Lucian Msamati in Conclave Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features

new in theaters

Starting December 20

HOMESTEAD: A former Green Beret holes up in a prepper compound in this postapocalyptic drama from Angel Studios. Dawn Olivieri and Neal McDonough star. (110 min, PG-13. Essex)

MUFASA: THE LION KING: Disney’s prequel/sequel to its 2019 “live-action” version of The Lion King explores the backstory of Simba’s dad, voiced by Aaron Pierre. Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) directed. (120 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Welden)

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3: Keanu Reeves voices a shadowy new enemy in another animated action-adventure based on the video game series. With Jim Carrey and Ben Schwartz. Jeff Fowler directed. (110 min, PG. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Welden)

Starting December 25 (check theater websites for full booking info)

BABYGIRL: A CEO (Nicole Kidman) embarks on a risky affair with an intern (Harris Dickinson) in this erotic thriller from Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies). (114 min, R. Essex, Savoy)

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN: Timothée Chalamet plays the young Bob Dylan in James Mangold’s biopic, also starring Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning. (141 min, R. Essex, Playhouse)

THE FIRE INSIDE: Ryan Destiny plays boxer Clarissa “T-Rex” Shields, whose Olympic dreams took her far from Flint, Mich., in the feature debut from Rachel Morrison. (109 min, PG-13. Essex)

NOSFERATU: Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse) offers his take on one of the foundational cinematic vampire tales, starring Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult and Bill Skarsgård. (133 min, R. Essex, Savoy)

currently playing

CONCLAVE ★★★★ A conspiracy interferes with the selection of a new pope in this thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, directed by Edward Berger. (120 min, PG. Catamount, Welden [ends Thu 19 at both])

FLOW ★★★★★ This Latvian animation follows the fate of a cat who must team up with other animals to survive a natural disaster. Gints Zilbalodis directed. (84 min, PG. Catamount, Savoy; reviewed 12/11)

GET AWAY ★★★ A desolate Swedish island turns out not to be the perfect spot for a family vacay in this horror comedy written by and starring Nick Frost and directed by Steffen Haars. (86 min, R. Savoy)

GLADIATOR II ★★★ Ridley Scott directed the sequel to his 2000 epic of ancient Rome. With Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen. (148 min, R. Capitol, Essex [ends Tue 24], Majestic)

KRAVEN THE HUNTER: The Marvel Comics supervillain (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) gets an origin story focused on his relationship to his estranged crime lord dad (Russell Crowe). J.C. Chandor directed. (127 min, R. Essex [ends Tue 24], Majestic, Paramount, Stowe)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM: In this animated fantasy set nearly 200 years before Peter Jackson’s trilogy, the king of Rohan (voice of Brian Cox) must defend his land. With Gaia Wise and Miranda Otto; Kenji Kamiyama directed. (134 min, PG-13. Essex [ends Tue 24], Majestic)

MOANA 2 ★★★ The islander heroine (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) must sail unknown seas to break a curse in the sequel to the animated Disney hit. (100 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Welden)

A REAL PAIN ★★★★1/2 Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed and stars with Kieran Culkin in this comedy-drama about two estranged cousins exploring their family history in Poland. (90 min, R. Savoy; reviewed 12/4)

RED ONE ★1/2 The North Pole’s head of security (Dwayne Johnson) joins forces with a bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus in this action comedy. (123 min, PG-13. Capitol, Majestic)

SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT ★★★★1/2 Johan Grimonprez’s documentary explores how two activist musicians crashed the United Nations Security Council during the Cold War. (150 min, NR. Savoy)

WICKED ★★★1/2 Gregory Maguire’s subversive take on The Wizard of Oz becomes a musical becomes a movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Jon M. Chu directed. (160 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Star, Stowe; reviewed 11/27)

older films and special screenings

A CHRISTMAS STORY (Bijou)

ELF (Bijou, Playhouse)

METROPOLITAN (Catamount, Sat 21 only)

POTICHE (Catamount, Wed 18 only)

ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER (Essex, Sun 22 & Mon 23 only)

open theaters

(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

This article appears in The Reading Issue 2024.

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Margot Harrison is a consulting editor and film critic at Seven Days. Her film reviews appear every week in the paper and online. In 2024, she won the Jim Ridley Award for arts criticism from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia. Her book reviews...