Barnum and Damon head the Boxing Day blockbuster buzz

A singing Hugh Jackman and a shrinking Matt Damon front two of the big new-release films.

Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron in The Greatest Showman.

A singing Hugh Jackman and a shrinking Matt Damon front two of the big new-release films likely to attract the lion’s share of Australians heading to cinemas on Boxing Day.

Jackman plays circus master PT Barnum in The Greatest Showman, a musical biopic directed by another Australian, Michael Gracey, also starring Zac Efron and Michelle Williams. And Damon is the star of Downsizing, Alexander Paine’s comedy where humans help fight the problems of climate change and overpopulation by reducing the size of their bodies to just 13cm tall.

How to decide between them? Well, Jackman has been nominated for a Golden Globe for The Greatest Showman, and the film itself is also a contender for best musical or comedy, even if reviews have been mixed. There’s been a mixed reception also for Downsizing, but David Stratton gave it 3.5 stars in The Weekend Australian on Saturday, calling it a unique, “must-see” film despite some flaws.

There are already various levels of award-season buzz for two of the dramas being released here on Boxing Day. Call Me By Your Name, nominated for three Golden Globes, including best drama, is a coming-of-age romance between a teen in Italy (Timothee Chalamet) and an older love (Armie Hammer). Stratton gave this one four stars.

Then there’s Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and The Crown’s Claire Foy. Directed by Andy Serkis, it’s the true story of a British man paralysed by polio but determined to live a rich life.

Speaking of award season, one of the early favourites for Oscar season is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, starring Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson — but you’ll need to wait until January 1 for that one.

Boxing Day also brings two family-friendly films: Coco, the latest Pixar release from Disney, and Jumanji: Welcome to the ­Jungle, starring Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart.