With the holidays in full swing, Hollywood is trotting out both its awards contenders and some of their most anticipated mega blockbusters ( Star Wars 7, anyone? ). Though the winter months promise plenty of diverting film fare as well, Our People won't see much representation so movie mavens will be cheered by the nice assortment of forthcoming home releases—highlights of which are sprinkled in amidst the theatrical films listed below. Unless otherwise noted, the opening date listed refers to at least a one week theatrical run.
December
—Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The sci-fi juggernaut, seemingly as overwhelming as the Death Star that was destroyed in the first blockbuster, continues with the year's most anticipated film. The original troika—Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill—are back, helping to shepherd in a whole new generation of characters ready to hold the lightsaber aloft. No doubt, the cinema's most enduring gay couple—the robots R2D2 and C3PO—will be part of the intergalactic mix as well. Dec. 18
—Nasty Baby: One of the year's most interesting LGBT films was this genre-busting relationship dramedy about a gay couple in Brooklyn trying to have a baby with their supportive best friend ( Kristen Wiig ) that inexplicably flips into a suspense thriller. On Blu-ray and DVD Dec. 22
—Carol: Out director Todd Haynes ( Far From Heaven, Safe, Velvet Goldmine ) returns with this critically hailed adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic lesbian romance novel The Price of Salt. Cate Blanchett, Oscar-nominated for her gender-bending performance as Bob Dylan in Haynes' I'm Not There, portrays a wealthy housewife whose passionate love affair with a department store clerk and budding photographer ( Rooney Mara ) has potentially dangerous personal consequences in the repressive 1950s. Dec. 25
—Joy: Jennifer Lawrence reteams with writer-director David O. Russell ( Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle ) for this comedic, true-life story of a put-upon New Jersey single mother saddled with an eccentric extended family whose bleak life could be changed by her invention of a new household product. Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, Virginia Madsen and Isabella Rossellini co-star. Dec. 25
—The Hateful Eight: The latest from writer-director Quentin Tarantino is a three-hour opus focused on a group of disparate characters snowbound during a blizzard in the Old West. Shot on 70mm, the film will be presented in the wide-screen format in the classic road-show style, complete with intermission. Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Bruce Dern and Demian Bichir co-star. Dec. 25
—Concussion: Will Smith stars in this hard-hitting, true-life expose. It's a sports drama about a forensic psychologist who blows the whistle on the NFL when he discovers a link between Alzheimer's and football-helmet injuries. Dec. 25
January
—Where to Invade Next: In his latest documentary, Michael Moore "invades" a series of countries—Italy, Iceland, France, Germany, etc.—in order to "claim" various social policies ( paid vacations for all, gun control, no drug laws, equal opportunities and pay for women among them ) from said countries for the United States. Jan. 15
—Stonewall: Disaster-picture specialist Roland Emmerich ( who is openly gay ) gets personal with this look at the burgeoning gay-rights movement that was sparked by the riots that ensued in June of 1969 when a group of patrons in a New York bar fought back against police harassment. Jeremy Irvine and Jonny Beauchamp co-star in last fall's most controversial movie. Now judge for yourself. On Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 19
—London Has Fallen: A sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, this action thriller finds the president ( Aaron Eckhart ) and his head of secret service ( Gerard Butler ) trying to thwart a terrorist plot to remove the world's leaders, who have assembled in England for the death ( under mysterious circumstances ) of that country's Prime Minister. Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett and Melissa Leo co-star. Jan. 22
—The New Girlfriend: French queer auteur Francois Ozon ( Swimming Pool, 8 Women, Under the Sand, Time to Leave ) returned with this wry black comedy that, in typical Ozon fashion, plays with gender boundaries—this time making it the theme of the film. On Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 26
—Fifty Shades of Black: Marlon Wayans co-wrote and stars in this comedic parody of a certain S&M best-selling novel and box-office smash. Jan. 29
February
—Freeheld: Ellen Page and Julianne Moore star as a lesbian couple fighting for survivor benefits when one of them is diagnosed with late stage cancer. Based on the 2007 Oscar-winning short film, it's on Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 2.
—Suffragette: A historical drama based on the early days of the British feminist movement driven by a compelling performance from Carey Mulligan. With Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, out actor Ben Whishaw, and Meryl Streep in a small but pivotal part. On Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 2
—Hail, Caesar!: The Coen Bros. return with this black comedy ( do they make any other kind? ) about a Hollywood fixer ( Josh Brolin ) in the 1950s trying to locate a studio's megastar ( George Clooney ) who has been kidnapped during production of his latest epic. Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes and Jonah Hill co-star. Feb. 5
—Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Lily James, Sam Riley and others star in this comedy action-thriller based on the novel, a mash-up of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and George Romero. Feb. 5
—Grandma: Out actor and lesbian icon Lily Tomlin gives an illuminating performance in this bittersweet comedy as a take no prisoner feminist poet trying to help her granddaughter get an abortion during one memorable day in Los Angeles. On Blu-ray and DVD Feb. 9
—Deadpool: Yet another superhero from the Marvel Comics universe comes to the big screen in this big-budget action blockbuster. The difference this time out is that said superhero, played by hunky Ryan Reynolds, is openly, proudly pansexual. Feb. 12
—Zoolander No. 2: Ben Stiller returns as Derek Zoolander, the world's most famous male model ( and its most dimwitted ), along with the rest of his pack of pretty, vacuous fashionistas in this long-gestating sequel to the cult favorite. Feb. 12
—The Witch: A 17th-century Puritan family in New England becomes convinced that their teenage daughter is in the service of Satan when their young son disappears. Feb. 26
