Each Thursday we look at what is going to be coming out in theaters this weekend, show you the trailers for the big releases, predict the box office winner and just generally give you enough of a carrot to pull you through the rest of the work week.  September 30th offers both compelling reasons to go to the theater with four new releases and stay at home to binge-watch Marvel’s newest Netflix series.

A September that’s been unusually deep in quality (meaning that there was more than one good film) closes out this weekend with even more good stuff at the box office and a compelling reason to stay home.  Deepwater Horizon (or “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let BP Ruin the Gulf of Mexico) is getting outstanding reviews.  Tim Burton’s adaptation of the fantastic book (must-read) Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children opens and the reviews are mixed to positive.  Burton’s a risky bet these days, but his last outing, Big Eyes, was one of his better films.  You have a poorly reviewed comedy option in Masterminds.  There’s also the best-reviewed release of the week, Disney’s Queen of Katwe with Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o.  So why stay home?  Because the next installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t Doctor Strange, it’s Luke Cage.  Cage is the third Netflix/Marvel series  following Daredevil and Jessica Jones.  Mike Colter already debuted the character in Jones and this looks to continue this outstanding path to The Defenders team-up event next year.  There will be one more series, Iron Fist, before that event occurs, then confirmed new seasons of Daredevil, Punisher, and Jessica Jones.

Deepwater Horizon (Mark Wahlberg, PG-13, 1hr 39min)

 Luke Cage Season One (Mike Colter, Viola Davis, 13 ep. Netflix)

Masterminds (Zach Galifinakis, Owen Wilson, PG-13, 1hr 30min)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
(Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, PG-13, 2hr 7min)

Queen of Katwe  (Lupita Nyong’o, David Oyelowo, PG, 2hr 5min) 

HOW DID WE DO LAST WEEK?
KT picked The Magnificent Seven to easily win last weekend and win it did with a $35.7 million opening.  In second place was the animated film Storks with $21.3 million.  The champ the past two weeks, Sully, dropped to third, but should pass $100 million this weekend in domestic box office which, for September, is a blockbuster  (Lifetime prediction record 27-3).

WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
I expect this to be a close race this weekend between Deepwater and Peregrine.  I’m going to bite the bullet and go with Tim Burton for the win, due to built-in fans of the source material, the film appealing to a wider age group, and most people not wanting to be reminded that the Gulf of Mexico is still a healthy percentage British Petroleum.  Thank you very much, BP.  Haven’t missed a pick since May so don’t kill my streak, Burton!