many believe Daniel Craig to be one of the best actors to portray Ian Fleming's 007, but his fourth outing will be a test to see if he and director Sam Mendes can weave together plot lines from the previous three films in order to add a truly new dimension to Bond. Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes, Léa Seydoux and Christoph Waltz co-star.
The 33 (Nov. 13)

Antonio Banderas leads a sturdy cast in this biopic about the 2010 Chilean mining disaster that left thirty-three miners trapped for two months. Their story is told from the point of view of Mario "Super Mario" Sepúlveda (Banderas), who sent video messages about their condition to those attempting rescue.
By the Sea (Nov. 13)

Angelina Jolie proved herself as a very effective director with last year's Unbroken, and she returns behind the camera (and in front) while bringing her husband/co-star Brad Pitt along. In her film, they play a husband and wife growing apart in the 1970s while traveling along the coast of France, having meetings with locals that take them in interesting directions.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (Nov. 20)

The Panem revolution reaches its breaking point as Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) launches her final assault against President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Director Francis Lawrence and the rest of his stellar cast (including the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) make their final stand with this Lionsgate.
Secret in Their Eyes (Nov. 20)

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts lead this hard-hitting drama about a member of an FBI team (Roberts) whose daughter is murdered. After thirteen years, Ejiofor's character suddenly turns up with new evidence that may lead them to the killer. This film will provide a real test for new studio STX Entertainment, who seem to be aiming for more grown-up fare than their big studio competitors.
Spotlight (Nov. 20)

The normally super-dependable Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, Win Win) suffered his first major bomb earlier this year with The Cobbler, but he can hopefully rebound quickly with this expertly-cast journalist drama. It shines its "spotlight" on the The Boston Globe's investigative team as they uncover the Massachusetts Catholic sex abuse scandal, with Michael Keaton as the editor as well as Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams as reporters.
Creed (Nov. 25)

Director Ryan Coogler of the critical darling Fruitvale Station reunites with his star Michael B. Jordan to augment the legendary Rocky franchise with a spin-off involving Apollo Creed's son Adonis teaming up with an aging Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him for the big-time. A sub-plot involving Rocky fighting a formidable medical opponent outside the ring might just bring tears to fans eyes.
The Good Dinosaur (Nov. 25)

Any year where you get TWO Pixar movies is a good year, although the reason for the double dip involves an intense amount of story retooling and a director/voice cast swap-out midway through production. The resulting film, which centers around a human named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) befriending a dinosaur, looks to have some of the most realistic animation in the company's history.
The Night Before (Nov. 25)

Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt play a trio of best friends on the cusp of their last big Christmas blowout together. With one of them about to become a father, another about to become famous and the third worried about losing his friends, expect director Jonathan Levine's wild comedy to go places no holiday movie has ever dared go before.
Victor Frankenstein (Nov. 25)

The friendship between the mad scientist Viktor Von Frankenstein (James McAvoy) and his faithful assistant Igor (Daniel Radcliffe) as told from the latter's perspective. The trailer suggests a jaunty, somewhat frenetic ride that still pays adequate tribute to Mary Shelly's tale of Promethean gothic horror.
In the Heart of the Sea (Dec. 11)

Ron Howard's 19th century film of a true-life tragedy, the sinking of the whaleship Essex. It was not just a horrific event but also the inspiration for Herman Melville's classic tome "Moby Dick." Chris Hemsworth plays the strapping first mate aboard the doomed vessel, while a wraparound device with Melville (Ben Whishaw) draws parallels between fact and fiction.
Sisters (Dec 18)

Playing childish adults behaving badly isn't just for the boys anymore as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler make their own female-centric spin on the Step Brothers formula. The frequent comedy partners (and best-selling authors) play the title sisters who decide to throw one last big bash before their parents sell their childhood home, resulting in a night of anarchy the house itself may not survive.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dec. 18)

Okay, let's be honest: A lot of the previous films on our list are great and all, but this is the reason we're all here, right? Set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, the seventh episode in the continuing Star Wars saga is the big ticket of the season, with the return of the original trio of Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher being the centerpiece of J.J. Abrams' bid to jumpstart the galaxy far far away for a new generation of fans. New characters played by Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver will carve out their own place in what has become the Mount Rushmore of space epics.