Now Playing in Theaters (12/17/25)

new in theaters

Opening 12/19

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH: Pandora faces a conflict between different Na’vi tribes as James Cameron’s sci-fi adventure saga continues, starring Sam Worthington and Zoë Saldana. (195 min, PG-13. Bijou, Capitol, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Star, Stowe, Welden)

DAVID: Angel Studios retells the biblical story of Goliath’s defeater in animated musical form. (115 min, PG. Capitol [ends Wed 24], Essex, Majestic)

DRACULA: Radu Jude directed this new comic and musical take on the legend, set in modern Transylvania and starring Adonis Tanta. (170 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

THE HOUSEMAID: A young woman’s dream job has a dark side in Paul Feig’s adaptation of Freida McFadden’s thriller, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. (131 min, R. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic)

LA GRAZIA: Italy’s president faces crises in his last months in office in this drama from Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty). (133 min, R. Partizanfilm)

THE SECRET AGENT: Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Golden Globe-nominated Brazilian drama, set in 1977, follows a young dad (Wagner Moura) as he flees political persecution during carnival season. (161 min, R. Savoy; also starts at Partizanfilm 12/25)

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS: A ghost pirate leads SpongeBob to the ocean’s depths in this family animation, with the voices of Tom Kenny and Clancy Brown. (96 min, PG. Bijou, City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Marquis, Paramount, Star, Stowe)

Opening 12/25 (check theater websites for updated bookings)

ANACONDA: A group of mid-life friends (including Jack Black and Paul Rudd) sets out to remake the 1997 giant-snake thriller of the same name in Tom Gormican’s action comedy. (100 min, PG-13. Essex, Paramount, Welden)

MARTY SUPREME: In the 1950s, a young man (Timothée Chalamet) sets out to be a table tennis champion in Josh Safdie’s acclaimed comedy-drama. (150 min, R. Capitol, Essex, Partizanfilm, Playhouse)

SONG SUNG BLUE: Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a married Neil Diamond tribute band in this fact-based drama directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow). (133 min, PG-13. Capitol, Essex)

currently playing

BLUE MOON As Oklahoma! opens, Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) drinks away his sorrows in Richard Linklater’s period drama. (100 min, R. Catamount [ends Wed 24])

BY THE STREAMA guest artist at a theater festival stirs up tensions in the latest from acclaimed Korean director Hong Sang-soo. (111 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

ELLA MCCAY A young woman (Emma Mackey) becomes her state’s governor in James Brooks’ comedy. (115 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Capitol [ends Tue 23], Essex, Majestic, Stowe)

ETERNITY A woman (Elizabeth Olsen) must choose a partner for the afterlife in this rom-com. (112 min, PG-13. Big Picture, Partizanfilm)

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 Animatronic monsters are still haunting a pizza spot. (104 min, PG-13. City Cinema, Essex, Majestic, Paramount [ends Wed 24], Star, Welden [ends Thu 25])

HAMNET William and Agnes Shakespeare (Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) grapple with loss in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel. (125 min, PG-13. Majestic, Savoy; reviewed 12/10)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Sisters confront their estranged father in this drama from Joachim Trier. (133 min, R. Starts 12/26 at Catamount; reviewed 12/3)

TRIFOLE: A woman seeks a prize truffle in the Piedmont region in Gabriele Fabbro’s drama. (101 min, NR. Partizanfilm)

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc for a new comic whodunit, directed by Rian Johnson. (140 min, PG-13. Majestic; reveiwed 12/17)

WICKED: FOR GOOD Outcast witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) flies high in the conclusion of the Broadway musical adaptation. (138 min, PG. Capitol [ends Wed 24], Essex, Majestic, Stowe)

ZOOTOPIA 2 Disney’s animated critters return for another mystery. (108 min, PG. Bijou, Capitol, Essex, Majestic, Paramount, Star, Stowe, Welden)

older films and special screenings

ALWAYS ALIVE & CANTOS Y FLORES (Catamount, Mon 22 only)

A CHRISTMAS STORY (Playhouse, Sat 20 only)

ELF (Playhouse, Sat 20 only; Savoy, Sun 21 only)

GREMLINS (Catamount, Fri 19 only)

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (VTIFF, Fri 19 only)

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Big Picture, Sun 21 only; Playhouse, Mon 22 only; Welden, Tue 23 only)

LOVE ACTUALLY (Playhouse, Fri 19 only)

MARY JANE’S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE (Partizanfilm, Wed 17 only)

NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (Playhouse, Tue 23 only)

THE POLAR EXPRESS (Playhouse, Wed 24 only)

ROYAL BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER (Essex, Sun 21 only)

TARGETS (Partizanfilm, Wed 24 only)

THREE COLORS: RED (Catamount, Wed 17 only)

A USEFUL LIFE (Partizanfilm, Wed 31 only)

WHITE CHRISTMAS (Playhouse, Sun 21 only)

open theaters

(* = upcoming schedule for theater was not available at press time)

*BIG PICTURE THEATER: 48 Carroll Rd., Waitsfield, 496-8994, bigpicturetheater.info
BIJOU CINEPLEX 4: 107 Portland St., Morrisville, 888-3293, bijou4.com
CAPITOL SHOWPLACE: 93 State St., Montpelier, 229-0343, fgbtheaters.com
CATAMOUNT ARTS: 115 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-2600, catamountarts.org
CITY CINEMA: 137 Waterfront Plaza, Newport, 334-2610, citycinemanewport.com
ESSEX CINEMAS & T-REX THEATER: 21 Essex Way, Suite 300, Essex, 879-6543, essexcinemas.com
MAJESTIC 10: 190 Boxwood St., Williston, 878-2010, majestic10.com
MARQUIS THEATER: 65 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4841, middleburymarquis.com.
PARAMOUNT TWIN CINEMA: 241 N. Main St., Barre, 479-9621, fgbtheaters.com
*PARTIZANFILM: 230 College St., Unit 13, Burlington, 276-4588, partizanfilm.org
PLAYHOUSE MOVIE THEATRE: 11 S. Main St., Randolph, 728-4012, playhouseflicks.com
SAVOY THEATER: 26 Main St., Montpelier, 229-0598, savoytheater.com
THE SCREENING ROOM @ VTIFF: 60 Lake St., Ste. 1C, Burlington, 660-2600, vtiff.org
STAR THEATRE: 17 Eastern Ave., St. Johnsbury, 748-9511, stjaytheatre.com
*STOWE CINEMA 3PLEX: 454 Mountain Rd., Stowe, 253-4678, stowecinema.com
WELDEN THEATRE: 104 N. Main St., St. Albans, 527-7888, weldentheatre.com