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Black Christmas Horror thriller about a psychotic killer who terrorizes a sorority house during winter vacation. A remake of the 1974 chiller starring Margot Kidder and Olivia Hussey. Written and directed by Glen Morgan (“Willard”). With Michelle Trachtenberg (“Mysterious Skin”), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Final Destination 3”), Lacey Chabert (“Mean Girls”), Crystal Lowe (“Snakes on a Plane”), Kristen Cloke (“Willard”), Oliver Hudson (“The Out-of-Towners”), Andrea Martin (“How to Eat Fried Worms”), Jessica Harmon (“John Tucker Must Die”), Clark Gregg (“Hoot”) and Katie Cassidy (“Click”). Dec. 25. MGM.     Bug Psychological thriller about a haunted Gulf War vet and a divorcée who, while holed up together in a motel room, are tormented by mysterious insects and the woman’s paroled ex-husband. Directed by William Friedkin (“Rules of Engagement,” “The Hunted”) from a screenplay by Tracy Letts, based on Letts’ play. With Ashley Judd (“De-Lovely”), Harry Connick, Jr. (“Basic”), Michael Shannon ( “World Trade Center,” “Let’s Go to Prison”), Lynn Collins (“The Lake House”) and Brian O’Byrne (“The New World”). Flat. 101 min. R: Some strong violence; sexuality; nudity; language; drug use. Dec. 1. Lionsgate.   Children of Men Science fiction thriller, set in a near-future dictatorship, about a world in which people have lost the ability to reproduce, and a history professor who is charged with protecting the first pregnant woman anyone has seen in 25 years. Based on the novel by P.D. James (“The Lighthouse”). Directed by Alfonso Cuarón (“Y Tu Mamá También,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”) from a screenplay by Cuarón, David Arata (“Brokedown Palace,” “Spy Game”) and Timothy J. Sexton (the HBO TV movie “Live from Baghdad”). With Clive Owen (“Inside Man”), Julianne Moore (“Trust the Man”), Michael Caine (“The Weather Man,” “The Prestige”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Kinky Boots”), Charlie Hunnam (“Rumor Has It”), Oana Pellea (“High Tension”), Danny Huston (“The Proposition,” “Marie Antoinette”) and Peter Mullan (“On a Clear Day”). 108 min. R: Strong violence; language; some drug use; brief nudity. Dec. 25. Universal.   Eragon Fantasy about a 16-year-old farm boy whose discovery of a dragon egg leads him to the realization that he is the only individual who can defeat the evil king who threatens his homeland. Based on the best-selling novel by Christopher Paolini. Longtime visual-effects supervisor Stefen Fangmeier (“Master and Commander,” “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”) makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by Peter Buchman (“Jurassic Park III”) and Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal (“Planet of the Apes,” “Mona Lisa Smile”). With Jeremy Irons (“The Lake House”), John Malkovich (“Art School Confidential”), Djimon Hounsou (“The Island,” “The Blood Diamond”), Robert Carlyle (“Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing and Charm School”), Sienna Guillory (“Resident Evil: Apocalypse”), Garrett Hedlund (“Four Brothers”) and Edward Speleers. Scope. Dec. 15. Fox.   The Good Shepherd Epic drama, set over 40 years, about the history of the Central Intelligence Agency – as told through the eyes of a counter-espionage expert recruited out of Yale at the onset of World War II by the U.S. Office of Strategic Service. Directed by Robert De Niro (“A Bronx Tale”) from a screenplay by Eric Roth (“The Insider,” “Ali,” “Munich”). With De Niro (“Hide and Seek”), Matt Damon (“The Departed”), Angelina Jolie (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), William Hurt (“A History of Violence”), Alec Baldwin (“The Departed,” “Running with Scissors”), Timothy Hutton (“Last Holiday,” “Stephanie Daley”), Tammy Blanchard (“Stealing Harvard”), Michael Gambon (“The Omen”), John Turturro (“She Hate Me”) and Billy Crudup (“Trust the Man”). 91 min. Dec. 22. Universal.   Home of the Brave Drama about a trio of U.S. soldiers who struggle to re-adjust to civilian life after returning from tours of duty in Iraq. Directed by Irwin Winkler (“Life as a House,” “De-Lovely”) from a screenplay by Mark Friedman. With Samuel L. Jackson (“Snakes on a Plane”), Jessica Biel (“The Illusionist”), Chad Michael Murray (“House of Wax”), Sam Jones III (“Glory Road”), Christina Ricci (“Cursed”), Jeffrey Nordling (“Flicka”), Brendan Wayne (“S.W.A.T”) and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (“Get Rich or Die Tryin’”). R: War violence; language. Dec. 15 in New York and Los Angeles. MGM.     The Nativity Story Drama about the birth of the founder of Christianity. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (“Thirteen,” “Lords of Dogtown”) from a screenplay by Mike Rich (“The Rookie,” “Radio”). With Keisha Castle-Hughes (“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”), Oscar Isaac (“All About the Benjamins”), Ciarán Hinds (“Miami Vice”), Alexander Siddig (“Syriana”), Hiam Abbass (“Munich”), Eriq Ebouaney (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and Shohreh Aghdashloo (“The Lake House”). Dec. 1. New Line.     Notes on a Scandal British drama about a teacher who throws her life into turmoil when she starts an affair with one of her students. Based on the novel “What Was She Thinking?: Notes On A Scandal” by Zoe Heller (“Everything You Know”). Directed by Richard Eyre (“Iris,” “Stage Beauty”) from a screenplay by Patrick Marber (“Closer,” “Asylum”). With Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator,” “Babel,” “The Good German”), Judi Dench (“Pride and Prejudice,” “Casino Royale”), Jeff Lipman (“United 93,” “Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker”) and Bill Nighy (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, “Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker”). R: Language; some aberrant sexual content. Dec. 25 limited. Fox Searchlight. Apocalypto Mayan-language actioner, set 600 years ago in Central America, about a young Mayan man who becomes the captive of a terrifying invading force. Directed by Mel Gibson (“Braveheart,” “The Passion of the Christ”) from a screenplay by Gibson and Farhad Safinia. With Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Mayra Serbulo (“Y Tu Mamá También”), Gerardo Taracena (“Man on Fire”) and Raoul Trujillo (“The New World”). Flat. Dec. 8. Buena Vista.   The Blood Diamond Drama, set in 1999 Africa, about a poor farmer who inadvertently becomes entangled in a conflict between a smuggler and the syndicate controlling the Sierra Leone diamond trade. Directed by Edward Zwick (“The Siege,” “The Last Samurai”) from a screenplay by Charles Leavitt (“The Mighty,” “K-PAX”). With Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Departed”), Jennifer Connelly (“Little Children”), Djimon Hounsou (“The Island,” “Eragon”), Arnold Vosloo (“Waist Deep”) and David Harewood (“Separate Lies”). Scope. Dec. 15. Warner Bros.   Charlotte's Web Family drama about a determined young piglet who teams up with a friendly barnyard spider to devise a plan to save him from becoming somebody’s dinner. Based on the children’s novel by E.B. White (the “Stuart Little” series, “Trumpet of the Swan”). Directed by Gary Winick (“13 Going On 30”) from a screenplay by Susannah Grant (“Erin Brockovich,” “In Her Shoes”) and Karey Kirkpatrick (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” “Curious George”). With Dakota Fanning (“Nine Lives”) as Fern, Siobhan Fallon (“Fever Pitch”) as Mrs. Zuckerman and Gary Basabera (“Unfaithful”) as Homer Zuckerman. Featuring the voices of Julia Roberts, John Cleese, Steve Buscemi, Thomas Haden Church, Robert Redford, André Benjamin, Kathy Bates, Cedric the Entertainer, Reba McEntire and Oprah Winfrey. Flat. Rated G. Dec. 20. Paramount.   Dreamgirls Musical, set in the 1960s and early ‘70s, about the rise and fall of a female singing trio dubbed The Dreamettes. Based on the Tony-winning 1981 musical by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen. Written and directed by Bill Condon (“Kinsey”). With Beyoncé Knowles (“The Pink Panther”), Jennifer Hudson (TV’s “American Idol”), Anika Noni Rose (“Surviving Christmas”), Jamie Foxx (“Miami Vice”), Danny Glover (“The Shaggy Dog”), John Lithgow (“Kinsey”), John Krasinski (“Jarhead,” “The Holiday”) and Eddie Murphy (“The Haunted Mansion”). Scope. PG-13: Language; some sexuality; drug content. Dec. 20 limited; Dec. 25 wide. DreamWorks.   The Good German Drama, set in post-World War II Berlin, about an American journalist drawn into a murder mystery while searching for his former mistress. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (“Eros,” “Bubble”) from a screenplay by Paul Attanasio (“The Sum of All Fears,” “Poseidon”). With George Clooney (“Syriana”), Tobey Maguire (the “Spider-Man” series), Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator,” “Babel,” “Notes on a Scandal”), Tony Curran (“Miami Vice”), Leland Orser (“Twisted”), Robin Weigert (HBO’s “Deadwood”) and Jack Thompson (“The Assassination of Richard Nixon”). Flat. R: Language; violence; some sexual content. Dec. 8 limited; wider Dec. 25 and Jan. 19. Warner Bros.   The Holiday Romantic comedy about a recently dumped woman who takes a vacation to London, where she befriends a British woman in a similar state. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers (“The Parent Trap,” “Something’s Gotta Give”). With Cameron Diaz (“In Her Shoes”), Kate Winslet (“All the King’s Men,” “Little Children”), Jude Law (“All the King’s Men”), Eli Wallach (“Mystic River,” “The Hoax”), Shannyn Sossamon (“Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”) and Jack Black (“Nacho Libre,” “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”). Flat. PG-13: Sexual content; some strong language. Dec. 8. Sony.   Miss Potter Biography of Beatrix Potter, who – as an unmarried woman in Victorian England – overcame the restrictions of her time to become a popular author and the creator of such characters as Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. Directed by Chris Noonan (“Babe”) from a screenplay by Richard Maltby, Jr. With Renée Zellweger (“Cinderella Man”), Ewan McGregor (“Stay,” “Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker”), Emily Watson (“The Proposition”), Barbara Flynn (TV’s “Elizabeth I”), Anton Lesser (“Charlotte Gray”), Bill Paterson (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and Matyelok Gibbs (“Just Visiting”). Dec. 29 limited; wide Jan. 12. MGM.   Night at the Museum Comedy about a bumbling museum watchman who discovers that the artifacts come alive at night under the power of a pharaoh’s tablet. Directed by Shawn Levy (“Cheaper by the Dozen,” “The Pink Panther”) from a screenplay by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant (“Herbie: Fully Loaded,” “The Pacifier,” “Let’s Go to Prison”). With Ben Stiller (“School for Scoundrels,” “Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny”), Owen Wilson (“You, Me and Dupree”), Paul Rudd (“The OH in Ohio”), Carla Gugino (“Sin City”), Steve Coogan (“Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story,” “Marie Antoinette”), Kim Raver (TV’s “24”), Ricky Gervais (“For Your Consideration”), Bill Cobbs (“A Mighty Wind”), Ed Helms (TV’s “The Daily Show”), Dick Van Dyke (“Dick Tracy”), Ernest Borgnine (“BASEketball”) and Robin Williams (“Man of the Year”). Dec. 22. Fox.