Here Are All the Movies Opening Today, July 31; What Will You See?

Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, July 31. [Synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.]

Wide

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Cast: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris, America Olivo, Simon McBurney, Zhang Jingchu, Jorge Leon Martinez, Hermione Corfield, Sean Cronin, Lasco Atkins
Synopsis: “With the IMF disbanded, and Ethan out in the cold, the team now faces off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These highly trained operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust, who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces their most impossible mission yet.”
Criticwire Grade Average: B (9 reviews)

Vacation
Director: John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein
Cast: Ed Helms, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Christina Applegate, Chevy Chase, Charlie Day, Elizabeth Gillies, Beverly D’Angelo, Keegan Michael Key, Regina Hall, Skyler Gisondo, Catherine Missal, Steele Stebbins, Miles Doleac, Nadine Avola, Brandon Michael Hale
Synopsis: “It’s 2015 and Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) is all grown-up with a family of his own. Following in his father Clark’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, Rusty surprises his wife Debbie and their two sons James and Kevin, with a cross-country trip to Walley World. Unfortunately, Stone Crandall, Rusty’s ridiculously handsome but irritating brother-in-law, is along for the ride.”
Criticwire Grade Average: C (9 reviews)

Limited

6 Ways to Die
Director: Nadeem Soumah
Cast: Vinnie Jones, Michael Rene Walton, Vivica A. Fox, Tom Sizemore, Bai Ling, Dominique Swain
Synopsis: “Sonny ‘Sundown’ Garcia is the top cocaine distributor in the United States, which has made him a very rich and powerful man. It has also made him plenty of enemies. John Doe is just such a man. A nameless man of mystery, John lives to see Sundown not just dead, but to suffer six meaningful losses before his death—his fortune, his freedom, his love, his reputation, his most valuable possession and, finally, his life. John hires six hit-men, each one assigned to inflict one of the six meaningful losses upon Sundown.”
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles

Best of Enemies
Director: Morgan Neville & Robert Gordon
Synopsis: “In the summer of 1968, television news changed forever. Dead last in the ratings, ABC hired two towering public intellectuals to debate each other during the Democratic and Republican national conventions. William F. Buckley, Jr. was a leading light of the new conservative movement. A Democrat and cousin to Jackie Onassis, Gore Vidal was a leftist novelist and polemicist. Armed with deep-seated distrust and enmity, Vidal and Buckley believed each other’s political ideologies were dangerous for America. Like rounds in a heavyweight battle, they pummeled out policy and personal insult—cementing their opposing political positions. Their explosive exchanges devolved into vitriolic name-calling. It was unlike anything TV had ever broadcast, and all the more shocking because it was live and unscripted. Viewers were riveted. ABC News’ ratings skyrocketed. And a new era in public discourse was born.” [Sundance Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (26 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver (expands nationwide through the end of November)

The End of the Tour
Director: James Ponsoldt
Cast: Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Anna Chlumsky, Joan Cusack, Mamie Gummer, Mickey Sumner
Synopsis: “In 1996, shortly after the publication of his groundbreaking novel Infinite Jest, acclaimed author David Foster Wallace sets off on a five-day interview with Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky. As the days pass, a tenuous yet significant relationship develops between journalist and subject. Lipsky and Wallace bob and weave around each other, revealing as much in what they don’t say as what the say. They share laughs, expose hidden frailties, yet it’s never clear when or to what extent they are being truthful. The interview is never published. Five days of audio tapes are packed away in Lipsky’s closet, and the two men never meet again.” [Sundance Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (23 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles

Extinction
Director: Miguel Ángel Vivas
Cast: Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan, Valeria Vereau, Clara Lago
Synopsis: “For nine years, Patrick, Jack and his daughter Lu have outlasted the zombie apocalypse by shutting themselves off in the snowbound town of Harmony. The monsters have seemingly disappeared, with no sign of other survivors, but the constant fear of the unknown is starting to take a toll on this makeshift family. When Patrick goes scavenging for food, he discovers the undead have returned and evolved into something terrifying, beyond imagination. Will the last breath of the human race survive a second zombie apocalypse?”
Theatrical Release: Various AMC Theaters (including New York and Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver and Seattle)

I Am Chris Farley
Director: Brent Hodge & Derik Murray
Synopsis: “‘I Am Chris Farley‘ tells his hilarious, touching and wildly entertaining story – from his early days in Madison, Wisconsin, to his time at Second City and Saturday Night Live, then finally his film career (which included hits like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep). The film showcases his most memorable characters and skits from film and television and also includes interviews and insights from his co-stars, family and friends – including the likes of Christina Applegate, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget and Adam Sandler.”
Theatrical Release: Various (including New York and Los Angeles, Phoenix and Greensboro, NC)

Jenny’s Wedding
Director: Mary Agnes Donoghue
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Tom Wilkinson, Alexis Bledel, Grace Gummer, Linda Emond, Matthew Metzger, Cathleen O’Malley, Sam McMurray
Synopsis: “Jenny Farrell has led an openly gay life – except with her conventional family. When she finally decides to start a family and marry the woman they thought was just her roommate, the small, safe world the Farrell’s inhabited changes forever. They are left with a simple and difficult choice – either change with it or drown.”
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles

The Kindergarten Teacher
Director: Nadav Lapid
Cast: Sarit Larry, Avi Shnaidman, Lior Raz, Gilad ben David, Ester Rada, Guy Oren, Yehezkel Lazarov, Dan Toren
Synopsis: “The story of a teacher who becomes at first enchanted, and then ultimately consumed by the poetic genius of her five-year-old student. As the titular protagonist, Nira, discovers that her young student, Yoav, has an otherworldly talent for language and poetry, she slowly and progressively becomes interested in cultivating the boy’s gift. But when fascination morphs into obsession, Nira pushes the boundaries of her relationship with the boy and his family in an attempt to protect his talent before he passes from boyhood to adolescence, and his purity is lost.”
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (11 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York (expands to Cleveland, Miami, Santa Fe and Hollywood, FL)

A LEGO Brickumentary
Director: Kief Davidson & Daniel Junge
Synopsis: “‘A LEGO® Brickumentary’ delves into the extraordinary impact of the LEGO brick and the innovative uses for it that have sprung up all over the world. From art galleries full of LEGO creations, to the workshops of Master Builders, into the world of LEGO therapy, and to encounters with AFOLS (Adult Fans of LEGO), each with amazing stories to tell.”
Criticwire Grade Average: B (4 reviews)
Theatrical Release: Various (also available on VOD)

Listen to Me Marlon
Director: Stevan Riley
Synopsis: “Marlon Brando was one of the most acclaimed and influential actors of all time. He also was one of the most elusive and enigmatic. Featuring exclusive access to Brando’s previously unseen and unheard personal archive, including hundreds of hours of audio, Listen to Me Marlon sheds light on the artist and the man. Charting Brando’s exceptional career and extraordinary personal life with the actor himself as guide, the film explores his complexities, telling the story entirely in his own voice. No talking heads, no interviewees: just Brando on Brando.” [Sundance Film Festival]
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (21 reviews)
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles

Northmen: A Viking Saga
Director: Claudio Fäh
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, James Norton, Ed Skrein, Tom Hopper, Charlie Murphy, Leo Gregory, Ken Duken, Anatole Taubman, Darrell D’Silva, Nic Rasenti, Joe Vaz, Johan Hegg, Richard Lothian, Mark Strepan, Danny Keough
Synopsis: “the story of a group of Vikings in the ninth century who sets sail for Britain, aiming to plunder the rich monasteries in the northern part of the island. But a storm smashes the ship to pieces on the rocks off the coast of Scotland, the only part of Britain without any Viking settlements. Soon thereafter, the daughter of the Scottish King falls into their hands and the Vikings see this as an opportunity to demand a large ransom. The King immediately sets his ‘wolfpack’ — a group of mercenaries well known for their savagery — on the Vikings. The “Northmen” with their hostage now have to force their way through the rough highlands, where they meet the brave and mysterious Christian monk Conall. Having the wolfpack close on their heels, a desperate race against time begins. A battle over life and death…”
Theatrical Release: Los Angeles

Paulo Coelho’s Best Story
Director: Daniel Augusto
Cast: Julio Andrade, Ravel Andrade, Fabiana Guglielmetti, Fabiula Nascimento, Enrique Diaz, Lucci Ferreira
Synopsis: “Global phenomenon Paulo Coelho was not always the best-selling inspirational author he is today. For decades he searched for his calling, just like the allegorical heroes in spiritual classics The Alchemist and The Pilgrimage. Growing up in Sao Paolo as a misunderstood young rebel, Coelho alternately flirted with death, escaped madness, experimented with drugs, survived torture, fell in and out of love, and made rock history in Brazil…all the while never giving up on his biggest dream: to triumph as a writer.”
Theatrical Release: New York and Los Angeles, Miami and Portland

That Sugar Film
Director: Damon Gameau
Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Isabel Lucas, Stephen Fry, Jessica Marais, Damon Gameau
Synopsis: “One man’s journey to discover the bitter truth about sugar. Damon Gameau embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body, consuming only foods that are commonly perceived as ‘healthy’. Through this entertaining and informative journey, Damon highlights some of the issues that plague the sugar industry, and where sugar lurks on supermarket shelves.”
Theatrical Release: Various (including New York and Los Angeles, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC)

Two Step
Director: Alex R. Johnson
Cast: Beth Broderick, James Landry Hébert, Skyy Moore, Jason Douglas, Ashley Spillers, Barry Tubb, Brady Coleman, Jesse Dayton, Dale Watson, Laurie Gallardo
Synopsis: “Kicked out of college, James visits Grams, his only remaining family, who dies shortly after his arrival. He finds consolation in the company of Grams’ neighbor, Dot, a dance teacher, as he figures out his next move. While settling Grams’ affairs, James learns she’s been the victim of the ‘grandparent scam’ in which someone posing as James has been slowly bilking her out of thousands. But before James can go looking for the culprit, he shows up at the front door, desperate for money. The culprit, Webb, has his own problems in the form of Duane, who has ordered Webb to pay an old debt or else. And if Webb can’t get it from Grams, James will have to do – no matter who stands in his way.” [SXSW Film Festival]
Theatrical Release: New York (opens in Los Angeles on August 7th)

Wild City
Director: Ringo Lam
Cast: Shawn Yue, Louis Koo, Tong Liya, Chang Hsiao-chuang, Jack Kao Kuo-Hsin, Simon Yam, Sam Lee, Philip Ng, Dave Wong
Synopsis: “Former cop-turned-bar owner Kwok and his underachieving half-brother befriends a drunken woman, they soon find themselves targeted by both her former lover, a high-powered attorney, and the gangster he employs. A suitcase full of tainted cash enters the picture as Kwok finds himself torn between the gangsters and his former colleagues.”
Theatrical Release: Various (including New York and Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Hawaii, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle)

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Robert Maillet, Niamh Wilson, Judy Davis, Callum Keith Rennie, Julian Richings, Dominique Pinon, Kyle Catlett, Jakob Davies, Dawn Ford, Lisa Bronwyn Moore
Synopsis: “A 12-year-old cartographer secretly leaves his family’s ranch in Montana where he lives with his cowboy father and scientist mother and travels across the country on board a freight train to receive an award at the Smithsonian Institute.”
Criticwire Grade Average: A- (4 reviews)
Theatrical Release: Various (New York and Los Angeles, Chicago, Honolulu, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle)

Missed last week? Here are all the releases from the weekend of July 24th.