The Christmas rush may be over – all hail Aquaman, Vice and The Favourite – but now the march to February 24’s Oscars begins.

That means a busy big-screen January, with golden statuette seekers and family fun galore. Here’s what to see.

The family hit: Mary Poppins Returns

Emily Blunt steps into Julie Andrews’ spoonful of sugar-singing nanny’s shoes in this flash-forward directed by Chicago’s Rob Marshall. It sees  the Banks children (Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer) all grown up and struggling with the realities of life. Once more blending jolly set-pieces with classic animation, the movie sees musical fans doubly spoiled with the presence of Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda as Dick van Dyke’s hilariously badly accented cockney chimneysweep. Just remember the original scored five Oscars.

See it from January 1.

The outsider: Eighth Grade

Ever catch yourself thinking you’d never have coped with social media when you were an awkward teen? Well, in writer/director Bo Burnham’s debut feature, Elsie Fisher plays the socially ostracised 13-year-old Kayla Day who uses YouTube as a means to better connect. Turns out the struggles aren’t all that dissimilar to us oldies. Oscars dark horse.

Out on January 3.

The teen drama: The Hate U Give

Amandla Stenberg puts in a powerhouse performance as Starr, an African-American girl taught since childhood how not to get killed by cops in this devastating drama adapted from the best-selling young adult novel by Angie Thomas. Directed by George Tillman Jr, it follows the life-changing events when that fate befalls someone close to Starr.

In cinemas from January 10.

The superhero showdown: Glass

For once we’re not talking DC or Marvel. This sequel connects twist-meister M Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable, which starred Bruce Willis as super-powered security guard David Dunn, and Split’s James McAvoy, who played the ultra-creepy villain The Beast, unveiled from layers of overlapping identities. We don’t think they’ll play nice together.

Out on January 17.

The historical battle: Mary Queen of Scots

Whether it’s Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, Mel Gibson as William Wallace or Saoirse Ronan as Queen Mary, Hollywood seems to have a major problem casting Scottish folks. Still, at least Ronan’s Celtic, and we can’t wait to see her doomed clash with cousin Elizabeth, Queen of England, as played by Aussie Margot Robbie. Does Britain actually have casting agents? They may well be fighting for an Oscars spot, too.

It hits cinemas on January 17.

The Aussie classic reimagined: Storm Boy

Wherever you stand on remaking beloved classics, there’s no arguing that Storm Boy, based on the book by Colin Thiele, is one of Australia’s favourites. Underbelly director Shawn Seet casts hunk Jai Courtney as Hideaway Tom to Finn Little’s Storm Boy. David Gulpilil returns, this time playing father to Trevor Jamieson’s Fingerbone Bill. Prepare for pelican-related heartache.

Out on January 17.

The road trip: Green Book

The Lord of the Rings hero Viggo Mortensen goes social commentary charged comedy road-tripping with Moonlight’s Oscar-winning Mahershala Ali in this race-flipped Driving Miss Daisy, directed by Dumb and Dumber’s Peter Farrelly.

It hits cinemas on January 24.

The political battle: The Front Runner

Tussling with Olivia Colman in The Favourite for films with wishful Oscars names, Tully director Jason Reitman’s true-life political drama The Front Runner sees Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart, the presidential hopeful whose 1988 tilt at the White House was derailed over allegations of an extramarital affair.

See it from January 24.

The crime caper: The Mule

Clint Eastwood un-retires from acting again to play yet another cranky old geezer in this loosely true take on a 90-year-old war veteran who fell out of luck and into the Mexican drug running trade. Directed by Eastwood, also look out for his daughter Alison and Lady Gaga’s best friend Bradley Cooper.

The Mule is in cinemas on January 24.

The tear-jerker: Ben is Back

Oscar nominees Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet’s father-son drug addiction drama Beautiful Boy is so last year. In 2019 it’s Oscar winner Julia Roberts’ time to work the same plot with Oscar nominee and Boy Erased star Lucas Hedges as family Christmas takes a turn.

Out on January 31.