5. Hugo (Paramount Pictures, Nov. 23)
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Martin Scorsese takes on his first family film and it's in 3-D! VFX supervisor Rob Legato had the privilege of working with the film legend in this new chapter of his career. Set in 1930s, an orphan moves into a Paris train station where he sets out to unravel the mystery of his father and the automaton he left behind after he died. The orphan becomes friends with special effects pioneering filmmaker Georges Méliès, who down on his luck now works at a toy store. In addition to the magical version of Paris the film creates, the subject alone is of interest to vfx pros and fans. In alpha order, the vfx houses include Lola Visual Effects, Mark Roberts Motion Control, Nvizage, Pixomondo, Plowman Craven & Associates and With A Twist Studio.

4. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (Paramount Pictures, Dec. 21)
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Animation vet Brad Bird makes his live-action feature debut with the fourth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) brings us the super spy action. Tom Peitzman serves as the Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer and John Knoll is the Visual Effects Supervisor. Ethan Hunt and his new team must go rogue when the IMF is linked to the bombing of the Kremlin. From this franchise, one can expect daring escapes, secret missions and master disguises. We know from The Incredibles that Bird can direct action, so expectations are high in both the worlds of vfx and animation.

3. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Warner Bros., Dec. 16)
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Guy Ritchie is back for more sleuthing action with this Sherlock Holmes sequel. In this adventure, Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson must outwit their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty. As established in the first film, one can expect grand period sets, explosive action sequences and those stylized slow-mo fight sequences where Sherlock thinks out every move ahead of time to beat his opponent. Chas Jarrett is the vfx supervisor. BlueBolt, Framestore, Mark Roberts Motion Control, Moving Picture Company (MPC), Plowman Craven & Associates and The Visual Effects Company provided vfx work.