Four new movies are opening wide in theaters this weekend:
Expected to top the weekend box office is the comedy Ted directed by Seth MacFarlane and starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Giovanni Ribisi and Joel McHale. The film’s score is composed by Walter Murphy (Family Guy, American Dad). Universal Republic has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music, as well the original song Everybody Needs a Best Friend performed by Norah Jones and tracks by Queen, Daphne, Hootie and the Blowfish, Rita Coolidge and Tiffany. Check out our previous article for more information and visit ASCAP for an interview with Murphy on his major studio feature scoring debut.
Also opening wide is the dramedy Magic Mike directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Cody Horn, Olivia Munn, Matt Bomer, Riley Keough, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias. WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the film by artists including Alice Russell, Countre Black, Foreigner, The Unknown, Black Daniel, Cloud Control, Joe Tex, Win Win featuring Blaqstarr and Beth Thornley. To check out audio clips and find out more about the release, visit our soundtrack announcement.
Another wide release this weekend is the comedy drama People Like Us directed by Alex Kurtzman and starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Pfeiffer and Mark Duplass. Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman has written the film’s music. Lakeshore Records has released a sondtrack album featuring Rahman’s score, as well as two songs by Liz Phair and Michael ‘Nomad’ Ripoll. Visit our previous news article for audio clips and more information. Check out interviews with Rahman about his work on the film on IFC and Living in Cinema
The final wide release of the week is the comedy Madea’s Witness Protection written and directed by Tyler Perry who also stars in the film alongside Eugene Levy, Doris Roberts, Tom Arnold, Denise Richards, Danielle Campbell, Devan Leos, Romeo, John Amos and Marla Gibbs. Perry’s regular musical collaborator Aaron Zigman has composed the film’s score. No soundtrack album has been released. Check out our previous news article for more information about the comedy.
Already in select theaters since Wednesday is the indie drama Beasts of the Southern Wild directed by Benh Zeitlin about an intrepid six-year-old girl who lives with her father in “the Bathtub,” a southern Delta community at the edge of the world and goes in search of her lost mother. Dan Romer has composed the film’s music with Zeitlin. Cinereach Music has released a soundtrack featuring the drama’s music earlier this week. The album is currently available exclusively on iTunes. Visit our previous article for the full details.
Opening in New York before expanding to more cities over the next couple of weeks is the indie comedy drama Take This Waltz written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams, Sarah Silverman and Luke Kirby. The film’s score is composed by Jonathan Goldsmith who previously collaborated with Polley on her directing debut Away from Her. No soundtrack album has been released. To learn more about the film, which premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival, visit Magnolia’s official movie website.
