'Tis the season to bail on your family and sneak off not to shovel snow from the driveway, but to munch on gobs on overpriced popcorn while checking out the latest holiday flicks. No, we're not talking Christmas movies, but rather the non-holiday films you must see during the upcoming holiday season.
Spotlight (In theaters now)
![spotlight movie, best movies of 2015]()
Released on November 6, this was too good not to include. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber star in a controversial film about the power of the press and quiet murmur of Catholic priest molestation in 2001 before it was blown up in the media. Editors of the Boston Globe carefully uncover the truth behind sex scandals in organized religion. Also starring acting greats John Slattery and Rachel McAdams, we get a high-powered true Boston story that quickly spanned across the world.
Macbeth (In theaters now)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Macbeth]()
One of our top choices for the next James Bond, Michael Fassbender, stars in the latest book adaptation of the Shakespearean play about a Scottish man who attempts to fulfill his own prophecy by killing his king and taking the throne from him. The talented -- this word has multiple definitions here -- Marion Cotillard stars as Lady Macbeth.
Chi-Raq (In theaters now)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Chi-Raq]()
Directed by Spike Lee and starring Wesley Snipes, John Cusack and Samuel "badass vegan" Jackson, the film has been cited as Lee's love letter to Chicago, a story about the girlfriend (Jennifer Hudson) of a big name Chi-town gangster who convinces girlfriends of fellow gang members to abstain from sex until they agree to end the violence. Did we mention Dave Chappelle is in it? No, we did not, but he is. It's way better than doing your taxes with Wesley Snipes.
Hitchcock/Truffaut (In theaters now)
![hitchcock truffaut, best movies of 2015]()
What would the holidays be without a little non-holiday themed Hitchcock? Serving up the documentary that will warm you more than singeing your eyebrows over a crackling fire, "Hitchcock/Truffaut" explores the influence of the 1966 Truffaut book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" over successful modern day filmmakers. The likes of Wes Anderson, David Fincher, Richard Linklater and Martin Scorsese share their experiences with the book and their cinematic upbringing with Alfred Hitchcock.
In the Heart of the Sea (December 11)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, In the Heart of the Sea]()
Of all the 2015 films to look forward to, this has been a quiet, long-awaited book adaptation to see. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and Benjamin Walker in the true story that inspired the tale of Moby Dick. You remember Herman Melville, the famous celebrity who died before he was famous. This cinematic masterpiece, under the direction of Ron Howard, takes us aboard The Essex, a ship that is sunk by a majestic whale in the early 1800s. The crew, containing Owen Chase Hemsworth and his mates, is left at sea for nearly three months at the mercy of the ocean and the belly of the majestic beast.
The Big Short (December 11)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, The Big Short]()
This upcoming biographical dramedy is based off the 2010 work of the author Michael Lewis of "Moneyball" and "The Blind Side", featuring an all-star lineup including Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt -- so it can't be all bad. Based on the true story about the crash of the U.S. housing market, we get a story about banks, fraud and the lost American dream. It's also got Marisa Tomei, so yeah.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 18)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens]()
I can't believe we even bothered to include this when we could've given this spot up to the latest sequel to "Alvin and the Chipmunks." I kid! We know you're anxious to check this one out for sure.
Daddy's Home (December 24)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Daddy's Home]()
Will Ferrell is back with another comedy after an anticipated movie that failed to meet expectations so far this year in "Get Hard", but hopefully this one where he rivals Mark Wahlberg for Father of the Year gets more laughs. Wahlberg plays an ex-con fresh out the pen that returns to find Ferrell step fathering his children, and the two father off to see who's the better dad and ultimately gets the love. Speaking of family rivalry, did you know about Wahlberg's sibling actors?
The Revenant (December 25)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, The Revenant]()
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in what he considers his most intense role yet -- no, he was apparently not raped by a bear in the film -- across from Tom Hardy in a period piece set in the outback of the 1800s. DiCaprio's Hugh Glass is attacked by a bear and left for dead, then he spends the rest of the film making his way back to his family before gaining vengeance on Hardy's John Fitzgerald who betrayed him.
The Hateful Eight (December 25)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, The Hateful Eight]()
Our eighth film is the eighth feature from Tarantino, "The Hateful Eight," similar setup compared to Tarantino's great directorial debut. In a blizzard of great actors (Kurt Russell, Sam Jackson, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen to name a few) caught in a winter storm in post-Civil War Wyoming, no one is quite who they seem as two bounty hunting strangers come across another pack of strangers to brave the storm. Expect uniquely approached, gruesome death, 70-millimeter picture quality and Samuel L. Jackson attempting a look he hasn't yet use his other six thousand roles.
Joy (December 25)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Joy]()
The latest David O. Russell film to star -- here comes a big surprise -- Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper features the derailing life of a self-made matriarch who gets hit by about seven kinds of life's shit while attempting to juggle motherhood, lady boss pants and the ever-creeping presence of the world's painfully dry thumb up the ass. Look out, because we smell another Oscar nomination for Lawrence.
Anomalisa (December 30)
![10 Non-Holiday Films You Have to See During the Holidays 2015, Anomalisa]()
What would be a non-holiday movie roundup without a non-holiday themed animated adult film? Directed by Charlie Kaufman, this impressive-looking stop-motion movie from the vivid imagination behind "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" captures life in an essential film for heading into a fresh, better new year. Rare, heartwarming and motivating, "Anomalisa" was made to enlist all your senses before they go numb from the winter cold.
Related: 10 Very Weird Christmas Movies
Spotlight (In theaters now)
Released on November 6, this was too good not to include. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber star in a controversial film about the power of the press and quiet murmur of Catholic priest molestation in 2001 before it was blown up in the media. Editors of the Boston Globe carefully uncover the truth behind sex scandals in organized religion. Also starring acting greats John Slattery and Rachel McAdams, we get a high-powered true Boston story that quickly spanned across the world.
Macbeth (In theaters now)
One of our top choices for the next James Bond, Michael Fassbender, stars in the latest book adaptation of the Shakespearean play about a Scottish man who attempts to fulfill his own prophecy by killing his king and taking the throne from him. The talented -- this word has multiple definitions here -- Marion Cotillard stars as Lady Macbeth.
Chi-Raq (In theaters now)
Directed by Spike Lee and starring Wesley Snipes, John Cusack and Samuel "badass vegan" Jackson, the film has been cited as Lee's love letter to Chicago, a story about the girlfriend (Jennifer Hudson) of a big name Chi-town gangster who convinces girlfriends of fellow gang members to abstain from sex until they agree to end the violence. Did we mention Dave Chappelle is in it? No, we did not, but he is. It's way better than doing your taxes with Wesley Snipes.
Hitchcock/Truffaut (In theaters now)
What would the holidays be without a little non-holiday themed Hitchcock? Serving up the documentary that will warm you more than singeing your eyebrows over a crackling fire, "Hitchcock/Truffaut" explores the influence of the 1966 Truffaut book "Cinema According to Hitchcock" over successful modern day filmmakers. The likes of Wes Anderson, David Fincher, Richard Linklater and Martin Scorsese share their experiences with the book and their cinematic upbringing with Alfred Hitchcock.
In the Heart of the Sea (December 11)
Of all the 2015 films to look forward to, this has been a quiet, long-awaited book adaptation to see. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy and Benjamin Walker in the true story that inspired the tale of Moby Dick. You remember Herman Melville, the famous celebrity who died before he was famous. This cinematic masterpiece, under the direction of Ron Howard, takes us aboard The Essex, a ship that is sunk by a majestic whale in the early 1800s. The crew, containing Owen Chase Hemsworth and his mates, is left at sea for nearly three months at the mercy of the ocean and the belly of the majestic beast.
The Big Short (December 11)
This upcoming biographical dramedy is based off the 2010 work of the author Michael Lewis of "Moneyball" and "The Blind Side", featuring an all-star lineup including Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt -- so it can't be all bad. Based on the true story about the crash of the U.S. housing market, we get a story about banks, fraud and the lost American dream. It's also got Marisa Tomei, so yeah.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (December 18)
I can't believe we even bothered to include this when we could've given this spot up to the latest sequel to "Alvin and the Chipmunks." I kid! We know you're anxious to check this one out for sure.
Daddy's Home (December 24)
Will Ferrell is back with another comedy after an anticipated movie that failed to meet expectations so far this year in "Get Hard", but hopefully this one where he rivals Mark Wahlberg for Father of the Year gets more laughs. Wahlberg plays an ex-con fresh out the pen that returns to find Ferrell step fathering his children, and the two father off to see who's the better dad and ultimately gets the love. Speaking of family rivalry, did you know about Wahlberg's sibling actors?
The Revenant (December 25)
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in what he considers his most intense role yet -- no, he was apparently not raped by a bear in the film -- across from Tom Hardy in a period piece set in the outback of the 1800s. DiCaprio's Hugh Glass is attacked by a bear and left for dead, then he spends the rest of the film making his way back to his family before gaining vengeance on Hardy's John Fitzgerald who betrayed him.
The Hateful Eight (December 25)
Our eighth film is the eighth feature from Tarantino, "The Hateful Eight," similar setup compared to Tarantino's great directorial debut. In a blizzard of great actors (Kurt Russell, Sam Jackson, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen to name a few) caught in a winter storm in post-Civil War Wyoming, no one is quite who they seem as two bounty hunting strangers come across another pack of strangers to brave the storm. Expect uniquely approached, gruesome death, 70-millimeter picture quality and Samuel L. Jackson attempting a look he hasn't yet use his other six thousand roles.
Joy (December 25)
The latest David O. Russell film to star -- here comes a big surprise -- Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper features the derailing life of a self-made matriarch who gets hit by about seven kinds of life's shit while attempting to juggle motherhood, lady boss pants and the ever-creeping presence of the world's painfully dry thumb up the ass. Look out, because we smell another Oscar nomination for Lawrence.
Anomalisa (December 30)
What would be a non-holiday movie roundup without a non-holiday themed animated adult film? Directed by Charlie Kaufman, this impressive-looking stop-motion movie from the vivid imagination behind "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" captures life in an essential film for heading into a fresh, better new year. Rare, heartwarming and motivating, "Anomalisa" was made to enlist all your senses before they go numb from the winter cold.
Related: 10 Very Weird Christmas Movies