For so many of us the theatrical experience remained out of reach for a large portion of 2021. With cinemas back open and thriving in the wake of a double dosed population, these coming weeks look to end the year that was with a considerable bang.
From the much-hyped multiverse tease of (potentially) multiple Spider-men to the return to the dark web we believed we said goodbye to some 18 years ago (“Woah”), December promises to make the cinema the sole outlet for entertainment.
Dune (Released 2nd December)
Featuring one of this year’s most impressive ensemble casts – Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Dave Bautista, to name a few – and helmed by the universally acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049), Dune defines the term “big screen cinema”. An adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune is a mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.
Dear Evan Hansen (Released 9th December)
It’s already been a source of meme-worthy stills and much controversy, but there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right? Perhaps an anticipated event for all the wrong reasons, Dear Evan Hansen is an adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical about a socially anxious high-schooler and the well-intentioned lie he tells in the wake of a fellow student’s suicide that spirals dangerously out of control.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (Released 16th December)
Currently holding the record of highest-selling pre-sale ticket figures since Avengers: Endgame, the third film in Sony’s latest Spider-Man trilogy, No Way Home, is likely to be one of this year’s biggest box office successes. Tom Holland returns in all his friendly neighbourhood spandexed glory as the web-slinger whose not-so-secret identity leads to the eruption of the multi-verse. A heft of villains from previous Spidey films make their presence known, but all anyone really cares about is if Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are coming home or not….time will tell.
West Side Story (Released 26th December)
Here’s tackled wars, killer sharks, extraterrestrials, the end of the world, and now the movie musical. And not just any movie musical, “the” movie musical. Steven Spielberg adapts the beloved 1957 musical that explores forbidden love and the rivalry between two races of street gangs. Bring tissues, your dancing shoes, and Oscar predictions.
The Matrix Resurrections (Released 26th December)
A film shrouded in as much mystery as you’d expect, The Matrix Resurrections returns Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss to a world they don’t remember, that is until they take “the red pill” and awaken their mind to the truth. Welcome back, Mr Anderson.
Also released in December:
2nd December
Encanto
9th December
Don’t Look Up, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
26th December
Sing 2, Licorice Pizza
