In Theaters: FANTASTIC BEASTS - THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD, WIDOWS, A PRIVATE WAR and INSTANT FAMILY

The Harry Potter spinoff sequel "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is now in theaters and while critics were divided about this one, the film will certainly dominate the box-office charts this weekend.

This weekend will be a busy one as three more new wide releases are ready to get a slice of the pre-Thanksgiving earnings. The films are Steve McQueen's crime drama "Widows" starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo, the biobic "A Private War" starring Rosamaund Pike, and the dramedy "Instant Family" starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne.

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

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

Official Synopsis

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald's plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Film Details

• Director: David Yates
  
  
• Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Zoe Kravitz
  
  
• Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
  
  
• Running Time: 134 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 45% (72 fresh, 89 rotten, score: 5.5/10)
  
• Metacritic: 53 out of 100 (17 positive, 20 mixed, 7 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 75% (4.0/5 rating from X users)
  
• Metacritic: 7.7/10 (27 positive, 9 mixed, 3 negative).
• IMDb: 7.4/10 (10,898 votes)
  

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WIDOWS

Official Synopsis

From Academy Award (R)-winning director Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave") and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl") comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption. "Widows" is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar (R) winner Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. "Widows" also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.

Film Details

• Director: Steve McQueen
  
  
• Starring: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Carrie Coon, Colin Farrell, Jon Bernthal, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya
  
  
• Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance
  
  
• Running Time: 129 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for violence, language throughout, and some sexual content/nudity
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 92% (183 fresh, 17 rotten, score: 8.2/10)
  
• Metacritic: 86 out of 100 (48 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 78% (3.8/5 rating from 1,073 users)
  
• Metacritic: 7.6/10 (9 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative).
• IMDb: 7.5/10 (3,845 votes)
  

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A PRIVATE WAR

Official Synopsis

In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie Colvin (Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike) is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. After being hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka, she wears a distinctive eye patch and is still as comfortable sipping martinis with London's elite as she is confronting dictators. Colvin sacrifices loving relationships, and over time, her personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she's witnessed takes its toll. Yet, her mission to show the true cost of war leads her -- along with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy (Jamie Dornan) -- to embark on the most dangerous assignment of their lives in the besieged Syrian city of Homs. Based on the extraordinary life of Marie Colvin, A PRIVATE WAR is brought to the screen by Academy Award nominee and critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker Matthew Heineman in his pulse-pounding narrative feature debut.

Film Details

• Director: Matthew Heineman
  
  
• Starring: Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Jamie Dornan, Stanley Tucci
  
  
• Genre: Biography, War, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 110 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for disturbing violent images, language throughout, and brief sexuality/nudity
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 88% (58 fresh, 8 rotten, score: 7.3/10)
  
• Metacritic: 76 out of 100 (23 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 76% (4.0/5 rating from 447 users)
  
• Metacritic: 7.6/10 (6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative).
• IMDb: 7.1/10 (524 votes)
  

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INSTANT FAMILY

Official Synopsis

When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15 year old girl (Isabela Moner), they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family. INSTANT FAMILY is inspired by the real events from the life of writer/director Sean Anders and also stars Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro and Margo Martindale.

Film Details

• Director: Sean Anders
  
  
• Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Margo Martindale, Joan Cusack
  
  
• Genre: Comedy, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 119 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual material, language and some drug references
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 75% (39 fresh, 13 rotten, score: 6.5/10)
  
• Metacritic: 58 out of 100 (14 positive, 7 mixed, 1 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (4.9/5 rating from 237 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 7.2/10 (101 votes)
  

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