Winter is approaching and movie theaters have more content than ever before. With classic franchises returning via prequels, sci-fi films, hilarious family comedies, and a continuing identity crisis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, studios seem to be working overtime to get fans to leave their homes and see the films which are certain to dominate the box office and online discourse. 

First in the lineup and coming to theaters on Nov. 6 is The Cat in the Hat. Directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, the film is based on Dr. Seuss’s classic 1957 book and features Bill Hader voicing the crazy cat. Bringing iconic children’s literature back to the big screen always carries high expectations, especially considering the criticism of previous live-action attempts. Shifting to animation does feel like a more natural fit for Seuss’s visual style, so it’s set to be a great film!

Following on Nov. 20 is The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, directed by Francis Lawrence. Set decades before Katniss Everdeen’s story, the prequel goes into the 50th Hunger Games through the eyes of young Haymitch Abernathy. Normally, there are a lot of eye rolls when Hollywood attempts to resurrect a completed series, but in this scenario, the return to Panem feels justified. Having grown up with the original films, seeing the story evolve feels like a surprisingly smart move for an audience who loves it so dearly. 

Then on Dec. 18, with the cold weather will come Dune: Part Three, directed by Denis Villeneuve. This adaptation of Frank Herbert’s dark book Dune Messiah brings back Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya as Paul Atreides and Chani. The Dune franchise has spent the last few years proving that audiences don’t want just another mindless blockbuster. Villeneuve’s finale should easily be on the top of everyone’s watchlist. 

Marvel Studios, on the other hand, is throwing a massive curveball on the opposite end of the spectrum with Avengers: Doomsday, which—funnily enough—shares a release date with Dune: Part Three. Marvel stunned fans by bringing back Robert Downey Jr. as the villainous Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man. Online opinion about the decision is split; half the internet thinks it is a desperate attempt to save the struggling universe, while the other half is already buying their tickets. Either way, it’s clear to see just how much Hollywood relies on popular stars to keep people interested. 

In all honesty, looking at this list is a real reason for anyone to consider caring about going to the movies again. On the surface, studios seem to be only counting on sequels and retellings of books in an attempt to bring audiences back, but this next period appears to be heavily promising regardless. Be it a nostalgic remake or a sci-fi adventure movie, there will definitely be something for everyone. This lineup is definitely worth buying tickets for!