Holiday Movies: Oscar Contenders?

The stocking is full of intriguing motion pictures through the start of the new year and dozens of films are arriving between now and the first week of January as the holiday movie season begins in earnest with the “Justice League” superheroes and Pixar’s “Coco” opening just before the Thanksgiving holiday!

This is a time when movies arrive for the whole family to enjoy, as well as prestigious pictures for awards season.

The former would feature movies such as “Wonder,” “Pitch Perfect 3” and a “Jumanji” remake, while the latter would have to include Oscar-aspiring films such as “The Post” and “Darkest Hour.”

The following titles — and these expected Tulsa release dates — are subject to change.

Friday, Nov. 17

‘Justice League’

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg: It has all been building to DC Comics’ version of Marvel’s “Avengers” movies.

‘Wonder’

In a wonderful movie bound to remind some of “Mask,” a young boy with a facial deformity (Jacob Tremblay of “Room”) works to fit in at his new school. Julia Roberts plays his mom.

‘The Star’

Count Kristin Chenoweth among the voices in this Nativity-themed animated film about a donkey (Steven Yeun) and his animal pals (Oprah as a camel!) who become heroes of the first Christmas.

Nov. 22

‘Lady Bird’

Greta Gerwig of “Frances Ha” makes her directorial debut with this semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy about a teen (Saoirse Ronan of “Brooklyn”) desperate to flee her family, her Catholic school and her life to go to college in New York.

‘Coco’

Pixar returns to the Thanksgiving-week frame to release this music-filled movie about an aspiring young musician with a connection to Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Nov. 24

‘Novitiate’

A young woman in training to be a nun during the 1960s finds herself challenged in her beliefs, her sexuality and evolving ideas of Catholicism.

Dec. 1

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’

Frances McDormand is an Oscar favorite as a mother who challenges the police in her small town when they are unable to track down her daughter’s killer. Black comedy meets dangerous drama in this powerful film.

Dec. 8

‘Just Getting Started’

Morgan Freeman, in the style of his geezer-comedy flicks “Last Vegas” and “Going in Style,” teams with Tommy Lee Jones for this desert resort-set action comedy with a witness-protection program angle that screams “Midnight Run.”

Dec. 15

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’

Rey’s story continues, with help from Finn and Poe and even Luke Skywalker this time around, as adversaries new and old lay in wait.

‘Ferdinand’

John Cena gives voice to the bull in this animated take on the beloved book about refusing to enter the bull ring. From the company that makes the “Ice Age” and “Rio” movies.

Dec. 20

‘The Greatest Showman’

Hugh Jackman stars as P.T. Barnum in this musical biopic about the man behind the long-running Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who essentially invented the idea of “show business.”

‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’

Re-imagine the board-game adventure movie with no Robin Williams, but instead Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart.

Dec. 22

‘Pitch Perfect 3’

Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, and Rebel Wilson return for one last singing competition, this time on an overseas USO tour.

‘The Shape of Water’

In the latest dark fairy tale from the mind of Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), Sally Hawkins plays a mute cleaning woman working in a government lab who discovers an unusual test subject.

‘Darkest Hour’

Gary Oldman is the early Oscar frontrunner for best actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill during the early days of World War II, with the fate of Western Europe in the balance against Hitler.

‘Downsizing’

Matt Damon stars with an ensemble cast in the new satire from filmmaker Alexander Payne (“The Descendants,” “Sideways”) about a man who envisions a better life if he can shrink himself.

‘All the Money in the World’

Though it may always be known as the film in which Kevin Spacey’s performance as J. Paul Getty was eliminated — after filming — with Christopher Plummer replacing him, there’s also an odd story behind the billionaire’s 1970s refusal to pay a ransom for his grandson.

‘Father Figures’

Owen Wilson and Ed Helms play brothers whose mom lied to them about their father being dead, so they hit the road in search of him in this raunchy comedy.

TBA

‘The Post’

One of the year’s most anticipated films for adults is Steven Spielberg’s story of the Washington Post’s publishing of the Pentagon Papers in 1971, exposing government cover-ups. Starring Meryl Streep stars as Katharine Graham and Tom Hanks is Ben Bradlee.

‘I, Tonya’

Margot Robbie stars as Olympic ice skater Tonya Harding as she goes from talented competitor to being implicated in one of the most unusual scandals in the history of sports.

‘Hostiles’

Look for Oklahoma actor Wes Studi as a Cheyenne chief in a new Western opposite Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike.

‘Molly’s Game’

The directorial debut of Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin tells the true story of Molly Bloom, who goes from world-class skier to setting up a high-stakes poker game to being a target of the FBI. Jessica Chastain plays Bloom in the film, but watch for Tulsa’s Samantha Isler to portray Molly at a younger age in the movie.

‘The Disaster Artist’

James Franco is getting some of the best reviews of his career for this comedy biopic in which he plays indie filmmaker Tommy Wiseau, whose cult film “The Room” has been called the worst movie ever made.

‘Roman J. Israel, Esq.’

Denzel Washington put on some weight, a wig and glasses to portray an attorney whose idealistic beliefs are challenged by crisis.

‘Call Me By Your Name’

This set-in-Italy tale of a teen boy who begins a relationship with his professor father’s protege (Armie Hammer) has been considered an Oscar candidate ever since its debut at Sundance in January.

‘Phantom Thread’

A re-teaming of director Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis (“There Will Be Blood”), in what will allegedly be the actor’s final performance on film, is set in the high-fashion world of 1950s London.

‘Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool’

Annette Bening stars as 1950s film star Gloria Grahame, whose final years found her in a romance with a much younger man (Peter Turner, upon whose memoirs the story is based, played by Jamie Bell).

‘Last Flag Flying’

Steve Carell, Laurence Fishburne and Bryan Cranston star as three men who, decades after they served in Vietnam, gather to bury one man’s son who has died in the Iraq War.

‘Wonder Wheel’

The lives of four characters (Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake among the actors) intersect at the busy Coney Island amusement park during the 1950s.