13 New Movies to See in Theaters in December
Awards season is upon us.
The Disaster Artist
You know what they say about a train wreck? Same goes for Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. An epic fail, it’s had many an adjective thrown at it, including, surprisingly, "iconic." Which is why it’s now the subject of a James Franco farce you simply have to see.
In theaters now. Get tickets
The Shape of Water
Monster master and lord of the dark worlds Guillermo del Toro describes his latest feat, a haunting fable starring Sally Hawkins as a mute janitor who falls in love with a sea creature, as his favorite film. We can't help but agree.
In theaters now. Get tickets
The Tribes of Palos Verdes
Brothers Emmett and Brandon Malloy bring Joy Nicholson’s coming-of-age novel, about a SoCal protag using surfing to escape her problems, to the screen. Jennifer Garner stars in a role that’s way more melancholy than we’re used to seeing her alongside horror maven Maika Monroe riding waves of emotion.
I, Tonya
If you’re like us, you were captivated by the scandal that rocked the ice in ‘94. Those involved: ice skater Tonya Harding; her biggest competition, Nancy Kerrigan; and a really big stick. Here, Craig Gillespie recruits Margot Robbie to play Harding in a dark-humored retelling, and the judges’ results are in: 10.0.
In theaters December 8. Get tickets
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
May the Force be with you as you wait in line to see the umpteenth installment of George Lucas's juggernaut, with the action this time pivoting around Rey’s newfound Jedi status. And like The Force Awakens, there will be cameos. Some of the royal variety.
In theaters December 15. Get tickets
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Annette Bening doesn’t do two percent; she goes all in. As Hollywood legend Gloria Grahame in Paul McGuigan’s film adaptation of Peter Turner’s 1986 memoir, about his love affair with the Oscar-winning actress, Bening gives us everything she’s got. And it’s a lot.
In theaters December 15. Get tickets
The Greatest Showman
If ever there were a modern-day Gene Kelly, it’d be Hugh Jackman. The actor can do it all: sing, dance, pee his pants, and we all just swoon. That's why he’s perfect as P. T. Barnum in new director Michael Gracey’s glossy musical, also starring Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya.
In theaters December 20. Get tickets
Downsizing
Who doesn’t love an Alexander Payne film? Subtle hilarity. Midwestern milieu. It’s his thing. Well, fans might be in for a surprise with his latest: a whimsical science-fiction fairy tale about miniature humans living in tiny villages to save the planet from overpopulation. It’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids for grown-ups.
In theaters December 22. Get tickets
The Post
Steven Spielberg and Christmas: almost as good a pairing as Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. A period piece recounting the decades-long cover-up that pitted a journalist against the government, the film tells the story of Kay Graham (played by Streep), the country’s first female newspaper publisher, Ben Bradlee (Hanks), and the Pentagon Papers.
In theaters December 22. Get tickets
Hostiles
Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike headline this brooding western about an Army captain escorting a dying Cheyenne chief and his family to their native lands. Since Scott Cooper, who helmed Out of the Furnace and Black Mass, is directing, we’re expecting things will get brutal. Just sayin’.
In theaters December 22. Get tickets
Molly's Game
Usually dedicated to penning long-winded yet brilliant dialogue, Aaron Sorkin also tackles directing here, while Jessica Chastain takes on the lead role. The story comes from real-life Molly Bloom’s time as an FBI target and high-stakes poker impresario. You can bet there will be dialogue. Snappy dialogue.
In theaters December 25. Get tickets
In the Fade
Critics at Cannes awarded Diane Kruger top prize for her performance as Katja in Fatih Akin’s taut German-language thriller. The film follows Katja from the moment her son and husband are killed in a bomb attack by neo-Nazis to the moment she gets her revenge. Just remember to breathe.
In theaters December 27. Get tickets
Awards season is upon us.