It’s no secret that Hollywood saves some of its biggest guns for the end of the year, and between all the awards season hopefuls and holiday blockbusters, there’s an entire arsenal of exciting movies coming to theaters this December. While Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hooper and Quentin Tarantino duke it for Oscar honors with their newest films, “Jack Reacher” and “The Hobbit” promise to deliver pure escapist entertainment. The only thing missing is a big red bow, because this is the ultimate present for film lovers.

Who: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Olivia Colman and Samuel West
What: The story of the love affair between FDR and his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley during the weekend in 1939 when the King of England visited upstate New York.
When: December 7th
Why: Bill Murray is notoriously picky about choosing scripts, but not even he could turn down the chance to play Franklin D. Roosevelt, which practically comes with an Oscar nomination attached to it. All kidding aside, Murray is actually a pretty inspired choice to play the wheelchair-bound 32nd President, especially because Roger Michell’s film appears to be much lighter for a story that takes place during such a harrowing period in history. While it’s unlikely that “Hyde Park on Hudson” will garner the same awards recognition as 2010’s “The King’s Speech” (although the two movies would make a perfect double feature), it’s hard to imagine that it will disappoint with such a solid cast.

Who: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis and Hugo Weaving
What: Bilbo Baggins journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
When: December 14th
Why: After years stuck in development hell due to the MGM bankruptcy crisis, the most anticipated prequel to come out of Hollywood since “The Phantom Menace” is finally arriving in theaters, although not exactly in the way that most people were expecting. For starters, Peter Jackson is back in the director’s chair after Guillermo del Toro cut his losses to work on other projects (and really, it’s for the better), while two movies have now become three after the decision was made to turn “The Hobbit” into its own trilogy. Though I’m not exactly sure how Jackson plans to do that (especially when Part One, subtitled “An Unexpected Journey,” will reportedly run 160 minutes long), that doesn’t make me any less thrilled about getting the chance to revisit Middle Earth all over again.

Who: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Kyle Chandler, Chris Pratt and Jason Clarke
What: A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, and his death at the hands of Navy SEAL Team Six.
When: December 19th
Why: The last time director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal got together, they made the superb military thriller “The Hurt Locker,” which went on to win six Oscars, including ones for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. The pair has reportedly been working on a movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden for quite some time – so long, in fact, that they had to completely rewrite it after the al-Qaeda leader’s death in 2011 – but if there’s one film with the potential to outdo their last collaboration, “Zero Dark Thirty” is it. Though the movie is clearly much larger in scope than “The Hurt Locker,” with a lot of moving parts and an incredible ensemble cast too big to list here, if Bigelow and Boal get it right, this could be the movie event of the year.

Who: Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Adam Scott, Colin Hanks and Yvonne Strahovski
What: An inventor and his mom hit the road together so he can sell his latest invention.
When: December 19th
Why: With the exception of her supporting roles in the two “Meet the Parents” sequels, it’s been 16 years since Barbara Streisand starred in a film, so naturally people are excited. Though “The Guilt Trip” isn’t exactly the type of movie that a lot of her fans would expect from the actress, the idea of pairing her with man-child Seth Rogen is just interesting enough to perk my interest. Rogen’s career has been pretty hit-and-miss, especially when given too much freedom to improvise, so hopefully having a screen legend like Streisand around will encourage him to bring his A-game, because if the duo can strike the right chemistry, “The Guilt Trip” could be a pleasant holiday surprise.

Who: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Richard Jenkins and Werner Herzog
What: A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims.
When: December 21st
Why: Fans of Lee Child’s popular Jack Reacher book series were outraged when it was announced that Tom Cruise would be playing the lead character in Christopher McQuarrie’s big screen adaptation of the series’ ninth novel, and understandably so. After all, Reacher’s hulking physical appearance supposedly plays an important role in the books, and the diminutive Cruise is one of the last people you’d think of for the part. With that said, however, the actor has not only gotten the stamp of approval from Child himself, but based on the trailers released thus far, it appears that what he lacks in physicality he more than makes up for in attitude. And to think that Cruise wasn’t even McQuarrie’s oddest casting choice. Instead, that honor goes to German director Werner Herzog as the movie’s villain, which is actually kind of perfect when you think about it.

Who: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy and Albert Brooks
What: Picking up a few years after the events of “Knocked Up,” Pete and Debbie continue to fight their way through marriage.
When: December 21st
Why: As far as spinoffs and sequels go, the idea behind “This Is 40” is pretty great, but it’s been awhile since Judd Apatow did anything that really made me laugh, and I’m skeptical that his new movie can buck that trend. Though Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann were responsible for some of the funniest moments in “Knocked Up,” they were much better off as supporting characters, so it’ll be interesting to see if they’ll be able to carry an entire movie on their own. Apatow has already covered many of the basic milestones in adult life – losing your virginity, giving birth and death – so it certainly makes sense that he would be attracted to telling a more complete story about marriage as well. The real question is whether returning to the world of “Knocked Up” will help rekindle Apatow’s comic spark, or if it just makes him look that much more desperate by trying.

Who: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kerry Washington
What: With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
When: December 25th
Why: Quentin Tarantino has dabbled in just about every genre at this point in his career, so it’s only natural that he tried his hand at a Western, even if it’s not exactly a Western in the conventional sense. Much like his last film, “Django Unchained” is set against the backdrop of a particular time in history, and the director seems to thrive when working in that environment. Though I wasn’t crazy about his decision to cast Jamie Foxx in the title role (especially with guys like Idris Elba and Michael K. Williams also auditioning for the part), Tarantino’s casting is almost always spot-on, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He hasn’t let me down yet, and between its promising concept and great cast (including Leonardo DiCaprio as the film’s villain), I don’t expect him to start here.

Who: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried
What: In 19th-century France, criminal Jean Valjean agrees to care for a factory worker’s daughter while being hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert.
When: December 25th
Why: After “The King’s Speech” won Best Picture and Best Director at the Academy Awards two years ago, Tom Hooper could have done anything he wanted, so it’s very telling of his aspirations as a filmmaker that he chose to follow it up with a project as ambitious as a big screen adaptation of “Les Miserables.” Though the movie musical was reinvigorated with 2002’s “Chicago,” many of the ones released in the years since have failed to replicate that same level of success. But there aren’t many musicals that are bigger than “Les Miserables,” and judging by the trailers, Hooper has delivered a moviegoing experience that could rival “Chicago.” From the incredible ensemble cast, to Hooper’s rather unconventional decision to record all of the musical performances live, “Les Miserables” is already shaping up to be one of this year’s Oscar frontrunners.

Who: Matt Damon, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand and Rosemarie DeWitt
What: A salesman for a natural gas company experiences life-changing events after arriving in a small town, where his corporation wants to tap into the available resources.
When: December 28th
Why: There aren’t very many movies that manage to fly under my radar, but “Promised Land” did just that, and I’m not exactly sure how it happened, because the film is jam-packed with talent. Not only does it mark the reunion of Matt Damon with his “Good Will Hunting” director Gus Van Sant, but it’s Damon’s first screenplay since 2002’s “Gerry,” which was also directed by Van Sant. And in keeping with Damon’s habit of co-writing movies with his co-stars, “Promised Land” also counts John Krasinski among its many multi-hyphenates, making the film a somewhat intimate affair. Though it’s difficult to tell how the indie drama will fare against the rest of the season’s competition, despite its environmentally charged subject matter, it’s probably a dark horse contender at best.

The end of every movie year can usually be summed up in a few words: blockbusters and Oscar bait. With all of the holiday-themed films already in theaters, Christmas time is reserved for some of the studio’s biggest movies and their final push before awards season. Though it’s always a bit hot-and-cold in terms of what you can expect, this year’s slate offers an enticing mix of popcorn and prestige films. (And in the case of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” both.) Though some of the more interesting award contenders won’t actually reach your hometown until January (if at all) due to a silly rule that only requires a movie open in a very limited engagement before December 31st, there’s enough good stuff here to keep you suitably entertained well into the new year.

Who: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Ciaran Hinds and Mark Strong
What: In the bleak days of the Cold War, veteran spy George Smiley is lured out of retirement to uncover a Soviet agent within MI6’s ranks.
When: December 9th
Why: I would pay to see just about anything starring Gary Oldman, but his new film from director Tomas Alfredson (who’s already proven himself as a master of suspense with the vampire cult hit, “Let the Right One In”) has gotten me particularly excited. Based on the bestselling novel by former spy turned author John le Carré, the movie looks like a throwback to those great, low-key political thrillers from the 1970s, and if that’s not enough to pique your interest, then a brief glance at the cast list – a veritable who’s who of the best British actors working today, including Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch of “Sherlock” fame – will almost certainly change your mind.

Who: Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt and J.K. Simmons
What: A fiction writer returns to her hometown in Minnesota looking to rekindle a romance with her high school flame, who is now married with kids.
When: December 9th
Why: “Juno” was one of my favorite films of 2007. In addition to an excellent star-making performance by Ellen Page, the movie marked the arrival of writer Diablo Cody onto the scene and cemented Jason Reitman’s status as one of Hollywood’s most promising young directors. Fast-forward four years later and you can understand why Reitman and Cody’s latest collaboration, “Young Adult,” is already garnering awards buzz. Charlize Theron is perfect for the role of the former mean girl (she has the looks and attitude to pull it off without being completely unlikeable), while Patton Oswalt is an inspired choice to play her unlikely confidant. Cody’s snarky dark humor is also on full display here, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she nabs another Oscar nomination come February.

Who: Jonah Hill, Ari Graynor, Sam Rockwell, Max Records and J.B. Smoove
What: A slacker college student gets caught up in a night of crazy hijinks involving a pair of vindictive drug dealers after he takes a job babysitting his neighbor’s kids.
When: December 9th
Why: Though its generic title makes the film sound like another family comedy starring an out-of-work action star, “The Sitter” actually appears to be a raunchier, R-rated version of the 1987 classic, “Adventures in Babysitting.” While the concept may be teeming with potential, however, I’m not entirely sold by the trailer. Jonah Hill (in his final pre-weight loss role) can be really annoying when he’s not kept on a short leash, and director David Gordon Green is notorious for doing the complete opposite. Sam Rockwell and J.B. Smoove make for an intriguing comedic pair as the film’s “villains,” but I have a feeling that the movie’s success is going to depend on the child actors. And if Elizabeth Shue doesn’t pop in for a cameo, I’m going to be extremely disappointed.

Who: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Eddie Marsan and Jared Harris
What: Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces with a mysterious gypsy to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.
When: December 16th
Why: He may not have been the most popular choice to helm a big screen reboot of the world’s most famous detective, but Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” was a really fun popcorn flick that thrived on the chemistry between its two stars. Though I never thought that Ritchie would stick around for a sequel, it makes me more confident knowing that “A Game of Shadows” has retained the same creative team. I’m not sure how big of a role Rachel McAdams is going to play in this one (she’s absent from the trailer, but there’s no way she won’t factor into the story somehow), but as long as Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law still have a playful rapport, then audiences are in for another treat.

Who: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz
What: After two boys duke it out on a playground, the parents of the victim invite the parents of the bully over for a cordial meeting to work out their issues.
When: December 16th
Why: Based on Yasmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play, “God of Carnage,” movies like this are every actor’s dream because it allows them to embrace the theatricality of the subject matter without the limitations of a stage. It’s no surprise, then, that director Roman Polanski has recruited four of the best actors in the business, including three Oscar winners and a former nominee. John C. Reilly may seem like the black sheep of the group, but he’s perhaps the most qualified due to his sharp improvisational skills. Though it’s a bit strange that Polanski would choose a project as stylistically simplistic as this, “Carnage” certainly has the goods to become a dark horse awards contender.

Who: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer
What: Journalist Mikael Blomkvist enlists the aid of young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of a girl 40 years ago.
When: December 21st
Why: Remakes are rarely accepted with such open arms, but there’s a good reason for all the excitement surrounding the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and his name is David Fincher. Don’t get me wrong: the original Swedish version was a solid thriller that did justice to Steig Larrson’s bestselling novel and featured a remarkable performance by Noomi Rapace. But just from that awesome teaser trailer alone, you can tell that Fincher’s movie is going to be even better. Though I’m still not entirely convinced that Daniel Craig is the right person to play Blomkvist, or that newcomer Rooney Mara has the range to match Rapace’s pitch-perfect portrayal of the emotionally scarred Salander, but if there’s one man that can pull it off, it’s Fincher.

Who: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton and Ving Rhames
What: The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, forcing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization’s name.
When: December 21st
Why: There are a lot of people who didn’t like the last “Mission: Impossible” film, but quite frankly, I think it was the best installment in the series. It might not hold that title for much longer, however, based on what I’ve seen of “Ghost Protocol,” which replaces Maggie Q and Jonathan Rhys Meyers on the IMF team with Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton. Those aren’t the only personnel changes, either, as director Brad Bird (best known for “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” ) is stepping in for J.J. Abrams behind the camera. But while this might be Bird’s first live-action movie, between his ensemble cast, the guiding hand of Abrams as producer, and the decision to shoot some of the film on IMAX, you would be crazy to expect anything less than non-stop entertainment.

Who: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
What: Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a quest to find the sunken remains of the Unicorn ship and notorious pirate Red Rackham’s treasure.
When: December 21st
Why: As someone who isn’t a particularly big fan of Steven Spielberg or the art of motion-capture movies, it might seem strange to admit that I’m actually looking forward to “The Adventures of Tintin.” I’ve never even read any of the popular Hergé comics that the film is based on, but just seeing who’s involved in the movie is enough to get me excited. In addition to its great cast (which includes mo-cap maestro Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the bumbling Thompson Twins), the script was written by Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead,” “Hot Fuzz”) and Joe Cornish (“Attack the Block”), and Peter Jackson even had a hand in the project. It’s safe to say that if there’s one Spielberg film to rush out and see this December, it’s “Tintin.”

Who: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis and Max von Sydow
What: A young boy searches New York for the lock that matches a mysterious key left by his father after he’s killed in the September 11th attacks.
When: December 23rd
Why: Out of all the tear-jerker Oscar bait being released this season (here’s looking at you, “War Horse”), director Stephen Daldry’s latest drama looks to be the most tolerable of the bunch. That’s not to say that it won’t make the waterworks flow, but as long as it’s done sparingly, then you should be able to bring your mom along without being too embarrassed. The big question mark, however, is whether newcomer Thomas Horn, whose only previous experience is as a contestant on “Jeopardy!,” has what it takes to carry a movie. This isn’t the first time that Daldry has taken such a risk (although it paid off for him with Jamie Bell in “Billy Elliot”), but he was still smart to surround Horn with a cast of screen veterans, all of whom will be angling for a Supporting Actor nomination.

Who: Emile Hirsh, Olivia Thirlby, Rachel Taylor, Max Minghella and Joel Kinnaman
What: While stranded in Moscow, a group of college students lead the charge against an alien race that has attacked Earth using the planet’s power supply.
When: December 23rd
Why: I’m not entirely sure why Chris Gorak’s sci-fi thriller has been tossed to the wolves, so to speak, by being released during a time of year where it stands no chance of succeeding, but it’s a real shame, because The Darkest Hour” had the potential to be a sleeper hit. Best described as “Red Dawn” meets “Independence Day” and featuring a cast of young up-and-comers, what makes the film so unique from every other alien invasion movie are the aggressors themselves: seemingly invisible entities powered by electricity that can incinerate anything with a single touch. The special effects alone look really good for a movie that only cost a reported $40 million to make, although with the always resourceful Timur Bekmambetov attached as a producer, it isn’t that surprising.