Debuting in US theaters the week of December 25 are two hot awards-season favorites in Vice Presidential biopic โViceโ and Nicole Kidmanโs intense thriller โDestroyer.โ
Another true-life story profiling the rise of influential anti-discrimination lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg in โOn the Basis of Sexโ the Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly comic farce โHolmes & Watsonโ and Reillyโs double act with British comedian Steve Coogan, tracing the final tour of a legendary comedy pairing in โStan & Ollie.โ
1. Vice (R)
Select release dates: Canada, USA โ December 25; Australia, New Zealand โ Dec 26; Ireland, UK โ January 25; South Africa โ Jan 31; France โ February 13; Netherlands โ Feb 28
Story: Dick Cheney goes from ruthless oil company CEO to US Vice President, seeing an opportunity to reshape the role and become the most powerful (and, eventually, generally despised) VP in the nationโs history. An awards-season favorite for its director and a transformed Christian Bale.
Starring Christian Bale (โBatman Beginsโ trilogy), Sam Rockwell (โThree Billboardsโฆโ), Amy Adams (โArrivalโ) and Steve Carell (โFoxcatcher,โ TV series โThe Officeโ) and directed by Adam McKay (โThe Big Short,โ โStep Brothersโ).
2. Holmes & Watson (PG-13)
Select release dates: Canada, USA โ December 25; Australia, Ireland, UK โ Dec 26; South Africa โ January 4; Netherlands โ Jan 10; France โ February 27
Story: The greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, as a brilliant but comically short-sighted dolt, is accompanied by his even less incisive assistant, Doctor Watson, as they attempt to foil a threat to the Queenโs life.
Starring โStep Brothersโ leads Will Ferrell (โAnchorman,โ โGet Hardโ) and John C. Reilly (โWreck-It Ralph,โ โGuardians of the Galaxyโ) and directed by Etan Cohen (โGet Hardโ).
3. Destroyer (R)
Select release dates: USA โ December 25; Canada, Ireland, UK โ January 25; Singapore โ February 14; Netherlands โ March 14
Story: Veteran LAPD officer Erin Bell is forced to confront the remaining members of a gang she had infiltrated at the beginning of her career. A Golden Globe-nominated performance from Kidman.
Starring Nicole Kidman (โMoulin Rouge,โ โThe Peacemaker,โ TV series โBig Little Liesโ), Sebastian Stan (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and Tatiana Maslany (TV series โOrphan Black,โ) and directed by Karyn Kusama (โJenniferโs Body,โ episodes of โHalt and Catch Fire,โ โBillions,โ โThe Man in the High Castleโ).
4. On the Basis of Sex (PG-13)
Select release dates: USA โ December 25; France โ January 2; Singapore โ Jan 10; South Africa โ Jan 24; Australia โ February 1; Ireland, UK โ Feb 8; Netherlands โ March 7
Story: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, not yet a US Supreme Court Justice but a young law student, teams up with her husband to overturn a century of gender discrimination.
Starring Felicity Jones (โRogue One: A Star Wars Story,โ โLike Crazyโ) and directed by Mimi Leder (โThe Peacemaker,โ TV show โThe Leftoversโ).
5. Stan & Ollie (PG)
Select release dates: USA โ December 28 (limited screenings); Ireland, UK โ January 11; Australia โ February 21; France โ March 6
Story: Following an unfortunate but deeply hurtful misunderstanding, beloved English comedian Stan Laurel and American counterpart Oliver Hardy team up again for a final tour.
Starring Steve Coogan (โPhilomena,โ TV show โIโm Alan Partridgeโ) and John C. Reilly (โWreck-It Ralph,โ โGuardians of the Galaxyโ) and directed by Jon S. Baird (โFilthโ).