Summer may be over and autumn may have passed, but there's still plenty of bombastic blockbusters and would-be Oscar contenders on the way to theaters over the next few months. Our winter movie preview begins with the latest cinematic adventure of Arthur Conan Doyle's master sleuth and ends with the long-awaited big screen debut of Edgar Rice Burroughs' sci-fi icon. Here's our rundown of all the IGN-friendly films that you need to catch between now and spring 2012:
Release Date: Dec. 16 (US, UK); Jan. 5 (AU)
Studio: Warner Bros.
Following the global success of Sherlock Holmes, it's no surprise that director Guy Ritchie and stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law returned for another slice of sleuthing action. When IGN visited the film's London set, Ritchie told us the action would be bigger in the sequel, and with the globe-trotting adventure hitting London, France, Germany and Switzerland, it's sure to be a glamorous affair. He also said that the villain will be better, and with Mad Men star Jared Harris playing Holmes' arch-nemesis Moriarty, it seems that the dynamic duo may have met their match this time around.
Release Date: Dec. 16 (US, UK); Jan. 1 (AU)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
The singing trio of Simon, Theodore and Alvin are back, along with the Chipettes. But this time the gang ends up stranded on an island after causing a ruckus on a cruise ship. Combining the rigid character study of Cast Away and the adventurous spirit of Robinson Crusoe, Chip-Wrecked could be this year's last-minute Oscar contender. OK. OK. We're just kidding. But if you loved the first two films, you'll want to check this latest installment of Chipmunk zaniness out. It promises more songs, more adventure and more laughs than ever before.
Release Date: Dec. 16 (U.S.); Feb. 3 (UK); Feb. 16 (AU)
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Based on the Tony-winning play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski directs Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz in this dark comedy about two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos.
Release Date: Dec. 16 (IMAX); Dec. 21 (US); Dec. 26 (UK); Dec. 15 (AU)
Studio: Paramount Pictures
It's been five years since the last Mission: Impossible movie, and much has changed for Ethan Hunt and his team. Blamed for a bomb going off at the Kremlin, Hunt and the rest of the IMF are now disavowed, the film revolving around their efforts to both clear their names and prevent another attack. The Incredibles helmer Brad Bird makes his live-action debut with the film, while following the relative misfire of Knight & Day last summer, the pressure will be on for star Tom Cruise to complete his own mission impossible of delivering a blockbuster-sized hit.
Release Date: Dec. 20 (U.S.); Dec. 26 (UK); Jan. 12 (AU)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Based on the first part of late author Stieg Larsson's hugely popular Millennium trilogy, director David Fincher's adaptation sees Daniel Craig play a disgraced journalist who must team up with brilliant hacker, played by Rooney Mara, as they attempt to solve the disappearance of a rich industrialist's niece. Their investigation causes them to uncover forty years of heinous hate crimes against women, and the pair end up in much deeper trouble than they originally bargained for.
Release Date: Dec. 21 (US); Oct. 26 (UK); Dec. 26 (AU)
Studio: Paramount
Steven Spielberg finally brings the boy detective to the big screen in this CG-animated adaptation of Herge's comics. Using state-of-the-art motion-capture technology, and engrossing 3D, Tintin travels the globe with his trusty canine sidekick Snowy to unravel the mystery of a riddle, a curse, and a shipwreck. With pirates and the lure of buried treasure, it's a romping rollercoaster ride for all ages. The impressive cast includes the vocal talents of Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig. Incidentally, it also has one of the best title sequences of the year.
Release Date: Dec. 23 (US); March 16 (UK); Dec. 26 (AU)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cameron Crowe's latest effort is a family-oriented film based on a true story. Matt Damon plays a single father who purchases an ailing zoological park and sets about restoring it with his family. Scarlett Johansson plays a zoo employee and potential love interest. As with all of Crowe's films, heavy attention is being paid to the soundtrack selections.
Release Date: Dec. 25 (U.S.); Jan. 13 (UK); Dec. 26 (AU)
Studio: DreamWorks
Based on Michael Morpurgo's classic kids' book and the recent hit stage play, director Steven Spielberg's adaptation follows the extraordinary journey of a horse from rural England to France during the First World War. The horse, Joey, touches the lives of all whose paths he crosses during the war, from a farm boy to British cavalry, German soldiers and a French farmer and his granddaughter. The cast includes several faces familiar to IGN readers, including Thor's Tom Hiddleston, Harry Potter's David Thewlis and Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch.
Release Date: Dec. 25 (US); Jan. 13 (UK); Jan. 19 (AU)
Studio: Summit Entertainment
An alien invasion action flick with a twist, The Darkest Hour takes place in and around Moscow, and follows the plight of five youngsters who are forced to fight for their lives when extra-terrestrials attack. The twist? Horror of this sort normally happens in the dark, but these aliens interact with electricity, so suddenly, light becomes the enemy. Producer Timur Bekmembatov has form in this field having directed Night Watch and Wanted, while director Chris Gorak knows a thing or two about creating tension having made his directorial debut with indie hit Right at Your Door. Emile Hirsh, Max Minghella and Olivia Thirlby star.
Release Date: Dec. 25 (U.S., ltd.) Jan. 20 (US, wide); Feb 3 (UK); Feb. 23 (AU)
Studio: Warner Bros.
This drama sees young Thomas Horn play Oskar, a boy whose father, played by Tom Hanks, died in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He lives with his mother, played by Sandra Bullock. Oskar has an adventurous spirit, and upon finding a key left behind by his father, he teams up with his grandfather, played by Max Von Sydow, on a mission to find the lock that the key is for.
Continue on for January's releases...
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