Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:
Opening in most theaters is the animated feature Kubo and the Two Strings directed by Travis Knight and featuring the voices of Charlize Theron, Art Parkinson, and Ralph Fiennes, George Takei, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brenda Vaccaro, Rooney Mara and Matthew McConaughey. The film’s original music is composed by Dario Marianelli (Atonement, The Boxtrolls, Pride and Prejudice, V for Vendetta) has composed the film’s original music. Warner Bros. Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as end titles song performed by Regina Spektor. Visit our previous article for the full album details.
Also opening wide is the action comedy War Dogs directed by Todd Phillips and starring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas and Bradley Cooper. Cliff Martinez (Drive, Contagion, Traffic, The Neon Demon, The Lincoln Lawyer) has composed the film’s original score. No word on a soundtrack album. War Dogs follows two friends in their early 20s during the Iraq War who exploit a little-known government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on U.S. Military contracts. Visit the official movie website to learn more about the comedy, which is being released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Also opening wide is the historical epic Ben-Hur directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro, Ayelet Zurer, Sofia Black D’Elia, Nazanin Boniadi and Morgan Freeman. The film’s original score is composed by Marco Beltrami (World War Z, Scream, 3:10 to Yuma, The Wolverine). Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s music. Click here for the full album details. Word Entertainment has released a separate soundtrack featuring the original end credits song The Only Way Out by Andra Day, as well as more songs inspired by the movie. Check out our previous news article for more information.
Opening in limited release is the indie coming-of-age comedy Morris from America written and directed by Chad Hartigan and starring Craig Robinson, Markee Christmas, Carla Juri and Lina Keller. Keegan DeWitt (I’ll Follow You in My Dreams, Queen of Earth, Unexpected) has composed the film’s original score. No soundtrack album has been announced. Morris from America follows a hip-hop-loving, 13-years old American who moves to Heidelberg, Germany, with his father, where he falls in love with a local girl and attempts to navigate the unique trials and tribulations of adolescence. The comedy premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by A24.
Also opening in limited release is the drama A Tale of Love and Darkness directed by Natalie Portman who also stars in the film alongside Gilad Kahana and Amir Tessler. The film’s original music is composed by Nicholas Britell (The Big Short, The Free State of Jones, Gimme the Loot, Moonlight). Milan Records has released a soundtrack featuring the composer’s music. Check our soundtrack announcement for the full album details. The drama premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and is being released in the U.S. by Focus World.
Also opening in select theaters is the thriller Imperium directed by Daniel Ragussis, and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Toni Collette, Tracy Letts, Seth Numrich, Burn Gorman and Sam Trammell. Will Bates (The Path, Another Earth, I Origins) has composed the film’s original music. Simon Taufique is producing the project and has also contributed additional music. No soundtrack album has been announced yet. Imperium follows a young, idealistic FBI agent who goes undercover to take down a radical right-wing terrorist group. The thriller is being released in theaters and on VOD by Lionsgate Premiere.
Also opening in select cities is the animated feature Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV directed by Takeshi Nozue and featuring the voices of Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Aaron Paul, Jon Campling, Kezia Burrows, Adrian Bouchet and Liam Mulvey. The film’s original music is composed by John Graham and Yoko Shimomura has written the main theme. A soundtrack album will be released digitally later this month and physically in September. Visit our previous article for more information.
Another limited release this weekend is the action thriller Billionaire Ransom (originally entitled Take Down) directed by Jim Gillespie and starring Jeremy Sumpter, Ed Westwick, Phoebe Tonkin, Dominic Sherwood, Sebastian Koch, Elliot Knight and Hari Dhillon. Hybrid (Dead in Tombstone, Catacombs, Vice) have composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. The movie follows a group of students at a reforming school for rebellious rich kids who take matters into their own hands after the campus is taken hostage by a group of criminals. The thriller is being released by Vertical Entertainment.
Also opening in the U.S. this weekend is the German historical thriller The People vs. Fritz Bauer (Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer) directed by Lars Kraume and staring Burghart Klaussner, Ronald Zehrfeld, Lilith Stangenberg, Jörg Schüttauf, Sebastian Blomberg, Michael Schenk and Laura Tonke. The film’s original music is composed by Julian Maas & Christoph M. Kaiser. Colosseum Records has released a soundtrack album last year when the movie opened overseas. Check out our soundtrack announcement for more information. The thriller is being released in the U.S. by Cohen Media Group.
