August brought some high-budget science-fiction and fantasy adventures alongside some serious screenplays, but fans of genre cinema can expect some more playful stories this month. While Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the next installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, certainly maintains the month's big-budget status, many of September's science fiction and fantasy movie releases are more lighthearted, designed to remind audiences of the range of sci-fi/fantasy storytelling.
With ghost buddy-comedies like Afterlife of the Party and Lady of the Manor, young adult movies like Nightbooks and even a musical in the form of a new Cinderella, the selection this month is a perfect distraction from beginning-of-school stress. But just because many of these movies want you to laugh doesn't mean that they don't have something to say about the human condition. Here are the science fiction and fantasy movies to watch out for in theaters and streaming this September.
Afterlife of the Party
Afterlife of the Party is a fresh spin on a familiar tale. When party girl Cassie dies, she meets her guardian angel and learns she has only five days to try to fix her mistakes before she heads permanently to her fate. Forced to make amends with her best friend and parents, Cassie also learns that in her new, ghostly form she can not only right her own wrongs but also lend help to the people she cares most about. Afterlife of the Party may not present a new conceit, but it promises some fun and laughs as well as a heartfelt exploration of love after death.
Directed by Stephen Herek and written by Carrie Freedle, Afterlife of the Party stars Victoria Justice, Midori Francis, Timothy Renouf, Adam Garcia, Gloria Garcia and Spencer Sutherland. The movie releases on Netflix on Sept. 2.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The long-anticipated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the next entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie follows Shang-Chi who has been trained by his father as a deadly martial artist. Shang-Chi seems to shun this upbringing, however, and has spent the last decade living out a mundane middle-class fantasy, working unfulfilling jobs but making friends along the way. Bu when his ten years are up, Shang-Chi's father returns, along with the terrorist organization he leads known as the Ten Rings.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a different turn for Marvel -- the main character isn't a superhero in the radioactive spider, lab-accident sense, but instead is an expert in martial arts after years of training. Judging from the trailer, the movie will also draw on Kung Fu style for fight sequences, offering audiences a very different type of Marvel movie. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a September must-watch, but also a fresh turn for the cinematic juggernaut.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Daniel Callaham, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, Fala Chen, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu and Ronny Chieng. The film arrives in theaters Sept. 3.
Cinderella
Cinderella may be a familiar story, but Amazon's musical version adds a whole new flair to the legend. Down-on-her-luck Cinderella wants to start a dressmaking business, but her dreams are crushed by rampant sexism and an emotionally abusive stepmother. A magic godmother steps in to offer Cinderella a chance to show off her skills at a royal ball, which sets off a chain of events that provides her not only a business opportunity but also love. With expansive musical numbers, vibrant costuming and an all-star cast, Cinderella is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Directed by Kay Cannon, Cinderella stars Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Minnie Driver, Nicholas Galitzine, Billy Porter and Pierce Brosnan. The movie releases Sept. 3 on Amazon Prime Video.
Zone 414
In the cyberpunk noir Zone 414, one man has created robots designed to look -- and feel -- just like humans. With his daughter missing, the eccentric businessman hires a private detective to enter Zone 414, the home of many of these robots, and bring her back. Aided himself by an advanced AI, the private detective must confront not only the violent crimes on the rise on Zone 414 and the mystery he's been hired to solve but also the blurring lines between human and other. In the tradition of Blade Runner or Westworld, Zone 414 provides not only a rich aesthetic but also a complex backdrop for a simple story, allowing audiences the delight of a murder mystery while forcing them to confront what makes them human.
Zone 414 was written by Bryan Edward Hill and directed by Andrew Baird. The film stars Guy Pearce, Matilda Lutz, Jonathan Aris and Travis Fimmel. The film will release in theaters Sept. 3.
Nightbooks
Young-adult fantasy Nightbooks finds Alex trapped in a witch's seemingly infinite and totally magical apartment. Forced to write her a new scary story each night to ensure his own survival, Alex is determined to find some way to escape. He joins forces with Yazmin, the witch's servant, to find some way to trick the witch and make their way through her dangerous, labyrinthine house to find their freedom. Nightbooks combines horror and fantasy for younger audiences, creating a truly atmospheric movie with weird magic and hairless cats.
Directed by David Yarovesky and written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, Nightbooks stars Winslow Fegley, Lidya Jewett and Krysten Ritter. The movie hits Netflix on Sept. 15.
Lady of the Manor
Lady of the Manor follows Hannah, a slacker and stoner who takes a job portraying Lady Wadsworth during historical tours of Wadsworth Manor. When the ghost of the real Lady Wadsworth starts haunting her, Hannah must change her ways in order to get the ghost off her back. She joins forces with a historian nerd to learn the true history of Lady Wadsworth but also takes lessons from her new ghost friend in how to appear more proper. This ghost/human buddy-comedy offers a silly look at personal growth through the lens of history and the supernatural.
Written and directed by brothers Justin Long and Christian Long, Lady of the Manor stars Melanie Lynskey, Judy Greer, Justin Long, Ryan Phillippe, Luis Guzmán and Patrick Duffy and will be released Sept. 17.
I'm Your Man
In I'm Your Man, scientist Alma tries to secure funding for her research by participating in a study to evaluate a robot designed to be a perfect match for her. The sci-fi romantic drama follows the couple exploring their new life together, as Alma pushes back against acknowledging any humanity in her robot partner while starting to learn that maybe there's more to these robots. I'm Your Man offers a different sci-fi reflection on humanity than other September releases like Zone 414 by showing audiences delicate moments of interaction, focused on building bonds between one human and one robot rather than exploring entire groups. I'm Your Man looks to be a sweet and emotional science-fiction palate cleanser, showing a personal connection and the range of the genre.
I'm Your Man was written and directed by Maria Schrader and stars Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens and Sandra Hüller. The movie releases Sept. 17.
Solitary
Solitary imagines a near future where prisons are so overcrowded that governments decide to send criminals into space. The film follows a man who wakes up to find that he's been launched on a mission to colonize other planets, sharing his spaceship/prison with only one other person. The two must confront their past actions as they make an attempt to return to Earth. Solitary provides all the basics of a space-thriller, with the locked-room confines of a spaceship and standard tensions of maintaining a breathable atmosphere. Where the movie seems most compelling, however, is its exploration of the real human costs of prison systems and labor and how we as a species must deal with violent acts and our own guilt.
Directed and written by Luke Armstrong, Solitary stars Johnny Sachon, Michael Condron and Lottie Tolhurst. The film is coming to theaters and VOD on September 24.