Holiday Movie Calendar 2017

Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn reprise their roles in this follow-up to the 2016 comedy, as the trio of bad moms deal not only with trying to plan the perfect Christmas for their families, but also with their own mothers.

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

Directed By: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, and Cate Blanchett star in Taika Waititi’s uproarious entry in the MCU, which follows the God of Thunder as he forms an unlikely team to take on a powerful villain bent on the destruction of Asgard.

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

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf star in Greta Gerwig’s first directorial effort, a drama about the relationship between a teenager and her nurse mother, who is forced to support the family when her father loses his job. The film is already Certified Fresh, and critics call it a triumphant debut for Gerwig.

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

Directed By: Greta Gerwig

Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne star in Richard Linklater’s (Boyhood) drama about a trio of Vietnam veterans who reunite when one of them loses a Marine son stationed in Iraq.

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

Directed By: Richard Linklater

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell may have successfully squashed their feud in 2015’s Daddy’s Home, but when their equally mismatched fathers come to visit for the holidays, a new rivalry heats up.

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

Directed By: Sean Anders

Kenneth Branagh stars in this remake of Agatha Christie’s ensemble mystery as world-class detective Hercule Poirot, who must race to solve a murder aboard a European train packed with suspects. The impressive supporting cast includes Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, Daisy Ridley, Penélope Cruz, and more.

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

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson star in Martin McDonagh’s (In Bruges) dark comedy about a grieving woman feuding with the local police department she believes has done little to bring her daughter’s murderer to justice. The film has earned rave reviews so far, and looks to be another winer for McDonagh.

Starring: Frances McDormand, Caleb Landry Jones, Kerry Condon, Sam Rockwell

Directed By: Martin McDonagh

Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) band together in the absence of Superman (Henry Cavill) to stop a supernatural army wreaking havoc on Earth. After the success of Wonder Woman, Warner Bros. looks to satisfy fans looking forward to an epic team-up.

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

Directed By: Zack Snyder

Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, and Zachary Levi lend their voices to this animated tale of a donkey with big dreams who ends up playing a part in the birth of Jesus. Perfect for families looking for an uplifting faith-based movie to watch with the kids.

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

Directed By: Timothy Reckart

Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay star in Stephen Chbosky’s adaptation of the best-selling novel about a boy born with a facial deformity trying to fit in at a new school. Between this and The Star, families looking for inspirational entertainment should be set.

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

Directed By: Stephen Chbosky

Jason Clarke and Kate Mara star in this fact-based drama about the fatal car accident that upended the career of up-and-coming US Senator Ted Kennedy in 1969. Early reviews have been generally positive, but it remains to be seen if this will become an awards season hit.

Starring: Jason Clarke, Kate Mara, Ed Helms, Bruce Dern

Directed By: John Curran

Pixar’s latest follows the journey of young Miguel, who finds himself mysteriously wandering the Land of the Dead in his quest to become an accomplished musician, even though his family forbids it. Pixar has reliably produced critically acclaimed films for years, so odds are this will be another winner.

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

Directed By: Lee Unkrich

If you need a good scare this December, your best bet may be this supernatural thriller about a high schooler who finds a Polaroid camera that brings death to anyone it photographs.

Starring: Kathryn Prescott, Mitch Pileggi, Grace Zabriskie, Tyler Young

Directed By: Lars Klevberg

Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas star in Joe Wright’s historical drama about Winston Churchill’s leadership efforts during the early days of World War II. Oldman is already stirring up Best Actor conversations with his portrayal of Churchill, and early reviews say it’s a character drama worth watching.

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

Directed By: Joe Wright

Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer star in this period drama about Charles Dickens and the creation of his classic tale, A Christmas Carol.

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

Directed By: Bharat Nalluri

Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer star in this romantic drama about a sophisticated upper-crust teen living with his family in Italy who falls for the American scholar interning for his father.

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

Directed By: Luca Guadagnino

James and Dave Franco star in the former’s comedic drama, based on the book of the same name, about the making of The Room, a famously bad movie that developed a cult following.

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

Directed By: James Franco

Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake lead an ensemble cast in Woody Allen’s latest, set on Coney Island during the 1950s, about a quartet of characters whose lives intersect in passionate and violent ways.

Starring: Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, Jim Belushi

Directed By: Woody Allen

Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones, and Rene Russo star in this comedy about a resort manager and an ex-military man who duel for the affections of one of the resorts new residents.

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

Directed By: Ron Shelton

Sally Hawkins and Doug Jones star in Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi romance set during the Cold War about a mute woman who falls in love with the amphibious man held captive in the scientific facility where she works.

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

Directed By: Guillermo del Toro

Margot Robbie and Sebastian Stan star in this fact-based drama about figure skater Tonya Harding’s involvement in the assault on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan leading up to the 1994 Winter Olympics.

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

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

John Cena and Kate McKinnon star in this animated tale about a pacifist bull who is captured and forced to enter the bullfighting arena. This is by Blue Sky Studios, who did the Ice Age and Rio movies, so this should be a fine treat for the kiddies.

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

Directed By: Carlos Saldanha

It’s Star Wars. You probably already know what it’s about, generally speaking. Rey (Daisy Ridley) needs to be trained by Luke (Mark Hamill) in order to fight Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), while Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac) must reunite to lead the resistance. Face it, you’re probably gonna see it.

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

Directed By: Rian Johnson

Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig star in Alexander Payne’s high-concept comedy about a couple’s adventures after they choose to take advantage of new technology and be shrunk down to five inches tall.

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

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, and J.K. Simmons star in this comedy about two brothers who set out to find their father when they discover their mother has lied to them about his death.

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

Directed By: Lawrence Sher

Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and the Bellas reunite for an overseas USO tour after they’ve graduated from college and gone their separate ways.

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

Directed By: Trish Sie

Provocative filmmaker Michael Haneke’s (Cache, Amour) latest stars Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Louis Trintignant in another cryptic drama centering on a well-to-do family living in northern France, just outside a migrant community in Calais.

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mathieu Kassovitz, Fantine Harduin

Directed By: Michael Haneke

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep star in Steven Spielberg’s historical drama about the journalists who fought to declassify and publish the Pentagon Papers, detailing the history of the US’s involvement in Vietnam.

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

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan star in this adventure comedy about a group of teens who get sucked into a video game and must learn to work together to survive.

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

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams star in this musical biopic telling the story of P.T. Barnum, who founded the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

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

Directed By: Michael Gracey

Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba star in this drama based on true events about Molly Bloom, the woman who ran an exclusive poker game for celebrities until she was busted by the FBI for unwittingly entertaining the Russian mob.

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

Directed By: Aaron Sorkin

Daniel Day-Lewis stars in P.T. Andersons latest, a moody drama about the relationship between a famous fashion designer and a young woman who becomes his muse and lover. Day-Lewis has stated that he is retiring from acting, so this could very well be his final role.

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

Directed By: Paul Thomas Anderson