The holiday season is upon us. But it’s not just about shopping for gifts, planning gatherings and decorating your house. It’s also about all those new family flicks coming to theaters nationwide. If you're wondering what to go see with the family this winter, here are seven suggestions from the newest the Star Wars adventure to a brand new Disney heroine.
Nov. 11: Almost Christmas
Rated: PG-13
The holiday season is a time for families to come together, so it’s no surprise that this is reflected on the big screen during this oh-so-busy time. Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover and Jessie T. Usher star in this tale of a dysfunctional family that comes together for their first Thanksgiving since the death of their matriarch.
Why Kids Will Like It: Older kids will enjoy seeing a relatable family on the big screen.
Why Parents Will Like It: While much of the family’s issues might go over their kids’ heads, parents will totally know where it’s all coming from.
Nov. 18: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Rated: PG-13
The wizarding world is coming back this Thanksgiving (and yes, we are all very thankful indeed). In this brand new tale from the mind of J.K. Rowling, we meet writer Newt Scamander as he travels to America and delves into a New York City community of wizards and witches.
Why Kids Will Like It: It’s Harry Potter.
Why Parents Will Like It: It’s Harry Potter. (Really, it’s win-win).
Nov. 23: Moana
Rated: PG
Disney brings a new heroine to the big screen for Thanksgiving with Moana. Taking place in the oceans of Polynesia, young Moana sets sail with the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) to try to save her people.
Why Kids Will Like It: Kids, especially girls, will love the fierce and spirited Moana.
Why Parents Will Like It: The soundtrack by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Dec. 16: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rated: Not Yet Rated
The first spin-off feature in the Star Wars saga comes to us in mid-December. In this segment of the series (which should chronologically be sandwiched between Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV – A New Hope), a group of rebels band together to attempt to steal the plans for the Death Star.
Why Kids Will Like It: For fans of the Star Wars movies, this is a must.
Why Parents Will Like It: There will be various references to the Star Wars movies that we’ve grown up with, such as the Death Star, Stormtroopers and Darth Vader.
Dec. 16: The Space Between Us
Rated:PG-13
In the teen romance The Space Between Us, a young man who was born on Mars comes to Earth for the first time and falls in love. But the romance is complicated by the fact that his body is having issues acclimating to the Earth’s climate.
Why Kids Will Like It: Teens will adore Asa Butterfield and Britt Robertson in the roles of the young couple.
Why Parents Will Like It: Parents will appreciate the sci-fi complexity of the tale and its original storyline.
Dec. 21: Sing
Rated: PG
Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane and Scarlett Johansson are among the big names lending their voices to the animated feature Sing. In the Christmas release, Buster Moon (a koala) attempts to revive an old theater with a singing competition.
Why Kids Will Like It: Kids will love all the singing animals, because how could they not?
Why Parents Will Like It: Parents will enjoy the recognizable voices of the all-star cast.
Jan. 6: A Monster Calls
Rated: PG-13
In this moving tale, a boy looks to a tree monster to help cope with his mom's terminal illness. The mom is played by Felicity Jones; who will soon be a household name after her starring role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Why Kids Will Like It: While the film will be emotional, they’ll like the relationship between the “monster” and the boy.
Why Parents Will Like It: Fans of Guardians of the Galaxy will immediately have a fondness for the Groot-like monster.
