2016 Holiday Movie Preview

A glimpse at what to look forward to this holiday movie season

DANNY MOLOSHOK—Reuters
Cast members Alan Tudyk

Thanksgiving weekend”Allied”Rated R (11/23)In 1942 intelligence officer Max Vatan (Brad Pitt), encounters French Resistance fighter Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard) while in North Africa, on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. The two fall in love and are reunited in London where everything is not as it seems.”Moana”Rated PG (11/23)Moana (Auli’I Cravalho) is a born navigator in search of a mythical island. Set in the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana embarks on her quest to find the island and during her journey teams up with her hero, the demi-god Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Bonus: music by Lin-Manuel Miranda”Bad Santa 2″Rated R (11/23)Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton) is back with his brand of greedy, alcohol-fueled holiday cheer — teaming up again with his angry sidekick, Marcus (Tony Cox), this time to knock off a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve.”Lion”Rated R (11/25)Based on the true story of a man’s (Dev Patel) search for home — after a wrong train takes him miles off-track a little boy is adopted by an Australian family (mother played by Nicole Kidman) only to have his odyssey bubble up years later — prompting him to embark on his journey.Opening in December”Jackie”Rated R (12/2)This biopic follows Jacqueline Kennedy’s (Natalie Portman) journey to make sense of her faith and the loss and legacy of her husband while standing with the nation as they grieve.”Miss Sloane”Rated R (12/9)Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is a sought after and tough D.C. lobbyist who is known for her track record and her scheming. When she takes on the most formidable opponent of her career Miss Sloane finds winning might come at too high of a price.”Office Christmas Party”Rated R (12/9)A star-studded cast headed by Jennifer Aniston puts a Hangover-esque spin on the annual holiday corporate gathering.”Collateral Beauty”Rated PG-13 (12/16)A successful New York advertising executive (Will Smith) runs away from his life after suffering a great tragedy. He finds his way back by writing letters to Love, Time, and Death.”La La Land”Rated PG-13 (12/16)In this musical in the style of “Singing in the Rain,” a jazz pianist (Ryan Gosling) and an up and coming actress (Emma Stone) fall in love in Los Angeles but face relationship issues on their way up.”Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”PG-13 (12/16)Resistance fighters embark on a mission to steal the Empire’s plans for the Death Star.”Passengers”Rated PG-13 (12/21)Two passengers (Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt) wake up 90 years too early while on a trip through space to their new homes to learn their ship has malfunctioned and they are in great danger.”Sing”Rated: PG (12/21)In a world inhabited by animals, Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey) is a dapper Koala who runs what was once a grand theater now in disrepair. His plan to reignite interest is to hold a singing contest open to all.