The traditional Boxing Day releases are sure to draw thousands indoors, especially with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting cooler, cloudy and possibly rainy weather.

 The big drawcards are The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Les Miserables.

The latest J.R.R.Tolkien adaptation follows Bilbo Baggins as he embarks on an adventure to far-off lands with 13 dwarfs. 

The journey takes him to his first encounter with Smeagol, who becomes a key character in The Lord of the Rings trilogy that follows.

With direction from Peter Jackson and a cast including Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Cate Blanchett, The Hobbit has been one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

Les Miserables is another film featuring a stellar cast, including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Victor Hugo’s historical novel set in 19th century France has been transformed into a Hollywood production after gaining critical acclaim as a stage musical. 

The movie has already been nominated for several Golden Globe awards.

For those seeking a lighter form of entertainment there are two family-friendly films also debuting in Australian cinemas today.

Disney’s latest animation creation, Wreck-It Ralph, explores the world of arcade video games and should cater for the smallest family members as well as parents.

In Parental Guidance, comedy veterans Billy Crystal and Bette Midler combine to deliver a comedy about a grandfather forced to look after his three grandchildren for a week when his daughter is called away for work.