Friday’s openings: Long ago and far, far away

If you have a "Star Wars" story, you pretty much own the movie schedule. And that should be the case on Friday when the latest entry in the popular franchise opens across the country. It faces only a single mainstream competitor, according to the national release listing:

"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker": J.J. Abrams takes over the reins of this final chapter in the Skywalker saga, which explores — and finishes — the trials of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the Resistance fighting the forces led by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).

"Cats": The long-running Broadway show comes to the big screen, with an all-star cast (Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson) hidden under some of the most imaginative makeup in movie history. Imaginative, at least, is one word for it.

As for Christmas Day, several popular openings will clog the movie menu:

"Little Women": Greta Gerwig directs her own updated version of the popular Louisa May Alcott 1868 novel, starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Timothy Chalamet. They are women, hear them roar.

"Spies in Disguise": When a top spy (voiced by Will Smith) gets turned into a pigeon, a nerdy underling (voiced by Tom Holland) has to help him save the day. Birds of a feather, as they say.

"1917": Two British soldiers are ordered to penetrate deep into enemy territory and stop 1,600 of their countrymen from walking into a German trap. Harking to a time when Brittania indeed did rule the waves.

"Just Mercy": Defense attorney Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) fights to save the life of a condemned criminal (Jamie Foxx), beginning a career that saw him develop into a lifelong battler for the rights of the underprivileged. Overcome he shall.

And at the Magic Lantern? Besides second-run openings of "Jojo Rabbit" and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," the Lantern expects a single opening on Christmas Day:

"Uncut Gems": Adam Sandler plays a jeweler who gets caught in a variety of get-rich-quick schemes.

That's the lot. So far. I'll do my best to update when area theaters finalize their bookings.