Nebraska, directed by Alexander Payne, from a screenplay by Bob Nelson, is a story of a cantankerous father (Bruce Dern) who thinks he has struck it rich after receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail and wrangles his son (Will Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America.

The film features Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach and Bob Odenkirk. Written by Bob Nelson and directed by Alexander Payne. Produced by Albert Berger, p.g.a. & Ron Yerxa, p.g.a.

Rated R, running time 121 min.

Jason Reitman’s Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler (Gattlin Griffith), who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele (Kate Winslet) while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith and Tobey Maguire. Based on the novel by Joyce Maynard and written for the screen and directed by Jason Reitman. Produced by Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith, Jason Reitman and Helen Estabrook.

Rated PG-13, running time 110 min.

Martin Scorsese directs the story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s. Excess, success and affluence in his early twenties as the founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Money. Power. Women. Drugs. Temptations were for the taking and the threat of authority was irrelevant. For Jordan and his wolf pack, modesty was quickly deemed overrated and more was never enough.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal and Jean Dujardin, the screenplay was written by Terence Winter based on the book by Jordan Belfort. Produced by Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, The Wolf of Wall Street opens in the US on December 25, 2013.