Many upcoming films bring holiday cheer to Cape West 14 Cine manager

December brings a year-end lull for most, but the movie industry is usually gearing up for its yearly surge. Kevin Dillon, manager of Cape West 14 Cine in Cape Girardeau, said that this year's premiere schedule is especially full.

"It seems to pick up this time of year," Dillon said. "But it also seems like this year there are two or three more movies coming out than there usually are. Especially on Christmas Day."

Dillon explained the holiday season is one of their busiest at Cape West 14 Cine partly because that's when many movie producers choose to debut new movies.

"There are a lot of movies that come out during the holiday season because from December 24 through January 1, a lot of people are off work and off school," Dillon said. "So they're more likely to decide they want to go."

Mark Wahlberg thriller "The Gambler" and Angelina Jolie's sophomore directorial effort, "Unbroken," are two of 2014's widely-anticipated releases; both will debut Christmas Day.

"There seems to be a lot of interest in 'Unbroken' coming up," he said. "And we have a couple of movies that have gone out in a limited release that have their wider opening this time of year."

Dillon said the Christmas bump also benefits families that have more chances to find a film that's palatable for parents and children alike.

"There's a wide variety coming out this year," he explained. "'Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb' is one that people will probably do well, with that being Robin Williams' last movie. The other ones have always done very well, since they're very family-oriented and very fun to watch."

Don't know what to get that hard-to-buy-for loved one? Dillon said that movie passes and gift certificates are popular this time of year as well.

And the cinema is running a special screening of all three "The Hobbit" movies back to back to back, culminating in the debut of the final chapter, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."

"We normally try to do something special with all the movies that have a big following like 'The Hobbit,' 'Lord of the Rings,' 'Harry Potter,'" he said. "We have people who really dress up for it, and this being the last of the 'Hobbit' series, it will be the finalization of the whole story. It's for the people who have become really involved in the characters and the storylines. They're going to want to see that."

The "Hobbit" marathon will begin at 1 p.m. Monday and tickets start at $22, available online or at the Cape West 14 Cine box office.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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