Top 15 films to see before 2015 ends

With only a month and a half left of the year 2015, dedicated movie-goers will be busy, with some 75 new films scheduled to open by the end of December.

Some movies, such as the latest chapters in the “Star Wars” and “Hunger Games” series, are obvious favorites, but after that the crowded field confuses the issue a bit.

To help film-goers narrow down their choices, we asked a few movie experts to pick the top 15 films fans should see before 2015 ends. Our sources included Ky Boyd, proprietor of Rialto Cinemas; Mike Timko, film buyer for the Santa Rosa Entertainment Group, and Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst for Rentrak, a media measurement and research company that serves the entertainment industry.

From their suggestions, we compiled our own composite list. If we missed your top choices, let us know. (Scheduled national opening dates are listed, but dates may change or vary.)

1. “Star Wars -- The Force Awakens.” Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher all return for the kickoff of the third trilogy in George Lucas’ space saga, set long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Directed by J.J. Abrams, best-known for the most recent “Star Trek” films. Dec. 18.

2. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.” Jennifer Lawrence returns for the fourth and final film in the phenomenally popular young-adult franchise, for a showdown with President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and a battle to liberate the citizens of Panem. Nov. 20.

3. “The Good Dinosaur.” Pixar’s new animated feature visits an alternate timeline in which Earth was never hit by an asteroid and dinosaurs never became extinct, A young Apatosaurus named Arlo befriends a human caveboy that he names Spot. Nov. 25.

4. “Spotlight.” A fact-based drama about the Boston Globe’s months-long investigation of a cover-up of abuse in the Catholic Church. Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Liev Schreiber star. Nov. 13.

5. “Concussion.” Will Smith stars as a forensic neuropathologist who discovers the first case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a football-related brain trauma, and challenges the National Football League. Dec. 25.

6. “The Big Short.” Four outsiders in the world of high finance, who predicted the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s, go after the big banks for their reckless greed. Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling star. Dec. 11.

7. “In the Heart of the Sea.” Ron Howard directed this epic about the 1820 battle between the whaling ship Essex and a mammoth whale off the coast of New England that inspired the novel “Moby Dick.” Dec. 11.

8. “Daddy’s Home.” Devoted but somewhat timid stepdad Will Ferrell’s world turns to chaos when their more boisterious real father, played by Mark Wahlberg, shows up. Dec. 25.

9. “Creed.” Sylvester Stallone reprises his role as boxer Rocky Balboa, with Michael B. Jordan of “Fruitville Station” as Adonis Johnson Creed, son of Rocky’s former foe, Apollo Creed. Nov. 25.

10. “Trumbo.” Bryan Cranston of “Breaking Bad” stars as Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, jailed in 1947 and blacklisted along with other artists for refusing to testify to the U.S. Congress regarding alleged Communist propaganda in Hollywood films. Opened Nov. 6.

11. “Joy.” Jennifer Lawrence stars as Joy Mangano, struggling single mother of three children, who invented the “Miracle Mop” and is the president of Ingenious Designs, LLC. Also stars Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper. Dec. 25.

12. “The Revenant.” Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hugh Glass, an 1820s frontiersman left for dead by his fellow travelers after a vicious bear attack, and his quest for revenge. Dec. 25.

13. “The Hateful Eight.” Quentin Tarantino directs a Western action film about an octet of strangers who gather at a stagecoach stop in Wyoming during a blizzard. Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern. Dec. 25.

14. “Victor Frankenstein.” Mary Shelley’s classic horror tale gets reworked, with James McAvoy as the infamous doctor and Daniel Radcliffe of the Harry Potter films as his assistant, Igor. Nov. 25.

15. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip.” Alvin, Simon and Theodore believe that their manager Dave plans to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami and drop them. They have three days to reach Dave and stop him. Dec. 23.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @danarts.