Everything Coming to Theaters This Winter

From space epics to small-town comedies, here is what we are most excited to see this winter. The season between Thanksgiving and the end of February has always been a strange and wonderful time at the movies. Studios save their biggest spectacles for the holiday crowds, while the serious awards hopefuls arrive in a steady stream, hoping to stay fresh in voters’ minds. Somewhere in the middle, a handful of small, surprising films sneak into theaters and quietly become everyone’s favorite. This year’s lineup has all three, and our team has been circling dates on the release calendar for months.

Below you will find our guide to the season, organized by the kind of movie night you are planning. Every film listed here is fictional, and release dates may shift, as they often do in winter. You can add any title to your own calendar from our release page, and we will update this guide as new dates are confirmed.

The big ones

“Orbit Nine,” “The Last Ferry” and the animated “Pip & the Paper Moon” lead the season. These are the titles that will dominate the box office chart, the holiday conversations and, very likely, a few awards ballots.

Orbit Nine

The most anticipated film of the winter is a science fiction epic about a mining crew stranded at the far edge of the solar system after their ship loses contact with Earth. Early footage suggests enormous, eerie landscapes and a story that leans more toward survival drama than laser battles. It opens in mid-December on large-format screens across the country, and our film critic has already said it is worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. At just under three hours, plan accordingly and skip the extra-large soda.

The Last Ferry

Set entirely aboard a late-night ferry crossing to an island in Washington’s Puget Sound, this romantic drama follows two strangers who meet on the upper deck and talk until morning. It is a small premise with big ambitions, and festival audiences were reportedly charmed. Expect it to be the go-to date movie of the holidays, and expect at least one long, rain-soaked conversation scene to show up in every awards highlight reel.

Pip & the Paper Moon

The family film of the season follows a small paper bird on a quest to reach the moon. Early screenings have produced glowing word of mouth, and parents seem to be reacting just as strongly as their kids. It arrives in theaters the week before Christmas, which means it will likely be the movie many families see together over the holiday break. Bring a pack of tissues for everyone in the row.

Winter is when the serious contenders come out. Bring tissues.

Our film critic

The sleepers

Watch for “Saltwater,” a quiet drama that wowed festival crowds. It is the story of two sisters trying to keep their late father’s oyster farm running on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, and it is the kind of patient, deeply felt film that rarely gets a big marketing push. It will open in a limited number of theaters in early December before expanding in January. If it plays anywhere near you, go early, because films like this depend on strong opening weekends to reach more screens.

What makes “Saltwater” special is its restraint. There are no villains, no courtroom showdowns and no last-minute rescues. There is just weather, debt, hard work and two sisters who love each other but cannot agree on almost anything. The performances are said to be extraordinary, and the film’s final shot, filmed at dawn over the oyster beds, was described to us by one festival viewer as the most beautiful image she saw all year.

A few other smaller films are worth keeping an eye on:

• Holiday Detour — A warm, chaotic family comedy about a holiday reunion in suburban Chicago that goes hilariously wrong. Perfect for a lighter evening.
• Northern Lights Motel — An ensemble comedy set at a roadside inn in Alaska during the longest night of the year.
• Ironwood — A slow, beautiful Western about a widow defending her land in snowy Montana. Arrives in January.
• Kitchen Table — A single conversation between a mother and daughter, unfolding in real time. Small in scale, enormous in feeling.

For the whole family

Winter break means long afternoons to fill, and theaters know it. Beyond “Pip & the Paper Moon,” the season includes a few more family-friendly titles. “Brightwater,” a musical about a summer camp, offers a cheerful dose of sunshine in the middle of January, with songs that are already making the rounds in our office. “Snowbound Pals,” a live-action comedy about a group of kids who build an enormous snow fort during a blizzard, looks like pure fun for younger viewers.

If you are planning a family outing, matinee showings are often cheaper and less crowded, and many theaters offer sensory-friendly screenings with lower volume and lights slightly up. Check with your local theater for times.

Awards season contenders

Every winter, a few films arrive with the clear goal of competing for the season’s top honors. This year, our awards editor believes “Orbit Nine” and “Saltwater” will lead the conversation, with “The Last Ferry” a strong possibility in the acting categories. “The Quiet Year,” which opened earlier in the fall, may also see a second wave of attention as voters catch up with it.

Our awards tracker will follow every nomination and win across the season. If you like to see as many contenders as possible before the big night, now is the time to start planning. Many theaters bring back popular films for a short run in late January and February, which is a great second chance to catch anything you missed.

How to plan your winter movie season

With so many films arriving at once, it is easy to miss something you were excited about. A few tips from our team on making the most of the season:

• Use the calendar. Add the films you care most about to your own calendar from our release page so the dates don’t sneak past you.
• Book big releases early. Opening weekends for blockbusters like “Orbit Nine” often sell out the best seats days ahead.
• Catch small films fast. Limited releases may only stay a week or two in some cities before moving on.
• Look for discount days. Many theaters offer lower prices on certain weeknights. A Tuesday movie can save a family real money.
• Dress warm. Theaters keep the air cool, and winter coats make good blankets.

Key takeaway: “Orbit Nine,” “The Last Ferry” and “Pip & the Paper Moon” will draw the crowds, but don’t let the quieter “Saltwater” slip past you.

See you at the movies

There is something special about seeing a film on a cold winter night, walking out of a warm theater into the snow with a story still running through your head. This season offers plenty of chances to feel that, whether you are chasing a giant space adventure, a tender romance or an animated film that will make the whole family cry. Check the calendar, gather your people and pick your first film. We will be there too, probably in the back row, with tissues.