Holiday Movie Scorecard 2017

Critics Consensus: A thoroughly unfunny misfire, Just Getting Started manages the incredible feat of wasting more than a century of combined acting experience from its three talented leads.

Synopsis: Duke Diver is living the high life as the freewheeling manager of a luxurious resort in Palm Springs, Calif. He soon faces competition from Leo,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, Rene Russo, Joe Pantoliano

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Critics Consensus: A formulaic comedy that's unlikely to spread much yuletide merriment, Daddy's Home 2 can only muster a few stray yuks from its talented cast.

Synopsis: Father and stepfather Dusty and Brad join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children. Their newfound partnership soon gets put to the test when... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, John Lithgow

Directed By: Sean Anders

Critics Consensus: Success has many fathers, but failure is Father Figures.

Synopsis: Brothers Kyle and Peter Reynolds were raised to believe that their dad died when they were young. They're shocked to discover that their mother lied... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Glenn Close, J.K. Simmons

Directed By: Lawrence Sher

Critics Consensus: Featuring twice the moms but roughly half the laughs, A Bad Moms Christmas is a slapdash holiday sequel that falls short of the original with a disappointing dearth of good cheer.

Synopsis: Under-appreciated and overburdened moms Amy, Kiki and Carla rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. As if creating the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Cheryl Hines

Directed By: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Critics Consensus: Pitch Perfect 3 strains to recapture the magic that helped the original spawn a franchise, but ends up sending this increasingly unnecessary trilogy out on a low note.

Synopsis: After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Rebel Wilson, John Lithgow

Directed By: Trish Sie

Critics Consensus: Justice League leaps over a number of DC movies, but its single bound isn't enough to shed the murky aesthetic, thin characters, and chaotic action that continue to dog the franchise.

Synopsis: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists newfound ally Diana Prince to face an even greater... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot, Amy Adams

Directed By: Zack Snyder

Critics Consensus: The Star may not leave audiences singing "Hallelujah," but its offbeat yet sincere approach to the nativity story makes for acceptably diverting holiday viewing.

Synopsis: A small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day, he finds the courage... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steven Yeun, Keegan-Michael Key, Aidy Bryant, Gina Rodriguez

Directed By: Timothy Reckart

Critics Consensus: Intriguing yet heavy-handed, Roman J. Israel, Esq. makes the most of -- but never quite lives up to -- Denzel Washington's magnetic performance in the title role.

Synopsis: Roman J. Israel is an idealistic defense attorney whose life gets upended when his boss and mentor -- the legendary civil rights icon William Henry... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Lynda Gravatt

Directed By: Dan Gilroy

Critics Consensus: Downsizing assembles a talented cast in pursuit of some truly interesting ideas -- which may be enough for some audiences to forgive the final product's frustrating shortcomings.

Synopsis: Mild-mannered therapist Paul Safranek and his wife, Audrey, decide to undergo a process in which scientists shrink people down to miniature size to live in... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Kristen Wiig, Hong Chau

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Critics Consensus: LBJ loses sight of its complicated subject, ignoring the more intriguing aspects of his personality and career in favor of a frustratingly ordinary biopic treatment.

Synopsis: Lyndon Johnson goes from being a powerful Senate majority leader to a powerless vice president before he becomes the President of the United States following... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bill Pullman

Directed By: Rob Reiner

Critics Consensus: The Greatest Showman tries hard to dazzle the audience with a Barnum-style sense of wonder -- but at the expense of its complex subject's far more intriguing real-life story.

Synopsis: Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12. After trying his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson

Directed By: Michael Gracey

Critics Consensus: Stylish production and an all-star ensemble keep this Murder on the Orient Express from running off the rails, even if it never quite builds up to its classic predecessor's illustrious head of steam.

Synopsis: A lavish trip through Europe quickly unfolds into a race against time to solve a murder aboard a train. When an avalanche stops the Orient... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Critics Consensus: Ferdinand's colorful update on a classic tale doesn't go anywhere unexpected, but its timeless themes -- and John Cena's engaging voice work in the title role -- make for family-friendly fun.

Synopsis: Ferdinand is a young bull who escapes from a training camp in rural Spain after his father never returns from a showdown with a matador.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Gina Rodriguez, Daveed Diggs

Directed By: Carlos Saldanha

Critics Consensus: Last Flag Flying balances raw drama against refreshing moments of humor in an impeccably cast film that wrestles with questions of patriotism, family, and grief.

Synopsis: Thirty years after serving together in the Vietnam War, Larry "Doc" Shepherd, Sal Nealon and the Rev. Richard Mueller reunite for a different type of... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, Laurence Fishburne, Cicely Tyson

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Critics Consensus: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle uses a charming cast and a humorous twist to offer an undemanding yet solidly entertaining update on its source material.

Synopsis: Four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose.... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Critics Consensus: All the Money in the World offers an absorbing portrayal of a true story, brought compellingly to life by a powerful performance from Christopher Plummer.

Synopsis: In 1973, kidnappers demand $17 million from billionaire J. Paul Getty in exchange for his grandson's release. Getty refuses to pay the perpetrators a single... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Critics Consensus: The Man Who Invented Christmas adds holiday magic to the writing of A Christmas Carol, putting a sweetly revisionist spin on the story behind a classic yuletide tale.

Synopsis: In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Justin Edwards

Directed By: Bharat Nalluri

Critics Consensus: Powered by an intriguing story and a pair of outstanding performances from Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, Molly's Game marks a solid debut for writer-director Aaron Sorkin.

Synopsis: The true story of Molly Bloom, a beautiful, young, Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Michael Cera, Kevin Costner

Directed By: Aaron Sorkin

Critics Consensus: Darkest Hour is held together by Gary Oldman's electrifying performance, which brings Winston Churchill to life even when the movie's narrative falters.

Synopsis: The fate of Western Europe hangs on Winston Churchill in the early days of World War II. The newly appointed British prime minister must decide... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, Lily James

Directed By: Joe Wright

Critics Consensus: The Post's period setting belies its bitingly timely themes, brought compellingly to life by director Steven Spielberg and an outstanding ensemble cast.

Synopsis: Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper -- The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Critics Consensus: Wonder doesn't shy away from its bestselling source material's sentiment, but this well-acted and overall winsome drama earns its tugs at the heartstrings.

Synopsis: Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie Pullman becomes the most unlikely of heroes... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Izabela Vidovic

Directed By: Stephen Chbosky

Critics Consensus: Led by strong work from Margot Robbie and Alison Janney, I, Tonya finds the humor in its real-life story without losing sight of its more tragic -- and emotionally resonant -- elements.

Synopsis: In 1991, talented figure skater Tonya Harding becomes the first American woman to complete a triple axel during a competition. In 1994, her world comes... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

Critics Consensus: Phantom Thread's finely woven narrative is filled out nicely by humor, intoxicating romantic tension, and yet another impressively committed performance from Daniel Day-Lewis.

Synopsis: Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock and his sister Cyril are at the center of British fashion in 1950s London -- dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville, Camilla Rutherford

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson

Critics Consensus: Star Wars: The Last Jedi honors the saga's rich legacy while adding some surprising twists -- and delivering all the emotion-rich action fans could hope for.

Synopsis: Luke Skywalker's peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of the Force. Her desire to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley

Directed By: Rian Johnson

Critics Consensus: Oh, hai Mark. The Disaster Artist is a surprisingly poignant and charming movie-about-a-movie that explores the creative process with unexpected delicacy.

Synopsis: The incredible true story of aspiring filmmaker and Hollywood outsider Tommy Wiseau as he and his best friend defiantly pursue their dreams and embark on... View Full Synopsis

Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron

Directed By: James Franco

Critics Consensus: Exciting, funny, and above all fun, Thor: Ragnarok is a colorful cosmic adventure that sets a new standard for its franchise -- and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Synopsis: Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against the Hulk, his... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Critics Consensus: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri deftly balances black comedy against searing drama -- and draws unforgettable performances from its veteran cast along the way.

Synopsis: After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Lucas Hedges

Directed By: Martin McDonagh

Critics Consensus: The Shape of Water finds Guillermo del Toro at his visually distinctive best -- and matched by an emotionally absorbing story brought to life by a stellar Sally Hawkins performance.

Synopsis: Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer

Directed By: Guillermo del Toro

Critics Consensus: Call Me by Your Name offers a melancholy, powerfully affecting portrait of first love, empathetically acted by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.

Synopsis: It's the summer of 1983, and precocious 17-year-old Elio Perlman is spending the days with his family at their 17th-century villa in Lombardy, Italy. He... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

Critics Consensus: Coco's rich visual pleasures are matched by a thoughtful narrative that takes a family-friendly -- and deeply affecting -- approach to questions of culture, family, life, and death.

Synopsis: Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

Critics Consensus: Lady Bird delivers fresh insights about the turmoil of adolescence -- and reveals writer-director Greta Gerwig as a fully formed filmmaking talent.

Synopsis: A teenager (Saoirse Ronan) navigates a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother (Laurie Metcalf) over the course of an eventful and poignant senior... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges

Directed By: Greta Gerwig