"The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby" (Sept. 12)(01 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: After making the festival rounds in 2013, Ned Benson's heartbreaking drama about a fraying couple (Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy) at the end of its rope makes its theatrical debut, albeit into one condensed film. The "Him" and "Her" versions of "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby," which expand on the story being told here, arrive in limited release in October. (credit:TWC)
"Skeleton Twins" (Sept. 12)(02 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: A hit at this year's Sundance Film Festival, "The Skeleton Twins" is a drama starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader that features the pair lip-syncing to Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." (credit:Roadside)
"The Drop" (Sept. 12)(03 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Beyond this being James Gandolfini's last film, Tom Hardy plays with a dog. (credit:Fox Searchlight)
"The Maze Runner" (Sept. 19)(04 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Because if there's one thing we need more of in theaters it's teen dystopia? (The novel is pretty popular too.) (credit:Fox)
"A Walk Among The Tombstones" (Sept. 19)(05 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Liam Neeson made another movie. (credit:Universal)
"This Is Where I Leave You" (Sept. 19)(06 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The cast includes Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, Connie Britton, Kathryn Hahn and Rose Byrne, aka this movie is our favorite dinner party. (credit:Warner Bros.)
"The Equalizer" (Sept. 26)(07 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The last time Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua made a movie together, it was "Training Day," and Washington won an Oscar. Sony is bringing "The Equalizer" to the Toronto International Film Festival, so maybe the studio thinks lightning can strike twice. (credit:Sony)
"The Boxtrolls" (Sept. 26)(08 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The last film from animation company Laika was "ParaNorman," and it was a delight. (credit:Focus)
"Gone Girl" (Oct. 3)(09 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Beyond being David Fincher's new film, "Gone Girl" might provide Ben Affleck, playing accused wife killer Nick Dunne, with the role of his entire life. (credit:Fox)
"Men, Women & Children" (Oct. 3)(10 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: One year after stumbling with "Labor Day," Jason Reitman returns with a sprawling ensemble drama about families, infidelity and the Internet. Here's the cast: Jennifer Garner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ansel Elgort, Kaitlyn Dever from "Short Term 12," Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Emma Thompson and, in a rare dramatic role, Adam Sandler. (credit:Paramount)
"Kill The Messenger" (Oct. 10)(11 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Fun fact that a lot of people probably don't remember: Jeremy Renner has two Oscar nominations in the last five years. He's made some junk since breaking out with "The Hurt Locker" and "The Town," but "Kill the Messenger" looks like it could be a return to form. (credit:Relativity)
"The Judge" (Oct. 10)(12 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: "The Judge" will include at least one scene where Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr., playing an estranged father and son, go at each other. The movie world will be better for its existence. (credit:Warner Bros.)
"Alexander" (Oct. 10)(13 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Because a movie version of "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" sounds cute before putting Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner in the mix. (credit:Disney)
"Whiplash" (Oct. 10)(14 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Another Sundance Film Festival hit, "Whiplash" has been described as "Full Metal Jacket" in the jazz world, with J.K. Simmons in the R. Lee Ermey part. An Oscar nomination for one of Hollywood's best character actors would be nice. (credit:Sony)
"Fury" (Oct. 17)(15 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: According to Michael Cieply's New York Times preview piece on "Fury," the World War II drama is violent. So, that's something. There's also this: Shia LaBeouf co-stars and apparently pulled his own tooth out as part of his preparation for the role. (credit:Sony)
"Listen Up Philip" (Oct. 17)(16 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: This caustic comedy, which Tribeca Film will release after picking it up following the Sundance Film Festival, stars Jason Schwartzman and Elisabeth Moss aka two of our favorite actors. (credit:Tribeca Film)
"Birdman (Or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)" (Oct. 17)(17 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Michael Keaton deserves the comeback. (credit:Fox Searchlight)
"Laggies" (Oct. 24)(18 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Originally set to star Anne Hathaway, "Laggies" instead features Keira Knightley as a woman trying to start her life over. That role worked for Knightley in "Begin Again," which was not without its charms, so maybe it'll be a success here too. Lynn Shelton ("Your Sister's Sister") directs. (credit:A24)
"St. Vincent" (Oct. 24)(19 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Bill Murray plays a misanthrope in a movie not directed by Wes Anderson. (credit:TWC)
"Nightcrawler" (Oct. 31)(20 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The trailer makes "Nightcrawler" look like the spawn of "Drive," "Bringing Out the Dead" and "Zodiac." In Gyllenhaal we trust. (credit:Open Road)
"Big Hero 6" (Nov. 7)(21 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The robot looks cute. (credit:Disney)
"The Theory of Everything" (Nov. 7)(22 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The trailer is incredible and Eddie Redmayne deserves a big, meaty lead role like Stephen Hawking. Bonus excitement: Will the movie detail how Hawking left his wife (played here by Felicity Jones) in 1990 and married his nurse? If not, will that nugget be used during an awards-season smear campaign by another studio? (credit:Focus)
"Interstellar" (Nov. 7)(23 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Really? (credit:Paramount)
"Rosewater" (Nov. 7)(24 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Jon Stewart directed this movie. (credit:Open Road)
"Foxcatcher" (Nov. 14)(25 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Bennett Miller's first two movies, "Capote" and "Moneyball," were nominated for Best Picture and scored Best Actor nominations for Philip Seymour Hoffman (who won) and Brad Pitt (who did not). Miller, Steve Carell and Channing Tatum should make sure their tuxedos are pressed for awards season. (credit:Sony Classics)
"Dumb and Dumber To" (Nov. 14)(26 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Maybe it'll be funny? (credit:Universal)
"The Imitation Game" (Nov. 21)(27 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Benedict Cumberbatch. (credit:TWC)
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" (Nov. 21)(28 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Because "Mockingjay" is actually a pretty lousy book, and there's a good chance Francis Lawrence and screenwriters Danny Strong and Peter Craig will improve on it by a lot. (credit:Lionsgate)
"Horrible Bosses 2" (Nov. 26)(29 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Hey, "Horrible Bosses" was really funny. (credit:Warner Bros.)
"Wild" (Dec. 5)(30 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: As 2014 shapes up to be the Year of Reese Witherspoon, "Wild" stands as her best chance at Oscar glory. We'd be plenty pleased to hear Witherspoon give an acceptance speech for Best Actress at the Academy Awards next year, especially if she includes a couple of dance moves. (credit:Fox Searchlight)
"Exodus: Gods and Kings" (Dec. 12)(31 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The forthcoming debate this movie will start about how Hollywood white-washes so much history will, we hope, create a change of the status quo. (credit:Fox)
"Inherent Vice" (Dec. 12)(32 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: Paul Thomas Anderson adapted Thomas Pynchon's novel about a stoned private eye and cast Joaquin Phoenix, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jena Malone, Maya Rudolph and Jillian Bell. We are very excited. (credit:AP)
"Annie" (Dec. 19)(33 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: "Annie" looks like pure camp. (credit:Sony)
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" (Dec. 17)(34 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: This is the last "Hobbit" movie. (credit:WB)
"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" (Dec. 19)(35 of35)
Open Image ModalWhy We're Excited: The third "Night at the Museum" movie provides us with a chance to see Robin Williams on screen, one of the final four times this will happen. (credit:Fox)