8. In Time (20^th Century Fox, Oct. 28)
Watch the trailer.
Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) brings viewers this sci-fier set in a future where people stop aging at 25 and if you don't own time you are killed in order to control the population. After a rich man wills him a century before he kills himself, a poor young man must go on the run from the cops who believe he committed murder to extend his life. The evidence is on the young man's arm in the form of a digital clock ticking down the years. Dyspotian tales are always ripe for vfx. In alpha order, the vfx houses include Luma Pictures, Soho VFX and Wildfire Visual Effects.

7. The Darkest Hour (Summit Ent., Dec. 25) 
Watch the trailer.
Directed by Chris Gorak and produced by Timur Bekmambetov, a group of young Americans try to survive an alien invasion while on vacation in Moscow. The trailer gives use glimpses the vfx action we can expect. Invisible clouds turn anyone who touches them to dust. Inferred POVs from the aliens. Demonic-filled fireballs. The total shut down of the Russian capitol. You know the kind of film that puts you in the Christmas spirit. The vfx houses include BUF, Polygon Ent. and Soho VFX.

6. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (20^th Century Fox, Dec. 16)
Watch the trailer.
Shrek Forever After director Mike Mitchell takes over the Chipmunks film franchise from Betty Thomas and Tim Hill before her. Rhythm and Hues is back though as the lead visual effect artists. This time around Alvin, the boys and the Chipettes have a high-seas adventure on a luxury cruise. The Chimpunks of course are the center of the vfx work, but this time the ship and the island they crash on open up all sorts of vfx possibilities.