Billboards About Daddy's Murder ...Kinda
"Shut up! Shut the fuck up! Shut up; will you, shut up shut up! Shut Shut Shut Shut Shutup... Shutup!" - guess which movie (wait for it)
what's in theaters...
We watched Thor: Ragnarok last weekend and it was pretty damn great. If you've been waiting for a movie to take the piss out of superhero movies, well then, watch this superhero movie.
In other news, if you like this email even a modicum, please feel free to forward or send friends that you think might enjoy it / get some benefit to WhatsInTheaters.com.
We'll thank you with hugs, high fives or long distance head nods next time we see you - whatever your comfort level.
Ok, let's get to...
...this weekend.
Daddy's Home 2
It's... Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in a sequel to their family comedy except this time their dads join the (holiday) party, but then ALIENS come and there's a big battle with laser guns and green blood (ew!) and.... naugh, we're just screwin' with you. It's totally what you expect. John Lithgow, Mel Gibson join as the dadpas.
Side note: we're noticing a familiar/familial pattern here... *cough* A Bad Moms Christmas *cough*.
Rating: PG-13
Watch... Latest Trailer (kinda joke spoilery FYI) - Second Trailer
Reviews... are not rollin' in quite yet. Bet let's be honest, this isn't a "critic's movie." First one saw 31% recommendation on RT, so this may follow the same pattern. But if you liked the first, this looks like the same goods, with a new holiday twist.
Our take... not necessarily our first pick, or second (or third), but Will Ferrell is pretty much always loveable and John Lithgow is a boss. But feels a bit tired.
Showtimes & Tickets... Google Showtimes - Fandango
Make Plans...
Murder On the Orient Express
It's... a MUUUUUURRRDER (<--say it outloud with a british accent, it's super fun) mystery.
Kenneth Branagh directs the latest take on Agatha Christie's whodunit novel starring ALL OF THE STARS, like: Johnny Depp, Daisey Ridley, Michelle Pfeiffer, Branagh (as detective Poirot), Willem Dafoe *breeeeath* Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Josh Gad and more. We're rooting for a real provocative twist where Professor Plum is the killer.
Rating: PG-13
Watch... Most Recent Trailer - First Trailer
Reviews... are trickling out and it seems to be dividing the reviewers a bit, but bending towards recommended at 64% on RT (as of sending). The Hollywood Reporter's take seems to split the middle, "...its appeal is confined to the traditional niceties of being a clever tale well told."
Our take... is that it looks well done, if not groundbreaking. We wouldn't turn down a free ticket.
Showtimes & Tickets... Google Showtimes - Fandango
Make Plans...
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
It's... a really long title. And a dramatic, and darkly comic, story of a mother (Frances McDormand - Fargo) whose frustration with the lack of movement on finding her daughter's killer leads her to use scorched earth tactics on the local sheriff (Woody Harrelson) and his deputy (Sam Rockwell - Moon). Directed by Martin McDonagh who's made the well respected In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths.
Rating: R
Watch... The (Red Band) Trailer (seriously, it's fantastic)
Reviews... are stellar. It has a neeeearly perfect recommendation rating at 94% on RT. Reviews are citing not just the dark humor, but the performances and humanity.
Note... that it's only playing in limited theaters (NY/LA) this weekend. Expect it to expand next weekend and beyond.
Our take... fuck yeah.
Showtimes & Tickets... Google Showtimes - Fandango
Make Plans...
Already In Theaters (last weekend's box office)
Thor: Ragnarok ($123 mill) NEW
Funny Thor!
93% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
A Bad Moms Christmas ($17.1 mill) NEW
Six mommies! Doin bad things! (not like that)
30% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Jigsaw ($6.8 mill)
Saw VIII.. 8? Eight.
32% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Tyler Perry's Boo 2! ($4.8 mill)
Madea back in action
6% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Geostorm ($3.2 mill)
Big scale disaster movie where weather is killer
15% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Happy Death Day ($2.8 mill)
= Groundhog Day + Scream
69% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Blade Runner 2049 ($2.4 mill)
Sequel to sci-fi classic /w Ryan Gosling & Harrison Ford
88% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Thank You for Your Service ($2.2 mill)
Miles Teller in story about war's impact on soldiers
78% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Only the Brave ($1.9 mill)
Based on true story about firefighters
90% RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
Let There Be Light ($1.8 mill) NEW
Kevin Sorbo (Hercules on TV) in faith film
N/A RT - Trailer - Showtimes - Fandango
NOTE: Lady Bird expands to more markets this weekend & likely nationwide around Thanksgiving - still 100% RT.
...next weekend.
Justice League
It's... a movie with a little bit of baggage. Not everyone loved Batman vs Superman (or Man of Steel) and the intensely serious tone (but the brighter, more optimistic Wonder Woman is beloved). This one supposedly changes that some with new characters, although the palette is still quite dark.
The story picks up with Superman dead (yeah right) and Batman and Wonder Woman gathering partners - Aquaman (Jason Moma, aka Kahl Drogo from Game of Thrones) - the Flash - Cyborg - to help stop a new evil. Fun fact: Joss Whedon, who directed the first two Avengers films, took over directing this after Zac Snyder had to step away.
Watch... Most Recent Trailer
Make (Early) Plans...
Wonder
It's... based on the book of the same name and is the story of a boy with facial differences who's going to school for the first time. Kid from Room stars, along with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents. "Heartwarming" will be used in abundance with the film.
Watch: Most Recent Trailer
Make (Early) Plans:
The Star
It's... most definitely not a sci-fi movie. In fact, it's a religious animated movie that tells the story of Jesus' nativity, except the heroes and central characters are animals who "save" Christmas. Lots of known names in the voice cast (e.g. Oprah) and seems to have pretty standard animated tropes - beyond the religious aspect.
Watch: Most Recent Trailer
Make (Early) Plans:
Roman J Israel, Esq.
It's... the next film from Dan Gilroy, director of the excellent and unnerving Nightcrawler (Jake Gyllenhaal as news cameraman creeper), starring Denzel Washington who plays an idealistic lawyer whose world is turned upside down when his boss dies and he changes firms - moral quandaries abound. Also stars Colin Farrell.
Early reviews mentioning a great Denzel performance, per usual, but maybe not overall greatness.
Watch: Most Recent Trailer
Make (Early) Plans:
New Trailers!
Coco Nov 22, 2017: Final trailer - Pixar's next film about a boy Miguel who defies his family by becoming a musician and ends up in the Land of the Dead.
The Post Dec 22, 2017: Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in the story of The Washington Post's efforts to post the Pentagon Papers (the leaked government report about how the gov lied to itself and the public about Vietnam and more).
The Disaster Artist Dec 1, 2017: Second trailer - James Franco inhabits Tommy Wiseau, the director and star of The Room, which is considered "one of the worst movies ever made," but has become a cult classic. Early Oscar talk for Franco.
Downsizing Dec 22, 2017: Second trailer - Alexander Payne (The Descendants, Nebraska) directs and Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig star. People can get "downsized" to make their money worth a lot more. Expect lots of satire and cultural critiques.
Forever My Girl Jan 19, 2018: Oddly, NOT based on a Nicholas Sparks book (epic sunsets be damned). Country star who left his fiance at the altar returns home for a funeral and has to deal with what he left behind.
Fifty Shades Freed Feb 9, 2018: Third and final (?) film based on the phenomenon that is the BDSM twinged book series.
Early Man Feb 16, 2018: Second trailer - stop motion animated film from Aardman Animation (Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run) where Dug and his pals need to stop their enemy, The Bronze Age. Note: Aardman really hasn't missed much (if at all) in making great movies.