Back To School: Autumn Movie Preview!
If you live in the UK, chances are your kids are back to school this week for the first half of the autumn term. While many parents are posting photos on social media of their offspring beaming in their new uniforms, school bags and clean PE kits hanging from their wrists, chances are there are more than a few children who aren’t looking forward to the school days ahead. While we can’t make that nervousness/fear/blind terror go away, we can offer something to hopefully bring a little cheer: a list of some terrific movies opening over the next few weeks that they can see with you and their friends to make those school days fly past. And before they know it, it will be winter and our countdown to Christmas!
(note US release dates are the same as UK unless otherwise stated)
Kubo And The Two Strings – September 9th
Already a contender for one of the best animated movies of the year, this beautiful adventure story is from Laika studios (who also made ParaNorman and Coraline) and features the voices of Charlize Theron, Matthew McCOnaughey and Ralph Fiennes. (The movie is currently on general release in US).
Hunt For The Wilderpeople – September 16th
An adventure comedy set in the New Zealand bush, from What We Do In The Shadows writer/director Taika Waititi. Julian Dennison and Sam Neill star as the boy and his foster uncle who set of a countrywide search. (Available on DVD from September 27 in US).
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children – September 30th
Expect enjoyable gothic weirdness from director Tim Burton in this adventure based on the Ransom Riggs novel about a home for children with unusual powers. Eva Green, Asa Butterfield and Samuel L Jackson star.
Storks – October 14th
The team behind The Lego Movie deliver an animated comedy about the birds that used to deliver babies but now deliver packages – until something goes wrong, of course. Jennifer Aniston, Andy Samberg and Kelsey Grammer provide the voices. (Opens September 23rd in USA).
Queen Of Katwe – October 21st
Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga star in this true story of Phiona Muetesi, a Ugandan chess prodigy who went on to compete at the World Chess Olympiad. (Opens September 30th in US).
Trolls – October 21st
Those rainbow-haired dolls get their own animated movie (and a hit song, with Justin Timberlake’s soundtrack tune Can’t Stop The Feeling), with Timberlake as the grumpy Branch, who helps Troll leader Poppy (Anna Kendrick) on her quest to save her people from the nasty Bergens. (Opens November 4th in US).
Doctor Strange – October 28th
Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange in this latest Marvel comic adventure – a former surgeon who gets to travel between dimensions under the instruction of Tilda Swinton’s Ancient One. Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen and Chiwetel Ejiofor also star. (Opens November 4th in US).
A Street Cat Named Bob – November 4th
Based on the true story – and bestselling book – of a busker and recovering addict’s (Luke Treadaway) friendship with a stray ginger cat he names Bob. And yes, the real Bob does play himself and did most of his own stunts, too. (Opens November 18 in US).
Want more cats? Check out our cats in the movies compilation HERE.