Must-watch films in September

Opens Sep 10

Dir: Wes Ball. 2015. USA. Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

If you thought the maze was the end, think again. After their escape (and that cliffhanger ending), the Gladers find themselves in the ‘real world’, with even worse odds stacked against them. Pushing their way to the surface, they find, to their horror, damaged cities filled with desolate people. In a quest for answers to the never-ending questions, they face impossible obstacles surrounding them every way they turn. If this one’s as good as the first, we’re so down for round two.

Opens Sep 17

Dir: M Night Shyamalan. 2015. USA. Kathryn Hahn, Ed Oxenbould, Olivia DeJonge.

Oh hey, it’s M Night Shyamalan. And he’s back with one of his signature suspense flicks (although after The Village and Lady in the Water, we’re not quite sure what to make of this). The strange plot follows two kids who pay a visit to their grandparents’ place. Everything seems nice and normal – maybe almost too ordinary – until it’s bedtime, and they’re warned not to leave their room after 9.30pm. Then bizarre things start happening. We have to admit, even with Shyamalan’s terrible track record, this one’s got us intrigued. 

Opens Sep 24

Dir: Baltasar Kormákur. 2015. UK. 150 mins. Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robin Wright.

Mother Nature can be a real nightmare – especially when she acts up on Mount Everest, hindering two groups of trekkers. Based on a true story, this natural disaster flick tells the tale of the 1996 expedition that went tragically haywire after a relentless snow storm.

Opens Sep 24

Dir: Nancy Meyers. 2015. USA. 121 mins. Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro, Nat Wolff.

Jules Ostin (Hathaway) is a successful young entrepreneur who founded a massive online fashion platform. Retired 70-year-old widow Ben Whittaker (De Niro) is her new senior intern (geddit?). After the initial shock of working together wears off, the two gravitate toward each other and end up crossing the line from colleagues to friends. It’s an endearing comedic drama for those who want something lighthearted. 

Opens Sep 24

Dir: Max Joseph. 2015. UK/France/USA. Zac Efron, Emily Ratajkowski, Jon Bernthal.

Here’s a possibly inspiring story of an aspiring beatsmith (played by a headphone-wielding Efron) who jumps through hoops to make it big in the EDM scene. Helmed by MTV series Catfish co-host and cameraman Max Joseph, it’s like Step Up but with DJs. And if you’re not into the whole Hollywood-glamourizes-everything movement, just watch it for its lol-factor – and to throw your popcorn at the screen when Efron sprouts cringe-worthy lines like ‘If you’re a DJ, all you need is a laptop, some talent, and one track. That track is your ticket to everything.’ Here’s hoping he gets schooled.