Abhijeet Singh ’15
Summer 2014 saw the return of Godzilla, more Marvel superheroes, and the continuation of apocalyptic ape takeover of Earth (not to forget indie hits such as Richard Linklater’s Boyhood hitting mass theaters).  Whether you enjoyed this past season and are looking for more movies to satisfy your film craving or want the hours back that were wasted seeing these films, here is a list of some of the top movies to look forward to this fall.
 

Interstellar

Release Date: November 5th
This science fiction film, directed by the revered Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Michael Caine, tells a tale of a group of astronauts who travel through a wormhole. Not much more is known of the elusive plot, but its mystery and intrigue is one of its most exciting factors. The trailers alone have distinguished themselves from those of other Hollywood films; instead of revealing a significant amount of the narrative as well as a great deal of dialogue, Nolan has restricted the audience to a mix of well-designed posters and trailers that reveal only the basic premise of the story. Given the reputation of the directors and actors involved, along with the visually appealing spectacles and interesting yet mysterious plot, this film should be on the top of every moviegoer’s list this fall.
 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay— Part 1

Release Date: November 20th
Unlike in Interstellar, one can be fairly sure what to expect with the nature of this film; directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, this threequel tells the first half of the third and book in the series. Since a plot summary may provide spoilers for previous films, the basic premise to know is that the film continues the journey of Katniss Everdeen and her conflict with the leaders of the nation of Panem, to which she has become a reluctant hero. This movie will appeal to adults and children, readers of the book and those who are only interested in the adaption, alike.
 

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

Release Date: December 12th
Another threequel, and conclusion to the popular Hobbit trilogy, will likely be the last time audiences get to revisit Peter Jackson’s famed Middle Earth in all its glory (Judging how long The Hobbit is in comparison to the book, a Samarilian series would take several centuries for Peter Jackson to create). To avoid spoilers, all that can be said of the film is that it marks a continuation in the turbulent journey of hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his journey with Gandalf and a series of dwarves. Encounters with Smog, the conclusion of their journey, and more unexpected epic tales from the books or even the appendices (including the fairly obvious one mentioned in the subtitle) are going to make this a must-watch film not only for Lord of the Rings fans, but those who crave summer blockbuster-esque films (this was scheduled to be released last summer, after all).

Extras

Interested in a rowdy and crazy comedy film? Dumb and Dumber To (no, that’s not a typo) releases November 14th. Looking for some kid-friendly fun? The Penguins of Madagascar comes out on November 26th. If you’re interested in more risque comedy, Horrible Bosses 2 hits theaters that very same day.   If you’re interested in horror, be sure to see Annabelle before it leaves theaters.