OPENING FRIDAY
Anna and the Apocalypse: Christmas horror musical about zombies in a small town. Limited release. R.
The Favourite: Emma Stone comedy about women competing for the favor of the queen. Limited release. R.
Mortal Engines: Hugo Weaving fantasy about a giant predator city on wheels. Wide release. PG-13.
The Mule: Clint Eastwood crime drama about a 90-year-old drug runner. Wide release. R.
Once Upon a Deadpool: Re-release of “Deadpool,” edited down for family viewing. Wide release. PG-13.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Animated Spider-Man action adventure. Wide release. PG.
Vox Lux: Drama about two girls who write a song to deal with personal tragedy. Limited release. R.
OPENING WEDNESDAY
Mary Poppins Returns: Emily Blunt stars in updating of classic story. Wide release. PG.
STILL SHOWING
At Eternity’s Gate: Biopic. Willem Dafoe portrays Vincent Van Gogh in Julian Schnabel’s film, one of the best ever made about the artist.
Bohemian Rhapsody: Biopic, PG-13. Rami Malek portrays Freddie Mercury in a film that is flashy but doesn’t delve into the character much.
Boy Erased: Drama, R. Lucas Hedges story of a teen forced into gay conversion therapy is well-meaning, well-acted but lacking in surprise.
Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Biopic, R. Melissa McCarthy is brilliant in this fact-based drama about a forger.
Colette: Biopic, R. Keira Knightley is excellent in the life story of French author Colette. Dec. 13 to 15 at Cienstudio.
Creed II: Sport, PG-13. The latest “Rocky” movie rides on the charm of its stars, Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: Fantasy, PG-13. The second “Fantastic Beasts” story based on J.K. Rowling’s books is unfortunately tedious.
Green Book: Drama, PG-13. Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen drama about a black musician in the segregated South. The history is inaccurate, but it’s a crowd-pleaser.
The Grinch: Animation, PG. Benedict Cumberbatch voices the Grinch in this film that touches on the horrors of capitalism but is still quite shallow.
Instant Family: Comedy, PG-13. Rose Byrne-Mark Wahlberg story of a couple that adopts three children hits the right balance of hilarious and heartwarming.
The Possession of Hannah Grace: Horror, R. Thriller about an evil entity haunting corpses in a morgue is a tedious exorcism story.
Ralph Breaks the Internet: Animation, PG. Sequel to “Wreck It Ralph” is weirder and more interesting than that movie.
Robin Hood: Adventure, PG-13. Taron Egerton plays Robin Hood in this sleek, modern updating of the legendary tale.
Shoplifters: Drama, R. Japanese-language drama about a gang of thieves and a lost child is slow but captivating.
A Star is Born: Musical, R. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga story of a singing couple is a heartfelt melodrama from an old template.
Widows: Thriller, R. Viola Davis crime drama about three widows of criminals is pulp fiction of the highest order, and brilliantly acted.
SHORT RUNS
2.0: Bollywood sci-fi, a sequel to “Enthiran,” about an android created to defend the Earth against a threatening presence. Tamil with subtitles. Cinemark Buckland and North Haven.
Antony & Cleopatra: National Theatre Live production of the Shakespeare play starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo. Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.
Astronaut: Short film about an astronaut. Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. at Glastonbury Planetarium.
Becoming Astrid: Biopic. Life story of “Pippi Longstocking” creator Astrid Lindgren. Closes Thursday at Real Art Ways.
Canelo vs. Rocky: Prizefight between Canelo Alvarez and Rocky Fielding. Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.
Donnée: Short film set in Connecticut’s DIY music scene, directed by RJ LaRussa. Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. at The State House, 310 State St. in New Haven. Followed by a concert.
Hushaaru: Bollywood friendship drama about four people who want to carve their own paths in life. Telugu with subtitles. Cinemark Buckland.
La Traviata: Live performances by New York’s Metropolitan Opera of Verdi’s story of a doomed woman and her lover, starring Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez. Dec. 15 at 12:55 p.m. (live) and Dec. 19 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. (recorded). Venues: fathomevents.com. Also Dec. 15 at 12:55 p.m. (live) and Dec. 18 at 12:55 p.m. (recorded) at Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.
Maria by Callas: Documentary about opera diva Maria Callas. Closes Thursday at Real Art Ways.
The Merry Widow: Dresden Semperoper filmed production of Franz Lehar’s operetta. Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at Cinestudio.
Never-Ending Man: Hayao Miyazaki: Documentary about the legendary film animator. Dec. 13 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.
Odiyan: Bollywood fantasy thriller about a sorcerer who controls the darkness. Malayalam with subtitles. Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. at Parkade Cinemas in Manchester.
They Shall Not Grow Old: Documentary featuring colorized footage of soldiers during World War I. Dec. 17 at 4 and 7 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.
The Upside: English-language remake of the French comic hit “The Intouchables,” starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston. Director Neil Burger will be present. Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Avon Theatre in Stamford.
A Very Nutty Christmas: Theatrical premiere of Lifetime holiday movie starring Melissa Joan Hart and Barry Watson, with filmmakers present. Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. at Garde Arts Center, 325 State St. in New London. Also Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. at Mystic Luxury Cinema. $18.
SEE IT AGAIN
A Christmas Story: Christmas classic from 1983 about a boy who wants a BB gun. Dec. 15 and 16 at 11:30 a.m. at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG.
Die Hard and Gremlins: Double feature of classic films popular during the holidays. Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at Strand Theater, 165 Main St. in Seymour. Die Hard R, Gremlins PG.
Jim Henson’s Holiday Special: Double feature of “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” and “The Bells of Fraggle Rock.” Dec. 16 at 1 and 4 p.m. Venues: fathomevents.com.
L’Atalante: Jean Vigo 1934 drama about a newlywed couple living on a boat. Dec. 16 to 19 at 7:30 p.m., with a 4:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, at Cinestudio in Hartford.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Chevy Chase 1989 comedy about a hapless family’s disastrous Christmas. Dec. 14 and 15 at 11:30 p.m. at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven. PG-13.
SEE IT FREE
This week’s featured free library movie is Won’t You Be My Neighbor? This documentary tells the life story of kid-TV legend Fred Rogers. It will be shown Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Tolland library. It is rated PG-13.
For more free movies, check your local library website.
CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER
3-D theater, 250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford. Showtimes: ctsciencecenter.org.
Amazon Adventure, Backyard Wilderness
MARITIME AQUARIUM
IMAX theater, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk. Showtimes: maritimeaquarium.org.
Backyard Wilderness, Pandas