Must-See Holiday Movies: From 'Wicked: For Good' to 'Avatar 3'

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Santa's got a brand new bag of holiday gifts coming soon to your local movie theater. What cinematic treats await before the end of the year? Christmas carols give way to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo doing more witchy showtunes. George Clooney is playing the role he was born to play – a legendary movie star! – on the big screen before coming to Netflix. Timothée Chalamet trades Bob Dylan's harmonica for a ping-pong paddle. Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried engage in some psychological warfare. SpongeBob is back, as are the colorful critters living in Zootopia. Oh, and don't forget a third trip to Pandora to hang out with the Na'vi again.

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Here's an exclusive peek at 15 new movies you absolutely, positively must see in theaters this holiday season:

'Jay Kelly' (Nov. 14)

Noah Baumbach's meta comedy (streaming Dec. 5 on Netflix) stars George Clooney as an aging A-lister coming to grips with choices he's made in his movie career. A run-in with an old theater friend (Billy Crudup) sends him on a thoughtful and reflective trip to an Italian film festival with his loyal manager (Adam Sandler) and feisty publicist (Laura Dern) in tow.

'The Running Man' (Nov. 14)

Edgar Wright directs a new take on Stephen King's dystopian thriller novel. At wit's end trying to find a job and get medicine for his sick daughter, a working-class guy (Glen Powell) volunteers for the deadliest game show on TV. He'll win a billion dollars if he can somehow survive 30 days while being hunted by killers as the world watches.

'Rental Family' (Nov. 21)

The touching dramedy centers on a lonely American actor (Brendan Fraser) who, after seven years living in Tokyo, still feels like an outsider. He finds a life-altering new gig with a rental family service that hires him to do stand-in roles in people's lives, including as a long-lost father to a young girl and a journalist interviewing a Japanese movie legend.

'Wicked: For Good' (Nov. 21)

The closer of Jon Chu's two-part movie musical again features Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the fugitive witch Elphaba and her torn bestie Glinda, respectively. As the propaganda machine of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) works to make Elphaba a hated pariah, she and Glinda will need to work together to save Oz.

'Eternity' (Nov. 26)

The fantasy romantic comedy imagines an afterlife where people can choose where they go for eternity, like a job fair. After a fatal choking incident, Larry (Miles Teller) arrives but waits for his wife, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), so they can make their decision together. The problem is, her long-ago lover (Callum Turner) has been waiting for her, too.

'Hamnet' (Nov. 26)

Director Chloé Zhao's fictionalized story behind the creation of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is a gut-wrenching family drama. William (Paul Mescal) travels to London for his theater work while his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley) raises their kids in the country, and tragedy creates a greater emotional distance but also a way back together.

'Zootopia 2' (Nov. 26)

The animal-filled animated sequel returns rabbit Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox Nick (Jason Bateman) as detective partners. They're on the case when a snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan) shows up unexpectedly, and the critter cops try to help him and his family, even though it puts them on the wrong side of the law.

'Ella McCay' (Dec. 12)

Oscar-winning filmmaker James L. Brooks directs his first film in 15 years with this dramedy starring Emma Mackey as an idealistic politico. Ella is named the new governor of her home state, juggling a stressful job and chaotic personal life alongside her helpful aunt (Jamie Lee Curtis) and womanizing dad (Woody Harrelson).

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' (Dec. 19)

James Cameron's third outing in the blockbuster sci-fi franchise finds Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) and their family coming face to face with a new enemy. The Ash People, a faction of Na'vi led by the fierce Varang (Oona Chaplin), emerge as a formidable force as they team with returning villain Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

'The Housemaid' (Dec. 19)

Based on the Freida McFadden novel, the psychological thriller centers on an ex-con named Millie (Sydney Sweeney) who takes a job as a live-in housemaid for wealthy Nina (Amanda Seyfried) and her perfect husband Andy (Brandon Sklenar). But the dream gig turns into a nightmare thanks to the volatile Nina and the place's dark secrets.

'Is This Thing On?' (Dec. 19)

Directed by Bradley Cooper, the dramedy stars Will Arnett as a middle-aged dad navigating a separation from his wife (Laura Dern) when, on a lark, he signs up for an open mic comedy night. This new hobby sparks a newfound creativity and passion in his life, though he runs into trouble the more he brings his romantic travails into his act.

'The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants' (Dec. 19)

The animated comedy adventure finds our spongey hero venturing out from the cozy confines of Bikini Bottom and, in an effort to impress his boss, going on a quest both to the underworld and the real world. Oh, yeah, he also runs afoul of the Flying Dutchman (voiced by Mark Hamill), a villainous ghost pirate.

'Anaconda' (Dec. 25)

The meta action comedy stars Paul Rudd and Jack Black as childhood best friends who decide to embark on a very indie remake of their favorite movie as kids, the original 1997 "Anaconda." Trouble arises when they need a new snake for their film, and a trip to the jungle leads to discovering a ginormous reptile that tries to eat them.

'Marty Supreme' (Dec. 25)

Timothée Chalamet didn't score a best actor Oscar for playing Bob Dylan. Maybe he will as a table tennis whiz? Directed by Josh Safdie, the 1950s-set sports dramedy stars Chalamet as a shoe-selling ping-pong ace who dreams of becoming a world champion but needs to come up with enough cash to take on his rival in Japan.

'Song Sung Blue' (Dec. 25)

Based on a true story, the musical drama follows a Vietnam vet (Hugh Jackman) who meets another struggling divorced musician (Kate Hudson) in the 1980s. Together they form a popular Neil Diamond tribute band that rocks audiences while also falling in love and blending their families off stage.