Yes, Virginia, there are movies this holiday season. Here’s where to find them

In a year like no other, when most high-profile releases are tagged “Do not open until 2021,� there will still be new movies this holiday season stretching from Thanksgiving to Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. The trick is knowing where to find them. Across streaming services, on-demand platforms, virtual cinemas and even actual cinemas (where theaters are open*), will be Oscar contenders, action and horror flicks, comedies and thrillers, as well as international titles, animation and documentaries to break up your virtual family get-togethers.

*Theaters were still open in most of the country at press time. Release dates are subject to change.

Nov. 19

The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Vanessa Hudgens reprises her dual roles in this sequel to the 2018 rom-com about a Chicago baker who trades places with her royal look-alike. Directed by Mike Rohl. Streaming. Netflix

Nov. 20

Collective
Documentary about a team of investigative reporters at a Romanian newspaper. Directed by Alexander Nanau. Theaters and VOD. Magnolia Pictures

Donbass
Russian comedy written and directed by Sergei Loznitsa. Virtual cinemas. Film Movement

Embattled
A young man has a rocky relationship with his father, an MMA fighter, in this drama. With Stephen Dorff, Darren Mann, Donald Faison, Karrueche Tran. Directed by Nick Sarkisov. Theaters and VOD. IFC Films

Girl
A young woman tangles with a small-town sheriff when she investigates the murder of her abusive father in this drama. With Bella Thorne, Mickey Rourke. Written and directed by Chad Faust. Theaters; VOD, Nov. 24. Screen Media

Iron Mask

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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan have supporting roles in this martial-arts fantasy about a cartographer who travels to 18th century China. With Jason Flemyng. Directed by Oleg Stepchenko. Digital and VOD. Lionsgate

Jiu Jitsu
Nicolas Cage and Tony Jaa star in this fantasy about martial-arts masters defending Earth from alien invaders. With Frank Grillo, Rick Yune, Marie Avgeropoulos. Directed by Dimitri Logothetis. Theaters, digital and VOD. The Avenue

Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams
Documentary about Japan’s national high school baseball championship. Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki. Virtual cinemas. First Run Features

The Last Vermeer
Fact-based drama about an art forger who duped the Nazis. With Guy Pearce, Claes Bang, Vicky Krieps. Directed by Dan Friedkin. Theaters. TriStar Pictures

Markie in Milwaukee
Documentary about a transgender woman from a conservative Midwest family. Directed by Matt Kliegman. Virtual cinemas Icarus Films

Run
A chronically ill teen grows suspicious of her overprotective mother in this thriller. With Sarah Paulson, Kiera Allen, Pat Healy, Erik Athavale. Written by Aneesh Chaganty, Sev Ohanian. Directed by Chaganty. Streaming. Hulu

Soros
Documentary profiles billionaire philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros. Directed by Jesse Dylan. VOD. Abramorama

Sound of Metal

Drama about a hard-rock drummer who begins to suffer severe hearing loss. With Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci. Directed by Darius Marder. Screenplay by Darius Marder and Abraham Marder. Theaters; Amazon Prime, Dec. 4. Amazon Studios

Team Marco
A young boy learns to play bocce ball from his Italian American grandfather in this family comedy. With Owen Vaccaro, Anthony Patellis. Directed by Julio Vincent Gambuto. Virtual cinemas and PVOD. Samuel Goldwyn Films

The Twentieth Century
The rise of former Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King is reimagined in this comedic fable. With Dan Beirne, Sarianne Cormier. Written and directed by Matthew Rankin. Virtual cinemas. Oscilloscope Laboratories

Vanguard
Jackie Chan plays the head of a covert security company in this globetrotting action thriller. Directed by Stanley Tong. Theaters. Gravitas Ventures

Words Can’t Go There
Documentary profiles John Kaizan Neptune, a California surfer turned master of the traditional Japanese flute called the shakuhachi. Directed by David Neptune. VOD. Ocean Mountain LLC

Nov. 22

Belushi

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Documentary recalls the life and times of comic actor and “SNL� star John Belushi. With Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Chevy Chase, John Landis. Directed by R.J. Cutler. Cable and streaming. Showtime Documentary Films

Nov. 23

Shawn Mendes: In Wonder
Documentary profiles the chart-topping singer-songwriter. Directed by Grant Singer. Streaming. Netflix

Nov. 24

Buddy Games
Comedy with Dan Bakkedahl, Kevin Dillon, Josh Duhamel, Olivia Munn, James Roday Rodriguez, Dax Shepard and Nick Swardson. Directed by Duhamel. Digital and VOD. Saban Films/Paramount Pictures

Hillbilly Elegy

Glenn Close and Amy Adams star in director Ron Howard’s drama about three generations of one Appalachian family. Based on the memoir by J.D. Vance. Streaming. Netflix

Saul & Ruby’s Holocaust Survivor Band
Documentary about two Jewish musicians in their 90s who return to Poland for a concert. Directed by Tod Lending. Digital and VOD. Samuel Goldwyn Films

She Is the Ocean
Documentary about female divers, surfers, etc. Directed by Inna Blohina. VOD. Blue Fox Entertainment

Nov. 25

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn reprise their roles as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in this sequel to the 2018 holiday comedy. Directed by Chris Columbus. Streaming. Netflix

The Croods: A New Age
Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds and Emma Stone reprise their voice roles in this sequel to the 2013 animated comedy about a prehistoric family. Directed by Joel Crawford. Theaters. Universal Pictures

Happiest Season

A young woman learns her girlfriend still hasn’t come out to her conservative family in this holiday rom-com. With Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Ana Gasteyer. Directed by Clea Duvall. Streaming. Hulu

Last Call
Rhys Ifans portrays Welsh poet Dylan Thomas in this biographical drama. With John Malkovich, Rodrigo Santoro, Romola Garai, Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet. Written and directed by Steven Bernstein. Theaters. K Street Pictures

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

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Viola Davis portrays the legendary blues singer in this musical drama costarring the late Chadwick Boseman and based on the August Wilson play. Directed by George C. Wolfe. Theaters; streaming, Dec. 18. Netflix

The Mystery of D.B. Cooper
Documentary investigates the case of the 1970s skyjacker who parachuted out of a plane midflight and then vanished without a trace. Directed by John Dower. Cable and streaming on HBO Max. HBO Documentary Films

Stardust
Biographical drama recalls how rock icon David Bowie created his early-’70s alter ego Ziggy Stardust. With Johnny Flynn, Marc Maron, Jena Malone. Written by Gabriel Range and Christopher Bell. Directed by Range. Theaters and VOD. IFC Films

Uncle Frank
A Southern teen visits her gay uncle in 1970s NYC. With Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Margo Martindale, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer. Written and directed by Alan Ball. Streaming. Amazon Prime

Nov. 26

Mosul
Local forces fight to free the Iraqi city from the grip of the terrorist organization Islamic State in this docudrama. Written and directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan. Streaming. Netflix

Superintelligence

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An ordinary woman is chosen to interact with a potentially malevolent form of artificial intelligence in this comedy. With Melissa McCarthy, Bobby Cannavale, Brian Tyree Henry, Jean Smart, James Corden. Written by Steve Mallory. Directed by Ben Falcone. Streaming. HBO Max

Nov. 27

Black Beauty
Update of Anna Sewell’s 19th century novel about a horse. With Kate Winslet, Mackenzie Foy, Claire Forlani. Directed by Ashley Avis. Streaming. Disney+

Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker
Documentary spotlights choreographer Debbie Allen’s reimagined version of the holiday favorite. Directed by Oliver Bokelberg. Streaming. Netflix

Dutch
A New Jersey drug kingpin tries to hold on to his empire in this crime drama. With Lance Gross, Macy Gray, Jeremy Meeks. Written and directed by Preston A. Whitmore II; based on a novel by Teri Woods. Theaters. Imani Media Group

Kill It and Leave This Town
A traumatized man seeks solace in a fantasy world of his own imagination in this black-and-white animated fable from Poland. Directed by Mariusz Wilczynski. Virtual cinemas. Outsider Pictures

Princess of the Row

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A young girl runs away from foster care to live on L.A.’s skid row with her mentally unstable father in this drama. With Edi Gathegi, Martin Sheen, Tayler Buck, Ana Ortiz. Directed by Van Maximilian Carlson. Theaters, digital and VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Zappa
Musical iconoclast Frank Zappa is profiled in this rock doc directed by Alex Winter. Featuring Gail Zappa, Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others. Theaters and VOD. Magnolia Pictures

Nov. 29

My Psychedelic Love Story
Director Errol Morris’ documentary on LSD guru Timothy Leary is presented from the perspective of Leary’s Swiss-born, Paris-raised lover, Joanna Harcourt-Smith. Cable and streaming. Showtime Documentary Films

Dec. 1

Doin’ My Drugs
Documentary about an HIV-positive musician and activist in Zambia. Directed by Tyler Q. Rosen. Digital and VOD. Freestyle Digital Media

The Mystery of the Flamingo
Comic documentary directed by Javier Polo Gandía. Featuring John Waters, Eduardo Casanova, Allee Willis, Rigo Pex, Kero Kero Bonito. VOD. 1091

Stand!
An immigrant couple falls in love against the backdrop of a labor strike in 1919 Canada in this musical drama based on the stage musical “Strike!� With Marshall Williams, Laura Slade Wiggins. Directed by Robert Adetuyi. Theaters, one-night event. Fathom Events

Dec. 2

Mayor
Documentary profiles the mayor of the West Bank city of Ramallah. Directed by David Osit. Theaters. Film Movement

The Midnight Sky
George Clooney directs and stars in this postapocalyptic sci-fi drama about an Arctic scientist seeking to warn a team of returning astronauts of a global disaster. With Felicity Jones, Kyle Chandler, David Oyelowo. Theaters; streaming, Dec. 23 Netflix

Dec. 3

Anything for Jackson
A couple’s scheme to resurrect their dead grandson has unforeseen consequences in this supernatural thriller. With Yannick Bisson, Josh Cruddas, Konstantina Mantelos, Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings. Written by Keith Cooper. Directed by Justin G. Dyck. Streaming. Shudder

Tripping With Nils Frahm
The composer-performer gives a concert at Berlin Funkhaus in the German capital in this music documentary. Directed by Benoit Toulemonde. Streaming. Mubi

Dec. 4

All My Life

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A couple’s wedding plans are upended when the groom is diagnosed with cancer in this drama. With Jessica Rothe, Harry Shum Jr., Kyle Allen, Chrissie Fit, Jay Pharoah, Marielle Scott, Keala Settle. Written by Todd Rosenberg. Directed by Marc Meyers. Theaters. Universal Pictures

Ammonite
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan star in this romantic drama, set in 19th-century England, about a paleontologist and a young married woman who comes to stay with her. Written and directed by Francis Lee. PVOD. Neon

Another Round
Dark comedy with Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang, Lars Ranthe. Written by Thomas Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm. Directed by Vinterberg. Theaters; VOD, Dec. 18. Samuel Goldwyn

Billie
Documentary profiles jazz singer Billie Holiday. Directed by James Erskine. Theaters and VOD. Greenwich Entertainment

Black Bear
An actress-filmmaker plays twisted games with a couple while at a retreat in the Adirondacks in this drama. With Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, Sarah Gadon. Written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine. Theaters and VOD. Momentum Pictures

The Changin’ Times of Ike White
Documentary follows the R&B musician, who recorded an acclaimed album while in prison in the 1970s, through life after his release. Directed by Dan Vernon. Theaters and virtual cinemas. Kino Lorber

Crock of Gold — A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan
Documentary on the lead singer and songwriter of the Pogues directed by Julien Temple, with animation from various illustrators including Ralph Steadman. Digital and VOD. Magnolia Pictures

Dear Santa
Documentary salutes the United States Postal Service’s century-old program that seeks to fulfill children’s Christmas wishes. Directed by Dana Nachman. Theaters and PVOD. IFC Films

40 Years a Prisoner
Documentary follows one man’s four-decade quest to free his parents following the police raid on the Black activist group MOVE in Philadelphia in 1978. Directed by Tommy Oliver. Theaters; cable and streaming on HBO Max, Dec. 8. HBO Documentary Films

Godmothered

An aspiring fairy godmother comes to the aid of a widowed single mom in Boston in this fantasy comedy. With Jillian Bell, Isla Fisher, Jane Curtin. Directed by Sharon Maguire. Streaming. Disney+

Half Brothers

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A Mexican man learns he has an American half-brother in this comedy. With Luis Gerardo Méndez, Connor Del Rio, Vincent Spano. Directed by Luke Greenfield. Theaters. Focus Features

I’m Your Woman
Rachel Brosnahan stars as a woman who goes on the lam with her baby after her husband betrays his criminal partners in this thriller. Directed by Julia Hart. Theaters; Amazon Prime, Dec. 11. Amazon Studios

La Leyenda Negra
An undocumented Salvadoran teen living in Compton fights deportation in this drama. With Monica Betancourt, Kailei Lopez, Irlanda Moreno. Written and directed by Patricia Vidal Delgado. Theaters, HBO and HBO Max. HBO

Love, Weddings & Other Disasters
A caterer, a wedding planner and others find love in this romantic comedy. With Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, Andrew Bachelor. Written and directed by Dennis Dugan. Theaters/VOD. Saban Films

Luxor
Andrea Riseborough stars as a British aid worker who encounters an archaeologist — her former lover — when she returns to the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor. With Karim Saleh and Michael Landes. Written and directed by Zeina Durra. Virtual cinemas, digital and VOD. Samuel Goldwyn Films

Mank
Gary Oldman portrays “Citizen Kane� screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz in director David Fincher’s black-and-white bio-drama. With Tom Burke, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tuppence Middleton and Charles Dance. Streaming. Netflix

Minor Premise
Sci-fi with Sathya Sridharan, Paton Ashbrook and Dana Ashbrook. Directed by Eric Schultz. Theaters, virtual cinemas, digital and VOD. Utopia

Museum Town
Documentary about an economically depressed former mill town in Massachusetts reborn as a venue for contemporary art. Narrated by Meryl Streep. With Nick Cave, David Byrne, James Turrell. Directed by Jennifer Trainer. Virtual cinemas. Kino Lorber

Music Got Me Here
Documentary about a dedicated music therapist who bonds with a teen who has a traumatic brain injury. Directed by Susan Koch. Virtual cinemas. First Run Features

The Prom

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Broadway types assemble in support of an Indiana teen who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom in this star-studded LGBTQ-themed musical comedy directed by Ryan Murphy. With Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Jo Ellen Pellman, James Corden, Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells, Keegan-Michael Key, Ariana DeBose. Theaters; streaming, Dec. 11. Netflix

76 Days
Documentary examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, China. Directed by Weixi Chen, Hao Wu. Virtual cinemas. MTV Documentary Films

Smiley Face Killers
A young man is menaced by a hooded stranger in this thriller written by Bret Easton Ellis. With Crispin Glover, Ronen Rubinstein, Mia Serafino. Directed by Tim Hunter. Theaters and VOD. Lionsgate

Wander
A mentally disturbed detective sees parallels between his latest case and the death of his daughter years earlier in this mystery thriller. With Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnick, Heather Graham, Tommy Lee Jones. Written by Tim Doiron. Directed by April Mullen. Theaters, digital and VOD. Saban Films

What Lies Below
A teen suspects something is off about her mother’s seemingly perfect fiancé in this sci-fi thriller. With Ema Horvath, Trey Tucker, Mena Suvari. Written and directed by Braden R. Duemmler. Digital and VOD. Vertical Entertainment

Dec. 9

Alabama Snake
Documentary directed by Theo Love. Cable and streaming on HBO Max. HBO Documentary Films

The Incredible Story of Rose Island
Comedy directed by Sydney Sibilia. Streaming. Netflix

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Dec. 10

Funny Boy
A gay teen comes of age in Sri Lanka in the 1970s and ’80s in this Canadian drama based on Shyam Selvadurai’s novel. Directed by Deepa Mehta. Streaming on Netflix. Array

Let Them All Talk

Meryl Streep stars in Steven Soderbergh’s comedy about a famous author on a cruise with her two best friends, her nephew and her literary agent. With Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Lucas Hedges, Gemma Chan. Written by Deborah Eisenberg. Streaming. HBO Max

Dec. 11

Archenemy
Action thriller with Joe Manganiello, Skylan Brooks, Zolee Griggs, Amy Seimetz, Glenn Howerton. Written and directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer. Theaters, digital and VOD. RLJE Films

Assassins
Documentary examines the assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s half-brother in Malaysia in 2017. Directed by Ryan White. Theaters and virtual cinemas; VOD, Jan. 15. Greenwich Entertainment

DNA
A French woman explores her Algerian heritage in this drama written, directed by and starring Maïwenn. With Fanny Ardant, Louis Garrel, Dylan Robert, Florent Lacger, Marine Vacth, Henri-Noël Tabary. Streaming. Netflix

Farewell Amor
After many years apart, an Angolan immigrant is joined in the U.S. by his wife and daughter in this drama. With Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Zainab Jah, Jayme Lawson, Joie Lee. Written and directed by Ekwa Msangi. Theaters, digital and VOD. IFC Films

Finding Yingying
Documentary about a student from China who disappeared after coming to the U.S. to attend college. Directed by Jiayan Shi. Virtual cinemas. MTV Documentary Films

Giving Voice
Documentary visits the annual August Wilson Monologue Competition. With Viola Davis. Directed by James D. Stern, Fernando Villena. Streaming. Netflix

Gunda
Experiential documentary set on a farm. Directed by Victor Kossakovsky. Virtual cinemas, qualifying run; full release, 2021. Neon

Ip Man: Kung Fu Master

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Prequel to the action film franchise about the famed martial arts instructor. With Yu-Hang To. Directed by Li Liming. Theaters and VOD. Magnet Releasing

Minari

Steven Yeun and Alan S. Kim in the movie “Minari.�

(A24)

A Korean American family moves to a farm in Arkansas in this drama. With Steven Yeun, Han Ye Ri, Will Patton. Written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung. Theaters, qualifying run; full release, Feb. 12. A24

Parallel
Friends discover a portal to other worlds in this sci-fi thriller. Kathleen Quinlan, Martin Wallström, Aml Ameen, Georgia King and Mark O’Brien. Directed by Isaac Ezban. Theaters and VOD. Vertical Entertainment

Safety
A college football player must care for his younger brother when their mother enters rehab in this fact-based drama. With Jay Reeves, Corinne Foxx, Amanda Warren. Directed by Reginald Hudlin. Streaming. Disney+

Songbird
Sci-fi thriller with KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Walter Hauser and Demi Moore. Directed by Adam Mason. PVOD. STXfilms

The Stand In

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Drew Barrymore plays dual roles in this comedy about a jaded actress who hires her on-set double to fill in for her in her off-set life. With Ellie Kemper, Holland Taylor, T.J. Miller, Andrew Rannells, Lena Dunham. Directed by Jamie Babbit. Theaters, digital and VOD. Paramount Pictures/Saban Films

Through the Night
Documentary about a 24-hour day care center in NYC that serves the needs of the working poor. Directed by Loira Limbal. Virtual cinemas. Long Shot Factory

The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee
“Crocodile Dundee� star Paul Hogan tries to rehabilitate his image in this mockumentary. With John Cleese, Chevy Chase, Olivia Newton-John. Directed by Dean Murphy. Theaters and VOD. Lionsgate

Wander Darkly
A couple’s relationship takes a surreal turn following a tragic accident in this fantastical drama. With Sienna Miller, Diego Luna. Written and directed by Tara Miele. Theaters and VOD. Lionsgate

The Weasel’s Tale
An aging Argentine actress and others sharing an old mansion match wits with a pair of ruthless real estate developers in this dark comedy. With Graciela Borges. Directed by Juan José Campanella. Theaters and virtual cinemas. Outsider Pictures

Wild Mountain Thyme
An Irish woman harbors romantic feelings for her rural neighbor in writer-director John Patrick Shanley’s adaptation of his play “Outside Mullingar.� With Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Christopher Walken, Jon Hamm. Theaters and VOD. Bleecker Street

Wolfwalkers

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Animated fantasy about a young girl hunting wolves with her father in 17th century Ireland. With the voices of Sean Bean, Maria Doyle Kennedy. Directed by Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart. Streaming. Apple Original Films/GKids

Dec. 12

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
Documentary celebrates the chart-topping sibling musical trio of “Saturday Night Fever� fame. Directed by Frank Marshall. Cable and streaming on HBO Max. HBO Documentary Films

Dec. 15

The Last Blockbuster
A small town video store makes a final stand in this documentary. Featuring Adam Brody, Ione Skye, Doug Benson, Paul Scheer. Kevin Smith. Written by Zeke Kamm. Directed by Taylor Morden. Digital and VOD. 1091 Pictures

The Last Sermon
Two filmmakers who survived a 2003 terrorist bombing investigate Islamic extremism in Europe in this documentary. Directed by Jack Baxter. Virtual cinemas, digital and VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Paint
Art-school friends try to make it in NYC in this dark comedy. With Josh Caras, Olivia Luccardi, Paul Cooper. Written and directed by Michael Walker. VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Dec. 16

The Art of Political Murder
Documentary directed by Paul Taylor. Cable and streaming on HBO Max. HBO Documentary Films

Dec. 18

Angie: Lost Girls
Drama with Jane Widdop, Olivia d’Abo, Dylan Sprayberry, MC Lyte, Amin Joseph and Anthony Montgomery. Directed by Julia Verdin. Digital and VOD. Freestyle Digital Media

Bad Impulse
A family’s new high-tech home-security system comes to rule their lives in this thriller. With Grant Bowler, Sonya Walger, Paul Sorvino, Dan Lauria. Directed by Michelle Danner. Theaters and VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Breach
The crew of an interstellar ship battles a malevolent force in this sci-fi thriller. Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Rachel Nichols, Thomas Jane. Written by Edward Drake, Corey Large. Directed by John Suits. Theaters, digital and VOD. Saban Films

The Capote Tapes
Documentary uses archival recordings and recent interviews to profile author Truman Capote. Directed by Ebs Burnough. Theaters; VOD, Jan. 12. Greenwich Entertainment

The Dissident
Documentary profiles slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Directed by Bryan Fogel. Theaters. Briarcliff Entertainment

The Father

Anthony Hopkins stars as a family patriarch falling into dementia in director Florian Zeller’s adaptation of his stage drama. With Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Rufus Sewell, Imogen Poots, Olivia Williams. Theaters. Sony Pictures Classics

Greenland
A family searches for a safe place to hide when a comet threatens Earth in this disaster thriller. With Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Scott Glenn, Hope Davis. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh. PVOD. STXfilms

Hunter Hunter
A family of fur trappers is menaced by a rogue wolf in this thriller. With Devon Sawa, Nick Stahl, Camille Sullivan, Summer Howell. Written and directed by Shawn Linden. Theaters, digital and VOD. IFC Midnight

Max Cloud
A teen joins forces with a video-game hero when she’s teleported into a virtual world in this sci-fi comedy. With Isabelle Allen, Scott Adkins, Lashana Lynch. Directed by Martin Owen. Digital and VOD. Well Go USA

Modern Persuasion
Contemporary update of the Jane Austen novel with Alicia Witt, Shane McRae, Bebe Neuwirth, Liza Lapira and Daniela Pineda. Digital and VOD. Samuel Goldwyn Films

Nasrin
Documentary on human rights activist and political prisoner Nasrin Sotoudeh. Directed by Jeff Kaufman. Narrated by Olivia Coleman. Virtual cinemas. Virgil Films

Sister of the Groom

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A woman tries to sabotage her brother’s wedding in the Hamptons in this comedy. With Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, Jake Hoffman, Mathilde Olivier. Written and directed by Amy Miller Gross. Theaters, digital and VOD. Saban Films

Skylines
A squad of commandos is dispatched to an alien world to stave off a threat to the human race in the concluding chapter in this sci-fi thriller. With Lindsey Morgan, Jonathan Howard, Rhona Mitra, Alexander Siddig, James Cosmo. Written and directed by Liam O’Donnell. Theaters, digital and VOD. Vertical Entertainment

To the Ends of the Earth
A reporter for a Japanese travel show goes on assignment in Uzbekistan in this drama. With Atsuko Maeda, Shota Sometani, Adiz Radjabov. Written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Virtual cinemas. KimStim

Dec. 22

Love, Repeat
Comedy-drama with Bill Connington, Leenya Rideout, Marcus Ho, Nandita Shenoy, Vivia Font. Directed by Shelagh Carter. Digital and VOD. Freestyle Digital Media

Dec. 25

Monster Hunter

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Milla Jovovich battles fantastic beasts in this video game adaptation. With Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Meagan Good. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. Theaters. Screen Gems

News of the World
Tom Hanks stars as a Civil War veteran tasked with shepherding a young girl home to her kinfolk in Paul Greengrass’ frontier drama based on the Paulette Jiles novel. With Helena Zengel, Elizabeth Marvel. Theaters. Universal Pictures

One Night in Miami

Fact-based drama about a 1960s meeting between Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. With Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom Jr. Directed by Regina King. Theaters; Amazon Prime, Jan. 15. Amazon Studios

Promising Young Woman

Carey Mulligan plays a former med student seeking vengeance against men who abuse women in this dark comedy. With Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Laverne Cox, Connie Britton, Chris Lowell, Max Greenfield. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell. Theaters. Focus Features

Soul

A music teacher has a fantastical adventure in this Disney-Pixar animated comedy. With the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Daveed Diggs, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Bassett. Directed by Pete Docter. Streaming. Disney+

Sylvie’s Love
A woman finds romance with a sax player in this drama set in 1950s Harlem. Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Eva Longoria, Aja Naomi King, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jemima Kirke, Tone Bell, Alano Mille. Written and directed by Eugene Ashe. Streaming. Amazon Studios

The Truffle Hunters
Documentary about local men searching a forest in Italy for a rare variety of the gastronomic delicacy. Directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw. Theaters. Sony Pictures Classics

The White Tiger
A chauffeur in India strives to climb the social ladder in this adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel. With Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas. Directed by Rahmin Bahrani. Theaters; streaming Jan. 22. Netflix

Wonder Woman 1984

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Gal Godot reprises her role as the DC superhero when she reunites with director Patty Jenkins for this action sequel. With Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Kristen Wiig. Theaters and streaming on HBO Max. Warner Bros.

Dec. 29

Two Ways Home
An ex-convict with bipolar disorder tries to reunite with her daughter and grandfather in this drama. With Tanna Frederick. Directed by Ron Vignone. Digital and VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Dec. 30

Herself
A struggling single mom enlists friends to help build a home for her family in this drama. With Molly McCann, Clare Dunne, Ruby Rose O’Hara. Written by Malcolm Campbell, Clare Dunne. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Theaters; Amazon Prime, Jan. 8. Amazon Studios

Pieces of a Woman
The loss of her newborn baby upends the life of a Boston woman in this drama. With Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sarah Snook, Iliza Shlesinger, Ellen Burstyn. Directed by Kornél Mundruczó. Theaters; streaming, Jan. 7. Netflix

Jan. 1

Sing Me a Song
Documentary follows a young Buddhist monk in Bhutan as he experiences romantic love and modern technology. Directed by Thomas Balmès. Digital and VOD. Gravitas Ventures

Jan. 5

Audrey
Screen legend and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Audrey Hepburn is remembered in this documentary. Written and directed by Helena Coan. Digital and VOD. Bohemia Media

Gun and a Hotel Bible
Drama with Bradley Gosnell, Daniel Floren, Mia Marcon, George Christopher, Grace Fae, James McCammon, Delaney Milbourn. Directed by Raja Gosnell. Digital and VOD. Freestyle Digital Media

Jan. 8

I Carry You With Me
A gay couple from Mexico seeks a better life in the U.S. With Armando Espitia, Christian Vazquez. Written by Heidi Ewing, Alan Page Arriaga. Directed by Heidi Ewing. Theaters. Sony Pictures Classics

If Not Now, When?
Four women, former high school friends, are reunited by a crisis in this drama. With Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox, Tamara Bass, Meagan Good. Written by Bass. Directed by Bass, Good. Theaters, digital and VOD. Vertical Entertainment

The Reason I Jump
Documentary follows five young people on the autism spectrum. Directed by Jerry Rothwell. Virtual cinemas. Kino Lorber

Jan. 12

Skyfire
A geologist warns of an impending volcanic eruption on a tropical island in this disaster thriller. With Jason Isaacs, Hannah Quinlivan, Xueqi Wang, Shawn Dou. Directed by Simon West. VOD; theaters, Feb. 12. Screen Media

Jan. 14

Bloody Hell
A fugitive falls into the clutches of a sinister family in this horror tale. With Ben O’Toole, Caroline Craig, Matthew Sunderland, Travis Jeffery, Jack Finsterer, Meg Fraser, Ashlee Lollback. Directed by Alister Grierson. Theaters and VOD. Entertainment Squad

Jan. 15

Buck Run
Drama with James Le Gros, Kevin J. O’Connor, Amy Hargreaves and Nolan Lyons. Directed by Nick Frangione. Digital and VOD. Freestyle Digital Media

The Dig
Ralph Fiennes stars as an archaeologist excavating a treasure trove of medieval artifacts in the English countryside in the 1930s in this fact-based drama. With Carey Mulligan, Lily James. Directed by Simon Stone. Theaters; streaming, Jan. 29. Netflix

MLK/FBI

Documentary chronicles the federal law enforcement agency’s campaign to harass and discredit civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Directed by Sam Pollard. Theaters. IFC Films

Some Kind of Heaven
Documentary looks at life in the massive Florida retirement community known as the Villages. Directed by Lance Oppenheim. Theaters. Magnolia Pictures

The 355
Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Bingbing Fan and Lupita Nyong’o try to retrieve a stolen weapon in this female-led espionage thriller. With Edgar Ramirez, Sebastian Stan. Written by Theresa Rebeck, Simon Kinberg. Directed by Kinberg. Theaters. Universal Pictures

The Ultimate Playlist of Noise
A high school senior facing brain surgery collects his favorite sounds. With Keean Johnson and Madeline Brewer. Directed by Bennett Lasseter. Streaming. Hulu

— Compiled by Matthew Cooper and Kevin Crust

Entertainment & Arts

A guide for movies to watch this holiday season

2020: Just sayin’ — the year doesn’t automatically bring to mind happy thoughts as we head into the home stretch.

Nov. 19, 2020