Major Theatrical Releases October 2016

Major Theatrical Releases October 2016

October brings us cooler weather, changing leaves and of course Halloween.  It also brings a hodgepodge of different types of films - drama, comedy, action and of course horror. 

Here are the major theatrical movies being released in October 2016.
(Dates are subject to change)

October 7

The Girl on the Train

Based off the international bestseller by Paula Hawkins, "The Girl on the Train" is about Rachel Watson, an alcoholic who divorced her husband after an affair.  She fantasizes about her neighbors as she rides the train to work everyday, but one day she witnesses something from the train window, and her neighbor goes missing and is presumed dead, with Rachel being the main suspect.  This looks like it will be the "Gone Girl" this film season, and even though I didn't care for "Gone Girl" this one shows promise, mostly because it features amazing actors like Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Lisa Kudrow and Allison Janney (in a rare departure from her comedic mainstay).

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Based on the book by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts, "Middle School" is about a new student named Rafe who is at first excited to start school, but dismayed when the principal and teachers act as bigger bullies than the bullies themselves.  So Rafe and his friends concoct a plan to start an insurrection to go against their tyrannical principal and humiliate him.  Obviously this isn't my cup of tea, and there's not much advertising for it, but the parents could drop their kids off to see this movie while they see "The Girl on the Train," so it could get some revenue from that at least.

The Birth of a Nation

This true-life movie focuses on Nat Turner, an enslaved man who led a slave rebellion in Southampton, Virginia in 1831.  He was taught the Bible as a child and grew to be a preacher to his fellow slaves, but when he sees the scope of slavery, he decides to become a different type of leader.  The film was met with critical acclaim, winning the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.  Director (and lead actor) Nate Turner took the title from the KKK propaganda film written by D.W. Griffith in 1915 because he wanted to "reclaim this title and re-purpose it as a tool to challenge racism and white supremacy in America."  This looks to be a shoe-in for several Oscar nominations, even though there's been a big controversy over Nate Turner's past rape allegations (he was acquitted) that threatened to delay the release.

October 14

Max Steel

Based off a toy series by Mattel (you can already tell this movie is going to be a biiiiiiig hit...sarcasm), this is another origin story about a boy and his alien companion, who together form a turbo-charged being that will protect the world from some evil thing, as long as the two can get along.  Or something like that.  Boasting no real big names, and taking into account the previous bombs from movies based on toy series ("G.I. Joe" anyone?), it looks like this will be another big dud.  Not to mention this is the film Taylor Lautner turned down.  If he turns down a project, you bet it's gotta be terrible.

The Accountant

Christian Wolff is a mathematics savant who socializes better with numbers than people, and by using a small-town CPA office as a cover, he makes a living in forensic accounting for dangerous criminal organizations.  He takes on a state-of-the-art robotics company as he's being trailed by a Treasury agent, and finds discrepancies of millions of dollars, putting his life in danger.  Even though the title is a lame one, this looks promising as it boasts a thrilling tale, a unique character, and actors Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow.

Kevin Hart: What Now?

Mostly a standup performance in front of a sold-out football stadium, part...poker game tale?  Either way, Kevin Hart's standup is often much more funny than his movies, so this could show promise as long as the film is mostly him in front of the stage and not trying to act.

Desierto

Mexican migrant workers try to make a better life for themselves by crossing the U.S. border meet a rife-toting vigilante who turns their travel into a struggle for survival as they're chased across the terrain without weapons.  Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Negan himself - Jeffrey Dean Morgan - this seems like a very timely tale in light of today's political climate, and looks to be a thrilling, tense thriller.

October 21

31

In 1976 on Halloween, a group of carnival workers are stopped and attacked, and the survivors are sent to a mysterious factory where they're forced to play 31, and if they can survive the maze and those trying to kill them for twelve hours, they'll be set free.  Rob Zombie is one of the most controversial and violent directors in recent memory, directing such nail-biters as "The House of 1,000 Corpses," "Lords of Salem" and the "Halloween" remake.  Here he appears true-to-form, delivering a depraved tale of terror just in time for Halloween, and featuring his staple actors Sheri Moon Zombie (his wife), Malcolm McDowell and others.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back

Four years after the original, Jack Reacher returns to his old military unit only to find he's accused of a 16-year-old homicide, and sets out to clear his name, as well as protect his friend Susan Turner from a gang of killers.  The first film was a surprise success, and it looks like this one will do fairly well as well, but it could be an over-saturation of Tom Cruise action that could drag it down, since he's already set to star in the sixth "Mission: Impossible" as well.  Nothing in the preview makes me really want to see this, and it looks like your typical action fare.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Average suburban couple the Gaffneys are living their ordinary lives when the Joneses move in next door.  At first they seem like your everyday neighbors, but the Gaffneys soon discover they're more than who they say they are, and they're thrown into a thrilling tale of international espionage.  This film looks truly hilarious, with Zach Galifianakis at his most humorous role since "The Hangover," and also featuring standout comedic performances by Isla Fisher and Jon Hamm, as well as Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, in one of her first comedic outings.

Ouija: Origin of Evil

In 1967 Los Angeles, a widowed mother and her family fake a seance as a part of a scam to live off of, but things become all too real when a spirit from the Ouija board inhabits her daughter, sending the family on a frantic race against time to save her.  This is the prequel to the awful 2014 film, and looks to be another paint-by-the-numbers supernatural tale that you've seen (better) countless number of times before.  Still, with a weak Halloween film set, this could be a sleeper hit.

Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween

For this outing, Madea spends Halloween with her grand niece and a group of misbehaving teens as they fend off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls and zombies.  Tyler Perry's creation of Madea is one of comedy's gems, and always delivers the laughs.  This looks like no exception, as it seems to be a fun film for the entire family during Halloween.

October 28

Inferno

Based on the third book in Dan Brown's series, this film finds Robert Langdon on the run as he's the prime suspect in a crime, and also must solve a mystery involving Dante's "Inferno" before a plague of biblical proportions is unleashed on the world.  Tom Hanks returns as the main character (fun fact: Tom Hanks never appeared in a sequel in a live-action film until this series), and Felicity Jones, Omar Sy and Ben Foster round out the stellar supporting cast in this tale that seems to be equal parts thriller and mystery.

American Pastoral

Taking place in a post-Vietnam America, this film centers around a seemingly perfect family whose lives are thrown upside down after their daughter gets involved in an act of terrorism.  Based on the book by Philip Roth, the film stars Ewan McGregor (who also makes his directorial debut),  Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning and Rupert Evans.

So there are the films being released in October2016. 

Here is a list in order from what I think will be the best, to the worst.

 The Birth of a Nation
Inferno
The Girl on the Train
The Accountant
Keeping Up With the Joneses
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
31
Tyler Perry's Boo! A Madea Halloween
Desierto
American Pastoral
Kevin Hart: What Now?
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Max Steel