In Theaters: HOBBS & SHAW, LUCE, THE NIGHTINGALE and THEM THAT FOLLOW

This weekend, a non-Disney movie is taking a shot at the box-office crown. Universal's "Hobbs & Shaw", a spinoff of the studio's highly lucrative "Fast & Furious" franchise, is now in theaters and it has already raked in $5.8 million from Thursday previews. The film is expected to end the weekend with around $60 million from 4,253 theaters, which means it could easily surpass Disney's "The Lion King", which should dip below $40 million in its third weekend, and Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".

We also have some interesting movies opening in limited release. The first is the psychological drama "Luce" starring Kevin Harrison Jr., Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Octavia Spencer. Other interesting releases are the Australian period thriller "The Nightingale", and the thriller "Them That Follow" that stars Olivia Colman ("The Favourite"), Kaitlyn Dever ("Booksmart") and Walton Goggins ("Justified").

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

HOBBS & SHAW

Official Synopsis

Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015's Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they've tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever--and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown's Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw's sister--these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.

Film Details

• Director: David Leitch
  
  
• Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Helen Mirren, Eiza Gonzalez, Eddie Marsan, Cliff Curtis
  
  
• Genre: Action, Adventure
  
  
• Running Time: 135 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action and violence, suggestive material and some strong language
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 71% (125 fresh, 51 rotten, score: 6.2/10)
  
• Metacritic: 60 out of 100 (29 positive, 19 mixed, 3 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (average score: 4.4/5 from 833 user ratings)
• Metacritic: 7.0/10 (14 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative).
• IMDb: 7.3/10 (7,554 votes)
  

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LUCE

Official Synopsis

It's been ten years since Amy and Peter Edgar (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) adopted their son from war-torn Eritrea, and they thought the worst was behind them. Luce Edgar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) has become an all-star student beloved by his community in Arlington, Virginia. His African American teacher, Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer), believes he is a symbol of black excellence that sets a positive example for his peers. But when he is assigned to write an essay in the voice of a historical twentieth-century figure, Luce turns in a paper that makes an alarming statement about political violence. Worried about how this assignment reflects upon her star pupil, Harriet searches his locker and finds something that confirms her worst fears.

Film Details

• Director: Julius Onah
  
  
• Starring: Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth, Astro, Kevin Harrison Jr., Norbert Leo Butz, Andrea Bang
  
  
• Genre: Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 109 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for language throughout, sexual content, nudity and some drug use
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 94% (44 fresh, 3 rotten, score: 8.05/10)
  
• Metacritic: 74 out of 100 (14 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 6.6/10 (196 votes)
  

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THE NIGHTINGALE

Official Synopsis

THE NIGHTINGALE is a meditation on the consequences of violence and the price of seeking vengeance. Set during the colonization of Australia in 1825, the film follows Clare (AISLING FRANCIOSI), a 21-year-old Irish convict. Having served her 7-year sentence, she is desperate to be free of her abusive master, Lieutenant Hawkins (SAM CLAFLIN) who refuses to release her from his charge. Clare's husband Aidan (MICHAEL SHEASBY) retaliates and she becomes the victim of a harrowing crime at the hands of the lieutenant and his cronies. When British authorities fail to deliver justice, Clare decides to pursue Hawkins, who leaves his post suddenly to secure a captaincy up north. Unable to find compatriots for her journey, she is forced to enlist the help of a young Aboriginal tracker Billy (BAYKALI GANAMBARR) who grudgingly takes her through the rugged wilderness to track down Hawkins. The terrain and the prevailing hostilities are frightening, as fighting between the original inhabitants of the land and its colonizers plays out in what is now known as "The Black War." Clare and Billy are hostile towards each other from the outset, both suffering their own traumas and mutual distrust, but as their journey leads them deeper into the wilderness, they must learn to find empathy for one another, while weighing the true cost of revenge.

Film Details

• Director: Jennifer Kent
  
  
• Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Ewen Leslie, Damon Herriman, Harry Greenwood
  
  
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 136 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for strong violent and disturbing content including rape, language throughout, and brief sexuality
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 80% (56 fresh, 14 rotten, score: 7.2/10)
  
• Metacritic: 75 out of 100 (17 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 6.4/10 (632 votes)
  

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THEM THAT FOLLOW

Official Synopsis

Deep in Appalachia, Pastor Lemuel Childs (Walton Goggins) presides over an isolated community of serpent handlers, an obscure sect of Pentecostals who willingly take up venomous snakes to prove themselves before God. As his devoted daughter, Mara (Alice Englert) prepares for her wedding day, under the watchful eye of Hope Slaughter (Academy Award Winner Olivia Colman), a dangerous secret is unearthed and she is forced to confront the deadly tradition of her father's church. Also starring Kaitlyn Dever, Jim Gaffigan, Thomas Mann, and Lewis Pullman.

Film Details

• Director: Britt Poulton, Dan Madison Savage
  
  
• Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Walton Goggins, Olivia Colman, Lewis Pullman, Thomas Mann, Alice Englert, Jim Gaffigan
  
  
• Genre: Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 98 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for some disturbing violence
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 67% (22 fresh, 11 rotten, score: 6.1/10)
  
• Metacritic: 54 out of 100 (5 positive, 9 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 5.5/10 (232 votes)
  

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