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29 movies you have to see this holiday season

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passengers

Now it's going to get good.

We have hit the prestige movie season. While some get excited about the summer and its big blockbusters, 2016 didn't have the most exciting summer at the cineplex. Others (like me) love when the holidays are upon us because that's when the Oscar-worthy movies come out on a weekly basis.

Yes, there are still some major blockbuster releases that shouldn't be ignored like "Rogue One,""Doctor Strange," and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," but there are also dramas like "Manchester by the Sea,""La La Land," and Martin Scorsese's long-awaited "Silence."

Here are 29 titles coming out by the end of the year that you shouldn't miss:

SEE ALSO: 15 classic movies everyone needs to watch that are on a brand-new streaming service

"Doctor Strange" - Now playing

For the first time the Marvel Cinematic Universe is delving into the mystical realm of the comics and the result doesn't disappoint. "Doctor Strange" is a worthy origin story, but the dazzling special effects are what will stay with you.



"Hacksaw Ridge" - Now playing

Mel Gibson has been locked in a PR nightmare for the last 10 years following a DUI arrest during which he made anti-Semitic remarks. But it seems like time has healed those wounds at least enough that his latest directing effort is winning over audiences. It stars Andrew Garfield as a World War II medic who becomes the first conscientious objector in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor.



"Trolls" - Now playing

Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake are just a few of the stars who lend their voices in this animated comedy about a pair of Trolls who set out on an adventure to rescue their friends.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 24 best movies you probably didn’t see this year

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2016 movies missed

At the end of every year, critics and award groups highlight their picks for the best movies of the year, and movie studios tout their biggest blockbusters in box-office memos.

Those movies are usually pretty great, but there's more out there that's worth watching.

Some of the features on this list were swept under the rug. Some didn't resonate with audiences when they hit theaters, were marketed poorly, aren't part of the Oscar conversation, or are rightly recognized in some circles, but those circles aren't wide enough. While some have been recognized by critics, they may be smaller indies catered toward a smaller niche.

One thing they have in common is that they're all excellent. Here are the 2016 movies you may have missed.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best live music acts you should see, according to NSYNC's Lance Bass

DON'T MISS: 12 TV shows you're not watching that you need to see

"Hail, Caesar!"

What it's about: A Hollywood fixer scampers around the studio and tries to keep all of his stars happy while also keeping his marriage together.

Why you should see it: It's really, really, funny. Josh Brolin is perfectly deadpan as Eddie Mannix as he tries to make sure all of the studio's stars are in line, and it might have the best cast of any movie this year. The Coen brothers flick is filled with colorful characters and absurd subplots that features George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Jonah Hill, and — in a star-making turn — Alden Ehrenreich, who was recently cast as a Young Han Solo.



"Midnight Special"

What it's about: A young boy has uncontrollable supernatural powers. His father pulls him away from a cult that wants to use him, and the FBI tries to track them down.

Why you should see it: 2016 was filled with movies and shows with Spielbergian vibes, like "Pete's Dragon" and "Stranger Things." The best of them was "Midnight Special," which was somewhere between "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T.""Midnight Special" doesn't quite become a full-blown fantasy movie, but director Jeff Nichols knows how to use it to make a well-crafted story and go deep into the emotional connections between parents and children. 13-year-old Jaeden Lieberher also does a great job as the main character, Alton, and the film boasts a stellar supporting cast that includes Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, and Bill Camp.



"The Lobster"

What it's about: In the movie's dystopian world, people are sent to a hotel and need to find love within 45 days or they're turned into an animal. David (played by Colin Farrell) needs to find his match.

Why you should see it: "The Lobster" is one of 2016's strangest movies, and to succeed, it has to run a delicate balance between being a touching story about humans finding emotional fulfillment in a strange world, or failing and becoming merely a weird movie. Luckily, thanks to its game actors (Farrel, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and a few others), it totally works — and it might even make you cry.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Rogue One' originally had a very different ending that wasn't nearly as satisfying as the one you saw in theaters

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rogue one diego luna jyn erso

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for "Rogue One."

In case it wasn't clear from the advertising and marketing, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story wasn't going to end well for the main characters. After all, their mission to steal the Death Star plans was practically suicidal. Sure enough, literally every member of the primary cast was dead by the end of the movie, but according to director Gareth Edwards, an earlier draft actually had a few notable survivors make it out alive. In his words:

The very first version, they didn't. In the screenplay. And it was just assumed by us that we couldn't do that. 'They're not going to let us do that.' So I was trying to figure out how this ends where that doesn't happen. And then everyone read that and there was this feeling of like, 'They've got to die, right?' And everyone was like, 'Yeah, can we?'

Gareth Edwards originally revealed this information in an interview with Empire, and while the original page has since been taken down, io9 has kept them in pristine condition. So rather than all of the principal players meet their end in Rogue One's climactic battle on Scarif, originally a few escaped the battle intact, mainly because Edwards and his crew were under the assumption that they wouldn't be allowed to kill off everyone.

Fortunately for Edwards, the folks at Disney and Lucasfilm weren't as strict as he believed. After speaking with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and other top brass at the studios, they were allowed to kill off each of the main characters in Rogue One. Not even Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor made it out alive! Edwards continued:

We thought we weren't going to be allowed to but Kathy [Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm] and everyone at Disney were like 'Yeah it makes sense/ I guess they have to because they're not in A New Hope.' And so from that point on we had the license. I kept waiting for someone to go, 'You know what? Could we just film an extra scene where we see Jyn and Cassian, they're okay and they're on another planet?' And it never came. No one ever gave us that note, so we got to do it.

Narratively speaking, it makes sense that all of Rogue One's main characters died, as within the Star Wars timeline, they're nowhere to be seen or even mentioned during A New Hope or subsequent stories. Sure a few could have survived, but by going the direction they did, the ending felt more shocking. Besides, the finalized ending of Rogue One flows seamlessly into A New Hope. Now the Death Stars plans are in Princess Leia's hands, and with Orson Krennic being killed by the very weapon he poured his sweat into for nearly two decades, Tarkin is the new overseer of the the planet-killing space station. The saga continues!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is now playing in theaters, and click here to read our thoughts on the movie.

SEE ALSO: 'Rogue One' star Felicity Jones will host the first 'SNL' of 2017

DON'T MISS: Felicity Jones debuts a thrilling 'Rogue One' fight scene and shows off her moves for Jimmy Fallon

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why you should spend the extra money to see 'Rogue One' in 4DX

Vin Diesel wrote a touching message about Paul Walker and the next 'Fast and Furious' movie

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fast and furious 5 paul walker vin diesel

The INSIDER Summary:

• Vin Diesel released a touching Instagram about Paul Walker.
In the message, Diesel hopes he made Walker proud.
The new "Fast and the Furious" movie comes out in April 2017.



"The Fate Of The Furious" promises to be a rather emotional movie, not just because it appears to pit Vin Diesel against his fellow group of auto-enthusiasts, but because it's the first film in the "Fast And Furious" franchise since "The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift" that doesn't feature Paul Walker.

For obvious reasons, Vin Diesel has been thinking about Paul Walker, who died in an automobile accident back in 2013 during the production on "Fast 7," and he's now posted a touching message about his pal.

Here's the message in full:

The arduous road to production, the challenging task of filming this latest chapter. The record breaking trailer debut and the shocked world at what the dark road implied... you Pablo have given me strength ... purpose and resolve. I promised you we would make something you would be proud of and I pray that we have ... miss you.

Family above everything!

Vin Diesel's message shows that following on from "Furious 7," which had to be finished using extensive visual effects and the use of Paul Walker's brothers so that his character, Brian O'Connor, could have a fond farewell, the team behind the franchise are very much aware about maintaining the quality and popularity of the films for their lost friend.

They have quite a task on their hands making sure that "The Fate Of The Furious" manages to eclipse Furious 7, though. That's because the 2015 blockbuster proved to be the most successful installment to the series yet, grossing $1.516 billion, which makes it the sixth highest-grossing film of all time, while also managing to gain pretty impressive reviews, too, as it holds a score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Furious 7"also said goodbye to Paul Walker in a touching and heartfelt manner, as the film came to an end with this sequence. Just try and hold back the tears.

"The Fate Of The Furious" has pulled out all of the stops to try and exceed its predecessor. With "Furious 7" director James Wan focused on "Aquaman," F. Gary Gray ("Straight Outta Compton") was brought on board for "The Fate Of The Furious," while filming took place in Iceland, Cuba and New York City to bring new obstacles, texture and exoticness to the franchise.

Plus, the first trailer for "The Fate Of The Furious" proved that they're going to take the franchise in a new direction with Dominic Toretto going up against his former cohorts. You can check out the record-breaking clip below.

We'll finally get to see if "The Fate Of The Furious" can indeed match "Furious 7" when it's released on April 14, 2017.

SEE ALSO: Lena Dunham apologizes for 'distasteful joke' about abortion

DON'T MISS: A 'Westworld' star gave this a cappella version of the show's theme song a 'standing ovation'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Miss Colombia — the Miss Universe contestant that was wrongly crowned — just got a role in a Vin Diesel movie

RANKED: Every character in 'Rogue One' from best to worst

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The first-ever “Star Wars” standalone movie, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” has finally hit theaters, so it's time to analyze the heck out of it. That includes everything from catching all the references to past movies, TV series, and novels in the franchise to delving into the footage we saw in the trailers but didn’t end up in the finished film. 

Then there’s the characters themselves.

There are a lot of  brand new ones, like the movie’s lead Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones), while others have been brought back through the magic of CGI (and footage not used in “Star Wars: A New Hope”).

Here we analyze and rank all the characters from best to worst.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead

SEE ALSO: All the "Star Wars" movies, ranked from worst to best

30. Senators Vaspar, Jebel, Pamlo

When these three members of the Imperial Senate catch wind that the Empire has constructed the planet-destroying Death Star, they are the loudest voices in the room that the rebels should run and hide. Thankfully, Jyn and her Rogue One mates have other plans.



29. General Dodonna

More prominent in "Star Wars: A New Hope," Dodonna mostly stays in the background in this movie, but it's another piece of detail director Gareth Edwards uses to link this movie to the original "Star Wars." 



28. Saw Gerrera

There's obviously more to Saw Gerrera than what we see in the finished movie (note Forest Whitaker's bald head in some trailers and his character having hair in the movie), but judging on the few scenes with him in the final cut there wasn't much to take in. Frankly, his portion of the movie is where the movie drags.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The exact location of Darth Vader's secret lair is absolutely heartbreaking

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darth vader rogue one

Warning: There are some spoilers ahead for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

Audiences are reintroduced to Darth Vader in "Rogue One" and the Dark Lord has two scene-stealing moments in the "Star Wars" spin-off. While this may be Vader at his peak, the truth is that day in and day out he's living out his own personal hell.

Viewers are introduced to Vader's lava lair on the planet of Mustafar, a purgatory meant to capture the character's visual terror and menace. Concept artists turned to original artwork from famed "Star Wars" artist Ralph McQuarrie to create Vader's "nightmare castle," as it's described in the book.  

"The castle on Mustafar is this insanely uninviting place — a really evil place, deeply uncomfortable. But this is where Vader stays, because it's the only place he feels comfortable," says concept artist Christian Alzmann in "The Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." "The idea is that he would have a massive cylindrical machine in the center of the room — and in the center of that machine is a one-person bacta tank that looks out through a window onto the lava fields of Mustafar. It's both a meditation and a healing chamber." 

star wars mystery man rogue one

While we see glimpses of what's left of Vader's burnt and battered body in the chamber, the kicker is that viewers don't see the most tragic part of his current existence. The prequel simply glosses over it. 

According to "The Art of Rogue One" Vader — or the little that's left of him — spends the majority of his time inside his own personal healing tank that overlooks his final dueling place with Obi-Wan in "Revenge of the Sith."

Really. 

"You realize that he's this crippled, broken, tragic figure — and that what he's looking at through his window is the location where his duel with Obi-Wan took place," says screenwriter Gary Whitta, who wrote a draft of "Rogue One.""The fact that he'd chosen to build his living mausoleum here is a nod to the conflict in him — that he would go back to this place to reflect on what happened to the man he once was. At the same time, it's also terrifying, and when he emerges with all of his armor, he's Darth Vader."

Every day, Vader subjects himself to a personal reminder of how he lost his wife, mentor, and nearly burned to death alive. 

anakin becomes vader

What exactly is Vader thinking about there? 

I like to think, among other things, he's probably considering how he should have listened to Obi-Wan when he told him he had the high ground. If he never attempted to jump over him, he wouldn't have lost his limbs.

More seriously, he's probably reflecting on how everything in those few moments in "Revenge of the Sith" went so terribly wrong. He not only lost his wife and his unborn child — remember, Vader didn't know about the twins — but also his mentor. Though Vader is ruling the galaxy with Emperor Palpatine, this is not the future he imagined. He was trying to find a way to prevent his wife from dying while he ultimately ended up bringing on her demise.

padme revenge of the sith

What makes it more heart-wrenching is that Obi-Wan Kenobi is probably pondering some of those same thoughts each day while hiding out on Tatooine, about how he failed his former Padawan who went astray to wipe out the Jedi.

obi wan kenobi revenge of the sith

Knowing the exact location of Vader's lair makes it clear he hasn't forgotten about his old master either. 

obi wan vader

It also makes the confrontation between the two years later in "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope" even more momentous.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is currently in theaters.

SEE ALSO: 'Rogue One' star Felicity Jones will host the first 'SNL' of 2017

DON'T MISS: Felicity Jones debuts a thrilling 'Rogue One' fight scene and shows off her moves for Jimmy Fallon

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why you should spend the extra money to see 'Rogue One' in 4DX

I watched the infamous ‘Star Wars Holiday Special' and I understand why it only aired once

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Editor's note: We originally ran a version of this last year in anticipation of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Since we're nearing the holidays, we thought it would be a great time to revisit our "Star Wars Holiday Special" review.

Last year, in anticipation of the release of "The Force Awakens," I went on a mission to bingewatch the six "Star Wars" movies in the saga. Still, there was one item I had never seen — the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special."

If you're not familiar, it's a production so bad that it only aired once — November 17, 1978 on CBS — and was never formally released on video.

Just how terrible could it be? Well that’s what I wanted to find out. 

It’s not that difficult to find online. There’s a version you can stream on YouTube. (The link I shared last year was since taken down. While this is a new one, don’t count on it being there forever.)

Initially, I tried watching it with my brother and mom, two big "Star Wars" fans who initially got me into the series. But after 20 minutes of watching Chewbacca’s Wookiee family making indiscernible noises without any actual dialogue, they begged for it to be turned off.

So I did, and then decided I would watch it alone. Was it a good life decision? I've made better.

The problem with the "Star Wars Holiday Special" is that it's bloated with unnecessary celebrity cameos. There are an obscene amount of tangential segments which direct the special off course from it's main objective: telling the story of Chewbacca trying to get home to spend a Wookiee holiday with his family.

It's evident the original cast is only there to help bolster ratings and to keep fans tuned in to see when they'll pop up next. Other than Harrison Ford's Han Solo, they add nothing to this special and could have easily been left out.

It would have been better as a 15-minute short instead of a nearly two-hour special. 

Here’s my live blog of reactions as I watched the entire thing: 

After one minute: It starts off all right. We see Han and Chewie in the Millennium Falcon. Chewie’s trying to get home to his family for something called a Life Day (more on that in a bit). They’re being chased after by Imperial forces and Han clocks into light speed. If the special continues like this — as Chewie’s adventure with Han to get home — this could be fun. (Spoiler: It doesn’t. This is just about the best it gets. I should have turned around now.)

3:50: Apparently, General Motors sponsored this CBS special.

general motors

3:52: We’re out of space and are shown a drawing of the outside of Chewbacca’s home. I guess that’s all the TV budget allowed.

star wars holiday special chewbacca home

4:30: We’re introduced to Chewbacca’s family who we haven’t heard about at all until now. They all have absolutely bizarre names which I only know because of the extended “Star Wars” universe.

Let me introduce them:

There’s his wife, Malla:

star wars malla

Here's Chewie's son, Lumpy. (Yes, that's his actual name.)

lumpy chewbacca son

And then we have Chewie's dad, Itchy. (Sidenote: Who thought up these names? They’re awful.)

itchy

7:47: This entire sequence is just strange. It’s just Wookiees gurgling and growling at each other. I have no idea what they’re saying because there aren’t any subtitles on the screen. I’m guessing they’re just waiting around for Chewie’s return home since his wife looks longingly at a photograph of him.

8:54: We’re still chilling with the Wookiees. Little Chewbacca has a holochess board and is sitting watching some holograph circus. It’s so random and doesn’t help move the plot of this special along at all.

11:00: For some reason this holographic circus is still going on.

star wars circus

11:25: Thank goodness, it’s over.

12:01: It’s now been about eight minutes with the Wookiee clan and all I'm wondering is how much longer this can continue. Could they not afford to have all of the main stars on air long enough?

12:30: Chewie’s wife does a search of starships in the area. No signs of Chewie. You’re not the only one disappointed, Malla.

12:53: Finally! It’s Mark Hamill (wearing what appears to be a lot of makeup) and R2-D2. Malla gives him a call to find out what’s going on with Chewie.

mark hamill holiday special

16:20: We cut to an Imperial guard searching for some Wookiees at some random guy’s shop. For some reason he shows him a pocket-sized aquarium.

19:43: Darth Vader! You’re a sight for sore eyes. Please tell me you’ve come to make this bearable.

19:59: No! He’s gone! He just popped in to give some orders to search every home in the system for the rebels (presumably Chewie and Han).

20:03: Oh great. We’re back at the Wookiee home. Where are Han and Chewie?

21:09: Malla’s watching a cooking show to learn how to make Bantha Surprise

cooking show star wars holiday special

24:40: That’s over. There was no reason for that scene at all. Now, we’re back to Han and Chewie fighting off some TIE fighters. About time!

26:13: And we’re back to Chewie’s family. A general appears on screen and says they’re enacting Marshall Law on the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk.

27:05: We find out the man from earlier is named Saun Dann. He’s a trader who stops by Chewie’s home to drop off a few items and some gifts.

29:41: Itchy gets a memory chip which allows him to see a kaleidoscope array of images. I think I’m staring at some swirl of women dancing. It’s bizarre.

women dancing star wars holiday special

I am now 30 minutes into this special. There’s an hour left to go and I’m about ready to give up at this point.

30:56: This is getting weird and trippy. Grandpa Itchy is hearing some mystical woman giving the strangest speech, “I know you’re searching for me. Searching. Searching. I am here. … I am found in your eyes only. I exist for you. I am in your mind as you create me. Oh yes.” Am I watching a holiday special or something on Pay-Per-View?

31:10: Oh whoa. It’s Diahann Carrol ("Dynasty").

diahann carroll

32:19: Yeah, this is really weird. She’s just a figment of his imagination and goes on to sing to Itchy for the next three minutes. We’re basically watching Chewie’s dad live out some virtual sexual fantasies on a VR headset. This is supposed to be a family special. What is going on?

36:29: Princess Leia and C-3PO randomly pop in via a video call to speak with Malla. 

princess leia star wars special

38:35: Han and Chewie are still flying around trying to land on his home planet. Everyone just keeps wishing Chewie and his family a Happy Life Day. It’s never explained what exactly this day is so I look it up. It’s a holiday celebrated once a year to celebrate all life, living and dead on Kashyyyk. It’s kind of similar to the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, where they celebrate those who’ve died. Since the special was around Thanksgiving, people think it’s supposed to be a similar holiday.

39:39: Oh man. The Stormtroopers just found Chewie’s family. This is getting slightly more interesting.

stormtroopers star wars holiday special

44:02: Or maybe not. Saun Dann is distracting one of the Imperial troops with a music video. Apparently, we’re just going to sit through this whole thing.

47:57: This is still going on. Why?

48:10: Saun Dann starts dancing in the background. Sure, why not? It seems like everyone has forgotten the main point of this special anyway.

53:00: A cartoon introducing Boba Fett was cut out of this video. I found it in a separate video here. It shows Han, Leia, and Luke's first encounter with the bounty hunter who is actually quite friendly with Luke and his friends. That's not the case in later films.

boba fett star wars holiday special

The nearly 10-minute cartoon is probably the best part of this special. Han and Luke fall under a sleeping virus and Fett sets out for a cure with Chewbacca. However, we learn Boba is actually playing Luke and his friends and is actually working with Darth Vader. Outnumbered, Fett disappears and the 'toon comes to an end.

57:07: In the time Lumpy has watched this cartoon, the Imperial forces have scoured his entire home and decided to viciously tear apart Lumpy's room, breaking a bunch of his toys. Now, after cleaning up, Lumpy is watching a how-to video on assembling a mini-transmitter. This is the “Life Day” gift he got from Dann. I can’t believe they’re just showing us the entire video. It’s incredibly boring.

1:00:45: Everyone’s being instructed to watch a “mandatory” video about life on Luke Skywalker’s home planet of Tatooine for some reason. Honestly, it’s like they didn’t have enough of a story to fill up two hours of air time so they interspersed it with random clips throughout. We see shots of Stormtroopers walking through the streets and the inside of a cantina.

1:04:53: This turns into a side story featuring a man (played by Harvey Korman,"The Carol Burnett Show") and his unbridled love for a cantina bartender played by Bea Arthur. The spot, like so many other things in the special is so random and has nothing to do with the story.

1:05:36: So I guess the point of this clip is to tell us there's a curfew being put on Tatooine.

1:08:41: Now, Bea Arthur’s singing the crowd out of the bar. According to YouTube, I only have about 20 more minutes of this to go.

bea arthur star wars

1:10:29: This song is still going on. She’s dancing with various characters in the bar. I’m trying to figure out who thought this was a good idea.

1:14:22: Finally, something happens! Lumpy uses that transmitter he made to trick all of the Imperial Forces into thinking they need to return to their base. One of the Stormtroopers ends up sticking around and catches onto Lumpy’s scheme. Man, I’d really like to know why they named this poor kid Lumpy.

1:15:35: The best part of this entire special is Chewie and Han arriving in the nick of time to take out the Stormtrooper. This entire special could have easily occurred in 15 minutes — 30 tops.

1:18:17: Han leaves Chewie’s family and I’m trying to figure out what could possibly happen in the last ten minutes.

1:21:07: The entire family gathers to celebrate Life Day. It’s not really clear what’s going on here:

star wars wookiees

or here:

star wars wookiees

One thing we can all agree on: It looks like they’re all wearing giant snuggies.

1:21:54: I think this is officially the end of the holiday special. R2-D2 and C-3PO appear out of nowhere at some giant Wookiee celebration for Life Day.

1:22:48: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford all appear at the gathering, too, for a quick group photo opp that was probably used in marketing to get people to tune in for the holiday special.

star wars holiday special

We know by now this special really wasn’t about any of them.

1:23:33: Carrie Fisher just starts singing.

carrie fisher star wars

1:24:37: Props to Fisher for actually looking like she’s enjoying filming every moment of this thing.

carrie fisher star wars holiday special

1:26:30: A bunch of end credits roll with some footage and scenes from “A New Hope.”

1:26:53: We’re not done yet! Chewbacca’s entire family gathers together for a Thanksgiving-like dinner.

chewbacca family

1:27:39: I think it’s finally over. The movie’s zooming out over another painting of Chewie’s house at night.

1:27:49: Yup. There are the official credits. Wow. Yeah, as I said throughout, a lot of that could have been summed up in about 15 minutes if it weren’t for the extraneous amount of unnecessary side videos.

If you want to watch most of the special, you can check it out here on YouTube, but you’ve been warned. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's why Boeing 747s have a giant hump in the front

Emma Stone says her jokes have been stolen and given to male co-stars in the past

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Emma Stone Kevin Winter Getty

Though sexism in Hollywood is as old as the industry itself, in the last few years actresses have become more vocal about their experiences encountering it, and Emma Stone is the latest. 

While doing press for her new movie "La La Land," Stone recently opened up to Rolling Stone about some of the times she's been taken advantage of or denigrated by male directors.

"There have been times when I've improvised, they've laughed at my joke and then given it to my male co-star. Given my joke away," she said.

Stone also added that she's been admonished on set for bringing up an idea or her opinion. "It's been me saying, 'I really don't think this line is gonna work,' and being told, 'Just say it, just say it, if it doesn't work we'll cut it out' – and they didn't cut it out, and it really didn't work!'" she said.

Stone's performance in "La La Land" has her pegged as a lock for an Oscar nomination. With that exposure, hopefully she can continue to bring awareness to the continued sexism in the business.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every character in "Rogue One" from best to worst

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sony and Marvel just dropped the first new 'Spider-Man' trailer and it looks amazing


Why Andy Garcia is literally in only one shot of 'Passengers'

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passengers sony

Warning: Spoilers below if you haven’t seen the movie.

It can get really annoying when a trailer is nothing like the actual movie. And though the big issue with “Passengers” is the story-altering decision one of its main characters makes that is completely ignored in the trailer (learn more about that), there’s also another question after comparing trailer to movie:

What the heck happened to Andy Garcia?

“Passengers” is set on luxury star ship that’s blazing a path from Earth to a colony planet 120 years away. Jim (Chris Pratt) and Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence) wake up too early from their hibernation chambers (for very different reasons) and are alone on the ship with 90 years left in the voyage. With everyone still asleep, including the crew, Jim and Aurora enjoy each other’s company until they are interrupted by a malfunction on the ship that they have to fix on their own or everyone on board will die.

The movie ends with Jim and Aurora fixing the ship and living out their days on it together. The captain, played by Garcia, wakes to find what the two had been doing with their time on it, creating a home for themselves full of gardens, plants, and other reminders of Earth that were locked away in the ship's storage.

Garcia’s surprised expression of what he finds on the ship, which is shown in the film's trailers and TV spots, is literally the only shot of him in the entire movie.

Here it is:

Andy Garcia Passengers Sony finalSo how does an Oscar-nominated actor only get one shot in a big budget movie? Turns out there were numerous endings filmed.

“The ending of the film is the thing that we adjusted most not just during this production but all the years leading up to it,” Jon Spaihts, the “Passengers” screenwriter who had been working on the film for close to 10 years, told Business Insider. “Sticking this ending was one of the trickiest parts of the film. There was a version where we wondered around the aftermath of their lives a little bit longer and the viewpoint character who took us on that walk was the captain of the ship. So there's a version of that ending where you actually spend a few minutes with that guy silently looking at all the signs of how their lives played out. That's not what ended up on screen, what we have now is an extraordinary highbrow cameo.”

Guess what we learned here is regardless of the amount of screen time, if you have a recognizable actor in your movie, you place them in the trailer.

We just hope Garcia didn’t grow that long beard specifically for this role.

“Passengers” is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

SEE ALSO: How this scene-stealing character from "Rogue One" was created

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Hundreds of people are convinced that they've seen a movie that never existed

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Sinbad

The INSIDER Summary:

• Some people are convinced there's a movie titled "Shazaam" starring the comedian Sinbad.
• The movie never existed.
• It might be a mass delusion called the "Mandela Effect."
• But Reddit users refuse to give in, and think it's a mass conspiracy.



If you fondly remember the early-1990s film "Shazaam," starring the comedian Sinbad as an incompetent genie who tries to help out two young children — then you are wrong.

Not because the movie isn't good, but because it never existed in the first place.

As Amelia Tait reported in The New Statesman, hundreds of people on the internet are absolutely certain they've seen the movie "Shazaam." And yes, they know about the 1996 movie "Kazaam" starring Shaquille O'Neal as a genie. They're certain "Shazaam" is something else. In their minds, it's a twin movie, another movie with a similar plot that came out around the same time.

But there is no evidence "Shazaam" ever existed. Sinbad himself (whose real name is David Adkins) is certain he never starred in such a movie.

The mass delusion over "Shazaam" has been attributed to the Mandela Effect, which is an idea that people have mass-misrememberings. There isn't yet any scientific literature that backs up the Mandela Effect, but it's similar to the idea of "confabulation," which is when people unconsciously distort their own memories.

The most famous example of the Mandela Effect is over the Berenstain Bears. A lot of people remember the name being spelled "Berenstein," with an "e," when it's actually spelled "Berenstain" with an "a." 

Some maintain that the name was changed to make the series sound "less Jewish," but hardcore Berenstain fans will remember their television Christmas special. And anyway, the series was written by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Berenstain messy room

Just like the inaccurate "Berenstein Bears," people have been misremembering "Shazaam" for years. The earliest online evidence of the mass delusion, according to Tait's excellent article, is a 2009 Yahoo! Answers thread: "Wasnt there a movie in the early '90s where Sinbad the entertainer/comedian played a genie? I know 'Kazaam' had Shaq in it and that's not the one I'm thinking about. Help it's driving me nuts!"

Then, five years ago, Reddit user MJGSimple swore it was a conspiracy: "I swear this movie exists, anyone have a copy or know where I can find proof!" And later on, a discussion over the nonexistent movie stormed into a subreddit dedicated to the Mandela Effect.

The delusion is widespread enough for some people to think that we're all living in a computer simulation, where actors beyond our imagination are modifying the timelines of our reality.

"University of Oxford’s philosopher Nick Bostrom suggested that members of an advanced civilization with enormous computing power might decide to run simulations of their ancestors," one Redditor told Tait. "In a day where we can now run these simulations, is this a far-fetched theory?"

Shaq genie kazaam 1996

Since Tait's article about "Shazaam" and the Mandela Effect was published, some Reddit users still aren't convinced.

"Don't give these anti-Mandela Effect articles traffic. They don't deserve our pageviews and advertising clicks,"a user names Axana commented.

Another user, named sugarleaf, has a theory that the movie's alleged producer Phil Hartman buried "Shazaam" because it embarrassed him.

"Phil Hartman (who allegedly produced this) died around the same time [the movie came out] and was considered a LEGEND in Hollywood,"sugarleaf wrote.

But most people are dismissive, believing that people who think they've seen "Shazaam" are mixing up Shaq and Sinbad because they're both black.

Reddit user theworstvacationever may have said it best: "I'm really surprised that a bunch of Redditors, when confronted with a simple misunderstanding concerning which non-white person starred in a movie, would insist that the fabric of the universe was altered rather than admit they are wrong."

You can read Tait's article on the Mandela Effect and "Shazaam" here.

Join the conversation about this story »

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RANKED: The 10 best movies of 2016

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2016 was a horrible year for countless reasons, but one of the few positives was going to the movies. Rotten Tomatoes reports a record number of Certified Fresh movies released in 2016, and Disney’s $7 billion global take at the box office set a new industry record.

So needless to say, there were a lot of great titles in the running for my 10 best this year.

It was hard, but here they are — the films that confirmed why I love going to the movies so much (plus a couple that I felt needed to be mentioned).

SEE ALSO: The 5 biggest winners and losers at the box office in 2016

10. “Jackie”

This haunting look at Jacqueline Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, is a beautifully constructed retelling of the end of Camelot and the realization that the First Lady is far from the timid person she was portrayed as by the press. Natalie Portman delivers one of the best performances of her career, playing Jackie with a precision that lifts the movie to another level. 



9. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

The first standalone “Star Wars” movie was hyped to have a more mature “Dirty Dozen”-like feel and it was just that. “Rogue One” has an originality that gives you a sense of finality when you get to the end. There’s still a lot of reminders that you are inside the confines of the “Star Wars” universe, whether it be characters that show up or locations where scenes take place, but the high stakes of the movie brings an excitement that can be lost at times when watching the main franchise films. 



8. “Moonlight”

Told over three chapters in the life of a young man living in Miami, Barry Jenkins’ beautifully touching portrait of the complexities of life is a movie you have to experience if you are a film lover. The direction, acting, camera work, and score are all at a high level, while the storytelling is some of the most powerful you’ll see all year. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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9 confounding 'Fantastic Beasts' and 'Harry Potter' questions J.K. Rowling just cleared up

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

J.K. Rowling has spent the last few years tweeting out new tidbits of information about the "Harry Potter" universe in general, and now more specifically with the new spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." But in addition to answering questions about Dumbledore or Newt Scamander on Twitter, Rowling has now unveiled a brand new website with a FAQ section all about "Fantastic Beasts." 

Keep reading to learn the answers to 9 questions Rowling receives over and over from fans.

SEE ALSO: THEN & NOW: The cast of 'Harry Potter' 15 years later

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Why couldn't Newt just Apparate to the USA? Why did he go by boat?

This question began tripping up fans before "Fantastic Beasts" was released, since Newt's boat trip was teased in the trailers. Many  people thought it would make more sense for him to either Apparate or use a Portkey.

Rowling's answer: "Apparition becomes increasingly risky over long distances. As with most magic, much depends on the skill of the spell-caster: Apparition requires knowledge of the terrain to which one is moving, or the ability to visualise it clearly. Cross-continental Apparition would almost certainly result in severe injury or death. Moreover, the beasts in Newt’s case had varying magical natures. Some could have Apparated with him, but others could not."

We assume the same answer applies for Portkeys, though she didn't specifically address this on her website.



Why did Newt go in through No-Maj customs?

Again, people were wondering why Newt would choose not only to take a boat to America but also to then go through customs. The answer lies in the US wizard government (MACUSA) laws.

Rowling's answer: "He was transporting magical creatures at a time when this was illegal. No-Majs were far easier to fool than the wizarding checkpoint would have been."

 



Why couldn't Newt use 'Accio' to retrieve all his beasts?

As Newt and his companions ran all around New York City trying to round up his beasts, fans of the "Harry Potter" series were expecting him to use a famous spell for summoning objects: "Accio."

Rowling's answer:"'Accio' only works on inanimate objects. While people or creatures may be indirectly moved by 'Accio-ing'objects that they are wearing or holding, this carries all kinds of risks because of the likelihood of injury to the person or beast attached to an object travelling at close to the speed of light."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Legendary 'Star Wars' composer John Williams says he's never seen any of the movies

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Composer John Williams is responsible for some of the greatest music ever put to movies. From the "Indiana Jones" franchise to "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," he's created some of the most recognizable film scores in history.

But what Williams will always be best known for is his music to the "Star Wars" saga. All seven episodes of "Star Wars" have been blessed by the legendary composer — he didn't score this month's release, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," though a hint of his theme music for the franchise does show up in the movie at one point.

That said, the 84-year-old recently admitted to The Mirror that he's never actually seen a finished version of any"Star Wars" movie.

"I have not looked at the 'Star Wars' films and that’s absolutely true," said Williams. "When I’m finished with a film, I’ve been living with it, we’ve been dubbing it, recording to it, and so on. You walk out of the studio and, 'Ah, it’s finished.' Now I don’t have an impulse to go to the theater and look at it. Maybe some people find that weird — or listen to recordings of my music — very, very rarely."

Though this probably comes to a shock for many of us who have loved Williams' scores — not just for "Star Wars," but the countless others he's done over his career — there are many actors who, like Williams, have said they also don't watch the work they've done.

“I’m not particularly proud of that, I have to say," said Williams, but adding that having just completed the score for "Star Wars: Episode VIII," and now moving onto a new film by Steven Spielberg, "I don’t want to listen to music or see films."

Despite staying away from seeing the films for decades, he is fully aware that the fans love his contribution to the saga.

"It’s probably the most popular music that I’ve done," he said.

You will next hear Williams' music in "Star Wars: Episode VIII" when it opens on December 17, 2017.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every character in "Rogue One" from best to worst

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27 Wall Street movies to watch over Christmas

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Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, tis the season to sit around and do next to nothing.

The market is closed (or quiet), everyone's with family, and it's time to get some much needed rest.

That, however, does not mean you can't get a little Wall Street in your day. Why not kick back on the couch and watch one of these Wall Street movies?

You'll definitely enjoy yourself, and you might even learn something.

"Equity" (2016)

In a sentence: The story of a multi-billion dollar deal and the greed that surrounds it.

Plot: A banker who once botched an IPO tries to take another Silicon Valley giant public. And you know how that is.

Genre: Drama



"The Big Short"(2015)

In a sentence: The story of the financial crisis as only Michael Lewis, the famous novelist and author of Wall Street classic 'Liar's Poker', could tell it.

Plot: There are a few weird cameos and asides done by big name movie stars to explain some of the finer points of finance. You will either like those or hate them, but the movie as a whole is enjoyable either way.

Genre: Drama



"It's A Wonderful Life" (1946)

In a sentence: It's a heartwarming classic that will never get old.

Plot: A guardian angel shows businessman George Bailey what life would be like if he never existed.

Genre: Family



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's every new movie you can see in theaters over the Christmas holiday weekend

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Over the last couple of weeks you've been hit with tons of ad campaigns around movies coming out over the Christmas weekend, but with the amount of releases and all the different release windows you probably have no clue when a movie is actually playing in a theater near you.

Well, we got you covered.

From the wide releases like "Passengers" and "Sing" to the limited openings for Martin Scorsese's "Silence" and Denzel Washington's "Fences," here's every movie opening in the next few days. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best movies of 2016

NOW PLAYING: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

Why you should see it: If there's a "Star Wars" fan in your family, it's kind of required viewing.



NOW PLAYING: "Assassin's Creed"

Why you should see it: Though it's not getting the best reviews, if you're a fan of the game (or Michael Fassbender) it's a fun time.



NOW PLAYING: "Passengers"

Why you should see it: It's got a "Titanic" in space-type vibe, but in this one Chris Pratt has some questionable methods to make Jennifer Lawrence fall in love with him.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How the next big animated hit 'Sing' was made over 5 years

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Sing Universal

Director Garth Jennings already has a very energetic personality, but having spent five years developing and making the animated movie “Sing,” he admits he’s now just a big ball of nerves leading up to its December 21 release.

“It’s been very emotional, actually, and I don’t use that word lightly,” Jennings recently told Business Insider about showing the movie to preview audiences for the last month.

Known for his music video work in the 1990s, he took on directing the adaptation of a book regarded in the industry as an unmakeable movie, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in 2005, which ended up being a critical dud (though it earned over $100 million at the global box office). Jennings rebounded with the inventive indie “Son of Rambow” in 2007, about two boys obsessed with the first Rambo movie. Since then, he’s been trying to develop an animated movie.

Garth Jennings Frederick M Brown GettyBut having never made an animated movie, Jennings was a little naive on how it's done.

So five years ago Jennings had a meeting with producer Chris Meledandri, the man behind the “Despicable Me” movies and this year’s animated hit “The Secret Life of Pets,” and by the time it ended Jennings agreed to make Meledandri’s next movie.

“Chris just started talking about his thoughts and they just smashed together with my sensibility and my hopes and dreams for making an animated film,” Jennings said.

The idea Meledandri had was for a movie about a shifty theater owner whose only way to save his business is to put on a singing competition to give notice to an unknown talent. And seeing as this was an animated kids' movie, it would be filled with pop songs and all the characters would be animals.

“There would be a hook of it being a singing competition but then it is a portal into what becomes a character movie,” Jennings said. “I didn't take any convincing at all, it wasn't like ‘oh, I don't know,’ I just jumped in.”

And that began a five-year process to bring “Sing” to the screen.

For Jennings it was a learning experience from the start. After writing a traditional story treatment and first draft of the script, the story was suddenly cut up and dissected by Meledandri’s team at Illumination Entertainment into a storyboard version of the movie, and that’s when the real work started.

“You start to rewrite and find out what works,” Jennings said. “If a gag is too late, you’re rewriting throughout, which you don’t do on a live-action movie.”

sing universalOne of the biggest changes was the theater owner, Buster Moon. Voiced by Matthew McConaughey, the fury koala bear is barley keeping his theater afloat as he often is on the run from the bank looking for money he owes it. Thinking back on the early drafts of how Moon operates, Jennings felt he came off a little as a scam artist.

“He did start off on paper being a little more of a charlatan,” he said. “There’s a fine line dealing with a character like that where they are kind of con people a bit. Chris and I found early on that he became a bit too unlikable because we were pushing that button too much. He was being a little too rude. And his likability went down for us. This was before we even showed it to audiences.”

Though changes to the characters and story were constant, Jennings admits it wasn’t stressful because often he was only dealing with Meledandri.

“I only had notes and discussions from one person and that was Chris,” he said. “No director even on a live-action film has so few voices. Now my editor and production designer and the animation team have an opinion and everyone has an idea of what they are doing, but the core creative storytelling aspect of it involved discussions between myself and Chris.”

Another big aspect of “Sing” is the music featured: 85 songs, ranging from classics by Frank Sinatra to current pop singles played throughout either over scenes or sung by the competition contestants, who are voiced by the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, Taron Egerton, and Tori Kelly.

Jennings even wrote specific songs into the script, like the Rosita character (Witherspoon) singing Katy Perry’s “Firework” when she’s introduced in the movie or Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” played by Johnny (Egerton) as his big number in the end.

sing 2 universalThe latter moment involved a six-month process to get the okay from John, including Jennings sitting down to close the deal.

“And it wasn’t because Elton's company was being tricky,” he said. “They were thinking that they were going to be using it for something they were working on. So I went and had a meeting, I showed them the scene of Johnny playing the song, and they completely understood why we wanted to use it and they loved the way we used it. But before that it was six months of not getting it.”

For Jennings, the most fun was working with the talent in the recording booth. Each actor was different, he said. McConaughey came in full of energy and just wanted to jump in the booth and go. While someone like Witherspoon took her time and wanted to figure out everything going on before recording. And then there was Tori Kelly, who is known more for her singing than acting. Her character Meena, a shy elephant who has an incredible voice, is very much the emotional center of the movie, so Kelly's performance had to have a lot of layers to it.

“She had never done that kind of performance before and very often she was playing her character opposite Buster who is a ball of energy,” Jennings said. “So I would be in the booth with her, jumping around being the character she was playing against, and they would have to cut me out of the soundtrack so you only hear Tori.”

Though Jennings is still nervous about how general audiences will react to the movie, he feels good about the preview screenings. And the movie recently received Golden Globes nominations for best animated movie and best original song.

In the future, he still wants to make live-action work, but he admits he also wants to do another animated movie.

“I feel I’ve only just got the hang of it,” he said.

SEE ALSO: How the earliest McDonald's restaurants were created for Michael Keaton's new movie

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There are over 10 movies coming to theaters Christmas week — here's what you should see

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While many are at home opening presents, Christmas Day is one of the biggest movie days of the year. 

This year, there are 10 movies opening between Friday and Christmas and a bunch of other wide releases that have opened in the past week.

If you're considering heading to the theaters, we've rounded up the wider releases that are worth checking out and have also included what you should skip. There are a lot of clunkers.

In theaters as of Wednesday, 12/21

1. Skip (at all costs): "Passengers"

passengers chris pratt jennifer lawrence

What it's about: Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are on a spaceship heading for another planet. Trailers make it seem like the pair's hibernation pods open 90 years too early at the same time and then they fall in love and have to save the ship from danger. 

Why you should skip: You would think that a Lawrence and Pratt team-up in space would be good, but the reviews tell a much different story. Peter Travers at Rolling Stone wrote, "what could have been a challenging moral provocation dissolves into sappy, feel-good pandering."

One of the biggest complaints is that the movie is being marketed as a sci-fi thriller with two of Hollywood's biggest stars when it's actually a creepier story that glorifies Stockholm Syndrome. Pratt's character wakes up alone and after being bored for a year and wanting some company, opens the pod of Aurora (Lawrence) who he's been creepily obsessing over.

2. Skip: "Assassin's Creed"

michael fassbender assassins creed

What it's about: The Fox movie is the latest adaptation of a popular video game franchise. After learning he's a descendant of a mysterious society called the Assassins, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) uses technology to experience the adventures of his ancestor in 15th Century Spain and take down a dangerous organization.

Why you should pass: Hollywood just can't make video game movies and "Assassin's Creed" unfortunately proves no different. While reviews suggest it's better than other video games adaptations, that's not high praise. Many found it a confusing jumble of CG with no idea why big names like Fassbender and Marion Cotillard would attach themselves to the title. EW says these are the worst two performances Fassbender has given in a movie.

3. For the kids: "Sing"

sing

What it's about: Basically, it looks like "American Idol" in the form of a children's movie. According to the film's synopsis, it's actually about a koala named Buster Moon trying to save his theater by hosting a singing competition.

Why to see it: Other than "Moana," there really isn't any other feel-good animated movie out for kids. For parents who may have already taken their kids to see the Disney flick over the Thanksgiving break, this is something many kids may be asking to see for the bright, colorful, and wacky characters along with the music. Parents may have more fun trying to guess the A-list actors voicing the characters (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, and Scarlett Johansson are just some of the names.)

Why to pass: If you're hoping for "Zootopia," that's not what you're getting here. You'll probably see the ending of this one coming. Still, there are worse things you could see. 

4. See it: "Patriots Day"

kevin bacon patriots day

What it's about: Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, and Kevin Bacon star in this movie recounting the Boston Marathon bombing and the efforts taken by the community, police officers, and first responders afterwards. 

Why to see it: Most audiences and critics agree that the movie balances telling the story from the point-of-view of the victims, officers, and perpetrators in a powerful tribute. This is one you may want to break the tissues out for. It will have a wider release on January 13. 

In theaters as of Friday, December 23

5. Skip: "Why Him?"

why him

What it's about: When Ned (Bryan Cranston) and his family visit his daughter at college, they meet her billionaire Silicon Valley boyfriend Laird (James Franco). Covered in tattoos and unabashedly open about what he says, Ned freaks out when Laird says he wants to propose.

Why to skip: A James Franco and Bryan Cranston pairing sounds — and looks — hilarious, but apparently, the movie's kind of a dud and not as funny as you hope. Adam Graham of the "Detroit News" said it reminded him of "Meet the Parents""but littered with F-bombs."

6. See it: "A Monster Calls"

A Monster Calls

What it's about: A 13-year-old meets a tree monster who helps him cope with his mom's terminal cancer.

Why to see it: Based on a children's book, "A Monster Calls" is a dark and yet enchanting coming-of-age tale. Plus, it stars Felicity Jones, who's currently starring in "Star Wars" movie "Rogue One," Sigourney Weaver, and Liam Neeson voices the tree! Jason Guerrasio called the Oscar contender a tear-jerker over on our sister site Business Insider.

7. See it: "Silence"

silence

What it's about: Two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) travel to Japan in search of their mentor (Liam Neeson). 

Why to see it: Martin Scorsese has been trying to adapt Shusaku Endo's 1966 novel for about 30 years, and this has been called one of his best. Plan to spend some time with this one after it's done. NPR referred to it as Scorsese's "most punishing film since Raging Bull." The movie opens wide January 6.

In theaters Christmas Day, December 25

8. See it: "Fences"

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What it's about: A former Negro League player struggles to provide for his family and raise his son in 1950s Pittsburgh.

Why to see it: The talent in this one alone makes it worth seeing. Denzel Washington stars in the film as the father who is holding his son back, but he also directed the film based on a play. Viola Davis co-stars as his wife.

9. See it: "Hidden Figures"

Hidden Figures movie

What it's about: The film follows the overlooked story of three African-American women working at Nasa during the launch of astronaut John Glenn into space.

Why to see it: Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer deliver an inspiring story that touches upon social issues while delivering some humor, too. Plus, singer Janelle Monae is in it!

10. See it: "20th Century Women" 

20th Century Women movie

What it's about: A single mom in 1979 enlists some of her young tenants to serve as role models to her teenage son.

Why to see it: Annette Bening shines in Mike Mills' latest. Reviews agree that Mills' latest is pleasurable and delightful next step for the director.

11. Skip: "Live by Night"

live by night

What it's about: Set during the prohibition, the film follows the son of a Boston police cop, Joe Coughlin, who goes on to become a gangster involved in organized crime. 

Why to skip: Despite a cast starring Ben Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, and Sienna Miller, the majority of reviews agree this crime saga feels unoriginal and doesn't completely come together.

Other movies out:

12. For the romantics/music lovers: "La La Land" 

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What it's about: Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and (Emma Stone) navigate finding success in acting and music in old Hollywood while balancing a relationship.

Why see it: Who wouldn't want to see a musical with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dancing and singing? The two have undeniable chemistry and Stone's dresses are the envy of any fashionista. Be warned: This isn't a movie with a happy ending. The whimsical film is dreamlike in its character's aspirations, but realistic in its ultimate message. 

13. See it: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

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What it's about: A group of rebels set out to steal plans for the ultimate planet killer, the Death Star.

Why to see it: Taking place between the prequel and original trilogies, "Rogue One" perfectly marries the older "Star Wars" movies to the newer ones without compromising any of the original storytelling. If anything, it adds to it. Even if you haven't seen any "Star Wars" movies, "Rogue One" serves as a nice entry point into the series. And, yes, it has an awesome Darth Vader scene.

14. Skip: "Collateral Beauty"

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What it's about: After suffering a great tragedy, Howard (Will Smith) has difficulty bouncing back and has withdrawn himself from his work and friends.

Why to skip: Like "Passengers," this is a case of another mis-marketed movie, which may make viewers feel a bit cheated once they realize what it's actually about. Though Howard is being visited by these "spirits," they're actually all actors hired to get him back on his feet. Despite an all-star cast including Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, and Keira Knightley, the movie debuted as Smith's worst-performing box-office opening.

15. If you're looking for laughs: "Office Christmas Party"

office christmas party

What it's about: When their boss threatens to shut down their company branch, Josh and Clay decide to throw the ultimate office Christmas party to try and land a big client and save everyone's jobs.

Why to skip: If you're not a fan of the comedy group from "Horrible Bosses," you may be rolling your eyes at this one as Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman reteam for this one with some "SNL" cast members. 

Why to see it: Not everyone will love this one, but I think the reviews are a bit harsh on it. "Office Christmas Party" is just fine, silly fun. Does it get a little over-the-top near the end? Sure, but T.J. Miller really helped sell this movie and add some laughs. If he wasn't in the film, it would have been an instant snooze. 

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Here are all the comic book movies coming out in 2017

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It's a whole new year, and with it comes a whole new set of comic book-inspired movies to get hyped about. Get ready for baby Groot, young Spider-Man, old man Wolverine, and many more to hit the big screen in the months ahead. Here's a quick look at what you can expect and when each film is set to release.

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The trailer for the next 'Alien' movie is here, and it's gory and chilling

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alien covenant Fox final

Fox has dropped the first trailer for the "Alien: Covenant" movie, Ridley Scott's latest dive into the legendary sci-fi franchise he began back in 1979 with "Alien."

Set 10 years after the events of 2012's "Prometheus,""Alien: Covenant" is the second entry in a planned prequel "Alien" series and follows a new expedition to a colony planet where, as I'm sure you guessed, a crew member becomes infected by a creature who eventually kills much of the rest of the crew.

In this movie it looks like the heroine will be Katherine Waterston ("Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them,""Inherent Vice"). She plays scientist Daniels and has the whole Sigourney Weaver vibe going from the original "Alien" films.

Business Insider got to see some footage of the movie at an event 20th Century Fox held before the holidays and (without giving anything away) "Alien" fans will certainly get the gory action they want want from the franchise. You also get a sense of that from the trailer. 

The movie also stars Michael Fassbender — who reprises his role of the android David from "Prometheus"— Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride (yes, the comedian known from "Eastbound & Down," and he elicits chuckles in this film, too).

Watch the first trailer below. "Alien: Covenant" will be in theaters May 2017.

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