Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:

resident-evil-the-final-chapterOpening in most theaters is the sci-fi action sequel Resident Evil: The Final Chapter written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose, Eoin Macken, William Levy, Fraser James and Rola. The film’s original music is composed by Paul Haslinger (UnderworldHalt and Catch Fire, The Three MusketeersFear the Walking Dead). Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our previous news article for the full album details. Also visit Film Music Magazine for a recent interview with Haslinger about his work on the project.

dogs-purposeAlso opening wide is the family drama A Dog’s Purpose directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, Juilet Rylance, Luke Kirby, John Ortiz, Pooch Hall and the voice of Josh Gad. Rachel Portman (EmmaThe Cider House RulesChocolatThe Manchurian CandidateThe Vow). Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the Universal Pictures release. 

goldAlso opening wide is the adventure drama Gold directed by Stephen Gaghan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Bryce Dallas Howard, Edgar Ramirez, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Bruce Greenwood and Stacy Keach. The film’s original music is composed by Daniel Pemberton (Steve JobsThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.) Varese Sarabande will release a soundtrack album featuring the songs from the movie by Iggy Pop, New Order, The Pixies, Television & more (click here for the full details). BMG has released a separate soundtrack featuring Pemberton’s score. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to check out a video featurette on the composer’s score.

salesmanOpening in limited release is the dramatic thriller The Salesman written and directed by Asghar Farhadi and starring Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Babak Karimi and Mina Sadati. Sattar Oraki who previously scored the director’s A Separation has composed the film’s original music. No word on a soundtrack release. The Salesman follows a young couple who are forced out of their apartment building in Tehran and who find themselves inextricably linked to the previous tenant of their new home. The drama, which received an Academy Award nomination earlier this week in the Best Foreign Language Film category, premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and is being released by Amazon Studios and Cohen Media Group. Visit the official movie website for more information.

the-daughterAlso opening in select U.S. theaters is the Australian drama The Daughter written and directed by Simon Stone and starring Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Paul Schneider, Miranda Otto, Anna Torv, Odessa Young and Sam Neill. The film’s original music is composed by Mark Bradshaw (Top of the LakeBright Star). No soundtrack album has been announced. Check out our scoring assignment announcement to learn more about the movie. The drama, which opened in Australian theaters last March, is being released stateside by Kino Lorber. Also visit the official movie website for more information about the film.

get-the-girlAlso opening in limited release and on VOD is the comedy thriller Get the Girl written and directed by Eric England and starring Justin Dobies, Elizabeth Whitson, Noah Segan, Adi Shankar and Scout Taylor-Compton. Kevin Riepl (Gears of War video game, Cabin FeverBatman UnlimitedSilent Night) has composed the film’s original score. No word yet on a soundtrack release. Get the Girl follows a wealthy young man who is conned into staging a fake kidnapping in order to be a hero and win the affection of a girl he’s madly in love with. The thriller is being released by Orion Pictures.

i-am-michaelAnother limited release this weekend is the drama I Am Michael directed by Justin Kelly, executive produced by Gus Van Sant and starring James Franco, Emma Roberts, Zachary Quinto and Charlie Carver. The film’s original music is composed by Tim Kvasnosky who also scored Kelly’s King Cobra and Jake Shears. I Am Michael centers on a gay-rights advocate who shocks his boyfriend, friends and family when he publicly renounces his homosexuality and marries a woman. The drama premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and is being released in theaters and on VOD by Brainstorm Media. Visit the official Facebook movie page for more info.

sophie-sunAlso opening in select cities is the drama Sophie and the Rising Sun co-written and directed by  Maggie Greenwald and starring Julianne Nicholson, Takashi Yamaguchi, Margo Martindale, Diane Ladd and Lorraine Toussaint. David Mansfield (TransamericaHeaven’s GateThe Apostle) who previously scored the director’s Songcatcher and The Last Keepers has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. Check out our scoring assignment announcement to learn more about the drama, which premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by Monterey Media. Also click here to learn more about the movie.

kung-fu-yogaAlso opening in select U.S. theaters is the Chinese-Indian action comedy Kung-Fu Yoga written and directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan, Disha Patani, Sonu Sood, Lay Zhang, Aarif Rahman, Amyra Dastur and Miya Muqi. The film’s original music is composed by Nathan Wang (She’s the Man, You AgainHellcats) who previously scored the director’s Rumble in the BronxKung-Fu Yoga follows two professors who team up to locate a lost treasure and embark on an adventure that takes them from a Tibetan ice cave to Dubai to a mountain temple in India. The comedy is being released in the U.S. by Well GO USA Entertainment.