Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Opening in most theaters and expected to beat box office records is Star Wars: The Force Awakens directed by J.J. Abrams and starring John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Domhnall Gleeson, Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher. The film’s original music is composed by John Williams. Walt Disney Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Check out our previous article for the full album details. Check out a recent segment in CBS’ 60 Minutes for a video from the score’s recording sessions. Also click here for a recent appearance of Williams on the Tavis Smiley show to talk about his work on the film and visit the LA Times for another interview with the composer.
Also opening wide is the comedy Sisters directed by Jason Moore and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, John Leguizamo, Dianne Wiest, John Cena and James Brolin. Christophe Beck (Frozen, Ant-Man, Edge of Tomorrow, The Hangover) has composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been announced. Sisters follows two disconnected sisters who are summoned home and throw one final party in order to recapture their glory days. The comedy is being released by Universal Pictures. Visit the official movie website for more information.
The third wide release of the week is the sequel Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip directed by Walt Becker and stars Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williamss-Paisley, Bella Thorne, Justin Long, Josh Green Matthew Gray Gubler, Anna Faris, Jesse McCartney, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting and Christina Applegate. The film’s original score is composed by Mark Mothersbaugh (The LEGO Movie, Hotel Transylvania, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs). Republic Records and Fox Music have released a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the film by artists including Redfoo, Thomas Rhett, Sheppard and The Score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details.
Opening in limited release is the Hungarian drama Son of Saul directed by László Nemes and starring Géza Röhrig, Levente Molnár, Urs Rechn, Todd Charmont, Sándor Zsótér, Marcin Czarnik, Jerzy Walczak, Uwe Lauer, Christian Harting and Kamil Dobrowolski. The film doesn’t feature any original score and no soundtrack album has been announced. Son of Saul follows a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp who is forced to burn the corpses of other Jews and finds moral survival in trying to salvage from the flames the body of a boy he takes for his son. The drama premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is considered to be the frontrunner to win the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at next year’s Academy Awards. To learn more about the Sony Pictures Classics release, visit the official movie website.
Also opening in select cities is the action thriller Extraction directed by Steven C. Miller and starring Kellan Lutz, Bruce Willis, Gina Carano, D.B. Sweeney, Dan Bilzerian, Olga Valentina, Lydia Hull and Tyler J. Olson. Ryan Dodson (Submerged) has composed the film’s original music. No word yet on a soundtrack release. Extraction follows the son of a former CIA operative who launches a rescue operation to save his father who was kidnapped by a group of terrorists. The thriller is being released in select theaters and on VOD by Lionsgate Premiere.
