These movies will be release during Winter Break.

Dec. 20

“Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (Warner Bros.) (Dec. 18)

Directed by Peter Jackson. Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler. Everyone’s “Tolkien” about the second installment of the immensely popular Lord of the Rings series. This film picks up the story where “Fellowship of the Ring” left off. The War of the Rings begins, and Frodo Baggins (Wood) and Sam Gamgee (Sean Astin) continue on their journey to destroy the One Ring.

“Gangs of New York” (SND)

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. A young immigrant, Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), returns to lower Manhattan in 1863 to avenge the death of his father. The film showcases the various civil unrests that plagued the city, including corrupt politics and the conflicts between Irish and Italian gangs that led to the bloody draft riots.

“Antwone Fisher” (Fox Searchlight)

Directed by Denzel Washington. Starring Derek Luke and Denzel Washington. Based on a true story, Luke plays Antwone Fisher, a violent sailor who is sent to a psychiatrist (Washington). This film aims to inspire, as Fisher embarks on a journey to find his family.

“The Wild Thornberrys Movie” (UIP Netherlands)

Directed by Cathy Malkasian and Jeff McGrath. Starring the voices of Tim Curry, Rupert Everett and Flea. Nickelodeon’s popular cartoon family travels to Africa. Eliza Thornberry (voiced by Lacey Chabert) meets a shaman who gives her a secret gift: the ability to communicate with animals.

“Two Weeks Notice” (Warner Bros.)

Directed by Marc Lawrence. Starring Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant and Alicia Witt. Bullock plays Lucy Kelson, multitasking attorney. When she’s finally pushed too far by her client’s demands, Bullock puts in her “two weeks notice” … just in time for Grant to realize he’s in love with her.

“25th Hour” (Walt Disney Pictures)

Directed by Spike Lee. Starring Edward Norton and Barry Pepper. Like most of Lee’s films, this draws attention to the social injustices of our country. Norton has 24 hours to reevaluate his life before serving a seven-year prison sentence.

Dec. 27

“Catch Me If You Can” (UIP)

Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken. Based on a true story, DiCaprio stars as Frank Abagnale Jr., a con artist who impersonates a host of extravagant identities, funded by over $6 million in phony checks. A cat-and-mouse game between FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks) and Abagnale (DiCaprio) ensues.

“Pinocchio” (Medusa Distribuzione)

Directed by and starring Roberto Benigni. Here’s the same old story with a new twist. This time, Pinocchio will be played by 50-year old Benigni, and the original Italian-language film will be dubbed in English for the U.S. version.

“Chicago” (TFM Distribution)

Directed by Rob Marshall. Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rene Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, Queen Latifah, Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu. This musical, based on the hit Broadway show of fame, murder, revenge, and obsession in 1920s Chicago, is jam-packed with stars.

“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” (TFM Distribution)

Directed by George Clooney. Starring Sam Rockwell, George Clooney, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Fred Savage. This film details the life and times of game show maven Chuck Barris (Rockwell), who is a television producer by day and CIA agent by night.

“The Hours” (Paramount)

Directed by Stephen Daldry. Starring Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, and Nicole Kidman. This film is a combination of three stories at three different times. Kidman is Virginia Woolf writing “Mrs. Dalloway” in the 1920s. Moore is Laura Brown reading “Mrs. Dalloway” at the end of WWII. Streep is Clarissa Vaughn, living in contemporary New York City. All three stories come together to unite the women through the generations.

“Narc” (Paramount)

Directed by Joe Carnahan. Starring Ray Liotta, Jason Patric and Chi McBride. After an undercover narcotics officer dies, Nick Tellis (Patric), a man fired 18 months earlier for killing a pregnant woman with a stray bullet, and Henry, a friend of the dead narc, are put on his case.

Jan. 10

“Just Married” (20th Century Fox)

Directed by Shawn Levy. Starring Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy. Chronicles the happiness and mishaps of a newlywed couple (Kutcher and Murphy). The two journalists defy the odds by making it to their wedding day, only to discover that their honeymoon will prove to be the true testament of their love. Wacky antics ensue.

— Compiled by Lindsey Senn and Megan Hinds