Guide to the biggest year-end movies

Now that the bombs of summer have dropped, moviegoers can settle in for an autumn filled with high-quality, Oscar-worthy entertainment.

Right?

Well, here's hoping. The promotional campaigns and advance word-of-mouth around some of the biggest year-end movies seem to be generating as much skepticism as excitement. Meryl Streep playing Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" certainly sounds like an Oscar gimme, but the trailers reveal a funny-voiced impersonation bordering on a "Saturday Night Live" skit. David Fincher's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" may appeal to fans of the gritty Swedish crime novel (and the popular Swedish 2009 film), but it also risks coming off as a slick, Hollywoodized version. And although Steven Spielberg's name usually spells blockbuster, early reviews of his motion-capture film "The Adventures of Tintin" have ranged from "splendid" to "cretinous."

There are few guarantees in life, and even fewer at the box office, but some of the safer bets may be the Gary Oldman thriller "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," already a critical favorite in England; "The Muppets," which seems to be riding a nostalgia-driven wave of goodwill; and "The Artist," a black-and-white silent film -- yes, silent -- that is shaping up as a bona fide crowd-pleaser.

Here's your guide to the holiday season's 20 biggest and buzziest movies -- and maybe some good ones, too.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (Nov. 18)

The first half of Stephenie Meyer's notorious final "Twilight" novel hits the screen, with Bella (Kristen Stewart) violently consummating her love for vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) and enduring a monstrous pregnancy. Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls") directs.

HAPPY FEET TWO (Nov. 18)

A sequel to the Oscar-winning 2006 cartoon, with Elijah Wood returning as the voice of Mumble, the dancing penguin, and this time he has a son. With Robin Williams, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon.

A DANGEROUS METHOD (Nov. 23)

Viggo Mortensen, as Sigmund Freud, re-teams with "Eastern Promises" director David Cronenberg for a sexually charged drama involving Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), an early female psychoanalyst.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS (Nov. 23)

The latest from Aardman Animations ("Flushed Away") depicts Santa's North Pole headquarters as a high-tech operation. With the voices of James McAvoy and Hugh Laurie.

THE DESCENDANTS (Nov. 23)

George Clooney stars as a disengaged father who must step up to the plate after his wife falls into a coma. It's the first film from director and co-writer Alexander Payne since his much-loved "Sideways."

HUGO (Nov. 23)

Martin Scorsese ventures into young-adult fantasy -- in 3-D, yet! -- with this adaptation of Brian Selznick's graphic novel about an orphan (Asa Butterfield) who discovers a world of whimsical, cinematic inventions. With Chloë Grace Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley.

THE MUPPETS (Nov. 23)

Writer-producer-star Jason Segel relaunches the franchise with the old gang (Kermit, Miss Piggy), a new Muppet (Walter) and several secret celebrity cameos. With Amy Adams and Chris Cooper.

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (Nov. 23)

An adaptation of the memoir by Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), a production assistant who spent time with Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) while filming 1957's "The Prince and the Showgirl." Kenneth Branagh plays Monroe's co-star, Laurence Olivier.

THE ARTIST (Nov. 25)

It's French, black and white, and silent, but this unlikely crowd-pleaser about two 1920s film stars (Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo) seems headed for Oscar buzz. With John Goodman and James Cromwell.

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (Dec. 9)

Alec Guinness originated the role of bookish British agent George Smiley in the 1979 BBC miniseries (based on the John le Carré novel), but Gary Oldman takes over in this big-screen version. Tomas Alfredson ("Let the Right One In") directs.

YOUNG ADULT (Dec. 9)

Charlize Theron plays a writer of teen fiction trying to relive her high-school days in this comedy-drama from "Juno" director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody. With Patrick Wilson and Patton Oswalt.

CARNAGE (Dec. 16)

Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly are Brooklyn parents who meet to discuss a schoolyard scrap between their children. Adapted from Yasmina Reza's play "God of Carnage" by director Roman Polanski. Filmed in Paris.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (Dec. 16)

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as Holmes and Watson. With Noomi Rapace, the original "Dragon Tattoo" girl, and Jared Harris (AMC's "Mad Men") as arch-villain Professor Moriarty. Guy Ritchie directs.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (Dec. 21)

Rooney Mara plays Goth-punk-hacker Lisbeth Salander in the American version of the bestselling Swedish crime novel. Also with Daniel Craig and Stellan Skarsgård. David Fincher ("The Social Network") directs.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE -- GHOST PROTOCOL (Dec. 21)

Tom Cruise returns in the fourth "M:I" film, which marks the live-action directing debut of Pixar's Brad Bird ("The Incredibles"). Paramount will release the film early, on Dec. 16, exclusively in IMAX theaters. With Jeremy Renner and Tom Wilkinson.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (Dec. 21)

Steven Spielberg directs this motion-capture version of the popular "Tintin" comics about an intrepid young reporter and his faithful dog, Snowy. (Peter Jackson is its producer.) With the voices of Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig and Andy Serkis.

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (Dec. 23)

Matt Damon is a single dad who changes his family's life by renovating a broken-down zoo. Based on a true story and co-written by director Cameron Crowe ("Jerry Maguire"). Also with Scarlett Johansson and Thomas Haden Church.

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE (Dec. 25)

A boy (Thomas Horn) scours Manhattan for clues about his father (Tom Hanks), who died on 9/11. Based on Jonathan Safran Foer's novel and directed by Stephen Daldry ("The Reader"). With Sandra Bullock, James Gandolfini and Viola Davis.

WAR HORSE (Dec. 25)

Michael Morpurgo's 1982 young-adult novel, about a British boy searching for his horse on the front lines of World War I, is already a Tony-winning play combining puppets and actors; Spielberg's live-action version stars Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston ("Thor") and newcomer Jeremy Irvine in the lead.

THE IRON LADY (Dec. 30)

Meryl Streep plays Margaret Thatcher, the first and still only female prime minister of the United Kingdom. With Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant ("Withnail and I"). Directed by Phyllida Lloyd ("Mamma Mia!").

10 more to keep in mind

CORIOLANUS (Dec. 2)

Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this version of Shakespeare's play about the doomed Roman general. With Gerard Butler and Jessica Chastain ("The Help").

SLEEPING BEAUTY (Dec. 2)

Emily Browning plays a college girl who moonlights as a prostitute for men with unusual tastes. Written and directed by Australian novelist Julia Leigh.

I MELT WITH YOU (Dec. 9)

Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay ("Me and Orson Welles") and Thomas Jane ("The Punisher") are college buddies reuniting for a debauched weekend. Surprisingly, it's a drama.

NEW YEAR'S EVE (Dec. 9)

Remember the star-packed rom-com "Valentine's Day"? This follow-up features Halle Berry, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro, Zac Efron, Ashton Kutcher et al.

THE SITTER (Dec. 9)

After a serious turn in "Moneyball," Jonah Hill returns to his comedic roots as an irresponsible baby-sitter. David Gordon Green ("Pineapple Express") directs.

W.E. (Dec. 9)

Madonna directs a fictionalized account of the romance between King Edward VIII and an American divorcee. With James D'Arcy, Abbie Cornish and Oscar Isaac.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (Dec. 9)

Tilda Swinton is an indifferent mother whose son (Ezra Miller) perpetrates a school massacre. With John C. Reilly. Based on Lionel Shriver's Orange Prize-winning novel of 2004.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED

(Dec. 16)

The animated Chipmunks and Chipettes take a luxury cruise but end up stranded on a remote island. With the voice talents of Justin Long and Christina Applegate.

ALBERT NOBBS (Dec. 21)

Glenn Close plays a woman who, for 30 years, passed as a man. Co-written by Close and based on a short story by Irish author George Moore. With Mia Wasikowska and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY (Dec. 23)

Angelina Jolie makes her writing and directing debut with a Balkan love story about a Serbian soldier (Goran Kostic) and one of his captives (Zana Marjanovic).