‘Star Wars’ leads the holiday movie parade
Ladies and gentlemen, fire up your light sabers. In case you haven’t heard or haven’t been in a big-box store lately, a new “Star Wars” movie, No. 7 called “The Force Awakens,” will be released Dec. 18.
While this latest installment of the epic space opera will be a box office blockbuster for the record books, there are other major releases coming out during the holidays — both awards contenders and crowd pleasers.
Dates are subject to change and reflect the latest information from studios regarding St. Louis area releases.
THE BIG DEALS
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Who: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Gwendoline Christie; directed by J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek”).
What: The first of a new “Star Wars” trilogy, nearly 30 years after “The Return of the Jedi,” and 10 years after the third prequel “Revenge of the Sith,” this seventh overall is the most anticipated movie of the decade.
Han Solo flies the Millennium Falcon again, with Chewbacca at his side, Princess Leia is back, only this time called General, and Luke Skywalker remains a mystery in the trailers and buzz. A new robot named BB-8 appears, C-3PO returns, and there are many new characters and power struggles to command our attention in a galaxy far, far away.
When: Dec. 18
“The Big Short”
Who: Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Steve Carell, Marisa Tomei, Melissa Leo, and Finn Wittrock; directed by Adam McKay (“Anchorman 2”).
What: The 2008 mortgage crisis, based on Michael Lewis’ book, as seen through the eyes of four guys who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse. They decide to take on the banks.
When: Dec. 23
“The Hateful Eight”
Who: Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Damien Bichir, Zoe Bell; directed by Quentin Tarantino (“Pulp Fiction”).
What: Filmed in super-Panavision, the eighth movie from Tarantino is three hours long and set in latter 19th century Wyoming. Bounty hunters seek shelter in a blizzard in Wyoming, but there is betrayal and deception to deal with, in addition to harsh weather, so it becomes a quest for survival.
When: Jan. 8
LEADING LADIES
“Joy”
Who: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Diane Lane, Virginia Madsen, Isabella Rossellini and Donna Mills; directed by David O. Russell (“The Silver Linings Playbook”).
What: Stars Lawrence, Cooper and De Niro reunite after Russell’s “The Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Hustle.” The story of a woman who becomes founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty, this spans 30 years and four generations in a family.
When: Dec. 25
“Carol”
Who: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Jake Lacy and Sarah Paulson; directed by Todd Haynes (“Far from Heaven”).
What: Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel “The Price of Salt,” this unexpected love affair between an affluent older woman and a department store clerk is set in 1952. As Carol tries to free herself from a loveless marriage, her husband questions her competence as a mother and her other close relationships.
When: Dec. 25
“45 Years”
Who: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtney and Geraldine James; directed by Alexander Haigh (“Weekend”).
What: A week before their 45th wedding anniversary, a couple receives a letter that could change their lives.
When: Jan. 29
“The Lady in the Van”
Who: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Dominic Cooper, James Corden and Jim Broadbent; directed by Nicholas Hytner (“The History Boys”).
What: Playwright Alan Bennett adapted his real-life story first for stage and now on screen. A women who lived in her vehicle parked in his driveway, and stayed for years. Truth sometimes is stranger than fiction.
When: TBD
A DIFFERENT VIEW
“Chi-Raq”
Who: Nick Cannon, Teyonah Parris, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson and Wesley Snipes; directed by Spike Lee (“Do the Right Thing”).
What: Gang violence in Chicago is the focus of this adaptation of the ancient Greek play, “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes. Women create a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex and violence in America as well as around the world.
When: Dec. 4
“Youth”
Who: Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda and Paul Dano; directed by Paulo Sorrentino (“The Great Beauty”).
What: Life and death, friendship and loneliness, young and old: “Youth” addresses relationships. Two friends, one a retired composer and conductor, and the other a filmmaker working on what he thinks is his last important film, are vacationing together in the Alps. They look at their children’s unfulfilled lives. An invitation arrives to the conductor to be part of a British royal’s celebration.
When: Dec. 18
“Anomalisa”
Who: (Voices) David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan; directed by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (“Being John Malkovich”) and St. Louisan Duke Johnson.
What: A stop-motion animated film with a mature adult storyline. An unhappily married customer service specialist, in Cincinnati for a presentation, is going through a midlife crisis. He tries smoothing things over with a former girlfriend and meets a woman he wants to get to know better, all the while questioning the meaning of life.
When: Jan. 15
THE UNTOLD STORY
“In the Heart of the Sea”
Who: Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Tom Holland and Brendan Gleeson; directed by Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”).
What: A New England whaling ship, Essex, encounters a sperm whale of mammoth size, and is stranded at sea for 90 days, far from home. This real-life maritime disaster inspired Herman Mehlville to write “Moby Dick,” but that’s not the whole story.
When: Dec. 11
“The Danish Girl”
Who: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Matthias Schoenaerts and Ben Whishaw; directed by Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”).
What: A true story set in Copenhagen in the 1920s, artists Einer and Gerda Wegener face crisis in their marriage when Einer finds himself more at ease in woman’s clothing and slipping into a female role. Calling himself Lili Elbe, he becomes a transgender pioneer.
When: Dec. 18
“Concussion”
Who: Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks, Luke Wilson, David Morse and Stephen Moyer; directed by Peter Landesman (“Parkland”).
What: Forensic neuropathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu discovers that a degenerative brain disease in football players can be traced to repeated blows to the head. In this true story, the National Football League tries to discredit the doctor and his wife.
When: Dec. 25
“The Revenant”
Who: Leonardo di Caprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Lukas Haas and Will Poulter; directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu (“Birdman”).
What: Based on true events, this adventure illustrates the power of the human spirit. Explorer Hugh Glass is attacked by a bear and left for dead by his hunting team. He navigates a brutal winter to survive and find redemption, in the wake of betrayal by his friend John Fitzgerald and grief.
When: Jan. 8
FUNNY PEOPLE
“Krampus”
Who: Toni Colette, Adam Scott, Allison Tolman, David Koechner, Conchata Ferrell and Emjay Anthony; directed by Michael Dougherty (“Superman Returns”).
What: Based on the ancient legend, “Krampus” is a comedy-horror-fantasy film set during Christmas. A young boy, unhappy with his bad holiday, accidentally summons a demon to his home.
When: Dec. 4
“Sisters”
Who: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, John Cena, James Brolin, Heather Matarazzo, Maya Rudolph, Dianne Wiest, Kate McKinnon and John Leguizamo; directed by Jason Moore (“Pitch Perfect”).
What: Two adult sisters decide to throw a big bash after they found out their parents are selling their childhood home.
When: Dec. 18.
“Daddy’s Home”
Who: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cartellini and Thomas Hayden Church; directed by Sean Anders (“We’re the Millers”).
What: It’s dad vs. stepdad in this comedy that reunites Ferrell and Wahlberg, who made “The Other Guys” in 2010. A mild-mannered radio executive wants to be a good stepfather to his wife’s two children, but when their free spirit father arrives, he must compete for the kids’ affection.
When: Dec. 25
ANOTHER GO-ROUND
“Macbeth”
Who: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, David Thewlis, Elizabeth Debicki and Sean Harris; directed by Justin Kurzel.
What: A new interpretation of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, set in 11th century Scotland, focuses on the ambitions of the man who wants to be king and the lady who helps make it happen. Be careful what you wish for, they soon find out.
When: Dec. 11
“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”
Who: (Voices) Jason Lee, Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, Matthew Gray Gubler, Christina Applegate, Anna Faris, Kaley Cuoco, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Tony Hale; directed by Walt Becker.
What: The fourth animated big-screen adventure from the singing trio involves a series of misunderstandings. They believe manager Dave is going to dump them after proposing to his new girlfriend in Miami. They have three days to get there to stop the proposal.
When: Dec. 18
“Point Break”
Who: Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Delroy Lindo, James Le Gros and Ray Winstone; directed by Ericson Core (“Invincible”).
What: A remake of the 1991 adrenaline-junkie crime thriller. FBI agent Johnny Utah infiltrates a group of extreme sport enthusiasts, led by Bodhi, believed to be robbing banks to fund their adventures.
When: Dec. 23
This story was originally published November 29, 2015 at 2:32 PM with the headline "‘Star Wars’ leads the holiday movie parade."