Holiday movie preview: Werewolves, vampires and lions ready to help spread the cheer
Save room for popcorn after Thanksgiving. With the highly anticipated release of “Wicked” and “Moana 2,” the holiday movie season is in full swing.
But there are many more coming. Here’s what else is on the holiday slate and their release dates:
December 6
“Y2K” — This horror comedy follows two high school juniors who crash a New Year’s Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when Y2K becomes a reality. This is so year 2000.
“The Return”— After 20 years, Greek King Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. To win back his family and all he has lost, he must rediscover his strength. Such drama!
“Get Away” — Nick Frost (“Shaun of the Dead”) stars in this horror-comedy that follows a family on vacation to a remote getaway that takes an unexpected turn when they discover the island they’re on is inhabited by a serial killer.
“Werewolves” — Two scientists try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after a super-moon event the year before.
December 13
“Kraven the Hunter” — A young man’s complex relationship with his ruthless father starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
“September 5” — During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes.
“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” — This anime fantasy follows a sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, which forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. If you know what any of that means, congratulations.
December 20
“Homestead” — During a rapid collapse of society, a rich man’s mountain compound struggles between the military compulsions of its veteran operators and the rural values of its member families.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” — This is both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 remake of the 1994 original “The Lion King.” Here, Mufasa, a cub lost and alone, meets a sympathetic lion named Taka, the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of a group of misfits searching for their destiny.
“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” — Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before.
Christmas Day
“Babygirl” — Nicole Kidman stars as a high-powered CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much-younger intern (Harris Dickensen, “The King’s Man”).
“A Complete Unknown” — At the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, a young Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) shakes up his act on the folk music scene by going electric and hailing rock as the voice of a generation, defining one of the most-transformative moments in 20th century music.
“Nosferatu” — A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her. It has a starry cast with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard and Willem Dafoe.
“The Fire Inside” — The story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who trained to become the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. Usually a cinematographer, Oscar nominee Rachel Morrison (“Mudbound”) makes her feature directorial debut with a script written by Oscar winner Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”).