The holiday movie season opens in one week, and the calendar is packed: a prequel that fans have waited for, a family comedy for Thanksgiving week, and two giant films that open on the very same day. Here is a simple guide to what to see in theaters from Thanksgiving to Christmas, plus one big plan that changed.
Friday, November 20: The Hunger Games returns
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in theaters on Friday, November 20, with Francis Lawrence directing. It is a prequel to the story many viewers grew up with, and it arrives just before Thanksgiving week, which makes it an easy choice for a night out with teenagers or with friends you have not seen in months. If you love the books, this is a good week to reread a few pages before you buy the ticket.
Wednesday, November 25: a comedy for family week
Focker-In-Law opens on Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, with Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller returning to the comedy franchise that began with Meet the Parents. A family comedy is a natural fit for the week when families sit at the same table, and it can become a quiet plan for the cousins who have eaten too much. The days around the holiday are busy, so check showtimes early.
Friday, December 18: two giants, one day
Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, and Dune: Part Three, directed by Denis Villeneuve, are both scheduled to open on Friday, December 18. Film fans already call the double date "Dunesday", and everyone asks the same question: which one will you see first? There is no wrong answer. One is a superhero event and the other is a desert epic, and they ask very different things from an audience. If you can, plan both on different days so neither feels rushed.
Friday, December 25: the Christmas Day pick
Mr. Irrelevant, an underdog true story starring David Corenswet, is set for Christmas Day. Underdog stories are a holiday tradition for a good reason: they remind us that a long shot is still a shot, and that is a message worth carrying into a new year.
A long shot is still a shot.
One plan that changed: Narnia
If you were counting on Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew for Thanksgiving, the plan has changed. Netflix moved the film to February of next year, with a full run in theaters first and its Netflix debut weeks later. Some older articles still list the Thanksgiving date, so check the date before you plan a family outing around it.
Make it a ritual, in two languages
Going to the movies is one of the last experiences that a whole family can share in the same room, with the phones away for two hours. For bilingual families it is also a language moment: after the credits, ask each person what they liked best, once in English and once in Spanish. You will be surprised how different the same scene sounds in the other language, and how much a teenager enjoys explaining a plot twist to a grandmother.
If you are planning the table for the same week, read our guide to an American and Latino Thanksgiving: recipes, table and decor, then choose your movie night for the day after the feast.
Your holiday movie calendar
Friday, November 20: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Wednesday, November 25: Focker-In-Law
Friday, December 18: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three
Friday, December 25: Mr. Irrelevant
Dates are as announced by the studios and release calendars. Check your local theater listings before you buy tickets, because release dates can change. For more culture, lifestyle and entertainment in English and Spanish, visit KZAIZ MAGAZINE every week.
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