“Wolf”
Featuring the breakout star of Sam Mendes’ “1917,” George MacKay (“True History Of The Kelly Gang”) leads what looks to be a rather outstanding roster of actors in “Wolf.” He plays a man who earnestly believes he is a wolf stuck in a human body and ends up falling in love with someone called Wildcat (Lily-Rose Depp). The premise sounds bananas, but we’re intrigued with a cast that includes Paddy Considine as a mysterious zookeeper, Senan Jennings, Lola Petticrew, and Darragh Shannon.
Release Date: December 3 via Focus Features.
“Violence Of Action”
Coming off an excellent collaboration in “Hell Or High Water,” Chris Pine and Ben Foster reteam for the visceral military thriller “Violence Of Action.” Pine stars as a man who joins a paramilitary outfit as a private contractor in the hopes of supporting his family, only to end up ground on a lethal undercover mission. Pine co-stars alongside Kiefer Sutherland (as a fellow veteran, plus Gillian Jacobs and Eddie Marsan. Swedish artist and music video whiz Tarik Saleh directs.
Release Date: December 10 via STX.
“A Journal for Jordan“
The last time Denzel Washington directed a film, he helped Viola Davis win an Oscar (“Fences“), so all eyes are on his return, “A Journal For Jordan.” Starring Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams, the film centers on a soldier in Iraq who, before he is killed in action in Baghdad, authors a journal for his son intended to tell him how to live a decent life despite growing up without a father. Tearjerker or Oscar-bait? Time will tell.
Release Date: December 10 via Colombia Pictures.
“West Side Story”
We’d love to see ‘West Side Story,” not told from the P.O.V. of a white filmmaker, but even as such, Steven Spielberg already looks like he’s outdone himself visually with this new modern update. The main problem now is his star, Ansel Elgort. Canceled and accused of sexual assault a year ago, the actor, who denied all charges, has kept a low profile since. We would love nothing more than for the master to deliver a cup-runneth-over serving of old-school movie musical bliss on a purely cinematic level. However, the Elgort challenge that 20th Century Studios faces is still very real. This new adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved “Romeo and Juliet”-inspired stage play was written by Tony Kushner (“Angels In America”) and features an ensemble that includes Rachel Zegler, Ariana Debose, Ana Isabelle, Corey Stoll, and more.
Release Date: December 10 via 20th Century Studios.
“The Hand Of God”
Creator of mesmeric, intoxicatingly dreamlike images, the latest from Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (Oscar-winner “The Great Beauty”) looks much more intimate and personal than his usually grand affairs. Netflix describes the film as “the story of a young man’s heartbreak and liberation in 1980s Naples, Italy,” and the tone, from the recently-released teaser, looks closer to the sun-dappled autobiography of “Call Me By Your Name” more than the director’s last picture, the rapturous but somewhat overblown drama, “Loro.” “The Hand Of God” premieres in competition at this year’s 78th Venice Film Festival in September.
Release Date: December 15 via Netflix.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home”
Following two previous “Spider-Man” films, director Jon Watts (“Cop Car”) returns for the 27th MCU film. Tom Holland and Zendaya reprise their roles, obviously, but this film feels massive. The multiverse has been cracked open and ‘No Way Home’ centers on Peter Parker asking Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to undo the identity-revealing conclusion of the last Spidey film. Alas, things go wrong, and audiences will be able to see the return of Sony Spidey villains like the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), and Electro (Jamie Foxx). Many more characters from the previous Spiderverses are rumored to appear including Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire, Emma Stone, plus Charlie Cox from Netflix’s Daredevil.” None of them are confirmed, but Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, J. B. Smoove, and Benedict Wong are all set for the blockbuster.
Release Date: December 17 via Sony Pictures.
“The Lost Daughter”
Maggie Gyllenhaal already has a very venerable career, but she adds director to her resume this fall with “The Lost Daughter.” Written by Gyllenhaal, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante, she commands a terrific cast for her directorial debut, including Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Paul Mescal, and Ed Harris. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival soon, ‘Lost Daughter’ centers on a woman’s beach vacation, which turns dark when she begins to confront her troubling past.
Release Date: December 17 in theaters and December 31 on Netflix.
“The King’s Man”
If they won’t let you make a Bond film, make your own Bond-like franchise is a proverb Matthew Vaughn should probably coin since he did just about that. While the jury is still out on “The Kingsman” franchise for many, the movies make money, and that’s all that matters to the studios. The third film in the series is a prequel set in the early 1900s that depicts the origins of the secret intelligence agency. Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance star.
Release Date: December 22 via 20th Century Studios.
“The Matrix: Resurrections”
After revolutionizing movies with “The Matrix,” and disappointing audiences with the sequels, one, but not both, of the Wachowskis, are back for a belated fourth installment. Helmed only by Lana Wachowski (Lily decided to opt-out), plot details are being kept under lock and key, but we do know that Keanu Reeves will return as Neo, along with favorites like Carrie-Ann Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith. New faces to the series include Christina Ricci, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra, and Jonathan Groff.
Release Date: December 22 via Warner Bros.
“Sing 2”
“Son Of Rambow” director Garth Jennings is back in the director’s chair for this wildly anticipated expansion on the original “Sing”; Matthew McConaughey returns to voice Buster Moon, this time leading a new cast with sights set on debuting a glamorous new show via some helpful assistance from supporting cast members Reese Witherspoon, Taron Egerton, Bobby Cannavale, singer Halsey, Pharrell Williams, and plenty more.
Release Date: December 22 via Universal.
“Don’t Look Up”
Adam McKay has seemingly left behind silly Will Ferrell comedies for prestige political satires like “The Big Short” and “Vice.” His latest continues this vein and features Leonardo Dicaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as two low-rent astronomers tasked with warning humanity of an oncoming catastrophe that could obliterate life on earth. Of course, the skeptical planet is sure to fuck it all up. The top-shelf cast includes Meryl Streep, Timothee Chalamet, Jonah Hill, Cate Blanchett, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Rob Morgan, and more. A serious Awards player, to be sure.
Release Date: December 24 via Netflix.