Film Music Reporter

Opening in theaters nationwide this weekend is the superhero movie Blue Beetle directed by Angel Manuel Soto and starring Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, George Lopez, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo and Susan Sarandon. The film’s original music is composed by Bobby Krlic (Midsommar, Beef, Beau Is Afraid,  The Alienist: Angel of Darkness, Snowpiercer, Triple 9, Returnal). WaterTower Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as two songs today. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to learn more about the Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Also opening nationwide today is the comedy Strays directed by Josh Greenbaum and starring Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte, Isla Fisher, Brett Gelman, Randall Park, Josh Gad and Sofia Vergara. Dara Taylor (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, The Invitation, The Tender Bar, Echo Boomers, The Noel Diary) has composed the film’s original score. Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as song by Dave Sarazen today. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and for more information about the Universal Pictures release.

Also opening wide is the comedy Back on the Strip co-written and directed by Chris Spencer and starring Wesley Snipes, Tiffany Haddish, Gary Owens, J.B. Smoove, Faizon Love and Bill Bellamy. The film’s original music is composed by Dontae Winslow. No soundtrack album has been released. The movie follows a man who moves to Las Vegas to pursue work as a magician, only to get hired as the front man in a revival of a notorious black male stripper crew. Visit the official movie website for more details.

Opening in around 300 theaters today is the sci-fi comedy drama Landscape with Invisible Hand written and directed by Cory Finley and starring Asante Blackk, Kylie Rogers and Tiffany Haddish. Michael Abels (Get Out,  Nope, Us, Bad Education, Nightbooks, Breaking, Allen v. Farrow) has composed the film’s original music. Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score today. Click here for the full album details and to learn more about the MGM/United Artists release.

Opening in select theaters is the comedy drama The Adults written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa and starring Michael Cera, Sophia Lillis and Hannah Gross. The film’s original music is composed by Alex Weston (The Farewell, Wander Darkly, The Novice, Goodnight Mommy). Back Lot Music has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score today. Check out our previous news article for the full album details and for more information about the movie, which is being released by Variance Films.

Opening in select U.S. theaters is the French biographical drama Simone: Woman of the Century (Simone, le voyage du siècle) written and directed by Olivier Dahan and starring Elsa Zylberstein, Rebecca Marder, Judith Chemla, Élodie Bouchez, Olivier Gourmet and Mathieu Spinosi. The film’s original music is composed by Olvon Yacob. Marvelous Productions has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score last fall when the movie opened overseas. Visit Amazon or any other major digital music services to stream/download the album. The drama is being distributed stateside by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Also opening in select theaters is the psychological horror drama Birth/Rebirth directed by Laura Moss and starring Marin Ireland, Judy Reyes, A.J. Lister and Breeda Wool. Ariel Marx (A Small Light, Candy, Sanctuary, Shiva Baby, A Friend of the Family, The Tale) has composed the film’s original music. No soundtrack album has been announced. The movie, which follows a pathologist obsessed with the reanimation of the dead, premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and is being released by IFC Films.

Also opening in select U.S. theaters is the French psychological thriller Madeleine Collins written and directed by Antoine Barrau and starring Virginie Efira, Quim Gutiérrez, Nadav Lapid and Bruno Salomone. The film’s original music is composed by Romain Trouillet (Cyrano, My Love, De Gaulle, Sauvage/Wild). Milan Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score back in 2021 when the movie opened overseas. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and to learn more about the movie, which is being released stateside by Greenwich Entertainment.

Opening in select U.S. theaters and on VOD today is the British thriller Dead Shot directed by Charles Guard & Thomas Guard and starring Aml Ameen, Sophia Brown, Colin Morgan, Mark Strong and Felicity Jones. Max de Wardener (The Woman in the Fifth, Village at the End of the World, The Power) has composed the film’s original music. Sky Music (SATV) has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score. Click here for the full album details and for more information about the movie, which premiered in the UK this past May on Sky Cinema and is being distributed in the U.S. by Quiver Distribution.

Also opening in select theaters and on VOD today is the action thriller The Engineer directed by Danny A. Abeckaser and starring Emile Hirsch, Tsahi Halevi, Oshri Cohen, Angel Bonanni and Dan Mor. The film’s original music is composed by Lionel Cohen (First We Take Brooklyn, Mob Town, Inside Man, Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story, Feral State). DNA-Productions will release a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score next Friday, August 25. Check out our previous article for the full album details and to learn more about the Lionsgate release.

Another movie opening in select theaters and on VOD today is the psychological horror mystery Haunting of the Queen Mary co-written and directed by Gary Shore and starring Alice Eve, Joel Fry and Nell Hudson. Jason & Nolan Livesay (Nexus of Evil, Bounty) have composed the film’s original score. Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composers’ music, as well as songs by Tiffany Ashton & others today. Check out our soundtrack announcement for the full album details and for more information about the movie, which is being distributed by Vertical Entertainment.

Also opening in select theaters and on VOD is the horror thriller Dark Windows directed by Alex Herron and starring Anna Bullard, Annie Hamilton, Joel Saemundsso and Rory Alexander. The film’s original music is composed by Kim Berg (The House, Christmas Blood). Way Up North Scores will release two soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score this Sunday, August 20. Check out our previous news article for more details and to learn more about the Brainstorm Media release.

Opening in a single theater today before premiering on Netflix next Friday, August 25, is the coming-of-age comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah directed by Sammi Cohen and starring Idina Menzel, Jackie Sandler, Adam Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Sadie Sandler, Samantha Lorraine, Jackie Hoffman and Luis Guzmán. Este Haim(Maid, Cha Cha Real Smooth) & Amanda Yamate (Do-Revenge, Every Body) have composed the film’s original score. Netflix Music has released an original song by 3VM from the comedy today. Click here to listen to the track and check our scoring assignment announcement for more information about the movie.