In Theaters: FIRST MAN, GOOSEBUMPS 2, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE and BEAUTIFUL BOY

The Neil Armstrong biopic "First Man" starring Ryan Gosling and the fantasy adventure film "Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween" are now in theaters and competing to dominate the box-office against "Venom" and "A Star is Born". Another new wide release is the pulpy neo-noir thriller "Bad Times at the El Royale", which is getting pretty good reviews but its box-office expectations aren't very high. In limited release, the drug addiction drama "Beautiful Boy" starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell is worth a look.

Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.

FIRST MAN

Official Synopsis

On the heels of their six-time Academy Award (R)-winning smash, La La Land, Oscar (R)-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures' First Man, the riveting story of NASA's mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the nation of one of the most dangerous missions in history.

Film Details

• Director: Damien Chazelle
  
  
• Starring: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Ciaran Hinds, Ethan Embry, Corey Stoll, Shea Whigham, Lukas Haas
  
  
• Genre: Biography , Drama , History
  
  
• Running Time: 141 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for some thematic content involving peril, and brief strong language
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 90% (180 fresh, 19 rotten, score: 8.1/10)
  
• Metacritic: 85 out of 100 (51 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 76% (3.8/5 rating from 1,899 users)
  
• Metacritic: 6.8/10 (11 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative).
• IMDb: 7.0/10 (4,913 votes)
  

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GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

Official Synopsis

Slappy is back to wreak more havoc this Halloween in a brand-new comedy adventure based on R.L. Stine's 400-million-selling series of books.

Film Details

• Director: Ari Sandel
  
  
• Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Madison Iseman, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chris Parnell, Caleel Harris, Ken Jeong
  
  
• Genre: Adventure , Comedy , Family
  
  
• Running Time: 90 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG for scary creature action and images, some thematic elements, rude humor and language
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 36% (10 fresh, 18 rotten, score: 5.1/10)
  
• Metacritic: 54 out of 100 (5 positive, 12 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 50% (3.5/5 rating from 391 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 6.6/10 (153 votes)
  

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BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

Official Synopsis

Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe's El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption... before everything goes to hell. Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Cynthia Erivo lead an all-star cast in BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE.

Film Details

• Director: Drew Goddard
  
  
• Starring: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Lewis Pullman, Nick Offerman
  
  
• Genre: Mystery , Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 141 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for strong violence, language, some drug content and brief nudity
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 76% (85 fresh, 27 rotten, score: 6.7/10)
  
• Metacritic: 61 out of 100 (20 positive, 9 mixed, 4 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (3.5/5 rating from 999 users)
  
• Metacritic: 6.9/10 (7 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative).
• IMDb: 7.7/10 (1,751 votes)
  

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BEAUTIFUL BOY

Official Synopsis

Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse, and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.

Film Details

• Director: Felix Van Groeningen
  
  
• Starring: Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney, Amy Ryan, Stefanie Scott
  
  
• Genre: Biography , Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 120 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for drug content throughout, language, and brief sexual material
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 68% (38 fresh, 18 rotten, score: 6.3/10)
  
• Metacritic: 62 out of 100 (16 positive, 9 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 7.2/10 (599 votes)
  

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