Theater Watch: What to See in December

As the year comes to an end and the holidays are upon us, we welcome December with open arms and a joyous spirit. What’s so special about December is that it brings us a vast array of film releases, on top of the super quirky and ridiculous holiday expectations. Intertwining horror, drama, comedy and adventure, December takes us on a rollercoaster of excitement. Now without further ado, here is the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Theater Watch List for this month!

Joy

Directed by David O. Russell; Written by David O. Russell and Annie Mumolo

An emotional and human comedy, which tells the story of a woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Battling through betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love, Joy’s inner strength and powerful imagination carry her through the storm she faces.

Release Date: December 25, 2015

Christmas Eve

Directed by Mitch Davis; Written by Mitch Davis and Tyler McKellar

On Christmas Eve, a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers in elevators. Changing their lives in unexpected ways, they find themselves getting through the incident with laughter, romance, and a little holiday magic.

Release Date: December 4, 2015

The Revenant

Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu; Written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mark L. Smith & Michael Punke

On an expedition in the American wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his hunting team. On a journey for survival, Glass must navigate his way through the brutal winter with the use of sheer will power and love for his family.

Release Date: December 25, 2015/ January 8, 2016

Krampus

Directed by Michael Dougherty; Written by Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty & Zach Shields

Max, a young boy who experiences an unhappy Christmas due to his dysfunctional family, turns his back on Christmas and accidentally ends up summoning a Christmas demon.

Release Date: December 4, 2015

Daddy’s Home

Directed by Sean Anders; Written by Brian Burns, Sean Anders & John Morris

A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.

Release Date: December 25, 2015

Concussion

Directed by Peter Landesman; Written by Peter Landesman & Jeanne Marie Laskas

The dramatic true story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist, who made the first discovery of a football-related brain injury, known as CTE.

Release Date: December 25, 2015

Sisters

Directed by Jason Moore; Written by Paula Pell

The story of two disconnected sisters brought back to their family home, to clean out their childhood bedroom. Looking to recapture their glory days, they throw a high-school style party, which ends being one thing needed by a bunch of ground-down adults.

Release Date: December 18, 2015

The Danish Girl

Directed by Tom Hooper; Written by David Ebershoff & Lucinda Coxon

The remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener and the evolving journey of their marriage and work as Lili comes out as a transgendered female.

Release Date: December 25, 2015