OPENING FRIDAY
“21 AND OVER” — When a straight-A college student’s two best friends take him out for his 21st birthday on the night before an important medical school interview, what was supposed to be a quick beer becomes a night of humiliation, overindulgence and debauchery. Starring Miles Teller, Justin Chon and Jonathan Keltz. Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. (R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity, drugs and drinking.)
“JACK THE GIANT SLAYER” (3-D) — The ancient war between humans and a race of giants is reignited when Jack, a young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the two worlds. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane and Ewan McGregor. Directed by Bryan Singer. (PG-13 for intense scenes of fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief language.)
“THE LAST EXORCISM, PART II” — As a woman tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns with an even more horrific plan. Starring Ashley Bell, Julia Garner and Spencer Treat Clark. Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly. (PG-13 for horror violence, terror and brief language.)
“PHANTOM” — The haunted captain of a Soviet submarine holds the fate of the world in his hands as he is charged with leading a covert mission cloaked in mystery. Starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and Julian Adams. Written and directed by Todd Robinson. (R for violence.)
“QUARTET” — The arrival of a new resident at a prestigious home for retired musicians and singers — a star soloist with an ego to match — shakes up daily life, particularly for her three former performing partners. Starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins. Directed by Dustin Hoffman. (PG-13 for brief strong language and suggestive humor.)
AT THE ORION
• “A Good Day to Die Hard” (in Atmos sound)
• “21 and Over”
• “Silver Linings Playbook”
HELD OVER
“BEAUTIFUL CREATURES” — Young love finds paranormal romance a bit sunnier than in the “Twilight” world, as two teens pair up despite the fact that one of them is a witch in training. Based on the popular Kami Garcia-Margaret Stohl novel. Starring Alice Englert, Alden Ehrenreich, Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis and Emmy Rossum. Written and directed by Richard LaGravenese. (PG-13 for violence, scary images and some sexual material.)
“BLESS ME, ULTIMA” (digital) — In World War II New Mexico, a young man relies on the help of an elderly medicine woman to fend off invaders. Starring Luke Ganalon, Miriam Colon and Joseph A. Garcia. Directed by Carl Franklin. (PG-13 for some violence and sexual references.)
“DARK SKIES” (digital) — Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton portray a couple who attract the interest of a mysterious evil force in this horror thriller. Also starring Jake Brennan and J.K. Simmons. Written and directed by Scott Stewart. (PG-13 for violence, terror throughout, sexual material, drug content and language, all involving teens.)
“ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH” (digital and 3-D) — Sarah Jessica Parker, Sofia Vergara, Jessica Alba, Brendan Fraser and Ricky Gervais provide the voices for this animated comedy about an astronaut who answers a distress call hailing from a highly dangerous planet. Directed by Cal Brunker. (PG for action and some mile rude humor.)
“A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD” (digital) — Bruce Willis may be the last hope of the 1980s action-movie stars, and he’s going all out with this fifth installment of the smash franchise, in which John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist. Also starring Jai Courtney and Sebastian Koch. Directed by John Moore. (R for violence and language.)
“HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS” (digital and 3-D) — Having developed a taste for retribution at a young age and grown up as witch-hunting vigilantes, siblings Hansel and Gretel must reckon with their dark past. Staring Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arteron and Famke Jannson. Written and directed by Tommy Wirkola. (R for strong fantasy horror violence and gore, brief sexuality/nudity and language.)
“A HAUNTED HOUSE” — A couple moves into a house that turns out to be haunted by a demon in this broad comedy. Starring Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, Marlene Forte. Directed by Michael Tiddes. (R for crude and sexual content, language and some drug use.)
“IDENTITY THIEF” — A mild-mannered businessman (Jason Bateman) goes on a road trip to find the woman (Melissa McCarthy) who has stolen his identity and wrecked his life in the process in this broad comedy. Also starring John Cho, Jon Favreau and Amanda Peet. Directed by Seth Gordon. (R for sexual content and language.)
“MAMA” (digital) — A couple set out to raise his two nieces, who were left alone in the forest for five years in this horror film. Starring Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Megan Charpentier. Directed by Andrés Muschietti. (PG-13 for violence and terror, some disturbing images and thematic elements.)
“PARENTAL GUIDANCE” — Billy Crystal co-wrote and stars in this comedy about a grandpa who resorts to “old school” methods when he’s stuck babysitting the grandkids. Also starring Bette Midler, Marisa Tomei, Tom Everett Scott and Bailee Madison. Directed by Andy Fickman. (PG for some rude humor.)
“SAFE HAVEN” — Another Valentine’s Day, another Nicholas Sparks adaptation. In this one, Julianne Hough stars as a woman who shares a dark secret with a widower (Josh Duhamel). Also starring Cobie Smulders. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom. (PG-13 for thematic material involving threatening behavior, and for violence and sexuality.)
“SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK” — David O. Russell directs this comic drama about a former schoolteacher (Bradley Cooper) who tries to move on with his life after a stint in a mental institution, and a mysterious girl (Jennifer Lawrence) who changes everything. Also starring Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver and Julia Stiles. (R for language and some sexual content/nudity.) OSCAR WINNER: Best actress (Lawrence).
“SNITCH” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as a father who goes undercover for the DEA to clear the name of his wrongfully accused son. Also starring Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal and Barry Pepper. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh. (PG-13 for drug content and sequences of violence.)
“WARM BODIES” — Zombies are played for laughs in this comedy about a flesh-eating teen (Nicholas Hoult) who starts to develop feelings — not hunger — for a girl (Teresa Palmer). Also starring John Malkovich. Directed by Jonathan Levine. (PG-13 for zombie violence and some language.)
“ZERO DARK THIRTY” — An elite team of intelligence and military operatives working in secret across the globe engage in a tireless manhunt to eliminate Osama bin Laden. Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt and Mark Strong. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. (R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language.) OSCAR WINNER: Best sound editing.