This year’s holiday movie landscape has something for everyone – from smashing sequels to neighborly cheer.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
But the biggest blockbuster of the season will be a box office force to be reckoned with on December 20.
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is not just the end of this trilogy, but it’s really the end of the entire Skywalker saga – something which has been going on now for 42 years. So I think people are very excited to see what this thing which has been such a huge part of their lives has been building up to,” said Mike Schindler, events coordinator at Classic Cinemas Ogden 6.
Cats
But if TIE Fighters and lightsabers aren’t your thing, Cats is singing and dancing its way into theaters just before Christmas.
“Whenever a movie like Star Wars comes out, there’s always going to be another movie which is kind of alternative programming for those people who may not be interested in Star Wars and this year it’s certainly Cats,” said Schindler. “It’s by an Oscar-winning filmmaker, it has an amazing cast and I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people.”
Frozen 2
One film that’s already sending chills down viewers’ spines, is Frozen 2.
“The original Frozen I think took a lot of people by surprise,” said Schindler. “Obviously it was a Disney cartoon and there’s a certain expectation with that. But now that everybody has seen that Frozen is a game changer, the anticipation for Frozen 2 is insane.”
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Another option that hit cinemas before Thanksgiving has Tom Hanks taking on the role of everyone’s favorite neighbor, Mr. Rogers.
“Anytime you have Tom Hanks in a movie, that’s something. But when you have Tom Hanks playing Mr. Rogers, that’s something else entirely,” said Schindler. “So far the reviews have been fantastic, it’s at 96% positive on Rotten Tomatoes and I would not be at all surprised if it gets a lot of nominations for the Oscars.”
Jumanji: The Next Level
If the “Neighborhood of Make-Believe” isn’t adventurous enough, Jumanji: The Next Level may appeal to your tastes, premiering on December 13.
“I don’t think anyone was expecting the first Jumanji sequel to be what it was, but they really found a formula that worked and with this one instead of going back and doing the exact same thing, they’re really changing things up,” said Schindler.
Knives Out
Finally, Schindler says an underrated hit this winter will be a sharp-witted mystery already in theaters.
“One movie which is out right now which I think might slip under some people’s radars is Knives Out, which is a ‘whodunit?’ with a twist,” he said. “Starring an all-star cast led by Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis. This is one of the absolute best movies of the year and it is the most fun you will have all season.”
Whatever picture you end up seeing this season, it’s sure to be a magical time.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
