With the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike over, movies are ready to roll out again. Film enthusiasts have a whole new selection of new movies to choose from, from the gritty murder horror of Five Nights at Freddy’s to the wondrous candyland of Wonka. Audiences have gushed over the many films that have been released this fall and anticipate more to come for the winter.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
The new video-game movie based on the game, released on Oct. 27, has taken fans by storm. It starts with the main character, Mike, played by John Hutcherson. He takes a night job as a security guard at an abandoned family entertainment center, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. He does this to earn money to support his sister, Abby, who is played by Piper Schmidt. It is revealed that kids were murdered in the pizzeria in the 1980s, though the bodies were never found. The bodies were placed in animatronics that used to entertain audiences in the pizzeria. Abby is in danger because of this, as the animatronics want to take her as one of their own.
Produced by the maker of the game, Scott Cawthorn, it is an adaptation that focuses on delivering accuracy to fans. Even though some parts of the plot line are not accurate for the game, it is still an enjoyable horror film for people who are not fans of the franchise.
The Marvels
Another installation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits the stage once again: a story of an unlikely trio dubbed “The Marvels,” released on Nov. 10. Featuring Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel and Teyonah Parris as the astronaut, they are Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel and astronaut Captain Marvel’s niece. In this sequel to the movie “Captain Marvel” and TV series “Ms. Marvel,” the duo works together to find out how their powers have become linked. They learn that when they use their powers, they happen to swap places with each other.
With the movie being set in space, it requires a lot of CGI to make it work on screen. Along with having to pay three lead actresses, this movie had a high budget. The film has been praised for the relationships between the characters and a family concept made entirely with women, but it was criticized for falling flat in its plot. While it is a movie to be appreciated for what it is, it falls below expectations, and it has a lot more potential that was missed by audiences.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
The new installment of the Hunger Games franchise, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” was released in theaters on Nov. 17. It currently holds the number-one spot in box office sales. Adapted from the novel by Suzanne Collins, the movie follows the story of a Hunger Games mentor and his tribute. Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, is a student at the Capitol’s university and is selected to mentor a tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler, is chosen to fight in the games and is assigned to Snow. It serves as a prequel to the franchise, with its events taking place far before the plot of the first “Hunger Games” movie. An interesting detail in the new film was Lucy Gray singing “The Hanging Tree,” which was sung in previous films by Katniss, showing the origin of the famous song.
The last Hunger Games movie, “Mockingjay Part 2,” was released in 2015 and was set in the time following the events of the 75th Hunger Games. The director of “The Ballad of the Songbird and Snakes,” who previously directed all the Hunger Games movies, has found a way to make an old series feel new once again, and in turn, has also introduced the Hunger Games to new audiences.
Saltburn
Released on Nov. 17, Saltburn is a film that is described as a gothic thriller. The movie is set in 2006 with a student by the name of Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, who is a struggling freshman at Oxford on a scholarship. He becomes friends with Felix Catton, played by Jacob Elordi. Catton invites Quick to his family’s estate, named Saltburn, for the summer. Felix’s family are frivolous and crazy people, and they make the summer interesting. It is a story about privilege, prestige and desire made by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell, who previously directed “Promising Young Woman.” While it has beautiful scenery and is visually appealing, like many movies of today, it falls flat with little substance to hold it up, lacking the exploration in the themes introduced.
Napoleon
Napoleon, released on Nov. 22, is a new historical drama about the life of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France in the 1800s and one of the most successful military generals in history. Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie follows Napoleon’s rise to power as emperor and his eventual fall. It also includes the love story between him and Empress Josephine. Academy Award-winner Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon Bonaparte. The movie was made to portray a fictional story rather than one that is historically accurate. Many critics point out inaccuracies and the film’s fast pace and cuts.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
As Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie hit the box office, another female icon of the music industry followed suit by releasing a concert film. Beyoncé’s new movie is set to release on Dec. 1 and promises to take fans from its start at the opening show in Stockholm to the grand finale in Kansas City. It emphasizes the effort she puts into her shows and the behind-the-scenes of her tour. The few that have the privilege to see the film premiere already have given raving reviews, but it is certain the movie will perform just as well as other concert films have before, with fans showing their undying support for their favorite music stars.
Wonka
The highly anticipated film “Wonka” comes out on Dec. 15 and is centered around the origin story of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Timothée Chalamet debuts as the young and entrepreneurial Wonka, alongside Hugh Grant and Olivia Coleman. It portrays the whimsical inventor’s magic chocolate, fanciful inventions and creatures that run the chocolate factory. Directed and produced by the same people who delivered the beloved films “Paddington” and “Harry Potter,” the movie is set up for success.
