In Theaters This Weekend: A New Jackie Chan Film and Award Contenders Get Wide Releases

Will Lerner
·Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

It’s the first weekend for new movies in 2017, and there’s a big sampling available if you feel like hitting the theaters.

Hidden Figures

(l-r) Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson, and Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures (Photo: Hopper Stone)
(Left to right:) Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson, and Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures. (Photo: Hopper Stone)

Hidden Figures is based on the true story of three African-American women who helped NASA launch its first space missions. It stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, as well as Kevin Costner. It’s directed by Theodore Melfi, best known for his work St. Vincent. Critics are enjoying it: it currently has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74 on Metacritic.

Related: Taraji P. Henson Almost Gave Up Acting for Electrical Engineering

I, Daniel Blake

From left: Hayley Squires, Dave Johns in I, Daniel Blake. (Photo: Sundance Selects/courtesy Everett)
Hayley Squires and Dave Johns in I, Daniel Blake. (Photo: Sundance Selects/courtesy Everett)

I, Daniel Blake comes from The Wind That Shakes the Barley director Ken Loach. Starring Dave Johns in the titular role, a carpenter seeking state welfare meets a single mother, played by Hayley Squires, who is seeking the same help. It’s another critical darling out this week, with a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 77 on Metacritic.

Related: Cannes Report: ‘I, Daniel Blake’ Is a Moving Depiction of Life on the Economic Edge

A Monster Calls

Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls. (Photo: River Road Entertainment)
Lewis MacDougall in A Monster Calls. (Photo: River Road Entertainment)

Before J.A. Bayona sees his Jurassic World sequel released in theaters, the filmmaker has this film now in theaters. Starring Lewis MacDougall, it tells the story of a young boy who seeks the comfort of a tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson) as he copes with his mother (played by Rogue One star Felicity Jones) dying from a terminal illness. Critics are warm to this film; it’s getting an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76 on Metacritic.

Related: Felicity Jones on Making Toronto Cry With ‘A Monster Calls’

Railroad Tigers

From left: Jackie Chan and Alan Ng in Paper Tigers. (Photo: Well Go USA Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection)
From left: Jackie Chan and Alan Ng in Railroad Tigers. (Photo: Well Go USA Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection)

Jackie Chan has a new movie out in theaters. This film, set in 1941, is about Chinese railroad workers who attack the Japanese to get food for the hungry. It’s directed by Ding Sheng, a Chinese filmmaker more well known in his nation than the U.S. Unfortunately, critics are not enjoying this film — it only has a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 47 on Metacritic.

Underworld: Blood Wars

Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in the fifth Underworld movie. (Photo: Larry Horricks/Screen Gems/courtesy Everett)
Kate Beckinsale returns as Selene in the fifth Underworld movie. (Photo: Larry Horricks/Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett)

Critics are not thrilled with the fifth installment of the Underworld franchise. It doesn’t have enough reviews to get a rating on Metacritic, and its rating has been fluctuating in the teens on Rotten Tomatoes at the time this blog is being published. Kate Beckinsale is back as Selene, and is finding herself being dragged into the middle of a war between Lycans and vampires. Anna Foerster makes her feature film directorial debut with this movie.

Related: ‘Underworld’ Star Kate Beckinsale on Michael Bay

Feel Like Staying In? You Can Stream These Three Golden Globe Nominees Instead:

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