Holiday Movie Scorecard 2016

A woolly and unpredictable year approaches the finish line as studios trot out prestige work they’ve all had waiting in the wings: life-affirming (or shattering) dramas, awards hopefuls, holiday comedies, and maybe even a blockbuster or two to warm the soul like so much CGI eggnog. During this time, each movie released reaching a 600+ theater count and/or 80+ reviews gets ranked in our Holiday Movie Scorecard, so check back every Monday to see where your favorites place!

#38

Shut In (2016)
7%

#38

Adjusted Score: 7.925%

Critics Consensus: Fatally undermined by a clichéd, confused plot and a total absence of thrills, Shut In wastes its talented cast -- and viewers' time.

Synopsis: SHUT IN is a heart-pounding thriller starring Naomi Watts as a widowed child psychologist who lives an isolated existence in... [More]

Starring: Naomi Watts, Oliver Platt, Jacob Tremblay, David Cubitt

Directed By: Farren Blackburn

#37

Collateral Beauty (2016)
14%

#37

Adjusted Score: 20.871%

Critics Consensus: Well-meaning but fundamentally flawed, Collateral Beauty aims for uplift but collapses in unintentional hilarity.

Synopsis: When a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try... [More]

Starring: Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Peña

Directed By: David Frankel

#36

Incarnate (2016)
17%

#36

Adjusted Score: 17.497%

Critics Consensus: Incarnate can't be accused of lack of ideas -- if only any of them made sense or coalesced in any meaningful or scary way.

Synopsis: After a single mother (Carice van Houten) witnesses terrifying symptoms of demonic possession in her 11-year-old son (David Mazouz), a... [More]

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Carice van Houten, Catalina Sandino Moreno, David Mazouz

Directed By: Brad Peyton

#35

Assassin's Creed (2016)
18%

#35

Adjusted Score: 26.539%

Critics Consensus: Assassin's Creed is arguably better made (and certainly better cast) than most video game adaptations; unfortunately, the CGI-fueled end result still is still a joylessly overplotted slog.

Synopsis: Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar,... [More]

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson

Directed By: Justin Kurzel

#34

Believe (2016)
33%

#34

Adjusted Score: 8.47%

Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.

Synopsis: In a small town going through tough economic times, business owner Matthew Peyton (Ryan O'Quinn) struggles between his desire for... [More]

Starring: Ryan O'Quinn, Shawnee Smith, Danielle Nicolet, David DeLuise

Directed By: Billy Dickson

#33

Bad Santa 2 (2016)
24%

#33

Adjusted Score: 28.775%

Critics Consensus: Loaded up with the same scatological and misanthropic humor as its predecessor but precious little of its heart or genuine wit, Bad Santa 2 presents a foulmouthed shadow of Christmas past.

Synopsis: BAD SANTA 2 returns Academy Award (R)-winner BILLY BOB THORNTON to the screen as America's favorite anti-hero, Willie Soke. Fueled... [More]

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, Christina Hendricks

Directed By: Mark Waters (VIII)

#32

Passengers (2016)
30%

#32

Adjusted Score: 41.148%

Critics Consensus: Passengers proves Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence work well together -- and that even their chemistry isn't enough to overcome a fatally flawed story.

Synopsis: Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt star in an exciting action-thriller about two passengers who are on a 120-year journey to... [More]

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne

Directed By: Morten Tyldum

#31

Why Him? (2016)
39%

#31

Adjusted Score: 44.63%

Critics Consensus: Solidly cast but overall misconceived, Why Him? offers the odd chuckle, but ultimately adds disappointingly little to its tired father-vs.-fiancé formula.

Synopsis: Over the holidays, Ned (Bryan Cranston), an overprotective but loving dad and his family visit his daughter at Stanford, where... [More]

Starring: Bryan Cranston, James Franco, Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullally

Directed By: John Hamburg

#30

Office Christmas Party (2016)
41%

#30

Adjusted Score: 47.914%

Critics Consensus: Its cast of gifted comics is good for a handful of laughs, but Office Christmas Party's overstuffed plot ultimately proves roughly as disappointing as its clichéd gags and forced sentimentality.

Synopsis: In OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY, when the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother's branch, he (T.J. Miller) and... [More]

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Kate McKinnon

Directed By: Will Speck, Josh Gordon

#29

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (2016)
44%

#29

Adjusted Score: 49.759%

Critics Consensus: Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk has noble goals, but lacks a strong enough screenplay to achieve them -- and its visual innovations are often merely distracting.

Synopsis: The film is told from the point of view of 19-year-old private Billy Lynn, who, along with his fellow soldiers... [More]

Starring: Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Chris Tucker, Garrett Hedlund

Directed By: Ang Lee

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