Movie Sneaks:  A sneak peek at new movies during the holidays

NOV. 5

Interstellar

As mankind’s time on Earth comes to an end, astronauts travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. With Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine. Written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan. Directed by Christopher Nolan. In Imax. Paramount Pictures

NOV. 7

9 Full Moons

A young couple struggle with their personal demons against the backdrop of present-day Los Angeles’ bohemian music scene. With Amy Seimetz, Bret Roberts and Donal Logue. Written and directed by Tomer Almagor. Indie Rights

21 Years: Richard Linklater

A documentary about Richard Linklater, the director of such independent films as “Slacker” and “Boyhood.” Directed by Michael Dunaway and Tara Wood. Gravitas Ventures

The Better Angels

A biographical drama about the formative years of Abraham Lincoln. With Jason Clarke, Diane Kruger and Brit Marling. Written and directed by A.J. Edwards. Amplify

Big Hero 6

In this animated film, a tech prodigy enlists an inflatable robot and his friends to help save the city of San Fransokyo from a supervillain. With the voices of Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter and Daniel Henney. Written by Robert L. Baird and Daniel Gerson. Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams. In 3-D. Walt Disney Pictures

Diplomacy

A World War II-set drama depicting a fictionalized all-night confrontation between the steely Nazi Gen. Dietrich von Choltitz and the wily Swedish consul Raoul Nordling over the future of Paris. With Andre Dussollier and Niels Arestrup. Written by Cyril Gely and Volker Schlondorff. Directed by Schlondorff. In French and German, with English subtitles. Zeitgeist Films

Elsa & Fred

A strait-laced widower moves into a new apartment and meets a charismatic woman who changes his life. With Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and Marcia Gay Harden. Written by Michael Radford and Anna Pavignano. Directed by Radford. Millennium Entertainment

Jessabelle

A woman returning to her childhood home in Louisiana to recuperate from a horrific car accident comes face to face with a long-tormented spirit that has been waiting for her. With Sarah Snook, Mark Webber and David Andrews. Written by Robert Ben Garant. Directed by Kevin Greutert. Lionsgate

The Lookalike

Two criminals try to find a doppelganger to impersonate the woman a drug lord is infatuated with after the original unexpectedly dies. With Justin Long, John Corbett and Gillian Jacobs. Written by Michele Davis-Gray. Directed by Richard Gray. Well Go USA

Magical Universe

A documentary portrait of the reclusive 88-year-old outsider artist Al Carbee, who creates elaborate dioramas with Barbie dolls. Directed by Jeremy Workman. Sundance Selects

A Merry Friggin’ Christmas

A cranky father and his estranged adult son are forced to hit the road together in a blizzard to retrieve a trove of Christmas gifts before sunrise. With Robin Williams, Joel McHale and Lauren Graham. Written by Michael Brown. Directed by Tristram Shapeero. Phase 4 Films

On Any Sunday, the Next Chapter

A documentary about motorcycle culture, from hobbyists to hardcore racers, that serves as a follow-up the 1971 film “On Any Sunday.” Directed by Dana Brown. Red Bull Media House

Open Windows

After a nerdy fan wins a contest to meet his favorite actress, only for her to back out, he takes up a tantalizing offer to secretly access her webcam. With Elijah Wood, Sasha Grey and Neil Maskell. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo. Cinedigm

Sex Ed

A rookie middle-school instructor who happens to be a virgin becomes an unlikely sex-education teacher. With Haley Joel Osment, Lorenza Izzo and Glen Powell. Written by Bill Kennedy. Directed by Isaac Feder. MarVista Entertainment

The Theory of Everything

A biopic about the British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, tracing his days at Cambridge, his romance with future wife Jane Wilde and his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox and Emily Watson. Written by Anthony McCarten. Directed by James Marsh. Focus Features

True Son

A documentary following 22-year-old Stanford graduate Michael Tubbs’ campaign for a seat on the Stockton City Council in a year of impending bankruptcy and record homicides. Directed by Kevin Gordon. True Son Productions

Virunga

A documentary about a small team of park rangers trying to protect Virunga National Park in eastern Congo from threats including rebel groups, poachers and oil companies. Directed by Orlando von Einseidel. Netflix

The Way He Looks

A blind high school student in Sao Paulo yearns for independence and begins discovering his sexuality. With Ghilherme Lobo, Fabio Audi and Tess Amorim. Written and directed by Daniel Ribeiro. In Portuguese with English subtitles. Strand Releasing

NOV. 14

Always Woodstock

An aspiring singer stuck at a dead-end job at a New York mega-label moves back to her family home in Woodstock to get her life back together. With Allison Miller, James Wolk and Katey Sagal. Written and directed by Rita Merson. Gravitas Ventures

Bad Turn Worse

After a weekend of partying with stolen money, three Texas teens become indebted to a sociopathic criminal. With Jeremy Allen White, Mark Pellegrino and Mackenzie Davis. Written by Dutch Southern. Directed by Simon Hawkins and Zeke Hawkins. Starz Digital

Beside Still Waters

A young romantic who has recently lost both his parents in a car accident enlists his childhood friends to relive their youth, but they don’t share his nostalgia. With Ryan Eggold, Reid Scott and Beck Bennett. Written by Chris Lowell and Mohit Narang. Directed by Lowell. Tribeca Film

Beyond the Lights

A rising music superstar and a young cop assigned to her detail fall hard and fast for each other, despite being urged by those around them to put their career ambitions first. With Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker and Minnie Driver. Written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Relativity Media

Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain

In this drama set against the Bhopal industrial disaster of 1984, a rickshaw driver lands a new job at a chemical plant but begins to notice a troubling disregard for safety standards. With Martin Sheen, Kal Penn and Mischa Barton. Written and directed by Ravi Kumar. Revolver Entertainment

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Butter on the Latch

A young woman travels to a Balkan folk festival in Northern California to lend her support to a friend but becomes fixated on seducing a handsome stranger. With Sarah Smalls, Isolde Chae-Lawrence and Charlie Hewson. Written and directed by Josephine Decker. Cinelicious Pics

Delusions of Guinevere

A washed-up former child star trying to get her career back on track becomes a social-media darling when one of her videos goes viral. With Ariana Bernstein, Amy Halldin and Andrew Ruth. Written by Bernstein and Joanna Bowzer. Directed by Bowzer. Indie Rights

Dumb and Dumber To

Two idiots go on a road trip to locate the daughter one of them had but never knew existed in this sequel to the 1994 film “Dumb and Dumber.” With Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels and Laurie Holden. Written by Sean Anders, John Morris, Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, Bennett Yellin and Mike Cerrone. Directed by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. Universal Pictures

Foxcatcher

A dramatic account of the twisted relationship between the eccentric millionaire John du Pont and brothers Mark and David Schultz, who were both Olympic gold medalists in wrestling. With Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo and Vanessa Redgrave. Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman. Directed by Bennett Miller. Sony Pictures Classics

Getting to the Nutcracker

A documentary chronicling a production of “The Nutcracker” by the Los Angeles-based Marat Daukayev School of Ballet. Directed by Serene Meshel-Dillman. Gravitas Ventures

The Homesman

A pious, independent-minded pioneer woman rescues and recruits a low-life drifter to help her transport three mad women across the harsh Nebraska Territory. With Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank and Grace Gummer. Written by Jones, Kieran Fitzgerald and Wesley A. Oliver. Directed by Jones. Roadside Attractions

Miss Meadows

Under her candy-sweet exterior, a kindly schoolteacher leads a double life as a gun-toting vigilante. With Katie Holmes, James Badge Dale and Callan Mulvey. Written and directed by Karen Leigh Hopkins. eOne Films

Point and Shoot

A documentary about Matt VanDyke, a timid 27-year-old who left his home in Baltimore to embark on a crash course in manhood that culminated with his joining the Libyan revolution to overthrow Moammar Kadafi. Directed by Marshall Curry. The Orchard

Rosewater

A dramatic account of journalist Maziar Bahari’s 118-day incarceration and interrogation in Iran in connection with his reporting on election protests in 2009. With Gael Garcia Bernal. Written and directed by Jon Stewart. Open Road

Saving Christmas

A man tries to save his sister’s annual Christmas party from his dour brother-in-law by showing him the biblical basis of the holiday celebration. With Kirk Cameron, Darren Doane and Bridgette Ridenour. Written by Doane and Cheston Hervey. Directed by Doane. Samuel Goldwyn Films

Starry Eyes

After a series of strange auditions, an aspiring Hollywood actress lands a leading role in a mysterious new film, but it comes with bizarre consequences. With Alex Essoe, Noah Segan and Pat Healy. Written and directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer. MPI Media

Thou Wast Mild and Lovely

On a ranch in rural Kentucky, the arrival of a new farmhand upsets the delicate balance between an overbearing father and his naive daughter. With Joe Swanberg, Sophie Traub and Robert Longstreet. Written and directed by Josephine Decker. Cinelicious Pics

Through a Lens Darkly

A documentary exploring the role of photography in shaping the identity, aspirations and social emergence of African Americans, from slavery to the present. Directed by Thomas Allen Harris. First Run Features

The Toy Soldiers

In a 1980s California beach town, the lives of six young people intersect on the day before their favorite hangout, a roller rink and arcade, is torn down. With Najarra Townsend, Chandler Rylko and Constance Brenneman. Written and directed by Erik Peter Carlson. Mance Media

Wolves

A high school student who seemingly has it all wakes one night to find his parents brutally murdered and is horrified to realize he’s turning into a savage animal. With Lucas Till, Stephen McHattie and John Pyper-Ferguson. Written and directed by David Hayter. Ketchup Entertainment

NOV. 21

All Relative

With the help of dating tips from a seductive divorcee, a New York City grad student successfully courts a sunny young woman, but he’s in for a shock when he meets her parents. With Connie Nielsen, Jonathan Sadowski and Sara Paxton. Written and directed by J.C. Khoury. FilmBuff

Extraterrestrial

Young friends vacationing at a cabin head out to investigate a fireball that lands in the nearby woods, with unfortunate results. With Gil Bellows, Jesse Moss and Michael Ironside. Written and directed by the Vicious Brothers. IFC Midnight

Food Chains

A documentary investigating the widespread abuse of farm laborers in the U.S. Directed by Sanjay Rawal. Screen Media

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

A lone female vampire stalks the streets of an Iranian ghost town and crosses paths with a local greaser. With Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi and Dominic Rians. Written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. In Farsi with English subtitles. Kino Lorber Films

Happy Valley

A documentary about the circumstances behind and the reaction to the sexual abuse scandal that rocked Penn State beginning in November 2011. Directed by Amir Bar-Levy. Music Box Films

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1

The reluctant revolutionary Katniss Everdeen fights to save a dear friend and lead a nation against an authoritarian regime in the opening chapter of a two-part finale. With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson. Written by Danny Strong and Peter Craig. Directed by Francis Lawrence. Lionsgate

The Invisible Front

A documentary about Lithuania’s resistance against Soviet occupation in 1944. Directed by Vincas Sruoginis and Jonas Ohman. In Lithuanian with English subtitles. Forest Brothers

The Mule

A naive first-time drug mule is detained by the Australian federal police and struggles to defy his bodily functions and withhold the evidence for as long as he can. With Hugo Weaving, Angus Sampson and Leigh Whannell. Written by Whannell, Sampson and Jaime Browne. Directed by Sampson and Tony Mahony. XLrator Media

Reach Me

The lives of diverse strangers cross and collide as a result of a self-published motivational book by a reclusive author. With Sylvester Stallone, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Connolly. Written and directed by John Herzfeld. Millennium Entertainment

VHS: Viral

A third installment in the “VHS” horror-anthology franchise. Multiple actors, writers and directors. Magnet Releasing

NOV. 26

Horrible Bosses 2

Hoodwinked by a slick investor, three wannabe entrepreneurs try to regain the upper hand by kidnapping and ransoming their adversary’s adult son. With Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis. Written by Sean Anders and John Morris. Directed by Anders. Warner Bros. Pictures

Penguins of Madagascar

A quartet of penguins team with an undercover inter-species task force to stop a villainous cephalopod. With the voices of Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Chris Knights and Benedict Cumberbatch. Written by Michael Colton, John Aboud and Brandon Sawyer. Directed by Simon Smith and Eric Darnell. In 3-D. 20th Century Fox

NOV. 28

Antarctica: A Year on Ice

A documentary chronicling the day-to-day life of the people stationed on Antarctica, including base workers, chefs, technicians and tradespeople. Directed by Anthony Powell. Music Box Films

The Babadook

Six years after the violent death of her husband, a single mother struggles to manage her out-of-control son, whose dreams are plagued by a monster. With Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman and Daniel Henshall. Written and directed by Jennifer Kent. IFC Midnight

The Imitation Game

A biopic about the British mathematician and cryptologist Alan Turing, who helped the Allies crack Nazi Germany’s Enigma Code during World War II but was persecuted by his own government for being gay. With Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode. Written by Graham Moore. Directed by Morten Tyldum. The Weinstein Co.

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Once Upon a Time Veronica

Fresh out of medical school, a young woman navigates tough career choices, a chaotic love life and a close relationship with her ailing father. With Hermila Guedes, Maeve Jinkings and Joao Miguel. Written and directed by Marcelo Gomes. In Portuguese with English subtitles. Big World Pictures

Viva la Liberta

When a floundering politician vanishes in the run-up to a national election, his party’s leadership seeks out his identical twin, an author and philosopher fresh out of an insane asylum, to fill in for him. With Toni Servillo, Valerio Mastandrea and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. Written by Roberto Ando and Angelo Pasquini. Directed by Ando. In Italian with English subtitles. Distrib Films

DEC. 5

By the Gun

A mafioso’s life spirals out of control when he becomes a made man, forcing him to decide what’s really important to him. With Ben Barnes, Leighton Meester and Harvey Keitel. Written by Emilio Mauro. Directed by James Mottern. Millennium Entertainment

Dying of the Light

When his nemesis resurfaces after 22 years in hiding, a veteran CIA agent recently diagnosed with dementia becomes consumed with taking the terrorist down while he still can. With Nicolas Cage, Anton Yelchin and Alexander Karim. Written and directed by Paul Schrader. Lionsgate

Escobar: Paradise Lost

A surfer is pulled into a dangerous world when he falls for the niece of the drug lord Pablo Escobar. With Benicio Del Toro, Josh Hutcherson and Claudia Traisac. Written and directed by Andrea Di Stefano. Radius

The Humbling

A famous but depressed stage actor attempts to get his mojo back and has an affair with a lesbian half his age. With Al Pacino, Greta Gerwig, Nina Arianda. Written by Buck Henry and Michael Zebede. Directed by Barry Levinson. Millennium Entertainment karina.vladimirov@ginsberglibby.com

Life Partners

Two co-dependent 29-year-old women have their friendship tested when one of them starts getting serious with a new beau. With Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs and Adam Brody. Written by Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz. Directed by Fogel. Magnolia Pictures

A Murder of a Cat

When someone kills his beloved cat, an eccentric man-child takes it upon himself to track down the culprit. With Fran Kranz, Nikki Reed and J.K. Simmons. Written by Christian Magalhaes and Robert Snow. Directed by Gillian Greene. Gravitas Ventures

Pioneer

During the Norwegian oil boom of the early 1980s a deep-sea diver is hired for a dangerous assignment, and a disastrous accident pits him against powerful enemies. With Aksel Hennie, Wes Bentley and Stephanie Sigman. Written by Hans Gunnarson, Katharina valen Zeiner, Cathinka Nicolaysen, Nikolaj Frobenius and Erik Skjoldbjaerg. Directed by Skjoldbjaerg. In Norwegian with English subtitles. Magnolia Pictures

Poker Night

A young detective is kidnapped and tormented by a masked serial killer, and his only hope of surviving is to use the wisdom imparted to him by senior officers on their regular poker night. With Beau Mirchoff, Ron Perlman and Giancarlo Esposito. Written and directed by Greg Francis. XLrator Media

The Pyramid

American archaeologists get more than they bargained for when they discover a lost pyramid unlike any other in the Egyptian desert. With Ashley Hinshaw, James Buckley and Denis O’Hare. Written by Daniel Meersand and Nick Simon. Gregory Levasseur. 20th Century Fox

Remote Area Medical

A documentary about Americans without access to healthcare, as seen through the lens of a pop-up no-cost clinic held in Tennessee. Directed by Jeff Reichert and Farihah Zaman. Cinedigm

A Small Section of the World

A documentary about women from a remote farming region in Costa Rica who form a coffee-growing collective. Directed by Lesley Chilcott. Illy Films

Still Alice

A renowned linguistics professor and mother of three grown children is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and struggles to stay connected to who she once was. With Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart and Kate Bosworth. Written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Sony Pictures Classics

Top Five

A comic superstar trying to reinvent himself as a serious actor — while also preparing to marry his reality-star fiancee — reluctantly agrees to an interview that forces him to confront his career and past. With Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Hart and Tracy Morgan. Written and directed by Rock. Paramount Pictures

Wild

Compelled by grief and personal turmoil, a woman embarks on a 1,100-mile solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in this adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 memoir of the same name. With Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and Thomas Sadoski. Written by Nick Hornby. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. Fox Searchlight Pictures

DEC. 11

The Immortalists

A documentary about two very different scientists who are both seeking to unlock the secret to eternal life. Directed by David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg. GaiamTV

DEC. 12

After the Fall

An ordinary family man loses his job and in desperation turns to a life of crime. With Wes Bentley, Jason Isaacs and Vinessa Shaw. Written by Saar Klein and Joe Conway. Directed by Klein. eOne Films

The Captive

The kidnapping of a young girl inflicts long-lasting torment on the victim, her family and the police called on to investigate the case. With Ryan Reynolds, Mireille Enos and Rosario Dawson. Written by Atom Egoyan and David Fraser. Directed by Egoyan. A24

The Color of Time

An experimental biopic about the life and work of Pulitzer-winning poet C.K. Williams. With James Franco, Mila Kunis and Jessica Chastain. Multiple writers and directors. Starz Digital

Demonic

In the aftermath of the horrific murder of five college students in an abandoned house, a detective and a psychologist question one of the few survivors, who claims that the group was on a ghost-hunting mission that went terribly awry. With Maria Bello and Frank Grillo. Written by Will Canon, Doug Simon and Max La Bella. Directed by Canon. The Weinstein Co. / Dimension Films

Exodus: Gods and Kings

The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Pharaoh Ramses and leads his people out of plague-stricken Egypt toward freedom. With Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton and John Turturro. Written by Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Jeffrey Caine and Steven Zaillian. Directed by Ridley Scott. 20th Century Fox

Inherent Vice

In psychedelic 1960s Los Angeles, a pot-smoking private investigator is enlisted by his ex to investigate a plot involving her billionaire boyfriend. With Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin and Katherine Waterston. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Warner Bros. Pictures

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles

A documentary about the enigmatic life and career of Hollywood star and filmmaker Orson Welles. Directed by Chuck Workman. Cohen Media Group

Monk With a Camera

A documentary about Nicholas Vreeland, the grandson of Vogue editor Diana Vreeland who walked away from a life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk in 1972. Directed by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara. Alive Mind Cinema

Red Army

A documentary about the Soviet Union and the dominance of its national hockey team during the Cold War. Directed by Gabe Polsky. Sony Pictures Classics

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

An intimate friendship blossoms when a formidable retiree hires an acerbic dance instructor for private lessons at her Florida condo. With Gena Rowlands, Cheyenne Jackson and Rita Moreno. Written by Richard Alfieri. Directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman. Dada Films / Film Collective

We Are the Giant

A documentary about the Arab Spring as seen through the experiences of six activists. Directed by Greg Barker. Music Box Films

DEC. 17

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

The hobbit Bilbo Baggins and his dwarf companions battle the dragon Smaug and the forces of the dark lord Sauron. With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and Evangeline Lilly. Written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. Directed by Jackson. In 3-D, Imax and HFR. Warner Bros. Pictures

DEC. 18

The Barefoot Artist

A documentary portrait of Lily Yeh, a Philadelphia-based artist who has created community-based art projects in some of the world’s most troubled areas. Directed by Glenn Holsten and Daniel Traub. Paladin

DEC. 19

Annie

A hard-nosed tycoon running for mayor of New York City takes in a down-on-her-luck orphan in a bid to boost his popularity in this update of the Depression-set stage and screen musical. With Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhane Wallis and Rose Byrne. Written by Will Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna. Directed by Gluck. Columbia Pictures

The Gambler

An English professor who moonlights as a high-stakes gambler risks everything when he borrows from a gangster while offering his own life as collateral. With Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman and Jessica Lange. Written by William Monahan. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Paramount Pictures

Mr. Turner

A biopic chronicling the last 21/2 decades of the eccentric 19th century British painter J.M.W. Turner. With Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey. Written and directed by Mike Leigh. Sony Pictures Classics

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

A museum security guard travels the globe on a quest to save the magic of an ancient artifact that brings history to life. With Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Owen Wilson. Written by David Guion and Michael Handelman. Directed by Shawn Levy. 20th Century Fox

Winter Sleep

For a former actor who runs a mountaintop hotel in Turkey, a seemingly insignificant incident involving the young son of a former employee sparks a fierce debate about class struggle. With Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sozen and Demet Akbag. Written by Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Ebru Ceylan. Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. In Turkish and English, with English subtitles. Adopt Films

DEC. 24

Two Days, One Night

A factory laborer who has just returned to work after recovering from an illness is told she’s been made redundant, then races to persuade her co-workers to help her keep her job. With Marion Cotillard and Fabrizio Rongione. Written and directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne. In French with English subtitles. Sundance Selects

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DEC. 25

American Sniper

A biopic about Chris Kyle, the most lethal sharpshooter in U.S. military history, and the danger and personal turmoil he endured. With Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Jake McDorman. Written by Jason Hall. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Warner Bros. Pictures

Big Eyes

A biopic about the artist Margaret Keane, whose work became popular in the 1950s and ‘60s while her husband took the credit, revolutionizing the commercialization of popular art along the way. With Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston and Krysten Ritter. Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Directed by Tim Burton. The Weinstein Co.

The Interview

A popular tabloid TV host and his producer score a sit-down interview with the reclusive North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and are enlisted by the CIA to assassinate him. With James Franco, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan and Randall Park. Written by Dan Sterling. Directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Columbia Pictures

Into the Woods

In this adaptation of the Tony-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim, a baker and his wife who have been cursed by a witch head into a dark forest to make their deepest wishes come true, crossing paths with Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and other classic fairy-tale characters. With Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden and Anna Kendrick. Written by James Lapine. Directed by Rob Marshall. Walt Disney Pictures

Selma

A dramatic account of the tumultuous three-month period in 1965 when Martin Luther King Jr. led a campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. With David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Alessandro Nivola. Written by Paul Webb. Directed by Ava DuVernay. Paramount Pictures

Unbroken

A biopic about Louis Zamperini, the Olympic runner turned World War II bombardier who survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in the Pacific — only to be caught by the Japanese navy and sent to a POW camp. With Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson and Miyavi. Written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen and Richard LaGravenese. Directed by Angelina Jolie. Universal Pictures

DEC. 31

Leviathan

In a small fishing town in northern Russia, the owner of an auto-repair shop comes into conflict with the town’s corrupt mayor. With Alexey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova and Vladimir Vdovitchenkov. Written by Oleg Negin and Andrey Zvyagintsev. Directed by Zvyagintsev. In Russian with English subtitles. Sony Pictures Classics

A Most Violent Year

In winter 1981, during one of the most crime-ridden winters in New York City’s history, an immigrant businessman and his family try to stake their claim in the world while rampant violence, decay and corruption threaten to undo all they’ve worked for. With Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain and Albert Brooks. Written and directed by J.C. Chandor. A24

JAN. 2

The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death

During the Blitz of World War II, London schoolchildren are sent to a house in the countryside for their safety, but a dark force awakens there. With Jeremy Irvine and Helen McCrory. Written by Jon Croker. Directed by Tom Harper. Relativity Media

JAN. 9

Human Capital

The fates of two families — one wealthy and privileged, the other struggling to maintain a middle-class existence — become intertwined via a road accident. With Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Fabrizio Gifuni. Written by Francesco Bruni, Francesco Piccolo and by Paolo Virizi. Directed by Virzi. In Italian with English subtitles. Film Movement

Let’s Kill Ward’s Wife

When friends’ murderous fantasies about one of their spouses accidentally becomes reality, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. With Scott Foley, Patrick Wilson and Donald Faison. Written and directed by Foley. Tribeca Film

Predestination

A time-traveling law-enforcement agent embarks on his final assignment to stop the one criminal who has eluded him and prevent a devastating attack. With Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook and Noah Taylor. Written and directed by Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig. Vertical Entertainment

Taken 3

An ex-spook with a very particular set of skills finds himself on the run from a savvy police inspector after being falsely accused of killing his wife. With Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace. Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. Directed by Olivier Megaton. 20th Century Fox