Winter Movie Preview: 46 Movies To Watch Out for This Winter



The winter movie season is an eclectic one that features just about everything, from major award-season contenders to tentpole family films, as well as a hodgepodge of horror, action, and whatever else studios decide to schedule in the first months of the new year. It's not just theatrical releases either, as streaming platforms from Netflix to Prime Video are also touting major releases in and around this holiday season.







Hits from the year's film festivals have been slotted in, all hoping to garner buzz before voting begins for the major awards. Not to mention, Thanksgiving and Christmas weekends have become popular release windows for some of the year's biggest blockbusters. Even January and February, which were typically seen as dead spots in the theatrical release calendar, have been filled out in recent years to feature noteworthy films. Sure to be two of the year's biggest films, Gladiator II and Wicked kick things off the weekend before Thanksgiving, but every week thereafter includes a notable movie or two (or more) that gives us reason to be excited about going to the theaters or making an appointment viewing on our couch.




This is MovieWeb's Winter Movie Preview for 2024-2025.




November:




'Gladiator II' - Nov. 22




While talks of a Gladiator sequel date back to 2001, it has taken decades for a proper follow-up to finally reach audiences. Filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to direct the latest installment in this now-blossoming franchise with a bevy of new talent in front of the camera, in addition to a familiar face or two.



Echoes The Original, But With A Few Surprises


Paul Mescal leads a stacked cast featuring Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn. Meanwhile, Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprise their respective roles. Overall, Gladiator II looks to echo the original's plot, with Mescal playing the part of Maximus' (Russel Crowe) son. However, as MovieWeb's very own Julian Roman points out in his Gladiator II review, "... there are several third-act surprises that spice up the plot and prevent a feeling of cinematic déjà vu."






'Wicked' - Nov. 22




The feature film adaptation of one of the 21st-century's most celebrated musicals has also become one of the year's most talked-about movies. Between its undeniable star power — Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage, to name a few — and Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) at the helm, it's hard to imagine Wicked not being one of the season's highest-grossing films.



One of the Highest-Rated Musical Adaptations of All Time


Wicked is already one of the highest-rated musical adaptations of all time after initial reviews, which should help momentum for the franchise ahead of Part Two. As Wicked Part Two is slated to be released on November 21, 2025, this entry will presumably only cover the first half of the acclaimed musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz.








'Flow' - Nov. 22


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Flow
Director
Gints Zilbalodis
Runtime
84 minutes


Flow is a seemingly stunning animated film that follows a solitary cat who is forced to team up with various wild animals to survive a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a great flood. Flow boasts a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and looks like a contender for a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination.



A Captivating Animated Film Without Dialogue


Notably, the film features no dialogue but rather is composed of dietetic sounds between animals. Flow is director Gints Zilbalodis' follow-up to Away (2019), another ambitious animated feature with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.





'Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.' - Nov. 22


Bonhoeffer Pastor Spy Assassin movie poster
Release Date
November 22, 2024
Director
Todd Komarnicki
Cast
Jonas Dassler , August Diehl , Moritz Bleibtreu , David Jonsson
Runtime
2h 12m



For something a little different leading into Thanksgiving, Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. tells the real-life story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pacifist preacher who taught love while plotting the assassination of Hitler. The film sees Bonhoeffer wrestling with his convictions and ultimately relying on his faith as he is imprisoned by the Nazis.



A Faith-Based Movie Anyone Can Enjoy


There is no doubt this film from Angel Studios — the media company behind The Chosen — is from a Christian perspective, but it's also a story anyone can appreciate. As MovieWeb critic Julian Roman puts it in his review of Bonhoeffer, "This is an unabashed faith-based story, but you don't have to be religious or a Christian to empathize with its universal themes."





'Moana 2' - Nov. 27


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Release Date
November 27, 2024
Director
David G. Derrick Jr. , Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller
Cast
Auli'i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Nicole Scherzinger , Hualālai Chung , David Fane , Rose Matafeo , Awhimai Fraser , Gerald Ramsey , Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
Runtime
100 Minutes





Thanksgiving looks to be a great time for musical fans, with Wicked and Moana 2 releasing just days apart. Thanks largely to Moana being Disney's most streamed movie ever, the sequel hopes to perform even better at the box office than its predecessor. Unfortunately, Moana 2 will be without Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and performed original songs for the first film. Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow have been tasked with penning tunes for the sequel. The duo is known for their Grammy-winning album, The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical.



A Sequel With Big Shoes To Fill


The story of Moana 2 is set three years after the events of the original. It follows the titular wayfinder as she attempts to complete her ancestors' quest, connecting her people to the rest of the islands across the sea.



Mufasa: The Lion King, Elio, Toy Story 5
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'Queer' - Nov. 27


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Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino's second feature of the year, Queer — Challengers being his first — looks to make some noise this award season after positive word of mouth following its Venice Film Festival premiere and a subsequent Toronto International Film Festival screening. Daniel Craig stars in this A24 drama that follows an American expat who becomes entangled in an intense, borderline-obsessive relationship with a younger man (Drew Starkey).



Daniel Craig Looks For His First Oscar Nomination


Both Guadagnino and Craig hope to receive their first Oscar nominations for this adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novel by the same name. Marketing for Queer promises a more than two-hour sex-filled romp littered with tales of drug use and self-indulgence. However, as Jericho Tadeo puts it in his review of the film for MovieWeb, "... while Queer does deliver the goods — so to speak — it offers so much more than audiences might have bargained for."






'Maria' - Nov. 27




Director Pablo Larraín (Jackie, Spencer) is back with another biographical drama about a female icon in this year's Maria, a deeply psychological movie that focuses on opera singer Maria Callas' final days.



Angelina Jolie "Mesmerizes" In This Role


Callas is portrayed by Angelina Jolie, who, according to MovieWeb's Greg Archer in his review of Maria, "mesmerizes." Maria will be released in theaters on November 27, and will be available for streaming on Netflix weeks later on December 11.





'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' - Nov. 27


The Seed of the Sacred Fig movie poster
Director
Mohammad Rasoulof
Cast
Soheila Golestani , Missagh Zareh , Mahsa Rostami , Setareh Maleki
Runtime
2h 48m





The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a harrowing thriller that director Mohammad Rasoulof, the cast, and the production team all risked their lives to make. In fact, Iranian authorities sentenced Rasoulof to prison prior to the film's premiere, forcing the filmmaker to flee to Germany.



A Movie Shot In Secret


Shot in secret in Iran due to the persecution the director faced, The Seed of the Sacred Fig tells the story of Iman, an investigating judge in Tehran who quickly realizes his job is much more dangerous than he expected. The international film looks to be a strong contender for numerous awards this season, including Best Picture.





December:




'Y2K' - Dec. 6


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Y2K


A24, producer Jonah Hill, and comedian turned director Kyle Mooney team up for a throwback to '90s high school party movies, but with a twist; Y2K follows two unpopular high school juniors who crash a New Year's Eve party set in 1999. However, the movie quickly shifts from a coming-of-age comedy to a satirical disaster film when it is revealed that the Y2K virus is causing technology to turn on humanity.




High School Party Movie With a Twist


The dark comedy stars Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), Jaeden Martell (It), and Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2) and promises to provide plenty of nostalgia-fueled laughs when it debuts in theaters on December 6.





'Nightbitch' - Dec. 6


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Release Date
December 6, 2024
Director
Marielle Heller
Runtime
98 Minutes


In Nightbitch, Amy Adams plays an artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom. While this might sound like a standard family drama, Nightbitch is anything but. Based on a best-selling novel by the same name, Adams' character — simply referred to as "Mother" — finds she is starting to turn into a dog.



Absurd Premise Anchored by A-List Talent


The absurd premise of this black comedy/body horror film is anchored by Adams' performance and the direction of Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me? and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood).








'The Six Triple Eight' - Dec. 6


The Six Triple Eight movie poster
The Six Triple Eight
Release Date
December 6, 2024


Written and directed by Tyler Perry, Six Triple Eight tells the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the Women's Army Corps' only unit of color in WWII. Specifically, it tells how the brave women of the Six Triple Eight sorted through years of backlogged mail (roughly 17 million pieces) and delivered it to soldiers fighting on the front lines, providing much-needed morale.



An Incredible True Story


The movie, which stars Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon, and Oprah Winfrey, is slated to be released in select theaters Dec 6 before streaming on Netflix December 20.





'The End' - Dec. 6


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Release Date
December 6, 2024
Runtime
148 Minutes



One of the more unique films to make its way to theaters this winter is The End, a movie musical about the end of the world. It tells the story of a wealthy family confined to a bunker when a worldwide environmental collapse leaves the world largely uninhabitable. Their lives are upended, however, when a stranger arrives at their doorstep.



A Musical About the End of the World


Coming just weeks after Wicked, a film praised for its use of musical theater talent, The End is anchored by actors not known for gracing the Broadway stages, like Tilda Swinton and Michael Shannon. Despite this film challenging the audience's conception of what a movie musical should be, there is something undeniably enticing about its premise as well as the performances of leads George MacKay (1917) and Moses Ingram (The Queen's Gambit).





'The Order' - Dec. 6





Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult star in The Order, a thriller based on a chilling true story. Law portrays an FBI agent in the '80s following a string of bank robberies and armored car heists in the Pacific Northwest. However, he looks to prove this is the work of a radical group of white supremacists rather than a traditional organized crime unit.



One of the Year's Best Crime Thrillers


The Order is already receiving rave reviews, praising Jude Law's performance and the film's riveting storytelling. The movie received a seven-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival and currently holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.





'Werewolves' - Dec. 6


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Werewolves
Release Date
December 6, 2024
Runtime
94 Minutes





If the opening weekend in December still doesn't have what you're looking for at the theaters, perhaps you might be interested in Werewolves — a movie described by its star Frank Grillo as "The Purge meets werewolves." Grillo also revealed that the film's monsters were brought to life by emphasizing practical effects.



'The Purge' x Werewolves


If it's not already evident from Grillo's epic elevator pitch, Werewolves looks to be a campy good time at the theaters. If you're looking for a bloody action horror flick, to quote the film's star, "... just go watch the movie."





'Unstoppable' - Dec. 6




Unstoppable tells the inspirational true story of Anthony Robles, an American wrestler who won the NCAA championship in 2011 despite being born with only one leg. Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) stars as Robles and is joined by an excellent supporting cast that features Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, Don Cheadle, and Michael Peña.




Inspirational True Story


Fans of the underdog sports story subgenre can enjoy Unstoppable when it debuts in theaters on December 6, 2024, and on streaming when it comes to Prime Video on January 16, 2025.





'The Return' - Dec. 6


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The Return
Release Date
December 6, 2024
Director
Uberto Pasolini
Runtime
116 Minutes


Yet another film goes to theaters on what is shaping up to be a pretty busy first weekend of December with The Return, an adaptation that sees Greek hero Odysseus wash up on shore after 20 years away. A physically toned Ralph Fiennes stars as an aged Odysseus ready to win back what he has lost and save his family.



Ralph Fiennes Gets Ripped for New Role


Coming off what is sure to be an Academy Award-nominated performance in Conclave, Fiennes takes on a much more physical role with The Return. It is a change of pace for the actor, but one we're looking forward to seeing on the big screen.








'Kraven the Hunter' - Dec. 13


Kraven the Hunter Poster


Another Spider-Man villain gets their own standalone film with Kraven the Hunter. The Tom Hardy-led Venom trilogy just concluded with Venom 3: The Last Dance, which debuted in October, but star Aaron Taylor-Johnson and company look to carry the baton for the Sony villain universe. While Kraven looks to adhere closely to its comic book source material, it also appears to continue the trend set by the Venom series and Morbius of not featuring Tom Holland's Spider-Man. However, Kraven does look to dive further into the lore by featuring another longtime Spider-Man villain, Rhino. Still, if Venom has proven anything, it's that there is plenty of fun (and box office success) to be had without actually including the friendly neighborhood crime fighter.






More R-Rated Comic Book Movies


Notably, Kraven the Hunter looks to continue another trend of sporting an R-rating. Recently, films like Deadpool and Wolverine have proven there is still an adult audience looking for a more mature take on beloved comic book characters. With an R rating, Kraven promises to be a bloody action flick with fan-favorite Marvel baddies.





'The Lord of the Rings: The War of The Rohirrim' - Dec. 13


Lord of the rings war of the rohirrim movie logo temp
Director
Kenji Kamiyama
Release Date
December 13, 2024


Just because Season 2 of The Rings of Power is officially in the books doesn't mean there aren't any more stories to tell from Middle-earth in 2024. The Lord of the Rings: The War of The Rohirrim is an anime adaptation based on the appendices in J.R.R. Tolkien's work that differentiates itself from the Peter Jackson films by setting itself hundreds of years before the events of the main trilogy.






'Lord of the Rings' Goes Anime


Anime director Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), who has credits as a background artist in classics such as Akira and Kiki's Delivery Service, has employed some top-tier voice acting talent, including Succession's Brian Cox.



Ian McKellen as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.
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Gandalf will play a major role in the franchise going forward.





'Nickel Boys' - Dec. 13




Amazon MGM Studios touts a potential "new American masterpiece" with Nickel Boys, a period drama from Academy Award-nominated director RaMell Ross ( Hale County This Morning, This Evening). Adapted from Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Nickel Boys follows a black teenager in the Jim Crow South whose split-second decision sentences him to a notorious reformatory just as he's hoping to attend college.




A Potential Masterpiece


Nickel Boys looks to be in the conversation for several major awards this season, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Director, and even Best Picture.





'September 5' - Dec. 13




September 5 is yet another likely award contender scheduled to be released in mid-December. Earning a perfect score from MovieWeb's Julian Roman, September 5 is praised as a superb hostage thriller that ranks among the year's best films.



A Superb Hostage Thriller Based on a True Story


The historical drama, both written and directed by Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum, recounts the true story of the 1972 Munich Olympic Hostage Crisis. This retelling, however, is through the eyes of the ABC Sports crew as they struggle with the moral dilemmas and questions of journalistic integrity surrounding the harrowing story.








'The Last Showgirl' - Dec. 13


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Director
Gia Coppola
Runtime
85 Minutes


After a thirty-year run, Vegas performer (Pamela Anderson) is forced to rethink her future when her show suddenly closes in The Last Showgirl. From its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, word of mouth is that Anderson gives the performance of a lifetime in this leading role.



The Performance of a Lifetime


The festival hit even landed an Award-friendly limited release date on December 13 before going wide on January 10. While Anderson appears to be the main attraction, she is joined by quite a loaded supporting cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Billie Lourd, and Jason Schwartzman.





'Mufasa: The Lion King' - Dec. 20


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According to Academy Award-winning director Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King is both a prequel and sequel to 2019's photorealistic remake. The story not only explores the origins of Simba's father but also expands on what happens to the Pride Lands after Scar is overthrown.



A Sequel and a Prequel


The film will undoubtedly explore the complicated relationship between Mufasa and Scar, as well as the struggles of Simba and Nala's daughter, Kiara. It's hard to imagine Mufasa living up to the $1.6 billion that its predecessor hauled in at the box office. Still, it looks to be a tentpole release this holiday season.





'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' - Dec. 20


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Release Date
December 20, 2024


Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is another family-friendly theatrical release scheduled to premiere just before Christmas. For decades, studios have struggled to make video game adaptations successful on the big screen, but the Sonic franchise has largely bucked that trend with two hits in a row.




Star-Studded Cast Adds Another A-Lister


Sonic the Hedgehog 3 looks to up the ante by introducing fan-favorite character Shadow (Keanu Reeves). And after talks of a potential retirement, the third entry in this fun, wacky franchise has even managed to bring back Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik.





'The Room Next Door' - Dec. 20




Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton star in The Room Next Door, a darkly funny drama about two estranged friends who reconnect after one receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. When treatment fails, Martha (Swinton) requests her dear friend Ingrid (Moore) stay in the titular room next door as she lives out her final days.



A Darkly Funny Drama


MovieWeb critic Jericho Tadeo praised Swinton and Moore's chemistry in his review of The Room Next Door, saying, "... watching these two clash, in ideology and philosophy, is like watching a live tennis match between champions — each brings out the best in the other."






'The Brutalist' - Dec. 20




The Brutalist is just the second film on this list to receive a rare perfect score from MovieWeb's Julian Roman. In his review of The Brutalist, Roman refers to the nearly four-hour epic as a "cinematic masterpiece" and "possibly the best movie of 2024." The historical drama from A24 follows Hungarian-Jewish architect László Toth (Adrien Brody), who escapes Europe and flees to America after WWII in an attempt to rebuild his life.



One of the Year's Best and Longest


From screenplay to directing, and, of course, acting — between its leads, Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, and Felicity Jones — The Brutalist looks to compete in virtually every major category this awards season.








'Nosferatu' - Dec. 25


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Filmmaker Robert Eggers has yet to miss, as each of his first three directed features — The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman — scored 90% or better on Rotten Tomatoes. His latest effort, a remake of the classic vampire film, promises all the dark visuals and moody atmosphere Eggers has become synonymous with.



A New Take on a Classic


Not only is Nosferatu looking to be one of the best horror movies of the year, but it is also striving to be one of the rare genre films to receive major awards recognition. Bill Skarsgård, Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Emma Corrin lead an absolutely stacked cast for this horror film that offers some serious counter-programming this holiday season.





'Babygirl' - Dec. 25


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Director
Halina Reijn
Release Date
December 25, 2024
Runtime
114 Minutes



A powerful CEO (Nicole Kidman) puts everything at risk when she engages in a torrid affair with a much younger intern (Harris Dickinson) in Babygirl. This kinky A24 thriller might not be the feel-good family movie of the season, but its marketing is leaning into the self-indulgence we're all looking for during the holidays.



Nicole Kidman Gets Intense


Director Halina Reijn looks to build upon her success, coming off the critically acclaimed horror-comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies. This time, the filmmaker changed lanes with an erotic thriller that got so intense behind the scenes that Nicole Kidman needed pauses during filming.





'The Fire Inside' - Dec. 25


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Director
Rachel Morrison
Release Date
December 25, 2024
Cast
Ryan Destiny , Jazmin Headley , Kylee D. Allen , Brian Tyree Henry , De'Adre Aziza , Chrystian Buddington , Maurice Wayne Anglin , Teanna Weir
Runtime
109 minutes


The Fire Inside tells the amazing real-life story of boxer Claressa 'T-Rex' Shields (played by Ryan Destiny), the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport. The script is penned by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins and helmed by first-time director Rachel Morrison.




Not Your Average Sports Biopic


MovieWeb critic Murjani Rawls praised the performances of lead Desinty and supporting actor Brian Tyree Henry in his review of The Fire Inside, calling the film "a cure to the common sports biopic."





'A Complete Unknown' - Dec. 25


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Release Date
December 25, 2024
Cast
Timothée Chalamet , Edward Norton , Elle Fanning , Monica Barbaro , Nick Offerman , Boyd Holbrook , P.J. Byrne , Scoot McNairy , Dan Fogler , Will Harrison , Charlie Tahan , Jon Gennari , Norbert Leo Butz


Timothée Chalamet embodies one of the greatest American songwriters of all time, Bob Dylan, in James Mangold's (Logan, Ford v Ferrari) music biopic, A Complete Unknown. Having already directed one of the most celebrated music biopics of all time, Walk the Line, Mangold certainly has the pedigree to excite fans.



Timothée Chalamet Embodies Bob Dylan


Even Bob Dylan experts agree Chalamet sounds the part. And yes, even the man himself, Bob Dylan, approves of the film.





'Better Man' - Dec. 25


Better Man movie poster
Better Man
Release Date
December 25, 2024
Cast
robbie williams , Jonno Davies , Steve Pemberton , Alison Steadman , Damon Herriman , Anthony Hayes , Kate Mulvany



Better Man is a semi-autobiographical film about the rise, fall, and resurgence of British pop singer Robbie Williams.It is touted as a story that just can't be told conventionally. How does the film make good on this promise? Well, director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) turns the music icon into an animated monkey.



An Unconventional Music Biopic


Williams plays himself, but only as the voice of the CGI monkey in this otherwise live-action film. The biopic — already garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes — opens in select US theaters on December 25 before going wide on January 10.





January:




'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' - Jan. 3


wallace-and-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl-netflix-poster.jpg
Director
Merlin Crossingham , Nick Park
Cast
Ben Whitehead , Garth Jennings , Reece Shearsmith , Peter Kay , Maya Sondhi , Diane Morgan , Lenny Henry , Adjoa Andoh , Muzz Khan , Lauren Patel
Runtime
70 Minutes





While perhaps less appreciated in the US, the highly acclaimed stop-motion animated series Wallace & Gromit has garnered perfect (or near-perfect) Rotten Tomatoes scores left and right. The newest entry, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, joins three other films in the series that have all earned a perfect 100%. And the franchise's last feature, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, still performed admirably with an impressive 95%.



Another Acclaimed Entry in This Animated Franchise


The beloved children's series following eccentric inventor Wallace and his beagle Gromit will be available to stream on Netflix on January 3. This time, the duo are tasked with stopping Wallace's latest invention, Norbot, an AI "smart gnome" that is causing chaos all over town.





'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera' - Jan. 10




This Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr.-led action franchise is finally getting a second entry after five years. The original movie, Den of Thieves, follows Sheriff Big Nick O'Brien (Butler) as he pursues notorious thief Donnie Wilson (Jackson Jr.).




'Den of Thieves' Goes International


While the first film largely takes place in Los Angeles, the series goes international with Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, as Donnie escapes to Europe to enact his next big heist. This time, Donnie is targeting the world's largest diamond exchange.





'Paddington in Peru' - Jan. 17


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Director
Dougal Wilson
Runtime
106 Minutes


Few family-friendly films in recent memory have been quite as well received as the first two Paddington movies. Sure, Paddington in Peru will be without director Paul King, who helmed the first two entries, and actress Sally Hawkins, but the trailers and overwhelmingly positive early reviews suggest the series is still in good hands.



'Paddington' is Still in Good Hands


Stepping in for King and Hawkins is Dougal Wilson, who is making his feature film directorial debut, and actress Emily Mortimer (Mary Poppins Returns and Hugo). Additionally, Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman and Academy Award nominee Antonio Banderas join the cast for Paddington's next big adventure as he travels to Peru to visit his aunt Lucy.






'Wolf Man' - Jan. 17


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Release Date
January 17, 2025


Leigh Whannell, the writer and director behind The Invisible Man (2020), is back with another monster movie reboot in this reimagining of Wolf Man. Whannell's gruesome retelling follows a man (Christopher Abbott) who is bitten by a werewolf and is afflicted by an ancient curse. His wife (Julia Garner) and daughter (Matilda Firth) are trapped with him in a remote cabin as he transforms into a terrifying monster.



'The Invisible Man' Director Takes On Another Classic Movie Monster


As with The Invisible Man, Whannell looks to modernize the Wolf Man story, treating the curse more like a disease rather than a supernatural event. Simply put, if this remake is anywhere near as good as The Invisible Man, horror fans should have a lot to be excited about.








'Presence' - Jan. 17


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Presence
Cast
Lucy Liu , Julia Fox , Chris Sullivan
Runtime
85 Minutes


Presence looks to turn the genre on its head by serving audiences a haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost rather than the people the ghost is haunting. While some might fear this all sounds rather gimmicky, the film is already being received quite well.



A New Take On the Haunted House Subgenre


Having premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, director Steven Soderbergh's foray into horror is already garnering positive word of mouth and excellent reviews, praising both the film's subversive nature and the performance of lead actress Lucy Liu.



Callina Liang in Presence
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'I'm Still Here' - Jan. 17




Not to be confused with the 2010 Joaquin Phoenix film by the same name, I'm Still Here (2024) follows a woman (Fernanda Torres) whose husband, a congressman during the military dictatorship in Brazil, is taken from her and her family. The film won Best Screenplay at the Venice International Film Festival and is the Brazilian entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming Academy Awards.



One of the Best International Films of the Year


Not only is I'm Still Here likely to be a contender for the Best International Feature Film award, but Fernanda Torres could also be in conversation for a Best Actress nomination, given her acclaimed performance.





'Back in Action' - Jan. 17


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Back in Action
Release Date
January 17, 2025



Back in Action, perhaps most well-known for being Cameron Diaz's first movie since returning from retirement, is one of Netflix's first major releases of the year. Starring alongside Jamie Fox, the pair portray retired CIA agents turned parents who are pulled back into a life of espionage after their identities are exposed.



Cameron Diaz's First Movie Since Returning from Retirement


The action-comedy looks to be a star-studded streaming event featuring Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler, and Andrew Scott in supporting roles. And with Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) directing, Netflix could have their first big hit of the year.





'Flight Risk' - Jan. 24


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Flight Risk
Release Date
January 24, 2025
Runtime
91 Minutes


Flight Risk promises a tight thriller on a small plane passing over the Alaskan wilderness. The plane contains just the pilot (Mark Wahlberg), an Air Marshal (Michelle Dockery), and a fugitive (Topher Grace) being transported for the trial.




A Tense Thriller at 15,000 ft


As they pass over the proverbial no man's land, it becomes apparent that not everyone on board is who they claim to be. It's also worth mentioning that Flight Risk is Mel Gibson's first directed film since Hacksaw Ridge (2016).





'One of Them Days' - Jan. 24




While theatrically released comedies aren't nearly as common as they used to be, One of Them Days is out to prove there is still a place for the genre in 2025. Keke Palmer and SZA star as best friends and roommates looking to quickly earn money after realizing one of their boyfriends has already spent their rent checks.



A New Comedy Coming to Theaters


Helmed by Rap Sh!t director Lawrence Lamont and produced by Issa Rae, One of Them Days has the pedigree of a successful comedy, not to mention a trailer packed with laughs.








'You're Cordially Invited' - Jan. 30





Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon team up for a fun Prime Video comedy written and directed by filmmaker Nicholas Stoller (Neighbors, Forgetting Sarah Marshall). You're Cordially Invited pits the comedic duo against each other in a story that features two destination weddings at a double-booked venue.



Comedy Legends Team Up


The woman (Witherspoon) planning her sister's wedding and the father (Ferrell) paying for his daughter's wedding decide to share the venue, but as you might imagine, things don't go according to plan. You're Cordially Invited comes straight to streaming on January 30.





February:




'Love Hurts' - Feb. 7


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Love Hurts
Director
JoJo Eusebio
Release Date
February 7, 2025



Ke Huy Quan ( Everything Everywhere All at Once) leads one of next year's first big action comedies, Love Hurts. Quan plays Marvin, a realtor who is pulled back into his dangerous past thanks to his crime-lord brother (Daniel Wu).



Ke Huy Quan Goes 'John Wick'


The initial trailer for the John Wick-inspired Love Hurts promises not only some fantastic action choreography but also some serious laughs. Joining Quan and Wu are Ariana DeBose, Sean Astin, and the always funny former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch.





'Universal Language' - Feb. 12


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Universal Language
Director
Matthew Rankin
Cast
Pirouz Nemati , Matthew Rankin , Mani Soleymanlou , Danielle Fichaud
Runtime
89 minutes


Universal Language is Canada's entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. This absurdist comedy takes place in a parallel universe version of Canada, where Persian and French are the country's two official languages, and follows the lives of various characters whose stories intertwine.




Absurdist Comedy with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes


With 36 reviews at the time of this writing, Universal Language boasts a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. After a successful run on the festival circuit, Universal Language will finally be landing in US theaters on February 12, 2025.





'Captain America: Brave New World' - Feb. 14


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Captain America: Brave New World


The mantle of Captain America has now been fully passed from Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). In his first feature film with the iconic shield, Sam Wilson tries to balance his old friend's legacy while forging his own path as one of the world's mightiest heroes.



Anthony Mackie's First Film as Captain America


Captain America: Brave New World features a new Cap and introduces Harrison Ford as Thunderbolt Ross as he fills in for the late William Hurt. The fourth film in the series introduces Giancarlo Esposito and features the return of Liv Tyler and Tim Blake Nelson, who first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (2008).




Marvel Phase 5 Every Entry, Explained
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'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' - Feb. 14


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Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures


Renée Zellweger is returning to the Bridget Jones franchise for the first time since 2016. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy adapts the 2013 novel by the same name. It follows Bridget four years after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).



Bridget Jones Returns


Mad About the Boy introduces two new men in Bridget's life: a school teacher, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a 29-year-old man, played by Leo Woodhall. Hugh Grant returns to the franchise, as does Colin Firth — albeit only as a figment of Bridget's imagination. The newest entry in the franchise is skipping theaters entirely, headed directly for Peacock.






'The Monkey' - Feb. 21


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Director
Osgood Perkins
Release Date
February 21, 2025


Filmmaker Osgood Perkins, who absolutely terrified audiences with 2024's Longlegs, is returning to the horror genre for his 2025 feature The Monkey, an absurdly dark mystery based on Stephen King's short story of the same name. Tonally, The Monkey feels different from what Perkins has directed before, but it still promises the atmospheric tension we've come to expect from him.



An Absurdly Dark Stephen King Adaptation


The Monkey follows estranged twin brothers who agree to reunite to destroy a toy monkey they believe is, once again, responsible for a string of grizzly deaths. Perkins also acts in his film alongside Theo James, Elijah Wood, and Tatiana Maslany.





'The Legend of Ochi' - Feb. 28


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Release Date
February 28, 2025
Runtime
90 Minutes



The Legend of Ochi is an A24 movie that tells the story of a young girl who encounters a mysterious forest creature she was initially taught to fear by her village. The film features a bevy of A-list talent, from Willem Dafoe to Finn Wolfhard and Emily Watson. It also stars up-and-coming actress Helena Zengel in the lead role.



A24's Take on 'E.T.'


The fantasy epic promises an adorable CGI companion — the titular ochi — stunning visuals, breathtaking landscapes, and a powerful and emotional story. Overall, The Legend of Ochi looks like a refreshing take on the classic 'child befriends monster' story.



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