Movies Out This Weekend: 'Annihilation,' 'Game Night' And More

Whether you're in the mood for a hilarious comedy, a thought-provoking drama or something in between, you're in luck. All of that and more is headed to theaters this weekend.

The sci-fi thriller “Annihilation” portrays Natalie Portman as an ex-soldier biology professor who embarks on an exploratory mission into unknown territory.

Also opening this weekend is the complex love story of “Every Day,” in which Angourie Rice plays a teenager who falls in love with a mysterious soul inhabiting a different teenage body every 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a married couple whose evening goes uproariously off track in “Game Night.”

Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

Movies Out This Weekend

“Annihilation” — Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, directed by Alex Garland

Based on the first novel of Jeff VanderMeer’s “Southern Reach” trilogy, Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller takes a holistic look at self-destruction. In the film, Natalie Portman portrays an ex-Army biologist who sets out on an expedition into an expanding swampland, from which no explorers have ever returned intact — including her husband Kane (Oscar Isaac), the only survivor of the prior exploratory mission.

Desperate to find answers, Lena (Portman) courageously ventures into the unknown, alongside her team of voyagers: psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), physicist Josie (Tessa Thompson), anthropologist Cass (Tuva Novotny), and paramedic Anya (Gina Rodriguez). Together, they discover a fascinating landscape full of mutating species that defy the laws of nature. As their quest continues, danger strikes and stakes become higher. Will they ever make it out alive?

See it. Anchored by the leads’ dramatic gravitas, Garland’s sophomore film is mind-blowing like his 2015 directing debut, “Ex Machina.” However, purists will find that “Annihilation” strays from VanderMeer’s novel.

Watch the trailer:

“Game Night” — Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, directed by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

In this comedy film, Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as married couple Max and Annie, who met during a game of bar trivia and host a couples' game night every week.

When Max’s wealthy brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), organizes the friend group's next event, he plans a whodunnit-mystery party, complete with fake goons and faux cops. But once the evening begins with Brooks’ brutal abduction at gunpoint, the guests have no idea whether his kidnapping is real or not.

See it. Despite lacking originality in its storyline, the black comedy is uproariously funny, delightful and well-acted. It will keep you guessing until the very end.

Watch the trailer:

“Every Day” — Angourie Rice, Justice Smith, directed by Michael Sucsy

What if you literally fell in love with the same soul — not the person— who inhabits a different body every day? This is the centerpiece of Michael Sucsy’s “Every Day,” a romance-fantasy drama based on David Levithan’s YA novel of the same name.

In the movie, 16-year-old Rhiannon (Angourie Rice) falls for “A,” a mysterious soul who inhabits a different teenage body every 24 hours. As the pair's love for each other grows, the more they realize the complexity of their relationship, ultimately leaving them to make the hardest decision either one has ever had to make.

See it. While the ending feels a little bit anticlimactic, the film is highly enjoyable, buoyed by a talented cast of young actors, and a brilliant screenplay.

More entertainment news:

• Film Review: 'Black Panther'
• Movie Reviews of 'Early Man,' And 'Samson'
• Movie Reviews of 'Fifty Shades Freed,' 'Peter Rabbit,' And 'The 15:17 to Paris'
• Patch Living: Your February Entertainment Guide
• 2018 Winter Olympics: US Athletes To Watch In Pyeongchang
• What's New On Netflix: February 2018

Top Photo: Natalie Portman attends the premiere of Paramount Pictures' 'Annihilation' at Regency Village Theatre on Feb. 13, 2018, in Westwood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)