Hong Kongers have yet another reason to look forward to the festive season in October. There are a slew of movies releasing this month, and there’s something for everyone – from docu-style The Helper based on Hong Kong’s domestic workers to Hollywood biggie Blade Runner 2049, starring 2017 Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling. Here’s our list of must-see movies for October:

The Lego Ninjago Movie

In this big-screen Ninjago adventure, Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, and his friends, who are all secret warriors and LEGO Master Builders, are called to action in the battle for Ninjago City. Led by the worldly wise and wise-cracking kung fu master Wu, they have to beat the Worst Guy Ever, Garmadon, an evil warlord and also Lloyd’s father.
This epic showdown will test the fierce but undisciplined team of modern-day ninjas who must learn to fight their inner demons and pull together to unleash their true power.

Releasing on 28 September 2017

The Mountain Between Us

Directed by Academy Award nominee Hany Abu-Asad and starring Academy award winner Kate Winslet and Idris Elba, this movie promises a gripping storyline, backed by some stellar performances. Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers are forced to forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. When they realise there’s no help coming, they embark on a terrifying journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, backing each other every step of the way and sparking an unlikely attraction.

Releasing on 5 October 2017

Blade Runner 2049

In this neo-noir sci-fi film, Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a new blade runner for the Los Angeles Police Department, unearths a long-buried secret that could potentially plunge society into a state of complete chaos. His discovery leads him on a mission to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. As a sequel to the cult movie Blade Runner, released in 1982, this one has a lot of hype to live up to.

Releasing on 5 October 2017

The Helper

The Helper is a feature-length documentary chronicling the lives of Hong Kong’s migrant domestic worker population. The film reveals the unheard stories of the unsung (s)heroes around us, from Liza Avelino, a domestic helper who climbs mountains in her spare time to Nurul Hidayah, a single mother with a harrowing story of survival. Choosing to leave their homeland and separated from their families, the stories uncover an inspiring tale of grit, pride and determination.

Releasing on 10 October 2017

Victoria and Abdul

When Abdul Karim (starring Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he finds favour with the Queen (starring Academy Award winner Judi Dench) herself. As the Queen challenges the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle attempt to destroy. The film humanises the lofty and idealised British monarch.

Releasing on 19 October 2017

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay