December

 

1st

The Disaster Artist (2017)

A comedic biographical account of eccentric self-styled indie filmmaker Tommy Wiseau and the making of his 2003 film ‘The Room’, a notorious cult indie favourite widely considered to be one of the worst films ever made, in this story about dreamers who make their Tinseltown fantasies come true . . . to whatever end.

Directed by James Franco and starring James Franco, Dave Franco and Alison Brie among others.

Genre: Fact-based, Comedy, Drama

UK Release: 1st of December   US Release: 8th of December

 

 

 

Happy End (2017)

Michael Haneke’s (Amour, The White Ribbon) family drama about a well-to-do French family who are simultaneously aware of and oblivious to the world around them, set in Cannes and the backdrop of the current European refugee crisis.

Directed by Michael Haneke and starring Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Mathieu Kassovitz among others.

Genre: Drama

UK Release: 1st of December   US Release: 22nd of December

 

 

 

Just Getting Started (2017)

‘Leo’ the ex-FBI agent has resort community rivalry with ‘Duke’, the ex-lawyer for dangerous criminals lying low in a witness protection program, but their idyllic lifestyle gets put on the back-burner when they put aside their differences to avoid being the targets of a mob hit in this action/comedy from the writer/director of ‘Bull Durham’ and ‘White Men Can’t Jump’.

Directed by Ron Shelton and starring Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones and Rene Russo among others.

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime

UK Release: 1st of December   US Release: 22nd of November

 

 

 

Wonder (2017)

‘Auggie Pullman’ is a normal 10-yearl-old from a loving family who has been marginalised and home-schooled because of his facial deformities. As he approaches 5th grade and his debut at a normal school, Auggie will endure the pain of growing up differently but discover the beauty of friendship and acceptance along the way in this feelgood adaptation of R. J. Palacio’s bestselling children’s novel.

Directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay among others.

Genre: Drama

UK Release: 1st of December   US Release: 17th of November

 

 

 

8th

Blade of the Immortal (2017)

A young girl enlists the help of a skilled but cursed immortal Samurai to help her avenge her parents and regain his soul, in this adaptation of the popular and violent Manga series—an irreverent blood-soaked Samurai adventure and the 100th film of Japanese director Takashi Miike’s long and illustrious career.

Directed by Takashi Miike and starring Takuya Kimura, Hana Sugisaki and Sôta Fukushi among others.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

UK Release: 8th of December   US Release: 3rd of November

 

 

 

Stronger (2017)

Caught up in the devastation of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, a young man struggles to physically and emotionally recover from his ordeal while gaining strength from it and becoming a symbol of defiance in this poignant drama based on a true story.

Directed by David Gordon Green and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany and Clancy Brown among others.

Genre: Fact-based, Drama

UK Release: 8th of December   US Release: 22nd of September

 

 

 

Brigsby Bear (2017)

James’s life is pretty simple having grown up and become obsessed with his beloved TV show ‘Brigsby Bear’, but when he discovers the dark truth about his ‘parents’ and is propelled into the big bad world, he sets out to continue the adventures of the only joy life has brought him . . . and share it with the world in this unique and surreal film from comedians and SNL alumni Dave McCary and Kyle Mooney.

Directed by Dave McCary and starring Kyle Mooney, Mark Hamill and Claire Danes among others.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

UK Release: 8th of December   US Release: 28th of July

 

 

 

The Dinner (2017)

When their teenage sons commit a serious crime, two wealthy couples plan an exclusive dinner to discuss how to deal with the matter and the grave consequences of their reaction to it, in this crime drama from the writer/director of ‘The Messenger’ and ‘Rampart’.

Directed by Oren Moverman and starring Richard Gere, Rebecca Hall and Steve Coogan among others.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

UK Release: 8th of December   US Release: 5th of May

 

 

 

14th

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

After the events of ‘The Force Awakens’, The Resistance struggles to hold back a resurgent First Order as Rey begins her training with Luke Skywalker, setting in motion events which will fulfill the destiny of the Jedi in this 8th installment of the epic adventures in a galaxy far, far away . . .

Directed by Rian Johnson and starring Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher among others.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-fi

UK Release: 14th of December   US Release: 15th of December

 

 

 

15th

Shot Caller (2017)

After a tragic fateful night and the instinct to survive turns a middle class family man into a ruthless prison gangster and victim of the American prison system, his imminent release forces him on a dangerous score for his incarcerated benefactors as risks everything for the sake of his estranged family, in this latest prison thriller from writer/director Ric Roman Waugh.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lake Bell and Holt McCallany among others.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

UK Release: 15th of December   US Release: 18th of August

 

 

 

The Unseen (2017)

Grieving for their young son who was tragically killed in an accident, a grieving British couple retreat to an isolated country home to try and cope, only to find that their new surroundings only accelerate their psychological breakdowns, as visions and voices threaten to turn into something more sinister in this psychological indie thriller.

Directed by Gary Sinyor and starring Richard Flood, Simon Cotton and Jasmine Hyde among others.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

UK Release: 15th of December   US Release: N/A

 

 

 

20th

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Four teenagers are plunged into a struggle for survival when they’re sucked into an old video game with special powers, but luckily for them they’ll take the form of unlikely avatars as they play for keeps in this jungle adventure sequel to the beloved 1995 family film.

Directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart among others.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

UK Release: 20th of December   US Release: 20th of December

 

 

 

Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)

More mature and facing the sobering realities of the world, a capella world champions the ‘Bellas’ reunite for one last hurrah as they embark on a tour for the troops where they will face rivals who use more than their voices, in the third and final installment of the popular series.

Directed by Trish Sie and starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Brittany Snow among others.

Genre: Comedy, Music

UK Release: 20th of December   US Release: 22nd of December

 

 

 

22nd

Bright (2017)

In an alternative modern-day L.A. where humans and mystical creatures live side-by-side, a human cop must work with an orc partner to keep a mysterious weapon from those who will do anything to have its power, in the latest original film from new Hollywood power-players Netflix.

Directed by David Ayer and starring Will Smith, Joel Edgerton and Noomi Rapace among others.

Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy

UK Release: 22nd of December   US Release: 22nd of December

 

 

 

26th

The Greatest Showman (2017)

A musical drama treatment of the life and times of P.T. Barnum—an American entrepreneur, politician, showman and visionary who pioneered the concept of show-business and created the globally renown Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Directed by Michael Gracey and starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams and Zac Efron among others.

Genre: Fact-based, Drama, Musical

UK Release: 26th of December   US Release: 20th of December