Fall signifies return to more prestigious pics

If this summer felt familiar to you at the theater, it's no doubt because there were no fewer than 14 sequels that hit the screen. Only a handful were able to open to greater numbers than their predecessors ("Finding Dory," "Captain America: Civil War," "The Purge: Election Year," and "Jason Bourne").

And while some sequels failed to earn back their budget ("Alice Through the Looking Glass," "Independence Day: Resurgence"), the list of casualties was long: whether it was a reboot or a sequel, audiences were not interested in calling "Ghostbusters," Steven Spielberg couldn't lure families to theaters with "The BFG," and the wheels came off the chariot for the "Ben-Hur" remake, which has yet to capture half its $100 million budget.

But the fall signifies the return to more prestigious pics, with a few recognizable names thrown in for good measure (a "Blair Witch" sequel, another "Bridget Jones" installment, and a "Magnificent Seven" remake). Let's take a look at some of the samplings of what is on the plate:

"Deepwater Horizon" (Sept. 30): Mark Wahlberg stars in this look at the events that led up to one of the largest oil spills the planet has ever seen. It’s directed by former actor Peter Berg, who has been hit or miss since taking a seat in the director's chair (from "Friday Night Lights" to "Battleship").

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" (Sept. 30): Based on the popular novel by Ransom Riggs, the story focuses on a gaggle of alienated youths working together on a deserted island. Directed by Tim Burton.

"The Girl on the Train" (Oct. 7): Echoing the runaway hit "Gone Girl," this thriller is also based on a best-selling novel of a woman with possible psychotic tendencies, a missing woman, and a whole lot of shocking twists. Starring Emily Blunt.

"The Accountant" (Oct. 14): Ben Affleck drops the cape for a calculator, starring as an obsessive number-cruncher who may or may not be involved with an assassination.

"A Monster Calls" (Oct. 21): Young Connor (played by newcomer Lewis MacDougall) escapes a life of bullying with the help of a towering tree creature (voiced by Liam Neeson) in this adaptation of the popular young adult novel.

"Jack Reacher: Never Look Back" (Oct. 21): Tom Cruise returns to another of his action-packed leads as the titular butt-kicker as he tangles with Cobie Smulders ("The Avengers") and returns to his military roots.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" (Oct. 21): Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot star as two spies living covertly in suburbia next door to Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher.

"Inferno" (Oct. 21): Tom Hanks returns for a third outing as Robert Langdon, who is once again saving the world from religious apocalypse by solving some ancient puzzles.

"Doctor Strange" (Nov. 4): Benedict Cumberbatch stars in what looks to be one of the trippiest flicks of the Marvel superheroes canon. The time-skipping doc is aided in the tale by a powerhouse supporting cast, including Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (Nov. 18): Filling the Hogwarts-sized hole left behind by the last "Harry Potter" installment, Eddie Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, who is on the original Pokemon Go hunt in New York City in 1926. Written by J.K. Rowling and directed by former "Potter" director David Yates, "Beasts" could restore the missing magic in your cinematic universe.

"Moana" (Nov. 23): Disney provides us with a Hawaiian heroine (voiced by native Hawaiian Auli'i Cravalho) for this musical return to the days of "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast."