Get into the viewing spirit
The 2016 Holiday Movie Preview is a snapshot of films opening through early January. Release dates and other details are subject to change. Compiled by Kevin Crust.
Friday Almost Christmas
In the spirit of the holiday, a family patriarch asks his family to get along for five days. With Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, Danny Glover, Romany Malco, Mo’Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, J.B. Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Jessie Usher and DC Young Fly. Written and directed by David E. Talbert. Universal Pictures
Arrival
Amy Adams stars as an expert linguist who leads a team attempting to communicate with an alien spacecraft as the world teeters on the brink of war. With Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker. Written By Eric Heisserer. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Paramount Pictures
Beauty Bites Beast
Female empowerment through self-defense is explored in this documentary. Directed by Ellen Snortland. Providence Entertainment / El Halev
Behind Bayonets and Barbed Wire
Documentary on American POWs in World War II, who were captured by the Japanese Army in the Philippines and sent to work as slave labor in Manchuria. Directed by Richard L. Anderson, Shen Haofang. Trace Images / North United Film & Television Ltd.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
A U.S. war hero, returned from Iraq, remembers the horror and brutality that led him to be honored during a football game. With Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund, Vin Diesel, Steve Martin. Written by JeanChristophe Castelli, based on the novel by Ben Fountain. Directed by Ang Lee. Tristar Pictures
Don’t Call Me Son
An androgynous Brazilian teen is reluctantly returned to his birth family after he learns the woman who raised him stole him when he was a baby. With Dani Nefussi, Naomi Nero. Written and directed by Anna Muylaert. Zeitgeist Films
The Drama Club
High school thespians reunite 20 years later. With Dane Bowman, Chelsea Brandt, Chris Ciccarelli. Written and directed by Joe McClean. Ginger Beard Films / Lakeview Pictures
Dreamland
A struggling L.A. musician takes a gig at a swanky bar where he meets an older, wealthy femme fatale and begins a life altering affair. With Johnny Simmons, Amy Landecker, Jason Schwartzman. Written and directed by Robert Schwartzman. Orion Pictures / Gun Powder & Sky
Esteros
Teen boys become lovers, but circumstances force one to reject his friend until they are reunited years later. With Ignacio Rogers, Esteban Masturini, Joaquin Parada. Written by Andi Nachon. Directed by Papu Curotto. Breaking Glass Pictures
Hara Kiri
Two skate kids decide how they want to spend and end their last day on Earth. With Ruth Connell, Mojean Aria, Jamie Nocher. Written and directed by Henry Alberto. Breaking Glass Pictures
Ice Guardians
Documentary on the National Hockey League’s ultimate tough guys, the enforcers. Featuring Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, Clark Gillies, Dave Semenko. Written by Brett Harvey and Scott Dodds. Directed by Harvey. Upstream Flix
Iron Moon
Five Chinese workers write poetry to express themselves in this documentary. Directed by Qin Xiaoyu, Wu Feiyue. Medoc / Shangai Eternity
Ivory. A Crime Story
Investigative documentary on the massacre of African elephants. Written and directed by Sergey Yastrzhembsky. New World Cinemas
Lazy Eye
A gay graphic designer deals with vision problems and the reappearance of a former lover. With Lucas Ner-Verbugghe, Aaron Costa Ganis, Michaela Watkins. Written and directed by Tim Kirkman. Breaking Glass Pictures
The Love Witch
The powerful spells of a beautiful, groovy young witch are too much for the lovelorn saps who are pursuing her amid a murder investigation. With Samantha Robinson, Gian Keys, Laura Waddell. Written and directed by Anna Biller. Oscilloscope Laboratories
The Monster
A young divorced mother and her daughter are stranded after a collision on a dark and stormy night and soon learn they are not alone. With Zoe Kazan, Ella Ballentine, Scott Speedman. Written and directed by Bryan Bertino. A24
No Pay, Nudity
Gabriel Byrne plays a veteran actor trying to get his groove back. With Frances Conroy and Nathan Lane. Written by Ethan Sandler. Directed by Lee Wilkof. Monterey Media
Rainbow Time
A man and his girlfriend deal with his older, mentally challenged brother — a sexually curious 40-year-old virgin. With Melanie Lynskey, Linas Phillips, Timm Sharp. Written and directed by Phillips. The Orchard
Shut In
A child psychologist believes she and her son are being haunted by the spirit of a patient who disappeared. With Naomi Watts, Oliver Platt, David Cubitt, Jacob Tremblay. Written by Christina Hodson. Directed by Farren Blackburn. Europacorp
The Trans List
Trans author and advocate Janet Mock examines the experiences of Americans who identify as transgender. Featuring Kylar Broadus, Caitlyn Jenner, Laverne Cox. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. HBO Documentary Films
USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage
The dramatic story of American sailors shipwrecked in shark-infested waters near the end of World War II. With Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, James Remar. Written by Cam Cannon, Richard Rionda Del Castro. Directed by Mario Van Peebles. Lionsgate / Saban Films
Nov. 16 Elle
Isabelle Huppert plays the ruthless head of a video game company who is attacked in her home and drawn into a different type of game. With Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny. Written by David Birke, based on the novel “Oh…” by Philippe Djian. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Sony Pictures Classics
Hunter Gatherer
Newly released from prison, a young man makes a fresh start but still hopes to win back his true love. With Andre Royo, George Sample III, Kellee Stewart, Ashley Wilkerson. Written and directed by Josh Locy. The Orchard
Nov. 18 Ali and Nino
The love between a Muslim man and a Christian woman in Azerbaijan is tested by cultural differences and the arrival of World War I. With Adam Bakri, Maria Valverde, Mandy Patinkin, Connie Nielsen. Written by Christopher Hampton, based on a novel by Kurban Said. Directed by Asif Kapadia. IFC Films
The Anthropologist
Documentary examines climate change from the perspective of American teenager Katie Crate, who for five years accompanies her mother, Susie, an anthropologist studying the impact of climate change on indigenous communities. Directed by Seth Kramer, Daniel A. Miller, and Jeremy Newberger. Argot Pictures
Asperger’s Are Us
Four friends on the Asperger’s spectrum perform as a comedy troupe and prepare to go their own ways in this coming-of-age documentary. Written and directed by Alex Lehmann. Duplass Brothers Productions
Bleed for This
Miles Teller stars as Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza, a boxer who suffered a death-defying car accident that severed his spine, only to battle back and reclaim his world title with the help of trainer Kevin Rooney. With Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal. Written by Ben Younger; story by Younger & Pippa Blanco and Angelo Pizzo. Directed by Younger. Open Road Films
Blood on the Mountain
The economic and environmental injustices faced by the people of West Virginia are explored in this documentary. Directed by MariLynn Evans and Jordan Freeman. Abramorama
Disturbing the Peace
Former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters join together as nonviolent peace activists in this documentary. Featuring Combatants for Peace. Directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young. Abramorama
The Edge of Seventeen
Adolescence gets worse for a teenage girl when her impossibly perfect older brother starts dating her best friend. With Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Haley Lu Richardson. Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. STX Entertainment
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Eddie Redmayne stars as Magizoologist Newt Scamander, whose misadventures in New York City include the escape of recently collected creatures. With Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman, Carmen Ejogo and Colin Farrell. Written by J.K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates. Warner Bros.
I Am Not Madame Bovary
A married Chinese couple’s attempt to secure a second apartment through subterfuge leads to a falling-out and a lengthy string of court battles. With Fan Bingbing, Guo Tao, Da Peng. Written by Liu Zhenyun, based on her novel “I Did Not Kill My Husband.” Directed by Feng Xiaogang. Well Go USA Entertainment
Life on the Line
Electrical linemen risk their lives to keep the grid running as a raging storm bears down on their Texas town. With John Travolta, Kate Bosworth, Devon Sawa, Sharon Stone. Written by Primo Brown, Marvin Peart, Peter I. Horton. Directed by David Hackl. Lionsgate Premiere
Manchester By the Sea
Casey Affleck plays a Boston janitor with a tragic past who returns to his hometown to care for his teenage nephew after his older brother dies. With Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, Gretchen Mol, C.J. Wilson. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. Amazon Studios / Roadside Attractions
Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing
Documentary covers the April 2013 terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon from the events of that day through the death penalty sentencing of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg. Produced in association with the Boston Globe. HBO Documentary Films
National Bird
Three U.S. military veterans blow the whistle on America’s secret drone war in which attacks are carried out remotely in foreign countries. Directed by Sonia Kennebeck. FilmRise
Nobody Walks in L.A.
At crossroads in their respective lives, two longtime friends hit the streets of Los Angeles. With Kim Shaw and Adam Shapiro. Written and directed by Jesse Shapiro. Indie Rights
Nocturnal Animals
A divorced couple whose relationship takes a dark turn after he writes a novel. With Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney, Michael Sheen. Written and directed by Tom Ford, based on the novel “Tony and Susan” by Austin Wright. Focus Features
The Red Turtle
Stranded on an island with turtles, crabs and birds, a man experiences the milestones of being human in this silent animated film. Directed by Michael Dudok de Wit. Sony Pictures Classics
The Take
A CIA agent uses an American pickpocket in Paris to uncover a large-scale conspiracy. With Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon. Written by Andrew Baldwin and James Watkins. Directed by Watkins. High Top Releasing
Nov. 23 Allied
Brad Pitt stars as a World War II intelligence officer romantically involved with French Resistance fighter Marion Cotillard. With Jared Harris, Simon McBurney, Lizzy Caplan. Written By Steven Knight. Directed By Robert Zemeckis. Paramount Pictures
Bad Santa 2
Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox reunite as they attempt to rob a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve. With Kathy Bates, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly. Written by Johnny Rosenthal and Shauna Cross, based on characters by Glenn Ficarra & John Requa. Directed by Mark Waters. Broad Green Films
Moana
A teenage Pacific Islander sets out to sea to save her people, guided by the
demigod Maui in this animated adventure. Voices by Auli‘i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk. Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker. Featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa‘i. Walt Disney Pictures
Rules Don’t Apply
A rising actress and an ambitious driver pursue a verboten relationship in Howard Hughes’ Hollywood of 1958. With Alec Baldwin, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Haley Bennett, Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, Lily Collins, Steve Coogan, Alden Ehrenreich, Taissa Farmiga, Ed Harris, Megan Hilty, Oliver Platt and Martin Sheen. Written and directed by Beatty, story by Beatty and Bo Goldman. 20th Century Fox
Nov. 25 Baden Baden
A young French woman impulsively quits her job, takes up with an ex and attempts to make over her grandmother’s bathroom. With Salomé Richard. Written and directed by Rachel Lang. Mubi
Evolution
Eerie allegorical French tale about an island where boys are raised by women and the biological imperative has taken a transformative turn. With Max Brebant, Roxane Duran, Julie-Marie Parmentier. Written by Lucile Hadzihalilovic, Alante Kavaite. Directed by Hadzihalilovic. IFC Midnight
Lion
Twenty-five years after being adopted by an Australian family, a young Indian man sets out to find the family he was separated from when he took a wrong train as a 5-year-old. With Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman, Sunny Pawar. Written by Luke Davies, based on the memoir “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley. Directed by Garth Davis. Weinstein Co.
Magnus
Norwegian chess champion Magnus Carlsen is profiled in this documentary. Featuring Garry Kasparov. Directed by Benjamin Ree. FilmRise
Miss Sloane
Jessica Chastain stars as a shrewd D.C. lobbyist facing a powerful adversary. With Mark Strong, Gugu MbathaRaw, Alison Pill, Michael Stuhlbarg. Written by Jonathan Perera. Directed by John Madden. Europacorp
Notes on Blindness
Expanding on the Emmywinning short of the same title, this documentary uses audio recordings made by writer and theologian John Hull, chronicling his loss of sight. Directed by Peter Middleton and James Spinney. Bond/360
On the Map
Documentary on the improbable run of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s basketball team to win the 1977 European Cup. Featuring Michael Oren, Natan Sharansky. Directed by Dani Menkin. Hey Jude Productions
Seasons
Filmmakers Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud explore the evolution of the lush green forests that emerged across Europe after the last Ice Age. Written by Perrin, Cluzaud, Stephane Durand. Music Box Films
Tank 432
A group of soldiers and their hostages take refuge in a military assault vehicle but soon find themselves trapped and terrified. With Rupert Evans, Michael Smiley, April Pearson. Written and directed by Nick Gillespie. IFC Midnight
Dec. 2 Always Shine
Two friends, both actresses, retreat to Big Sur, where they assess the damage years of competition and betrayal has caused to their relationship. With Mackenzie Davis, Caitlin FitzGerald, Lawrence Michael Levine. Written by Levine. Directed by Sophia Takal. Oscilloscope Laboratories
Anonymous
When his family has financial trouble, a computer savvy teen turns to cyber crime and identify theft. Written by Sanzhar Sultan. Directed by Akan Satayev. With Callan McAuliffe, Lorraine Nicholson, Daniel Eric Gold and Clifton Collins Jr. Archstone Distribution
The Comedian
A former comedy star struggles to reinvent himself but finds inspiration in a woman he meets while doing community service after a confrontation with an audience member. With Robert De Niro, Leslie Mann, Cloris Leachman, Danny DeVito, Harvey Keitel, Edie Falco. Written by Art Linson, Jeff Ross, Richard Lagravenese, Lewis Friedman, story by Art Linson. Directed by Taylor Hackford. Sony Pictures Classics
Evan’s Crime
When a young man sent to prison on bogus drug charges is released, he must decide whether to seek revenge on the overzealous district attorney who prosecuted him. With Douglas Smith, David Arquette, Annika Noelle. Written by David Assael, Dale Rosenbloom, Sandy Tung. Directed by Tung. Gunpowder & Sky Distribution
The Eyes of My Mother
A young Portuguese-American girl witnesses a horrific event that gradually unleashes a dark curiosity within her. With Kika Magalhaes, Will Brill, Clara Wong. Written and directed by Nicolas Pesce. Magnet Releasing
Incarnate
A scientist uses his subconscious powers to rescue a young boy possessed by a powerful demon. With Aaron Eckhart, Carice Van Houten, Catalina Sandino Moreno. Written by Ronnie Christensen. Directed by Brad Peyton. BH Tilt
Kidnap
Halle Berry stars as a mother intent on rescuing her kidnapped son. With Sage Correa, Chris McGinn, Lew Temple. Written by Knate Gwaltney. Directed by Luis Prieto. Relativity Media
Man Down
A Marine veteran returns from Afghanistan and searches for his estranged wife and son. With Shia LaBeouf, Jai Courtney, Kate Mara, Clifton Collins, Charlie Shotwell, Gary Oldman. Written by Adam Simon. Directed by Dito Montiel. Lionsgate Premiere
Mifune
Documentary on Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune and his extraordinary collaboration with director Akira Kurosawa. Narrated by Keanu Reeves. Featuring Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Takeshi Kato. Written by Steven Okazaki and Stuart Galbraith IV. Directed by Okazaki. Strand Releasing
Pet
An animal shelter worker takes his interest in a young woman to extremes. With Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, Jennette McCurdy. Written by Jeremy Slater. Directed by Carles Torrens. Orion Pictures / Samuel Goldwyn Films
Pocket Listing
A desperate real estate agent is offered a chance to quickly sell a Malibu villa belonging to a seductive woman and her shady oil tycoon husband. With James Jurdi, Jessica Clark, Burt Reynolds, Rob Lowe. Written by Jurdi. Directed by Conor Allyn. Momentum Pictures
Run the Tide
A young man takes his younger brother on the run to escape their drug addict mother. With Taylor Lautner, Constance Zimmer, Kenny Johnson. Written by Rajiv Shah. Directed by Soham Mehta. Momentum Pictures
Sins of Our Youth
Four teenagers accidentally kill a younger boy while recklessly firing assualt rifles. With Lucas Till, Joel Courtney, Michael Musso, Ally Sheedy. Written by Edmund Entin. Directed by Gary Entin. Breaking Glass Pictures
Siren
A young man’s attempt to rescue a seemingly innocent young girl from a supernatural sex club during his bachelor party leaves him as prey for a fabled predator. With Chase Williamson, Justin Welborn, Michael Aaron Milligan. Written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, based on a short by David Bruckner. Directed by Gregg Bishop. Chiller Films
Things to Come
A philosophy professor faces a new life after her husband leaves her and the death of her difficult mother. With Isabelle Huppert, André Marcon, Edith Scob. Written and directed by Mia HansenLøve. Sundance Selects
Dec. 9 Abattoir
After a family tragedy, an investigative reporter discovers a mysterious man who buys houses where murders have occurred for unimaginable purposes. With Jessica Lowndes, Joe Anderson, Lin Shaye. Written by Christopher Monfette. Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Momentum Pictures
All We Had
A struggling young mother and her teenage daughter find refuge and a new life in a small town. With Katie Holmes, Stefania Owen, Luke Wilson, Richard Kind, Eve Lindley. Directed by Holmes. Written by Josh Boone, Jill Killington, based on a novel by Annie Weatherwax. Gravitas Ventures
Best and Most Beautiful Things
A blind 20-year-old Maine woman on the autism spectrum seeks community, romance and empowerment in this documentary. Featuring Michelle Smith. Directed by Garrett Zevgetis. First Run Features
Beyond the Gates
While liquidating the contents of their father’s video store, two brothers discover a lethal VCR board game that may hold clues to his disappearance. With Barbara Crampton, Brea Grant, Ryan Kunert. Written by Stephen Scarlata, Jackson Stewart. Directed by Stewart. IFC Midnight
Brand New Testament
The 10-year-old daughter of