To push the button, or not? That is the question in The Box. © Warner Bros.

Between the summer blockbusters and the holiday movie tentpoles, comes the films of the fall. While many studios focus on vfx light Oscar nominees, it does not mean there is a lack of visual effects spectacle coming to theaters between September and Thanksgiving. So without further ado, here are our top 10 fall picks:

10) The Box (Warner Bros., Nov. 6)
Richard Kelly's horror thriller finds Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as a couple presented with a twisted gift. Inside a box is a button, if they choose to push it they will receive $1 million, but as a result a stranger will die somewhere in the world. Providing vfx for this Twilight Zone-like tale are Pixel Liberation Front, Gradient Effects and Quantum Creation FX. Thomas Tannenberger, who worked on Kelly's previous film Southland Tales, is returning to work with the director as the visual effects supervisor. The trailer boasts some quick flashes of the gruesome scarring work done for the film's mysterious Mephistopheles character, played by last year's Oscar nominee Frank Langella.

Gamer puts kids in control of real humans. © Lionsgate.

9) Gamer (Lionsgate, Sept. 4)
Furious FX, LookFX and yU+co are among the vfx houses that worked on the sci-fi actioner Gamer. Set in a world where game players can control real humans, Gerard Butler plays the best fighter around who becomes hell bent on stopping the billionaire who pulls the strings, played by Michael C. Hall. Visual effects highlights include the technology of the players controlling the humans, along with lots of explosions and warfare. But, hey, it's all just a game, right?

Crashing planes are one of the many hazards in Whiteout. © Warner Bros.

8) Whiteout (Warner Bros., Sept. 11)
Antarctica is a prime location for visual effects work. Kate Beckinsale plays a U.S. marshal investigating the continent's first murder. Hybride Technologies, Mr. X, Invisible Pictures and Anibrain are among the visual effects houses providing blizzards, storms and additional snowy mayhem. VFX Supervisor Dennis Berardi of Mr. X will have a busy fall film lineup of his own, having supervised the effects on Love Happens and produced the vfx for Amelia.