Temperatures are dropping and kids are back in school — meaning the fall movies will have a more difficult time making money than the summer movies did. However, fall films — and those released near the holidays — tend to be those considered for more awards.

“Juno,” “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” three major Academy Award-nominated movies, were all released in the fall and proved to have success at the awards shows. This year, one of the following movies may follow their example. Others will be released simply because they are either entertaining or the studios hope they make money.

“Lakeview Terrace” — Sept. 19

Hopefully BYU-alum Neil LaBute’s next directorial attempt with “Lakeview Terrace” is better than “The Wicker Man.” To his advantage, he has Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role as an LAPD officer, not Nicolas Cage as a sheriff investigating a neo-pagan community. A young couple — played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington — move into their new dream home and next door to the LAPD officer who disapproves of their interracial relationship. Jackson plays an uptight, single father who patrols the neighborhood as part of his daily routine. His harassment against the couple persists and causes the couple to fight back.

“How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” — Oct. 3

Simon Pegg plays a disillusioned intellectual who simultaneously loves and loathes the celebrity world. He uses his fashion magazine, “Post Modern Review,” to poke fun at celebs and the media who fawn over them. When he’s offered a job at the conservative “Sharps” magazine in New York, however, it causes his perspective to change. Anyone who is a fan of Pegg (“Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead”) knows he has a strange sense of humor that’s invigorating. In a more serious role, it should be interesting to see how his character pans out. In addition to Pegg, “How to Lose Friends & Alienate People” also features other big-name actors: Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst and Megan Fox.

“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” — Oct. 24

Disney is releasing the third part of the “High School Musical” trilogy on to the big screen. The previous two were straight-to-television movies. I have a feeling they’re going to be banking on this successful series. Filmed at East High School in Salt Lake City a few months ago, this may be the biggest of the three films and definitely the most profitable. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale reprise their roles as high school students who come together with a love of musical theater. Through the other two movies Troy Bolton (Efron) and Gabriella Montez (Hudgens) have developed a relationship and now with graduation approaching, they are struggling with going to different colleges. Of course, musical numbers will be interspersed with Disney-feeling dialogue and a big musical at the end sums up their years in high school.

“Twilight” — Nov. 21

Stephenie Meyer’s popular teenage novels about vampires will come to life on the big screen beginning with “Twilight” just in time for Thanksgiving. This date was originally slotted for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” which is now scheduled to open July 17, 2009. Kristen Stewart plays the mortal Bella Swan who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson), when she moves to a small town in Washington. The film follows the two of them around as they explore their newfound teenage love.

“Australia” — Nov. 26

The latest from Baz Luhrmann’s crazy, but brilliant, mind is the big-budget pre-World War II epic “Australia.” Nicole Kidman returns in another of Luhrmann’s films joined by fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman. Considering each of Luhrmann’s previous films had a distinct tone — music with “Moulin Rouge,” language with “Romeo + Juliet” and dancing with “Strictly Ballroom” — I wonder how “Australia will continue this pattern. Set in northern Australia, Lady Sarah Ashley (Kidman) inherits a huge cattle station and when her land is planned to be swiped from under her, The Drover (Jackman) helps heard the cattle out of the area. Unfortunately, they face the same bombings Pearl Harbor faced a few months earlier.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — Dec. 25

I doubt any other fall movie could have as many big names in it as “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” including Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. This movie is the latest from the twisted mind of David Fincher (“Fight Club”) as a director and Eric Roth (“Munich”) as a writer. Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pitt plays Benjamin Button, who physically ages backward. When he turns 50 years old, he falls in love with a 30-year-old woman (Blanchett). As they explore their love, they must come to terms with their age differences. How they’ll get Pitt to look like he’s in his 20s, I don’t know, but I’m very curious to find out.

missy@tooeletranscript.com