In Theaters: SPIES IN DISGUISE and LITTLE WOMEN

"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is set to dominate Christmas, and it has already delivered an explosive Christmas Eve, grossing $20 million in what is usually a slow day at the box-office. This is the second best Christmas Eve for a "Star Wars" flick, behind "The Force Awakens" ($27.4 million) and ahead of "Last Jedi" ($17.6 million). With a 32% Monday-Tuesday drop, it is currently holding better that "Last Jedi" (-40%), but still behind "Force Awakens" (-28%).

While the new "Star Wars" movie is getting ready to top another weekend, two more films have joined the box-office race on Christmas Day. The first is Fox/Blue Sky/Disney's animated film "Spies in Disguise", which is projected to gross around $25 million over the five-day period from Wednesday to Sunday.

The other new release is the coming-of-age period drama "Little Women" starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet and Meryl Streep. Directed by Greta Gerwig ("Lady Bird"), the film is the eighth adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louis May Alcott. It received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress - Drama (Ronan) and Original Score (Alexandre Desplat). "Little Women" is expected to rake in around $23 million for the five-day time frame.

In other news, the critically acclaimed Adam Sandler drama "Uncut Gems" has expanded nationwide, and after a successful limited release, it could end up with as much as $7 million over the weekend.

Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.

SPIES IN DISGUISE

Official Synopsis

Super spy Lance Sterling (Will Smith) and scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is...not. But when events take an unexpected turn, this unlikely duo is forced to team up for the ultimate mission that will require an almost impossible disguise - transforming Lance into the brave, fierce, majestic...pigeon. Walter and Lance suddenly have to work as a team, or the whole world is in peril.

Film Details

• Director: Nick Bruno, Troy Quane
  
  
• Starring: Karen Gillan, Rachel Brosnahan, Will Smith, Rashida Jones, Tom Holland, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire, DJ Khaled, Carla Jimenez
  
  
• Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
  
  
• Running Time: 101 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG for action, violence, and rude humor
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 71% (45 fresh, 18 rotten, score: 6.3/10)
  
• Metacritic: 53 out of 100 (8 positive, 9 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 96% (average score: 4.5/5 from 25 user ratings)
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 6.0/10 (340 votes)
  

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LITTLE WOMEN

Official Synopsis

Writer-director Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author's alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig's take, the beloved story of the March sisters - four young women each determined to live life on her own terms -- is both timeless and timely. Portraying Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth March, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, with Timothée Chalamet as their neighbor Laurie, Laura Dern as Marmee, and Meryl Streep as Aunt March.

Film Details

• Director: Greta Gerwig
  
  
• Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep
  
  
• Genre: Drama, Romance
  
  
• Running Time: 134 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG for thematic elements and brief smoking
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 96% (173 fresh, 8 rotten, score: 8.6./10)
  
• Metacritic: 91 out of 100 (42 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (average score: 4.9/5 from 16 user ratings)
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 7.4/10 (1,217 votes)
  

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Entertainment Factor