Is it just me or is December not only the month of holiday festivities but also the release of a ton of movies, not to mention highly anticipated ones like "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hitting theaters this Friday? Although I am not a Star Wars fan (hopefully I don't get any hate for admitting this), there are more than a handful of flicks I'm hoping to catch this month.

From box office toppers like "The Revenant" and "The Force Awakens", to other hits such as "Sisters", "The Big Short" and "Joy", December 2015 must have been an exciting month for general movie-goers, zealous Star Wars followers and Jennifer Lawrence fans alike. This December appears to be no different, and with that said, here are three movies that I cannot wait to watch:

1. "Passengers"

Can we just take a second to appreciate the casting of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as this movie's main characters? Chris Pratt will forever be the feebleminded yet lovable Andy Dwyer from "Parks and Recreation", but he has long since shed that skin and made his entrance into the film industry with "Jurassic World", "Guardians of the Galaxy", many others and now, "Passengers". And, I can barely contain my excitement to see the talented J-Law in another film having enjoyed "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Joy".

"Passengers" combines the genre of action and thriller to tell the story of a ship carrying thousands of passengers aboard, all of which rest in so-called hibernation pods and bound for a new planet. Things take an odd and unfortunate turn when two passengers, played by Pratt and Lawrence, awake from their pods 90 days too early and must figure out the implications behind this time glitch. If you are into sci-fi movies that could possibly be heart-wrenching (just go to 2:09 of the trailer), you might deem this a must-watch. See it when it comes out on December 21st!

2. "La La Land"

Talk about another glorious duo in film: Ryan Gosling, an undeniable stunner, and Emma Stone, the epitome of grace and ingenuity (just watch her 73 Questions with Vogue). I first fell in love with this pairing when I watched "Crazy, Stupid Love". And this new release, which came out last Friday, already boasts an 8.8 rating on IMDb and a staggering, near-perfect 96% from Rotten Tomatoes. Here's a synopsis: Stone plays Mia, an actress-to-be, while Gosling plays a devoted jazz musician named Sebastian. Each seeks the spotlight in the dazzling city of Los Angeles, but then again, this is where hundreds of fledgling artists come to live their dreams. Their simultaneous struggle for fame as well as the indisputable chemistry between Mia and Sebastian (obvious in the trailer) lay the basis for what could be the loveliest, most dramatic piece of cinematic art this year has seen. (As if "La La Land" was not appealing enough, the guy who directed this also did the masterpiece, "Whiplash".)

3. "Nocturnal Animals"

Someone once told me that she preferred movies that didn't require deep thought; for her, watching movies was a leisure activity where she could sit back, relax and just take it in. From watching the trailer, I take it "Nocturnal Animals" is not one of those movies. Rather, it is a dark, twisted, drama-filled movie about a woman, Susan, who receives in the mail a book written by her ex-husband. Being delivered a book from your ex is strange enough as it is, but the story enclosed within it is complex and mystifying in its own right, leaving Susan to rehash a dark past.

The trailer is so vague that viewers cannot help but attempt to put the pieces together themselves, yet it is captivating enough to attract people to theaters and actually watch it. The movie, which gives off serious "Gone Girl" vibes, is another film replete with big stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon ("Man of Steel", "Batman v Superman", "Mud", etc.). If you are into psychological thrillers, check out "Nocturnal Animals" in theaters now.

Are you interested in seeing any of these? Are there movies I didn't mention that you highly anticipate?