Major Theatrical Releases October 2018

Major Theatrical Releases October 2018

October has some great films being released, from horror to Oscar-caliber quality and everything in between, there's no shortage of exciting films hitting cinemas this month.

Here are the major motion pictures being released in October, 2018.

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS, 

Also, dates are subject to change**

A Star is Born

October 5

"A Star is Born" is a film that's been made three different times in cinematic history - in 1937, 1954, and 1976 - and now it will receive its fourth cinematic viewing in 2018, this time starring Bradley Cooper (who also directs) and Lady Gaga.  In this iteration, Cooper stars as a drunken country singer who discovers the talent in Ally, played by Lady Gaga, and the two begin both a professional and personal relationship that will define both of their lives.  There's already intense Oscar buzz around the film, and with these two actors at the helm, looks to be a big hit in October.

Venom

October 5

Venom has been one of Marvel Comics' most prolific villains/anti-heroes/whatever you want to call him for decades.  A frequent enemy (and sometimes ally) of Spider-Man, Venom has achieved cult status and a crowd favorite.  The character was horribly used in the abysmal "Spider-Man 3," but now he's getting his own film, a new actor, and it's his time to shine.  Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock, a reporter who uncovers a shady deal involving an alien symbiote that inhabits his body.  Featuring a stellar cast and great effects, this looks to be the Venom movie we've all longed for.

Bad Times at the El Royale

October 12

The film looks to be an intriguing one, where seven strangers inhabit a mysterious hotel and will have the choice at redemption before it all falls apart.  There's not a whole lot known about the film, except it looks stylish and inventive, with a strong cast including Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Chris Hemsworth as a villainous cult leader.

Beautiful Boy

October 12

Ever since seeing him in "Lady Bird" and more importantly "Call Me By Your Name," Timothee Chalamet has become one of my favorite younger actors.  Here, he looks to easily gain a repeat Oscar nomination as Nic Sheff, a young man who's going through the struggle of addiction.  Equally, Steve Carell looks to earn himself a nomination as his longsuffering father, who wants to help his son but feels powerless against the addiction that's taken hold of him.  This true life story looks to be compelling, moving, and filled with strong dramatic performances, and I can't wait to see it.

First Man

October 12

Speaking of Oscar buzz, when you combine Oscar-winning director Damian Chazelle with Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, you're sure to garner some attention.  Gosling portrays Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, in the days leading up to his historical Apollo 11 mission.  This looks to be a dramatic powerhouse with another strong performance by Gosling.

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

October 12

Remember, after the wild success of the first "Goosebumps" movie, when people all over were clamoring for a sequel?  Yeah, neither do I.  The first film only earned $80 million, yet somehow it greenlit a sequel that doesn't star any of the previous actors - not even Jack Black, who played the author R.L. Stine.  In this sequel, two kids discover a manuscript by Stine, which unleashes all his favorite villains from his previous books all over again.  This looks like something that should've gone straight to DVD, and if your kids want to see it, I advise going the first week - because it'll probably be gone after that.

Halloween

October 19

Very few film franchises have gone through as many retcons as "Halloween," a series that was never intended to be.  Director John Carpenter only planned on one film, but as Hollywood goes, they have to follow the money.  The result is a Michael Myers who becomes Laurie's brother, hell bent on ending his bloodline due to a Druid cult curse or something like that.  Throwing all that away yet again, "Halloween" is a direct sequel to the 1978 classic, where Michael is just an insane man bent on killing a girl just because.  Jamie Lee Curtis returns and is no longer a Scream Queen...but a Scream Goddess...as she prepares for Michael's (played by Nick Castle, who played Michael in the original as well) eventual arrival.  It looks like the film will focus on her granddaughter, while Curtis' Laurie takes on a more Dr. Loomis role, but in any event I cannot wait to see these two titans clash once again!

The Hate U Give

October 19

In this timely film, Amandla Stenberg stars as Starr, an African American girl who lives in a mostly black neighborhood but attends a prestigious white high school before her whole life turns upside down.  After witnessing the killing of her best friend at the hands of a white police officer, she has to find her voice as she interacts with differing worlds and viewpoints.  This looks to be a politically charged film with strong performances and a compelling story at the heart.

Serenity

October 19

There's not a whole lot known about this neo-noir thriller, except it looks to be about a boat captain who falls in love with a married woman who's being abused by her husband, and wants him to take care of her abusive husband for good.  The film boasts a strong cast including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, and Djimon Honsou, and looks to be an intriguing thriller where nothing is as it seems.

Hunter Killer

October 26

While watching this trailer, I thought it was going to be a direct sequel to "Olympus Has Fallen" and "London Has Fallen," since it stars Gerard Butler and pretty much looks to be filmed in the same style.  While it's not a sequel (that'll be "Angel Has Fallen" to be released later), this looks to be pretty much the same type of political thriller.  Gerard Butler stars as a submarine captain who is sent to rescue the Russian President, who gets kidnapped by his own Defense Minister, before World War III begins.  This is an easily forgettable film that won't get a lot of traction in theater and will probably be ignored completely, because it just looks terrible on all counts.

Indivisible

 October 26

 This faith-based war film centers on Army Chaplain Darren Turner, and how being in the throngs of war has affected his mind and his relationship with his wife Heather.  Seeing as how this is a strictly Christian film, I suspect that their marriage will be just fine, and there won't be anything profound or special about this film at all.  This film should've been called "Invisible" instead, because no one will even know it existed.

Johnny English Strikes Again

October 26

Rowan Atkinson returns as Johnny English, the bumbling, accident-prone British secret agent who's called out of retirement to bring down a hacker who posted the names of all the undercover agents in Britain.  The third film in the "Johnny English" franchise (I totally forgot there was a second, or a first for that matter), this looks to be as forgettable as the first two, with tired jokes and slapstick humor that will maybe get some chuckles from the audience.

So there are the major release films due out in October, 

and here's the order in which I want to see them:

#12 - Goosebumps 2
#11 - Indivisible

#10 - Johnny English Strikes Again

#9 - Hunter Killer

#8 - Serenity

#7 - Bad Times at the El Royale

#6 - The Hate U Give

#5 - A Star is Born

#4 - First Man

#3 - Beautiful Boy

#2 - Venom

#1 - Halloween