2014 is coming to a close and it’s been one damn good year for movies, but it’s not over yet. The final month of the year is jam packed with some incredible movies from the beginning to end. There’s no doubt this holiday season is a good one to spend at the theater. Usually I just do the four movies I’m looking forward to, but since the December line-up has some power, this addition is the eight I’m looking forward to, check them out.

8. Top Five

A comedian tries to make it as a serious actor when his reality-TV star fiancé talks him into broadcasting their wedding on her TV show.

Written by, Directed by, and starring Chris Rock – this actually looks like a damn funny movie. And from all the early buzz, it may be just that. With cameos popping up all over the place and Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson leading the way, this could make for a very good/fun time.

Top Five will open on December 12th, 2014.

7. Exodus: Gods and Kings

The defiant leader Moses rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, setting 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

Normally, I would be extremely excited about a movie starring Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton. But the fact that they are starring as Moses and Rhamses and being directed by Ridley Scott gets me a bit worried. A movie about the hero Moses shouldn’t be ‘white-washed’ as it is. I am a huge fan of both Bale and Edgerton, but neither should be playing the Egyptians characters. As for Ridley Scott, he does have one hell of a resume, but over the last so many years he has been on a stinker. His last movie, The Counselor, is one of the few movies I have never been able to finish because it was so bad. So needless to say, even though it has the potential of being truly epic, I will be going in with somewhat low expectations for reasons above.

Exodus: Gods and Kings opens December 12th, 2014.

6. Big Eyes

A drama centered on the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.

Anything based on a true story is something I’m in for, no matter what it is. But this time around, happens to be directed by Tim Burton and starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. Plus this story is truly fascinating, one that I’m very interested to see how it turned out.

Big Eyes opens on December 25th, 2014.

5. The Interview

Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rapoport run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight.” When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists. As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

Is there anyway I couldn’t be excited for this? Anything from the minds of Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen is fall-tout hilarious. Their last movie was about an apocalypse where each characters played themselves and they ascended to Heaven when they were pure, now they move on to James Franco and Seth Rogen assassinating Kim Jog-un? Oh I’m so in, I look forward to laughing my ass off come Christmas.

The Interview will open December 25th, 2014.

4. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Bilbo and Company are forced to be engaged in a war against an array of combatants and keeping the terrifying Smaug from acquiring a kingdom of treasure. and obliterating all of Middle-Earth.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve never been a big fan of the Middle-Earth movies. I first saw The Lord of the Rings trilogy just a week before the first The Hobbit movies came out. I had problems with them, but yeah they were definitely damn good movies. As for The Hobbit movies so far, I’ve had much more problems with them than TLOTR. So far they haven’t really captured that same magic that TLOTR did. But luckily, each movie has gotten better leading many to believe that this final movie will be on that same TLOTR level. And from what I’ve been hearing from the first screening, it is that and is the best of the series. SO even though I’m not a nerd for these movies like many, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this saga ends.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will open on December 17th, 2014.

3. American Sniper

A Navy S.E.A.L. recounts his military career, which includes more than 150 confirmed kills.

Like I said above, I’m a sucker for true stories. But I’m also a complete sucker for war movies. This story is another fascinating one I am extremely interested in. With Clint Eastwood directing and having Bradley Cooper starring as Chris Kyle, this is one of the first movies I will be buying a ticket to come Christmas day.

American Sniper is released on December 25th, 2014.

2. A Most Violent Year

In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city’s history.

A crime movie based in the early 80s starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain? How can I not be in! Plus the fact that the movie was named Best Film, Isaac named Best Actor, and Chastain named Best Supporting Actress by the National Board of Review is incredible encouragement. I’m really hoping this ends up showing in my area, it’s one I might drive a hour to see.

A Most Violent Year opens December 31st, 2014.

1. Unbroken

A chronicle of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.

Again, a true story that is also about war. There are so many things I’m looking forward to in this one. First off, the story of Louis Zamperini that is incredibly hard to believe. Second, the man portraying Zamperini is a young actor who is on a major rise in Hollywood. Jack O’Connell is going to be a star for many years to come, this is just his start. Lastly, being directed by Angelina Jolie is very intriguing. She has shown great interest in stepping behind the camera and shows great promise as well. Could she stat off with a bang? Here’s to hoping so!

Unbroken will open on December 25th, 2014.