Holiday Movie Preview

Holiday Movie Preview 2008

'Tis the season to be jolly ... especially for movie fans. With Thanksgiving, Christmas and the new year almost upon us, Hollywood studios are breaking out their big guns in a last-ditch effort to boost annual box office numbers and garner buzz for Oscar bait.

And this year's holiday season roster is nothing to sneeze at, boasting the first true Bond sequel in history, a chance at Christmas-movie redemption for Vince Vaughn, a chance at career redemption for Mickey Rourke and an epic Brad Pitt-Jennifer Aniston Christmas Day showdown. Honestly, could you ask for a better present?

So take a gander at Moviefone's guide to the funniest, most thrilling, most award-worthy flicks of the turkey-eating, eggnog-drinking season.

WireImage | Sony | Summit | Paramount

'Quantum Of Solace'

Release Date: Nov. 14

File Under: Blockbuster, Action

The Scoop: Expectations couldn't be higher for the follow-up to 2006's acclaimed 'Casino Royale'
-- and, in true 007 fashion, 'Solace' ups the ante in every way: more action, less mercy and even hotter Bond girls. The shortest film and the first true sequel in franchise history, 'Quantum' finds a bloodthirsty Bond gone rogue, 'Bourne'-style, in pursuit of Vesper's killers. Snappy one-liners and lots of Daniel Craig kicking ass ensue.

Sony

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Release Date: Nov. 12

File Under: Sleeper, Oscar Bait

The Scoop: Set in and around the slums of India, Danny Boyle's movie about a hard-luck orphan who makes it to the final round of India's 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' doesn't have any stars, but it does have heart. It's part Bollywood fantasy, part coming-of-age buddy pic, part romantic love story ... and just may wind up being the feel-good indie hit of the year.

Fox Searchlight

'Bolt'

Release Date: Nov. 21

File Under: Family

The Scoop: Tween superstar Miley Cyrus is a girl whose dog, Bolt (John Travolta), thinks he's the bionic canine he portrays on their hit TV series. He escapes the set and goes on a cross-country trek to save her, believing a kidnap plotline is real. Kids on 'Hanna Montana' don't recognize the pop star without her wig, but we think real-life kids will know Miley's voice when they hear it.

Disney

'Twilight'

Release Date: Nov. 21

File Under: Blockbuster, Tween Sensation

The Scoop: Based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling book, directed by Catherine Hardwicke ('Thirteen'), and starring a cast of easy-on-the-eyes young actors, it's been called the next 'Harry Potter.' With teen girls (and their moms) begging star Robert Pattinson to bite them (seriously, we do not kid), this vampire action-romance
-- a Nosferatu 'Romeo and Juliet' for the OMG set -- is poised to sink its fangs into a bloody good box office haul.

Summit Entertainment

'Australia'

Release Date: Nov. 26

File Under: Oscar Bait, Blockbuster

The Scoop: Nicole Kidman. Hugh Jackman. Baz Luhrmann. Three of the world's most famous Aussies team up for a sweeping WWII love story -- set in Oz, naturally -- between an aristocrat and a cattle driver. (Guess which actor is which.) Given Luhrmann's dramatic flair and Kidman and Jackman's dramatic chops, this may be Australia's best chance ever to live down Crocodile Dundee.

20th Century Fox

'Four Christmases'

Release Date: Nov. 26

File Under: Comedy

The Scoop: This isn't your average gooey, life-affirming holiday movie
-- you know, the kind stuffed down moviegoers' throats like so many honey-glazed hams every holiday season. Instead, peace on earth becomes hell on earth when a happy San Francisco couple (Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) is forced to visit each of their idiosyncratic divorced parents in one awkward-moment-and-hilarity-filled Christmas Day.

New Line

'Milk'

Release Date: Nov. 26

File Under: Oscar Bait

The Scoop: Considering the plot revolves not only around the election of the country's first openly gay official, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), but also the historic fight against Proposition 6 (a ban on gay teachers), the film has added relevance with California's recent passage of Prop 8. But the bigger story will ultimately be Penn, who will likely find his name on the Oscar ballot come '09.

Focus Features

'Transporter 3'

Release Date: Nov. 26

File Under: Action, Blockbuster

The Scoop: The 'Transporter' flicks have always seemed like extended car commercials with their gravity-defying chases and slick maneuvering by Jason Statham. This third installment has an added 'Speed'-like storyline that action junkies should love, as well as the anticipated butt-kicking, explosions and snarky one-liners from shirtless tough-guy Statham.

20th Century Fox

'Cadillac Records'

Release Date: Dec. 5

File Under: Sleeper

The Scoop: The first of two completed biopics on blues music mogul Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody), this is the one that will prevail (the less star-studded 'Who Do You Love' faces an uphill battle to theaters). With a supporting cast that includes Beyonce, Mos Def and Columbus Short, don't be shocked if the audiences that flocked to 'Ray' and 'Dreamgirls' help make this a hit, too.

Sony BMG Film