Even though it may have been many weeks since the nation collectively adjusted their clocks to “fall back,” now that the holiday twinkle lights that illuminated homes and businesses have been put away, mid-winter darkness may seem even more apparent. The hours of daylight are incrementally increasing, but with the sun still setting relatively early, those eager to fill the evening hours may be wondering how to pass the time.
Watching a movie is an ideal activity for the cold, dark evenings of winter. Nestled in the theater with a bucket of popcorn and other favorite treats, movie-goers will not be bothered by falling snow or the sun setting outdoors. It’s time to gear up for a new year of feature films. Here’s a look at movies coming to big and small screens soon enough.
• “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Movie” (January 5): A Mexican-American family who have lost connection to their culture and each other embark on an epic road trip that ends up going wrong in various ways. Eva Longoria and Jesse Garcia are featured in the film available on Disney+.
• “The Beekeeper” (January 12): A man is on a brutal campaign for vengeance. The stakes are elevated when it is revealed he is a former operative of a clandestine group known as “Beekeepers.” The film stars Jason Statham, Josh Hutcherson and Minnie Driver.
• “Mean Girls” (January 12): This is the film adaptation of the musical version that made waves on Broadway. The Plastics, an A-list clique at school, welcome a new student, but things go awry when she makes the mistake of falling for the ex-boyfriend of the Plastics’ leader. Tina Fey, John Hamm, Jenna Fischer, and an assortment of teen stars comprise the cast.
• “The Book of Clarence” (January 12): Set in biblical times, the movie tells the tale of Clarence, a down-on-his-luck denizen of Jerusalem trying to capitalize on the influence of the Messiah for his own gain. Benedict Cumberbatch, Omar Sky, James McAvoy, and LaKeith Stanfield are among the cast members.
• “Distant” (January 19): Josh Gordon and Will Speck star in this movie about an asteroid miner who, after crash-landing on an alien planet, must find the only other survivor. He is faced with harsh terrain, a lack of oxygen and strange creatures along the way.
• “Madame Web” (February 14): Dakota Johnson stars as a clairvoyant in this Spidey spin-off action movie.
• “Ordinary Angels” (February 23): A hairdresser rallies a community to help a widower save the life of his daughter who is critically ill. The movie is based on a true story, and features Alan Ritchson and Hillary Swank.
• “Kung-Fu Panda 4” (March 8): Poe and friends take on a chameleon foe while on the search for a new Dragon Warrior. The original cast returns and includes the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and more.
This winter, families and friends can rally together to chase away the chill and darkness with movies that light up the big and small screens.