Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug" isn't the only treasure that awaits this holiday movie season. With the second installment of "The Hobbit" series opening on December 13, here's what else cinema junkies can look forward to:
Vince Vaughn's latest comedy tells the story of a man who unwittingly becomes a father of 533 after donating to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Chris Pratt (pictured, left) and Cobie Smulders also star.
With a new director but still the core cast, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" is the long-awaited return to the bloody arena after 2012's blockbuster first installment, "The Hunger Games."
Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in this drama about a mother searching for her son who was taken away from her decades earlier.
An all-star cast help bring Langston Hughes' production, "Black Nativity," to life on screen. The feature stars Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jacob Latimore, Nas and Mary J. Blige.
Kristen Bell, Josh Gad and Idina Menzel provide the voices to the memorable characters in "Frozen." Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen," this family friendly feature follows two sisters after one of them turns a kingdom into a perpetual winter wonderland.
With "Oldboy," director Spike Lee has tapped stars Josh Brolin, Samuel L. Jackson and Elizabeth Olsen to help him "reinterpret" Park Chan-wook's 2003 cult favorite. In the dramatic thriller, a man sets out on a vengeance quest to uncover why he was locked away in solitary confinement for 20 years.
In this action drama -- adapted by Sylvester Stallone from a Chuck Logan novel -- Jason Statham portrays a former DEA agent who relocates to a small town with his family. Only problem? It happens to also be a town that's holding a meth druglord. James Franco, Winona Ryder and Kate Bosworth also star.
Idris Elba has taken on a herculean task with his starring role in "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," opening in limited release on November 29. The biopic retraces Nelson Mandela's rise from childhood to revolutionary leader.
Of the two anticipated releases starring Christian Bale this season, "Out of the Furnace" is the first to arrive. The crime thriller follows Bale's Russell Blaze as he takes justice into his own hands after the disappearance of his brother. Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Zoe Saldana also star.
Tyler Perry's Madea is in the holiday spirit this year, as the tart-tongued elder returns with "Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas" on December 13. Also starring Chad Michael Murray, Tika Sumpter and Kathy Najimy.
After winning the holiday season of 2012 with "Silver Linings Playbook," director David O. Russell has rounded up some of his favorite stars for a round two. "American Hustle," starring Amy Adams (from left), Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence, is inspired by the FBI's Abscam operation in the '70s. The film will initially open on December 13 in select cities.
Spike Jonze's "her" is sure to spark lots of discussion at holiday parties. The drama stars Joaquin Phoenix as a writer whose loneliness compels him to develop an unusual attachment to a new operating system (voiced by Scarlett Johansson) that's equipped to meet all of his needs. The movie opens in limited release on December 18 before moving wide on January 10.
After months of heavy promotion, San Diego's classiest news team is back in business with "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." This time, Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy and his crew have their sights set on conquering a cable news channel in the Big Apple.
"The Artist's" Berenice Bejo is back to stun American audiences with new drama "The Past." The actress stars as a woman whose Iranian husband (Ali Mosaffa) left her and their two kids to return to his homeland. At her request, he returns for a divorce and discovers that she's moved on to a new relationship.
Think of "Walking With Dinosaurs" like a cross between "The Land Before Time" and "Jurassic Park" without the Spielbergesque drama. In this 3-D epic from Fox, the curious can get a realistic picture of what life was like when dinosaurs ruled, as told through the story of one young dino.
Oscar Isaac may not be familiar to you now, but just wait until "Inside Llewyn Davis" opens in limited release December 6 before going wide December 20. Directed by the Coen brothers, the actor stars as an aspiring young folk singer -- the Llewyn Davis of the title -- trying to succeed in the Greenwich Village music scene of the early '60s. Also starring Carey Mulligan, John Goodman and Justin Timberlake.
"Captain Phillips" isn't Tom Hanks' only awards season movie inspired by true life. In "Saving Mr. Banks," Hanks plays Walt Disney himself as he wooed the skeptical "Mary Poppins" author P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to make the now-classic 1964 film. Colin Farrell and Paul Giamatti also star.
Ben Stiller returns to the director's chair with "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," in which the actor also stars. Based on James Thurber's 1939 story of a daydreamer who replaces his ordinary existence with adventures of romantic heroism in his fantasies, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" also stars Kristen Wiig, Patton Oswalt, Shirley MacLaine and Adam Scott.
After almost getting bumped to 2014, Paramount has opted to gift American moviegoers with a little Leo DiCaprio on Christmas Day. The actor has reteamed with Martin Scorsese for this high-flying film about greed and corruption, based on the true story of Wall Street "wolf" Jordan Belfort. Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie and Jonah Hill also star.
We're guessing there are several parents who will be wrapping up tickets to Justin Bieber's latest documentary as gifts this season. "Believe," strategically lined up for Christmas Day, is a documentary on Bieber's rise as directed by Jon M. Chu.
One of the holiday films already getting awards season buzz is director John Wells' adaptation of Tracy Letts' stage production "August: Osage County." Featuring a killer cast, including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dermot Mulroney and Margo Martindale, "August: Osage County" is a dramatic comedy capturing the dysfunction of one Oklahoman family filled with strong-willed women.
Starring the winning pair of Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone, "Grudge Match" is a sporting drama about two boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one last face-off in the ring.
Keanu Reeves' samurai action epic "47 Ronin" is finally coming to theaters after being pushed back on the release calendar a few times. Drawing inspiration from a well-known Japanese tale, the film follows the 47 warriors who are on a mission to seek revenge on the vicious overlord who killed their master and bring honor back to their homeland.
Based on an actual military mission, "Lone Survivor" tells the story of a crew of Navy SEALs who find themselves serving on a capture or kill hunt for a Taliban leader on what becomes a deadly operation. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Ludwig and Ben Foster, "Lone Survivor" opens in select cities on December 27 before going wide January 10.
- The holiday movie season zeroes in on family, greed and corruption
- Anticipated films range from biopics to musical dramas
- Celebrated directors like Spike Jonze, the Coen Brothers and Scott Cooper release new films
(CNN) -- Following a fall movie season filled with tales of gritty survival and the resilience of the human spirit, now comes family dysfunction and corruption.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the cineplex will boast a selection that zeroes in on greed ("The Wolf of Wall Street") and con artists ("American Hustle"), plus families lost ("Out of the Furnace"), found ("Philomena"), comically troubled ("August: Osage County") and created from operating systems ("Her").
What a merry season, right? Here are the 10 movies that we can't wait to dig in to over the next six weeks -- for a more comprehensive guide to titles to watch for, check out the holiday movie guide above.
1. "Philomena" (November 27)
What it's about: Judi Dench stars as an older Irish woman who teams up with journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) to find the son she had out of wedlock 50 years earlier. It's based on the true story of Philomena Lee, who, as a pregnant teenager in the '50s, was left at a convent where she was forced to give up her child for adoption. (If you want to catch up on the story behind the film, Martin Sixsmith chronicled the journey in the 2009 book, "The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.")
Who it stars: Directed by Stephen Frears, "Philomena" also stars Michelle Fairley, Mare Winningham and Sophie Kennedy Clark, who portrays the younger version of Philomena.
The buzz: Critics and audiences fell in love with this movie when it screened at the Venice Film Festival. "Philomena" isn't without its flaws -- some have complained that the script can veer toward righteousness -- but they're easy to overlook with Dench and Coogan (who also co-wrote the script) anchoring the touching drama.
2. "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" (November 29, limited)
What it's about: Based on the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, this biopic from Justin Chadwick promises to introduce moviegoers to the man who became a legendary leader. Obviously, that's a huge promise that inevitably will go unfulfilled -- after all, this is the long and influential scope of Mandela's life we're talking about. Still, Chadwick, with a screenplay from William Nicholson, retraces Mandela's rise from boyhood to revolutionary leader to international icon.
Who it stars: Idris Elba (Mandela), Naomie Harris (Winnie Mandela), Tony Kgoroge and Terry Pheto.
The buzz: With such a valuable story at stake, Idris Elba's performance is being closely watched as a potential contender this awards season. And while early reviews have been mixed, everyone's agreed that Elba shines as Mandela.
3. "Out of the Furnace" (December 6)
What it's about: The story of a desperate man seeking justice for his family has been told with success earlier this year -- see Hugh Jackman's "Prisoners" -- but Scott Cooper's "Out of the Furnace" is taking a different approach. This crime thriller centers on brothers Russell and Rodney Blaze. The former is a blue-collar steel mill worker who spends his nights caring for their terminally ill father. The other brother, Rodney, is an Iraqi war vet who literally loses himself in an infamous crime ring. When police fail to locate Rodney, Russell takes the search for his missing family into his own hands.
Who it stars: Christian Bale (Russell Blaze); Casey Affleck (Rodney Blaze); Zoe Saldana; Woody Harrelson; Sam Shepard and Forest Whitaker.
The buzz: "Out of the Furnace" has two draws right off the bat. There's the return of Scott Cooper as a writer/director following his massive 2009 success with "Crazy Heart." And then there's the crazy strong line-up in the cast that left the Hollywood Reporter calling the drama solidly well-acted.
4. "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug" (December 13)
What it's about: If you really need to know what "Desolation of Smaug" is about, start with J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," as that's the basis for Peter Jackson's trilogy. But Jackson has taken some liberties with translating Tolkien's children's classic to the big screen. As hobbit Bilbo Baggins joins 13 dwarves on their mission to reclaim their land from the vile dragon Smaug, the crew encounter mythical obstacles as well as a character of Jackson's own imagination, Evangeline Lilly's elf Tauriel.
Who it stars: Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins); Ian McKellen; Richard Armitage; Orlando Bloom; and Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Smaug.
The buzz: The first installment of "The Hobbit" franchise, 2012's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," was criticized for both its unconventional film speed and its meandering pace. This time around, trailers have emphasized the greater stakes and action at play in "Desolation of Smaug" -- and whenever Cumberbatch is the villain, you know you're in for a fun time.
5. "her" (December 18, limited)
What it's about: A modern but sincere love story, "her" follows a lonely, heartbroken writer named Theodore who finds love 2.0 with an operating system. Set in a futuristic Los Angeles, the OS is a female personal assistant named Samantha who can put Siri to shame.
Who it stars: Joaquin Phoenix (Theodore); Scarlett Johansson (Samantha); Amy Adams; Chris Pratt; Rooney Mara; Olivia Wilde; and Portia Doubleday.
The buzz: With director Spike Jonze at the helm, "her" made an ostentatious splash on the film festival circuit this year, setting it up for lots of attention in its limited release. The story raises so many questions about social engagement and matters of the heart in the digital age, and it doesn't hurt that Phoenix, Johansson and Adams turn in strong performances as well.
6. "American Hustle" (December 18)
What it's about: Pulling inspiration from the FBI's Abscam operation of the late 1970s, "American Hustle" is a glorious pairing of criminals and the law in an effort to suss out corrupt politicians. The story centers on con artist Irving Rosenfeld and his partner Sydney Prosser as they're forced to work with FBI agent Richie DiMaso to pull off the sting.
Who it stars: A cast doesn't get much better than this: Bradley Cooper (Richie DiMaso); Christian Bale (Irving Rosenfeld); Amy Adams (Sydney Prosser); Jeremy Renner (politician Carmine Polito); and Jennifer Lawrence (Irving's wife Rosalyn) all star.
The buzz: With so many marquee names -- some of whom are reteaming with director David O. Russell after winning over audiences with 2012's "Silver Linings Playbook" -- "American Hustle" looks to be all but a slam-dunk with audiences and critics.
7. "Inside Llewyn Davis" (December 20)
What it's about: In the folk scene of Greenwich Village in 1961, a musician by the name of Llewyn Davis is struggling to make something of his career. Formerly of a folk music duo, Davis is attempting to craft solo stardom while relying on the kindness of friends to help keep a roof over his head. He's talented, yes, but not at all likeable, as the audience learns while following Davis from one couch to the next.
Who it stars: Oscar Issac (Llewyn Davis); John Goodman; Garrett Hedlund; Justin Timberlake; and Carey Mulligan.
The buzz: Ethan and Joel Coen wrote and directed this humorous drama, and T-Bone Burnett executive produced the soundtrack. Like "O Brother Where Art Thou?," the music from "Inside Llewyn Davis" is as integral to the project as the performances.
8. "Saving Mr. Banks" (December 20)
What it's about: Before 1964's "Mary Poppins" became a classic, a battle was waged between the character's creator, P. L. Travers, and the man who promised his daughters he'd turn the mystical nanny into a movie, Walt Disney. "Saving Mr. Banks" recounts Disney's persistent wooing of Travers and the behind the scenes give-and-take that led to "Mary Poppins" being made.
Who it stars: Tom Hanks (Walt Disney); Emma Thompson (P. L. Travers); Colin Farrell; Paul Giamatti and Bradley Whitford.
The buzz: Directed by John Lee Hancock, critics have praised Disney for not turning "Saving Mr. Banks" into a self-admiring love letter -- a feat owed in great amounts to the performances of Hanks and Thompson.
9. "The Wolf of Wall Street" (December 25)
What it's about: In the 1990s, penny stockbroker Jordan Belfort was living a life of extreme decadence won from his fraudulent scheming -- that is, until his house of cards began to crumble and resulted in his arrest. Belfort's swindling, already captured in his memoir "The Wolf of Wall Street," is making the leap to the big screen with Leonardo DiCaprio as the "wolf" himself.
Who it stars: Directed by Martin Scorsese, "The Wolf of Wall Street" also stars Jonah Hill; Margot Robbie; P.J. Byrne and Jon Favreau.
The buzz: The movie's release recently had a close call when it looked like it was going to drop off the 2013 calendar altogether; thankfully, Paramount is still going to make the cut with the December 25 release date. The combination of Scorsese and DiCaprio isn't always a sure thing -- remember "Shutter Island"? -- but we're placing our bets with this delicious look at the perils of excess.
10. "August: Osage County" (December 25)
What it's about: The story here originated with Tracy Letts' award-winning 2007 stage production, which has been transformed for the screen with John Wells at the helm. "August: Osage County" reunites the three daughters of the Oklahoma-based Weston family, grounded by cancer-stricken matriarch Violet, after a painful loss. What results is a darkly funny examination of the ties that bind.
Who it stars: This cast is virtual awards-season catnip, packed with the likes of Meryl Streep (Violet), Julia Roberts, Margo Martindale, Juliette Lewis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Julianne Nicholson, Ewan McGregor and Sam Shepard, among others.
The buzz: Early reviews from film festivals suggest that "August: Osage County" hasn't rid an ounce of its theatricality as it moved from stage to screen, and Meryl Streep in particular goes big with her role. Yet subtle and compelling performances from supporting cast, mixed with the story's juicy, humorous drama, should nonetheless make it a draw.
