The holiday season is upon us. That means Hollywood will be rolling out some mainstream crowd pleasers and Oscar contenders. Whether it’s wholesome family fun, a CGI action-fest, or pretentious art house indie, there’s something for everyone at your local theatres.

Here’s a sampling of what’s heading to the big screen this holiday season.

Hitchcock

Short Take: The love story of Alfred Hitchcock and his wife Alma during the filming of Psycho. Stars Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Danny Huston, and Toni Collette. Directed by Sacha Gervasi.

Reel Buzz: Is it us, or is Hopkins’ Hitchcock even creepier than Hannibal Lector?

Silver Linings Playbook

Short Take: Pat has lost everything — his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living with his parents after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet-and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro. Directed by David O. Russell (The Fighter, Three Kings)

Reel Buzz: Romantic comedies are tricky enough to do well without adding mental health issues to the mix. David O. Russell walks a tightrope with this one, but with his track record and directional nuance, it’s likely a big score.

Killing Them Softly

Short Take: When three idiots, who think they’re smart, Three dumb guys who think they’re smart rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse. Brad Pitt plays the enforcer hired to track them down and restore order. Killing Them Softly also features Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, and Vincent Curatola. Directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford).

Reel Buzz: Preliminary buzz is good on this, but then again it’s the Weinstein Company, so of course the buzz is good. It’ll be grisly beat down to be sure, but with this cast and director, it’s got our attention.

Playing for Keeps

Short Take: A former sports star who has fallen on hard times starts coaching his son’s soccer team in an attempt to get his life together. Stars Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, and Judy Greer. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (Seven Pounds).

The Buzz: We’re anticipating forgiveness and perhaps 7 pounds of emotionally manipulative sentiment from director Gabriele Muccino, but when Butler trades testosterone-laden action flicks for estrogen-fest melodrama, oh how his female fans do swoon.

Deadfall

Short Take: A thriller that follows two siblings who decide to fend for themselves in the wake of a botched casino heist, and their unlikely reunion during another family’s Thanksgiving celebration. Stars Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Sissy Spacek. Directed by Stefan Ruzowitsky.

The Buzz: Solid cast, good premise, but it may be a little too convoluted for its own good.

Hyde Park on the Hudson

Short Take: The story of the love affair between FDR and his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley, centered around the weekend in 1939 when the King and Queen of the United Kingdom visited upstate New York. Stars Bill Murray and Laura Linney. Directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill, Changing Lanes)

The Buzz: It’s expected to be a great performance from Bill Murray. IMDB calls it, “….the American response to season three of Downton Abbey.”

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Short Take: A curious Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug. Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis and Richard Armitage star; Peter Jackson directs.

The Buzz: J.R. Tolkien fans and Comic Con types probably haven’t been this twitterpated since the first pre-quel to Star Wars.

Zero Dark Thirty

Short Take: 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 the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May. Stars Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Jason Clarke. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker).

The Buzz: There is a great deal of controversy surrounding this film and whether the filmmakers were given classified information, but with Kathryn Bigelow as commanding officer, Zero Dark Thirty is in good hands and will no doubt be a powerful film.

The Guilt Trip

Short Take: An inventor and his mom hit the road together so he can sell his latest invention. Stars Seth Rogan and Barbara Streisand. Directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal)

The Buzz: This one is just for laughs and we’re thinking the director of The Proposal and 27 Dresses will but the f-u-n in dysfunctional family road trip.

Jack Reacher

Short Take: A homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who shot five random victims. Stars Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Alexander Rhodes. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

The Buzz: He’s already Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hunt; Will Tom Cruise’s next alter ego be writer Lee Child’s Jack Reacher?

Les Miserables

Short Take: An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption. Stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)

The Buzz: Tom Hooper, boldly brings the beloved stage musical to the big screen. It’s a strong cast and the buzz is good, but we’ll see if it appeals to members of the academy as much as it appeals to fans of the musical.

Promised Land

Short Take: 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. Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krazinski, Hal Holbrook. Directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting).

The Buzz: Matt Damon was set to direct and star in this environmental vehicle, but good friend Gus Van Sant took over the reins. We don’t know why, but we’re pretty sure we’ll respect the endeavour.

On the Road

Short Take: Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly. Stars Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen. Directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries).

The Buzz: The director of The Motorcycle Diaries may just be the perfect filmmaker to bring Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel.

Quartet

Short Take: At a home for retired opera singers, the annual concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents. Stars Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay. Directorial debut by Dustin Hoffman.

The Buzz: With this cast, older audiences will no doubt enjoy Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut. Reviews have been polite but not exactly standing ovations.