First off, it’s been confirmed that no one cares about the Cinderella remake. That being said, it’s September; the season of low-stakes football games, pumpkin spice, and movies aspiring for awards season attention. This month, we get to see Marvel Studios’ first Asian superhero, Clint Eastwood use stunt doubles for minor tasks, a musical, and a slew of fantastic indies grace the silver (or your flat) screen. The following list highlights the mandatory movies we’ll be watching this month.
Cover Photo: Marvel Studios/Warner Bros./RLJE Films
Mandatory Movie Battles: ‘The Tomorrow War’ vs. ‘Edge of Tomorrow’
License to: Final ‘No Time to Die’ Trailers Hint at the Return of 007’s Very Best Bond Girl (And James’ Daughter?)
Visit the Mandatory Shop for great deals on your very own Mandatory merch.
Follow Mandatory on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
September movies
-
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' - Sept. 3
As the 25th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (and the _ comic book movie), Shang-Chi is Marvel Studios' first film to feature an Asian lead. Following Black Widow, it's is also the first Phase Four film and is being praised for its unique origin story, action sequences, and complex villain. It’s already breaking box office records, as well it should.
-
'The Card Counter' - Sept. 10
Oscar Isaac dominated the Venice Film Festival—from Dune to Scenes from a Marriage (HBO series) and Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter—standing ovations all around. The latter follows Isaac as William Tell, a vet and gambler who sets out to reform a young man seeking revenge on an enemy from their past. The film also stars Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, and Willem Dafoe.
-
'The Voyeurs' - Sept. 10 - Amazon
Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith—two performers who always seem to be cast as teenagers finally star as adults, who watch. Pro tip: blinds are your friend, and people watching is only socially acceptable at Wal-Mart. This erotic thriller follows Pippa (Sweeney) and Thomas (Smith) as a young couple who moves into an apartment that looks directly into the apartment across the street. Therefore, they spy on their neighbors, Seb (Ben Hardy) and Margot (Natasha Liu).
-
'Malignant' - Sept. 10 - HBO Max
You may watch the trailer for Malignant and wonder, what the hell is going on? Well, director James Wan (Conjuring, Saw) has returned to the horror genre, and that’s good enough for us. These days, original horror is hard to come by, and hopefully, this one delivers.
-
'Kate' - Sept. 10 - Netflix
Ever since John Wick's dog was tragically murdered, audiences have received a handful of eponymous, cyberpunk action flicks per year. In the wake of Nobody and Gunpowder Milkshake, Kate is about to hit Netflix. The film stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Kate, a ruthless assassin who has been poisoned and must go on a killing spree in Tokyo to save her life...or something like that. The plot will likely prove less relevant than the action sequences. The cast also includes Miku Martineau, Woody Harrelson, Michiel Huisman, and Tadanobu Asano.
-
'Cry Macho' - Sept. 17 - HBO Max
Who would’ve thought Clint Eastwood (91) would still be directing and starring in movies twelve years after Gran Torino. In Cry Macho, he plays an ex-rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder who takes a job to bring a man’s young son back to Texas and away from his alcoholic mom in Mexico. What results is a redemptive journey in which Eastwood teaches the boy, and likely us, what it means to be a good man.
-
'The Starling' - Sept. 17 - Netflix
The reason to watch this comedy-drama is its stellar cast. Melissa McCarthy plays a woman who must deal with a bird that's taken over her garden following an enormous loss and a husband who struggles to move forward (Chris O’Dowd). The cast also includes Kevin Kline, Timothy Olyphant, Daveed Diggs, and Laura Harrier.
-
'Prisoners of the Ghostland' - Sept. 17 - VOD
Sion Sono has been called "the most subversive filmmaker working in Japanese cinema today.” Nicholas Cage has been called...many things. Cage himself has called Prisoners of the Ghostland his wildest film yet. The thriller follows Hero (Cage), a criminal tasked with recovering the governor’s daughter from a dark supernatural universe...while wearing a suit that will blow up if he fails. It also stars Imogen Poots, Sofia Boutella, Ed Skrein, Bill Moseley, Young Dais, and Tak Sakaguchi.
-
'Dear Evan Hansen' - Sept. 24
Dear Evan Hansen premiered on Broadway in July 2015. The story follows the titular high school who suffers from social anxiety disorder. Following the suicide of a fellow classmate—and a mix-up that makes the family think he and Evan were close—the latter begins his journey towards self-discovery. There’s no denying this film’s awkward premise, but the musical won six Tony Awards and is considered one of the best productions of the last decade. Original cast member Ben Platt is also reprising his role for the film...despite being way too old to play a high school senior.
