Opening This Week: Aug. 2

Another week has come and gone, which can only mean new movies! On the docket this week is the big budget Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw (check out my review). To round out this weekend’s slate are a couple of independent darlings, including a new A24 film and Jennifer Kent’s highly-anticipated follow-up to The Babadook. Let’s take a look!

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Wide Release)

Directed by: David Leitch

Written by: Chris Morgan

Synopsis: Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Cliff Curtis & Helen Mirren

Rating: PG-13 (for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language)

Runtime: 121 mins.

Studio: Universal Pictures

Opening weekend estimate: $60-$65 million (domestic)

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The Nightingale (Limited Release)

Directed by: Jennifer Kent

Written by: Jennifer Kent

Synopsis: Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. On the way she enlists the services of an Aboriginal tracker named Billy, who is also marked by trauma from his own violence-filled past.

Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman, Ewen Leslie & Charlie Shotwell    

Rating: R (for strong violent and disturbing content including rape, language throughout, and brief sexuality)

Runtime: 136 mins.

Studio: IFC Films

Opening weekend estimate: N/A

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The Farewell (Expanding Release)

Directed by: Lulu Wang

Written by: Lulu Wang

Synopsis: A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies.

Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Shuzhen Zhou, Lu Hong & Yongbo Jiang 

Rating: PG (for thematic material, brief language and some smoking)

Runtime: 100 mins.

Studio: A24

Opening weekend estimate: $1.8 million (domestic)

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What do you make of this week’s new release? Do you plan on catching it in theaters? Do you think Tarantino will really only make 10 films, or is he fooling himself? Jump down to the comments below and let me know your thoughts!