10 Films to Watch Before the Fall Movie Season Starts

Fall is coming and that means we will soon be inundated with Oscar hopefuls and big budget blockbusters. Before you watch all the prestige pictures and superhero/wizard flicks here are 10 smaller films that you should see before you get too busy wondering how the Death Star plans will be stolen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. These films are incredibly different but exhibit a whole lot of greatness. I totally recommend them and hopefully you can get to a few before the fall movie season starts.

Watch these movies!

1. Everybody Wants Some!!

Everybody Wants Some!! is the best film of the year (s0 far) and I will probably watch it again after I finish this post. Don’t be thrown off by the baseball playing lead characters because you will miss an absolute charmer of a comedy. Director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise) has mastered the ensemble film and somehow finds a way to make everyone likable, unique and cool. Watch it now and recommend it to everyone!!

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2. Green Room

Green Room is the best thriller of 2016 (so far) and it proves that director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) is an amazing director. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I love how Saulnier makes violence look so ugly and realistic. Nothing is glorified and you will find yourself incredibly nervous for the trapped punk band. Also, Patrick Stewart is awesome as the Neo-Nazi leader because he looks like your nice uncle but he would kill you without a thought.

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3. Sing Street

Sing Street is pure bliss. Director John Carney (Once, Begin Again) has created another fantastic musical yarn that will put a smile on your face. If you are into good music, likable characters and more good music it doesn’t get any better than Sing Street.

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4. The Neon Demon 

Do you like Nicolas Windin Refn films that aren’t Drive? Is you answered “yes” than you will really appreciate The Neon Demon. It is empty, violent, weird and extremely beautiful to look at. It won’t leave you feeling happy or fulfilled but it is truly original and features some insane moments that will make you squirm.

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5. Love & Friendship

Love & Friendship is a breath of fresh costume drama/comedy air. Jane Austen’s unpublished novella is in perfect hands with director Whit Stillman and the two seem beautifully suited for each other. Kate Beckinsale is a delight, and I hope she is remembered come awards time. She is perfection in the film and it bums me out that she had been stuck in the Underworld world so long.

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6. High-Rise

Ben Wheatley (A Field in England, Sightseers, Kill List) is a maniac director who has eluded the mainstream and thrilled cinephiles. His movies cannot be described, and what I love about High-Rise is that it keeps his sensibilities intact. This isn’t some big budget yarn featuring Tom Hiddlesston. High-Rise is a bonkers J.G. Ballard adaptation that is tough to watch and awesome to experience.

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7. Don’t Breathe

Don’t Breathe is a blue-collar horror film that features realistic scares and a badass villain. The camerawork is stellar and every time violence breaks out you feel the pain. I love that it is tearing up the box office because this is a film that deserves to be watched. It gives the audience what they want and features likable characters and almost too much suspense (I’m a wimp).

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8. The Lobster

The Lobster is weird, violent and hilarious. It might be one the best comedies released in years and I really hope that Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz are remembered come awards time. If you are into movies that use toasters as evil punishment devices you will love every second of The Lobster.

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9. 10 Cloverfield Lane

10 Cloverfield Lane is a terrifying chamber thriller that features career best performances from Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman. It manages to do a lot with little and proves horror films don’t need masked killers or insane violence to be tense.

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10. Midnight Special

Jeff Nichols is my favorite director (right now, might change tomorrow) and I’ve loved his films Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter and Mud. What I love about Midnight Special is that is feels like an Amblin film, but it doesn’t rip off Amblin film. Midnight Special is beautifully original and very touching. Watch it now!