This Week’s Movie Menu (1 - 7 December 2025)

CAST: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, Greta Gerwig, Alba Rohrwacher, John Hamilton, Lenny Henry, Emily Mortimer, Nicôle Lecky, Thaddea Graham, Isla Fisher, Jamie Demetriou, Louis Partridge, Charlie Rowe, Parker Sawyers, Patsy Ferran, Lars Eidinger, Kyle Soller, Tom Francis, Giovanni Esposito

CREW: Noah Baumbach (director, writer, producer), Emily Mortimer (writer), David Heyman and Amy Pascal (producers), Nicholas Britell (composer), Linus Sandgren (cinematographer), Valerio Bonelli and Rachel Durance (editor)

PLOT: Jay Kelly (Clooney) is a world-famous movie star who takes a spontaneous trip across Europe with his long-suffering manager Ron (Sandler) in tow, with both men reflecting on their life choices, relationships and legacies…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Noah Baumbach’s best film in years (and possibly one of his overall best) is a delightful ode to the colourful personalities that have shaped and will continue to shape the film industry
George Clooney leads a stellar ensemble cast as the egotistical movie star of the title, and the A-lister is unsurprisingly charming as hell in a role that weaponises his natural screen charisma
Said cast is packed with recognisable actors like Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Jim Broadbent and Greta Gerwig (Baumbach’s real-life partner), but it is Adam Sandler who brings the house down in his most tender performance to date as Jay Kelly’s all-too loyal manager
Baumbach and co-writer Emily Mortimer (yes, THAT Emily Mortimer) craft a breezy yet emotionally complex narrative that doubles as an effective character study in addition to being a rousing celebration of those working tireless behind the scenes
Don’t be surprised if this becomes one of Netflix’s most valuable awards contenders, especially with its tribute to an industry that is always worth celebrating in some capacity

Jay Kelly is streaming on Netflix from Friday 5 December 2025

What’s Showing in Cinemas This Week?

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (dir. Emma Tammi)

CAST: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Theodus Crane, Skeet Ulrich, Mckenna Grace, Teo Briones, Freddy Carter, Wayne Knight, Kellen Goff, Megan Fox, Matthew Patrick

CREW: Emma Tammi (director), Scott Cawthorn (writer, producer), Jason Blum (producer), The Newton Brothers (composers), Lyn Moncrief (cinematographer), Timothy Alverson and Derek Larsen (editor)

PLOT: One year after encountering the possessed animatronics at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, former security guard Mike (Hutcherson) and police officer Vanessa (Lail) keep the deadly fate of the establishment’s inhabitants, and the involvement of Vanessa’s serial killer father William Afton (Lillard), a secret from Mike’s younger sister Abby (Rubio), but her desire to reunite with her friends triggers a series of even more terrifying events…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The sequel to Blumhouse’s mega-hit adaptation of the popular video game series heightens the terror and the creepiness to even greater levels
Series creator Scott Cawthorn is on solo writing duties this time around, with original director Emma Tammi also returning to deliver a bunch of bigger and more frightening set-pieces
Much of the original cast reprise their roles from the record-breaking first movie, including Matthew Lillard who’s back for more devilish creepiness as franchise villain William Afton
The practical animatronic suits, designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, are once again extraordinarily faithful to the designs from the games, not to mention impressively crafted for such a small-scale movie
It will no doubt attract plenty of fans who have stuck with the franchise from the beginning, with their patience rewarded with plenty of Easter eggs and cameos that tie in neatly to the infamous lore

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Eternity (dir. David Freyne)

CAST: Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen, Callum Turner, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, John Early, Olga Merediz, Barry Primus, Betty Buckley

CREW: David Freyne (director, writer), Patrick Cunnane (writer), Tim White and Trevor White (producers), David Fleming (composer), Ruairí O’Brien (cinematographer), Joe Sawyer (editor)

PLOT: After dying, Larry Cutler (Teller) finds himself in the afterlife, where he is given one week to choose where and who to spend the rest of eternity with, but although he initially chooses to be with Joan (Olsen), the woman he spent most of his life with, things become complicated when Joan reencounters her first husband Luke (Turner), a soldier who died on the battlefield…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This fantastical romantic-comedy explores what love means after death, and how far the saying “till death do us part” truly goes
It’s the brainchild of co-writer Patrick Cunnane, the son of US Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, whose script was featured on the Black List of best unproduced screenplays before being made by Irish director David Freyne
Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner form a delightful screen trio and a more intense love triangle, with scene-stealing support from Oscar-winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph
The film utilises a special brand of imagination to present a creative vision of the afterlife that feels both pleasant and soothing, particularly those who may be fearful of what to expect after death
It will have audiences thinking about their own eternity, and who they’d want to spend it with when confronted with the ultimate choice

Eternity is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi)

CAST: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr, Delnaz Najafi, Afssaneh Najmabadi, Georges Hashemzadeh

CREW: Jafar Panahi (director, writer, producer), Philippe Martin (producer), Amin Jafari (cinematographer), Amir Etminan (editor)

PLOT: In Iran, while driving with his family at night, a one-legged man (Azizi) hits and kills a dog, forcing him to stop at a garage where mechanic Vahid (Mobasseri), a former political prisoner, recognises him as his former torturer, and after kidnapping him Vahid sets out to make sure he has the right person in his grasp before exacting vengeance upon him…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s suspenseful thriller is one of the most intense experiences you will have at a film all year
Panahi, a famously outspoken critic of the Iranian regime who had previously been imprisoned by the state and banned from making films, shot the film in secret without permission from the Islamic Republic
The actors give endlessly impressive turns as characters fuelled by anger and a desire for retribution, showing how authoritarianism can corrupt even the best intentioned of souls
In addition to winning the Palme D’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the film has been submitted by France as its entry for the International Feature Film Oscar, and is expected to show up in a few other categories across the upcoming awards season
Its thoughtful and intelligent commentary on the oppressive Iranian regime, mixed with unpredictable twists and turns, makes this a thriller you seriously won’t want to miss

It Was Just an Accident is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Dreamers (dir. Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor)

CAST: Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo, Ann Akinjirin, Diana Yekinni, Aiysha Hart, Harriet Webb, Jamie Bacon

CREW: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (director, writer), Emily Morgan (producer), Ré Olunuga (composer), Anna Patarakina (cinematographer), Arttu Salmi (editor)

PLOT: Isio (Adékoluẹjo) is a Nigerian migrant living in the UK who is caught working illegally and detained inside a removal centre, where she finds a kindred spirit in her roommate Farah (Akinjirin) whilst awaiting the outcome of her asylum claim…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

A rare migrant drama with shades of optimism, the debut feature of filmmaker Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor shows its back to convention by leaning into the unexpected hopefulness of a hopeless environment
That doesn’t mean the film ignores the very bleak reality of being caught in the middle of the UK’s dire migration policies, which Gharoro-Akpojotor captures with blistering humanity
At its centre is a tender love story between co-stars Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo and Ann Akinjirin, who play a pair of souls who find solace in one another as their respective situations get worse
It has been a standout film at various international festivals like Berlin and London, where it received nominations for audience awards and first-feature accolades
As the migrant crisis worsens with no clear end in sight, this is a powerful reminder that the very people who are fighting for their right to remain are just as human as any of us

Dreamers is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Prime Minister (dirs. Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe)

CAST: Jacinda Ardern

CREW: Lindsay Utz and Michelle Walshe (directors), Clarke Gayford and Leon Kirkbeck (producers, cinematographers), Cass Avery, Katie Peck, Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane (producers), Sofia Degli Alessandri (composer), Thorsten Thielow (cinematographer), Enat Sidi and Grace Zahrah (editors)

PLOT: Across seven years, New Zealand opposition party leader and eventual Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern experiences a whirlwind of national crises including natural disasters, terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, all while becoming only the country’s second head of state to give birth while in office…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Finally, a political documentary about a (former) modern world leader who was predominantly admired the world over!
Jacinda Arden is the fascinating subject of a documentary that takes viewers behind the scenes of the politician’s most defining moments whilst in office, many of which far outpaced much larger countries like the UK and USA in terms of strict gun control and successful containment of the COVID-19 virus
It charts the majority of Arden’s engaging political career from her unexpected rise as New Zealand’s opposition leader to her even more surprising resignation in 2023, to her post-politics life as an activist
Across several pieces of archive footage and never-before-seen glimpses into her private life, Ardern is humanised to where you truly feel her struggle amidst a climate that initially wouldn’t give her a chance
It’s such an empathetic portrait of a politician – a rarity nowadays – that it’ll make you want to somehow vote for her, even if you don’t live in an eligible jurisdiction!

Prime Minister is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Folktales (dirs. Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady)

CAST: Various

CREW: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (directors, producers), Kelsey Koenig (producer), T. Griffin (composer), Tor Edvin Eliassen and Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo (cinematographers), Nathan Punwar (editor)

PLOT: At a folk high school in Norway, a group of teenagers rely on each other as well as a pack of sled dogs whilst transitioning into adulthood…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This coming-of-age documentary sheds light on an unusual yet effective educational method that prepares young people for maturity and self-reliance
Oscar-nominated Jesus Camp filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady capture the exploits of a small band of sparky teens who undergo a gruelling ritual within the snowy wilderness of Norway
Central to the teens’ year-long task are a fiercely loyal pack of sled dogs who alone provide more than enough reason for anyone – especially dog lovers – to seek this film out
Its enormous heart and endearing real-life subjects make it an easy crowd-pleaser that is highly accessible to most audiences
You’ll howl with joy as you take in a timeless story as captured by sharp factual filmmakers who may well inspire you to reset your own life

Folktales is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Magazine Dreams (dir. Elijah Bynum)

CAST: Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, Mike O’Hearn, Harrison Page, Harriet Sansom Harris, Bradley Stryker, Dan Donahue, Craig Cackowski, David Maurice Johnson

CREW: Elijah Bynum (director, writer), Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Simon Horsman, Luke Rodgers and Jeffrey Soros (producers), Jason Hill (composer), Adam Arkapaw (cinematographer), Jon Otazua (editor)

PLOT: Killian Maddox (Majors) is an amateur bodybuilder whose deep obsession with developing a muscular physique soon compels him to test the limits of his physical body as well as his disturbed mental state…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

After nearly two years of sitting on a shelf, the acclaimed psychological drama finally makes its debut on the big screen
Upon its debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, writer-director Elijah Bynum’s film received near-universal critical acclaim for its gritty and often unsettling depiction of the world of amateur bodybuilding
However, its planned distribution and awards campaign by Searchlight Pictures was quietly scrapped in the wake of lead actor Jonathan Majors’s assault allegations and later conviction, causing the rights to be given back to the filmmakers who opted for a much quieter release plan
To separate art from the artist, Majors gives an exceptionally committed performance that ranks among the very best he’s given across what now seems to have been a fairly short career
You may be understandably put off by this film due to its content and the drama surrounding its lead, but if you’re willing to give it a chance you may just come away with a strong appreciation for the film’s uncompromising storytelling

Magazine Dreams is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

CAST: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Julie Dreyfus, Chiaki Kuriyama, Sonny Chiba, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Michael Bowen, Jun Kunimura, Kenji Oba, James Parks, Sakichi Sato, Bo Svenson, Jeannie Epper, Perla Haney-Jardine

CREW: Quentin Tarantino (director, writer), Lawrence Bender (producer), Robert Rodriguez and RZA (composers), Robert Richardson (cinematographer), Sally Menke (editor)

PLOT: After her wedding rehearsal is violently interrupted by her former boss and lover Bill (Carradine), The Bride (Thurman) vows revenge by taking down each member of his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad before getting to Bill himself…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Quentin Tarantino’s gore-soaked revenge thriller – previously released in two parts – is finally remerged into a single epic that achieves the singular vision of its iconic filmmaker
The very, very violent story of Uma Thurman’s Bride is all the grander in its complete form, especially with the addition of a never-before-seen anime sequence and other fun surprises not found in either separate part
It’s your chance to revisit some of Tarantino’s most memorable sequences from the Crazy-88 showdown to an eye-grabbing trailer brawl with a wince-inducing climax!
You’d best bring a cushion or something else that’s comfortable to sit on, because this combined epic clocks in at nearly five (!) hours
While both parts are now over twenty years old, this combination feels like a brand-new movie that absolutely deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

What’s Showing At Home This Week?

Troll 2 (dir. Roar Uthaug)

CAST: Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim S. Falck-Jørgensen, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Sara Khorami, Jon Ketil Johnsen, Gard B. Eidsvold, Aksel Almaas, Trond Magnum

CREW: Roar Uthaug (director), Espen Aukan (writer), Espon Horn and Kristian Strand Sinkerud (producers), Johannes Ringen (composer), Oskar Dahlsbakken (cinematographer), TBA (editor)

PLOT: In Norway, a new giant troll is awakened and causes havoc across the country, which compels Dr. Nora Tidemann (Wilmann) and her former associates to turn to an unlikely source in order to bring it down…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The sequel to Netflix’s Nordic monster hit goes bigger and harder with its playful and hugely entertaining kaiju action
Much of the first film’s cast and creative team, including director Roar Uthaug and lead actor Ine Marie Wilmann, returns for another monster mash that is just as enjoyable as what came before
It is said to be the largest-ever film production within the Nordic countries, with a sense of spectacle to rival some of the more mainstream Hollywood monster movies
The trolls themselves are spectacularly rendered through state-of-the-art visual effects that allows each rock-inspired crevice to look and feel photo-realistic
With plenty of fun action and epic blockbuster writing, this is an appropriately monster-sized sequel that will please audiences across the world

Troll 2 is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Monday 1 December 2025

My Secret Santa (dir. Mike Rohl)

CAST: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Tia Mowry, Madison MacIsaac, Diana Maria Riva, Dominic Fox, Barry Levy, Adam Beauchesne

CREW: Mike Rohl (director), Ron Oliver and Carley Smale (writers), Alexander Braunstein and Howard Braunstein (producers), Matthew Rogers (composer), Michael Blundell (cinematographer), Daria Ellerman (editor)

PLOT: Taylor (Breckenridge), a single mother, unexpectedly loses her job and, in an act of desperation, disguises herself as a man in order to land a job as the seasonal Santa Claus at a luxurious ski resort, where a blossoming romance with hotel manager Matthew (Eggold) further complicates her new double life…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Netflix’s latest festive romp takes cues from Doubtfire and Some Like It Hot for a cross-dressing riot that leads to wacky outcomes for all
This is Us star Alexandra Breckenridge is charmingly convincing as an unlikely new take on Santa Claus (plus, her past role in the cross-dressing teen classic She’s the Man means she comes with some experience!)
She’s under some lively direction by Mike Rohl, best known as the director of all three films in Netflix’s Princess Switch trilogy
There are laughs aplenty, as well as a healthy dollop of love as Breckenridge and on-screen romantic interest Ryan Eggold share sparkling chemistry, even when she’s in full Santa gear!
It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without at least one delightfully silly festive rom-com on the streamer, so it might as well be this one!

My Secret Santa is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Wednesday 3 December 2025

Oh. What. Fun. (dir. Michael Showalter)

CAST: Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Danielle Brooks, Dominic Sessa, Denis Leary, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Devery Jacobs, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen, Rose Abdoo

CREW: Michael Showalter (director, writer, producer), Chandler Baker (writer), Kate Churchill, Jordana Mollick, Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh (producers), Siddhartha Khosla (composer), Jim Frohna (cinematographer), Alisa Lepselter and Nick Moore (editors)

PLOT: Every Christmas, Claire Clauster (Pfeiffer) makes an exceptional effort to deliver the festivities for her family but rarely gets the credit or appreciation she deserves, so she decides to go AWOL for a solo trip to California, leaving her family behind to realise who is truly responsible for their Christmas magic…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This lively festive comedy puts a spotlight on the people who make our Christmas get-togethers as special as they are
The jam-packed ensemble cast is led by screen legend Michelle Pfeiffer, with other familiar faces including Chloë Grace Moretz, rising stars like Dominic Sessa and Havana Rose Liu, and Oscar-nominees Felicity Jones and Danielle Brooks
They’re all under the direction of Michael Showalter of The Big Sick and Prime Video’s recent Harry Styles-inspired rom-com The Idea of You
Beneath the stressful family drama lies a heartwarming tale of someone finding self-worth in a life where gratitude comes in short supply
Anyone who’s ever had to singularly provide for a large family Christmas will identify strongly with the heartfelt messages that this movie conveys

Oh. What. Fun. is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Wednesday 3 December 2025

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (dirs. Matt Danner and Gino Nichele)

CAST: Aaron Harris, Jude Zarzaur, Chris Diamantopoulos, Erica Cerra, Hunter Dillon, Gracen Newton, William Stanford Davis, Ellis Myers

CREW: Matt Danner and Gino Nichele (directors), Jeff Kinney (writer, producer), Adam Hochstatter and John Paesano (composers), TBA (editor)

PLOT: After a series of near-disasters, young Greg Heffley (Harris) is presented with an ultimatum by his father Frank (Diamantopoulos), which compels Greg to try and change his clumsy ways…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Disney’s line of animated films based on Jeff Kinney’s popular children’s book series continues with an adaptation of the well-regarded third book
Once again, the animation sticks closely to Kinney’s original illustrations, which are brought to life by pleasing CG animation
Kids will enjoy the constant slapstick that young protagonist Greg finds himself caught in the middle of, though here there’s even more opportunities for physical comedy as he sets off into the great outdoors
There’s also a nice father-son relationship at its heart, as both struggle to understand and accept their differences and what makes them so unique
With plenty more books to be adapted in the future, this will certainly please long-time fans before the next one makes it debut (probably around the same time next year)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 5 December 2025

Tinsel Town (dir. Chris Foggin)

CAST: Kiefer Sutherland, Rebel Wilson, Derek Jacobi, Mawaan Rizwan, Meera Syal, Danny Dyer, Alice Eve, Lucien Laviscount, Ray Fearon, Jason Manford, Katherine Ryan, James Lance, Maria Friedman, Savannah Lee Smith, Matilda Firth

CREW: Chris Foggin (director), Piers Ashworth, Adam Brown and Frazer Flintham (writers), Ava Aashna Chopra, Pascal Degove and Matt Williams (producers), Sami Goldberg and Kara Talve (composers), David Mackie (cinematographer), Mark Thornton (editor)

PLOT: Brady Mack (Sutherland), a washed-up Hollywood action star, books what he thinks is a comeback vehicle shooting in a small English town, only to find that he’s actually been cast as the lead for the local pantomime, but soon rediscovers his joy for the craft and the season after connecting with dance instructor Jill (Wilson) and his estranged daughter Emma (Matilda Firth)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The ever-charming spirit of the traditional pantomime is given a Hollywood makeover in a hilarious new festive comedy for all ages
Kiefer Sutherland – Jack Bauer himself – leads a cast that also includes Rebel Wilson and various British acting thespians including Derek Jacobi, Meera Syal and Danny Dyer
Working behind the scenes are many of the creative forces who previously brought you British crowd-pleasing hits like Fisherman’s Friends and Bank of Dave, including director Chris Foggin and co-writer Piers Ashworth
It’s a real celebration of all the camp and glamour that comes with pantomime performances, while also dabbling in plenty of Christmas imagery to put you right in the festive mood
Hopefully it’ll leave enough of an impression on you to check out your own local pantomime, which would benefit the live arts at a time when they need your support the most!

Tinsel Town is streaming exclusively on Sky Cinema from Friday 5 December 2025

Dracula (dir. Luc Besson)

CAST: Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, Zoë Bleu, Matilda De Angelis, Ewens Abid, David Shields, Guillaume de Tonquédec, Bertrand-Xavier Corbi, Salomon Passariello, Haymon Maria Buttinger

CREW: Luc Besson (director, writer, producer), Mark Canton (producer), Danny Elfman (composer), Colin Wandersman (cinematographer), Lucas Fabiani (editor)

PLOT: 400 years after renouncing God and being transformed into a feared vampire after the death of his wife, Dracula (Jones) tracks down her Parisian reincarnation Mina (Bleu), which triggers a confrontation with a determined priest (Waltz)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The visionary filmmaker behind The Fifth Element and Léon presents a more romantic take on the timeless Bram Stoker novel
Caleb Landry Jones reunites with his Dogman director to play the titular Count Dracula, and gives the well-trodden role a tragic edge that sets him apart from more traditional portrayals
There’s a truly epic scope to this film with expansive battle sequences and astounding production design adding to the gothic nature of the story
While the horror elements may not be as prominent this time, its focus on the centuries-long love story at the centre of the original novel gives it new meaning and greater relevance than more straightforward adaptations
Whatever your opinion of the filmmaker may be, there’s no denying that his vision is a fascinating and even unique one among all the rest

Dracula is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 1 December 2025

What’s Returning to Cinemas This Week?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (dir. Ron Howard)

CAST: Jim Carrey, Christine Baranski, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Anthony Hopkins, Clint Howard, Mindy Sterling, Rachel Winfree, Jeremy Howard, T.J. Thyne, Jim Meskimen, Mary Stein, Deep Roy, Rance Howard, Verne Troyer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Josh Ryan Evans, Landry Allbright, Ben Bookbinder, Reid Kirchenbauer

CREW: Ron Howard (director, producer), Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman (writers), Brian Grazer (producer), James Horner (composer), Don Peterman (cinematographer), Dan Hanley and Mike Hill (editors)

PLOT: As the Whos of Whoville prepare for an extravagant Christmas, the solitary and bitter creature known as the Grinch (Carrey), who hates Christmas with a passion, puts into motion a plan to ruin the festivities for everyone…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Director Ron Howard’s beloved live-action take on the classic Dr. Seuss story makes a jolly (or, in the case of the Grinch himself, not-so-jolly) return to cinemas for its 25th anniversary
Jim Carrey puts in one of his most iconic performances as the eternally mean anti-hero of the title, all while under some incredibly heavy make-up that won the film its singular Oscar
While the film received and continues to receive mixed reviews, especially among lovers of Dr. Seuss, it became a huge box office hit and continues to be an annual Christmas movie tradition for many audiences
On the flip side, its success paved the way for the notorious bomb The Cat in the Hat, which went over so poorly that Seuss’ widow Audrey Geisel forbade any further live-action adaptations of his work
Despite its uneven legacy, there’s no denying that viewers are eager to experience the festive comedy on the big screen all over again before Christmas itself comes back around

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

Sunset Boulevard (dir. Billy Wilder)

CAST: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough, Jack Webb, Franklyn Farnum, Cecil B. DeMille, Hedda Hopper, Sidney Skolsky

CREW: Billy Wilder (director, writer), Charles Brackett (writer, producer), D.M. Marshman Jr. (writer), Franz Waxman (composer), John F. Seitz (cinematographer), Arthur Schmidt (editor)

PLOT: Joe Gillis (Holden) is a down-on-his-luck Hollywood screenwriter who sees an opportunity when he encounters Norma Desmond (Swanson), a reclusive and eccentric former silent movie star who seeks a career comeback, but their professional and later personal relationship takes a dark turn…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The classic Hollywood satire is ready for its close-up as it returns to cinemas with an all-new 4K restoration in celebration of its 75th anniversary
Billy Wilder directed and co-wrote the now-famous story of a deranged former movie star, as played by the iconic Gloria Swanson, in a film that helped cement his reputation as one of the industry’s finest directors
Upon its release, the film received universal praise, stellar box office, and numerous accolades including 11 Oscar nominations (of which it won three, including for its screenplay)
Today, the film is not only seen as one of the greatest films ever made, but has become an instantly recognisable beacon of pop culture, with numerous stage adaptations further solidifying its prominence
It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves cinema, as it explores the dark side of fame and notoriety in ways that feel achingly relevant even in today’s world

Sunset Boulevard is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025

L’Atalante (dir. Jean Vigo)

CAST: Dita Parlo, Jean Dasté, Michel Simon, Gilles Margaritis, Louis Lefebvre, Maurice Gilles, Raphaël Diligent, René Bleck, Fanny Clar, Charles Goldbatt, Glen Paul

CREW: Jean Vigo (director, writer), Albert Riéra (writer), Jacques-Louis Nounez (producer), Maurice Jaubert (composer), Boris Kaufman (cinematographer), Louis Chavance (editor)

PLOT: Jean (Dasté), the captain of the ship L’Atalante, marries Juliette (Parlo) in her village before setting off to travel with her new husband on the ship, but along the way they find their new union tested by numerous obstacles…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

One of the earliest examples of classic French cinema sails back onto the big screen with an all-new 4K restoration
It was the first feature by short filmmaker Jean Vigo, but also the last as the director fell ill while shooting on location and never recovered, passing away at the age of 29 shortly after the film’s initial release
While the film received poor reception upon its original debut, it was rediscovered along with Vito’s other work shortly after the end of the Second World War, when it finally received praise and admiration among critics and audiences
The film became a key favourite among many directors such as François Truffaut, who would go on to form the French New Wave and cite L’Atalante as a major inspiration for the movement
Its cinematic beauty is evident in every frame of the screen, making it a true classic of European cinema that has endured far longer than anyone could have anticipated

L’Atalante is showing in cinemas from Friday 5 December 2025