Movies Out This Weekend: 'Goodbye Christopher Robin,' 'Professor Marston & The Wonder Women,' 'Marshall' And More

Thanks to this weekend's film lineup, you'll finally find out the true stories behind some of your favorite fictional characters. "Goodbye Christopher Robin" takes you behind the creation of the beloved Winnie the Pooh and into the heartwarming childhood of Christopher Robin (who was real, by the way). Feminist superhero Wonder Woman also comes with an intriguing backstory, which you can watch unfold in the film "Professor Marston & The Wonder Women."

Also based on true stories are "Marshall," which centers on former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall's life, and "Breathe," a love story about a man living with polio, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy.

On the fictional front, Jackie Chan returns to fighting crime on the big screen in "The Foreigner," while Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller team up in dark comedy "The Meyerowitz Stories."

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

Opening This Weekend

“Goodbye Christopher Robin” — Domnhall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, directed by Simon Curtis

Based on the true story behind the creation of renowned childhood icon Winnie The Pooh, this film depicts the heart-touching relationship between creator A.A. Milne (Domnhall Gleeson) and his son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston), whose toys inspired the magical world of Pooh. As the books gain international recognition after the first World War, the youngster along with his father, mother (Margot Robbie) and nanny, Olive (Kelly McDonald), must confront the looming toll that fame and success takes on the entire family. The movie is buoyed by skillful direction and commanding performances.

See it. But be sure to bring a pack of tissues.

“Professor Marston & The Wonder Women” — Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, Bella Heathcoate, directed by Angela Robinson

The genesis of Wonder Woman comes alive in writer-director Angela Robinson’s biopic of American psychologist William Moulton Marston, the creator of the D.C. superhero. Set in the 1920s, the film chronicles how Professor Marston (Luke Evans) — alongside his wife, Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall), and their lover, Olive (Bella Heathcoate) — gave birth to an icon of female power while living an unconventional threesome lifestyle.

See it. Wouldn’t you want to know the surprising story behind the lasso-wielding Amazonian princess? Plus, the film delivers a trifecta of movie entertainment: well-written, well-directed and well-acted.

“Breathe” — Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, directed by Andy Serkis

Andy Serkis’s directorial debut follows the inspiring true love story of Robin and Diana Cavendish (Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, respectively), who prevailed in the face of a harrowing disease. At the age of 28, Robin is stricken with polio, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. Undeterred by their misfortune, the couple sets off on a lifelong mission to campaign for the disabled. Garfield’s heart-wrenching performance is anchored by Foy’s dramatic gravitas, while Serkis’s impressive vision brings forth a triumphant and bighearted film.

See it. You’ll certainly leave the film feeling inspired and invigorated.

“Marshall” — Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, directed by Reginald Hudlin

Reginald Hudlin’s historical drama introduces future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (Chadwick Boseman) as a young NAACP lawyer in the 1940s. The film centers on a court case in Connecticut where Marshall is dispatched to defend a black man accused of the rape and attempted murder of a rich white woman. As Marshall and his co-counsel (Josh Gad) mount their criminal defense, they are faced with pressures from an enraged community that has already assumed their client’s guilt.

See it. With director Hudlin’s adept talent, the lead actors’ engrossing chemistry and a riveting screenplay, “Marshall” is highly entertaining.

“The Meyerowitz Stories” — Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel, directed by Noah Baumbach

Writer-director Noah Baumbach’s latest movie is a star-studded dark comedy about three dysfunctional siblings (Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel) and their struggles with their aging, overbearing father, played by Dustin Hoffman.

See it. The Netflix-produced film stands out thanks to magnificent performances and Baumbach's ebullient screenplay.

“The Foreigner” — Jackie Chan, Katie Leung, directed by Martin Campbell

A film adaptation of Stephen Leather’s 1992 novel, “The Chinaman,” this action-thriller is a story about justice and vengeance. Jackie Chan stars as a London restaurant owner whose daughter was killed in an act of politically motivated terrorism. Before long, he seeks the assistance of a government official (Pierce Brosnan) to try to identify the elusive killers.

Skip it. Despite director Martin Campbell’s skillful treatment, the movie’s run time of 114 minutes feels way too long by the end.

“Happy Death Day” — Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, directed by Christopher Landon

Jessica Rothe stars as self-centered teenager Tree Gelbman, who relives the day of her murder with its nightmarish details and ghoulish end in a disturbing loop: She dies; she wakes up; she goes to school; repeat — at least that's her fate until she can succeed in unmasking her murderer.

Skip it. Disappointingly, the rewind factor in the storyline becomes too much to bear — ultimately blurring Rothe’s convincing performance and Landon’s fascinating visual flair.

Check out trailers:

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• Interview with 'Battle Of The Sexes' Star Andrea Riseborough
• Inside The Making Of 'Battle Of The Sexes' With Directors Valerie Faris And Jonathan Dayton
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  Top Photo: Margot Robbie attends the "Goodbye Christopher Robin" World Premiere held at Odeon Leicester Square on Sept. 20 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/John Phillips/Getty Images)