This winter, everything old is new again in the movies. Santa’s out, but nutcrackers are in. And guess who’s back in town? The Grinch. And so are those fantastic beasts. And Mary Poppins. And Ralph – he’s breaking the internet this time around. And what would the holidays be without a superhero? Bor-ring! And if you’d rather stay in, there’s so new fun stuff coming on DVD and Blu-ray to. Here’s what you can look forward to.
November
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Date: In theaters right now!
About: Just like E.T.A Hoffmann’s original story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” every version of the “Nutcracker” ballet is slightly different, Disney’s new “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” starts out pretty much the same but has a lot more added to the story. This coming of age story, stars Mackenzie Foy as a tomboy-ish Clara, Helen Mirren plays Mother Ginger, Morgan Freeman as godfather Drosselmeyer and Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Rating: PG
Learn More: https://movies.disney.com/the-nutcracker-and-the-four-realms
The Grinch
Date: November 9
About: Parents who are fans of the original half-hour animated TV special, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas may not be pleased with yet another adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic story, but Illumination are the same people who brought “Horton Hears a Who” and “The Lorax” to the big screen without messing them up, so there’s a good chance that this will be good. And with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the green monster, how could it go wrong?
Rating: PG
Learn More: https://www.grinchmovie.com (and check out below our preview screening review)!
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Date: November 16
About: Though dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured at the end of the first film, he has found a way to escape and capture new followers, while tricking them about what his real cause is – raising up pure-blood wizards to rule over non-magical beings. Of course. The cast includes Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law.
Rating: PG-13
Learn More: http://www.fantasticbeasts.com
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Date: November 21
About: Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) is back and this time his new best little buddy, Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) convinces him that it’s time to explore outside their realm of video games and inter the internet. What could go wrong?
Rating: PG
Learn More: https://movies.disney.com/ralph-breaks-the-internet-wreck-it-ralph-2
December
Spider-man: Into the Spidey-Verse
Date: December 14
About: Let’s hope that this new animated Spider-Man movie is better than its title. It is said that the film is from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the guys behind “The Lego Movie” and “21 Jump Street” and has a “groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind,” whatever that means. The story also introduces us to a new character, Miles Morales and a world where “more than one can wear the mask.”
Rating: TBD
Learn More: http://www.intothespiderverse.movie
Aquaman
Date: December 21
About: Jason Momoa returns as the half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry in a story about a journey that will “not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king.” We’ll see if DC Comics have found a way to make this sourpuss character into someone we can root for. The movie also stars Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe and Patrick Wilson.
Rating: TBD
Learn More: http://www.aquamanmovie.com
Mary Poppins Returns
Date: December 19
About: Mary Poppins is back many years later to check in on the now all-grown-up Banks children but Mary (Emily Blunt) looks like she hasn’t aged a day. The movie promises all new music (but I can’t imagine that they won’t have a little of the Sherman Brothers music in there someplace) and an all-new cast (except for Dick Van Dyke who has an extended cameo role, but not as Bert.) The film also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep.
Rating: PG
Learn More: https://movies.disney.com/mary-poppins-returns
Bumblebee
Date: December 21
About: Don’t get your hopes up on this one just yet. To date, the Transformers movies haven’t been great for family viewing, but this new chapter focusing on Bumblebee (a transforming Volkswagen Bug), 18-year-old Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld) finds him battle-scarred, broken and left in a junkyard. While he may not be a love bug, hopefully this movie will be.
Rating: TBD
Learn More: https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/movies/bumblebee
This Winter on DVD and Blu-Ray
Christopher Robin
Date: November 6
About: Perhaps last summer’s most unique movie, “Christopher Robin” (Ewan McGregor) is now all grown up without time for foolish ideas and stuffed animals. And that makes it the perfect time for him to receive a visit from the bear stuffed with fluff and his friends.
Rated: PG
Learn More: http://movies.disney.com/christopher-robin
Incredibles 2
Date: November 6
About: Finally arriving many years after the 2004 original film, “Incredibles 2” shares how Helen aka Elastigirl (voice of Holly Hunter) gets called back to superhero service in an attempt to bring “Supers” back while Bob (Craig T. Nelson) becomes a stay-at-home-dad watching over his moody teenager Violet (Sarah Vowell), super speedy son Dash (Huck Milner) and unpredictable Baby Jack Jack.
Rated: PG
Learn More: http://movies.disney.com/incredibles-2
Teen Titans Go to the Movies
Date: November 30
About: While not much more than an extended episode from the “Teen Titans Go!” TV series on Cartoon Network, the Premise is that the Teen Titans want to figure out why nobody has made a superhero movie based on them. Hijinks ensue.
Rated: PG
Learn More: http://www.teentitansgo-movie.com
What movies are you looking forward to seeing this winter?
Latest posts by Jeff Totey, Dad's Pop Life and Northwest Entertainment & Lifestyle Contributing Columnist (see all)
- Fall Family Movies - November 17, 2019
- Family-Friendly Summer Movie Guide - June 19, 2019
- In-laws and Outlaws: How to Survive the Holidays with Family - November 21, 2018
