Film Music Reporter

Three new movies are opening nationwide this weekend:

Opening in most theaters is the horror thriller Countdown written and directed by Justin Dec and starring Elizabeth Lail, Jordan Calloway, Talitha Bateman, Tichina Arnold, P.J. Byrne and Peter Facinelli. The film’s original music is composed by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans (Ozark, Boy Erased, The Gift, Enemy, American Gods). Sony Classical has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Click here for the full album details.

Also opening wide is the thriller Black and Blue directed by Deon Taylor and starring Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp and Nafessa Williams. Geoff Zanelli (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Disturbia, Christopher Robin) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been released. Check out our scoring assignment announcement and the official movie website for more information about the Screen Gems production.

Also opening nationwide is the director’s cut of the drama The Current War directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton, Matthew Macfayden and Nicholas Hoult. The film’s original music is composed by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans. No word on a soundtrack release. Check out our previous article to learn more about the 101 Studios release.

Opening semi-wide in around 500 theaters is the documentary Western Stars co-directed by Bruce Springsteen and Thom Zimny. Springsteen has also composed the film’s original score. Columbia Records has released a soundtrack album featuring each of the live performances from the movie performed by the singer/songwriter. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and for more information about the Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Opening in limited release is the drama Frankie co-written and directed by Ira Sachs and starring Isabelle Huppert, Brendan Gleeson, Marisa Tomei and Greg Kinnear. The film’s original music is composed by Dickon Hinchliffe (Winter’s Bone, Locke, Ben Is Back, Out of the Furnace, Leave No Trace). No soundtrack album has been announced. Check out our previous news article to learn more about the movie, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is being released by Sony Pictures Classics.

Also opening in limited release is the war drama The Kill Team written and directed by Dan Krauss and stars Nat Wolff, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Long, Jonathan Whitesell, Brian “Sene” Marc and Rob Morrow. Zacarias M. de la Riva (Automata, Tad the Explorer, Bent) has composed the film’s original music. Varese Sarabande has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Click here for the full album details and for more information about the A24 release.

Also opening in select theaters is the fantasy drama Paradise Hills directed by Alice Waddington and starring Emma Roberts, Danielle Macdonald, Awkwafina, Jeremy Irvine, Arnaud Valois, Eiza González and Milla Jovovich. The film’s original music is composed by (Fast & Furious 6, The Raven, The Quiet Ones, Elite, Tracers). No soundtrack album has been released. Check out our scoring assignment announcement to learn more about the movie, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Also opening in select cities is the adventure drama The Great Alaskan Race directed by Brian Presley and starring Presley himself, Treat Williams, Brad Leland, Henry Thomas, Bruce Davison, Will Wallace, Brea Bee, Emma Presley and James Russo. John Koutselinis (In Extremis, Decline of an Empire) has composed the film’s original music. Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and for more information about the movie.

Opening in select theaters before premiering on Animal Planet later this year is the documentary Watson directed by Lesley Chilcott about Captain Paul Watson who has dedicated his life to ending the slaughter of the ocean’s wildlife and the destruction of its ecosystems. The film’s original music is composed by Christophe Beck (Frozen, Ant-Man, Edge of Tomorrow, The Hangover, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). No soundtrack album has been announced yet. Check out our previous article to learn more about the project.