December, when the days are long and everyone wants to enjoy a good movie!
We compiled a list of the 12 best films that you MUST watch this December:
“MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG” – IN THEATERS DEC. 5
Based on the 1981 musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, this is a filmed version of the recent Broadway revival starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez. The official synopsis reads, “Spanning three decades, ‘Merrily We Roll Along,’ charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends — writer Mary and lyricist & playwright Charley. Originally produced on Broadway in 1981, then becoming an inventive cult-classic ahead of its time, the musical features some of Stephen Sondheim’s most celebrated and personal songs.”
“JAY KELLY” – IN THEATERS NOW, STREAMING DEC. 5 ON NETFLIX
Starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern and Billy Crudup, and directed by Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, “Jay Kelly” follows a friendship between a famous actor Jay Kelly (Clooney) and his manager (Sandler) as they travel together through Europe and reflect on their life choices, relationships and legacies.
“FIVE NIGHT AT FREDDY’S 2” – IN THEATERS DEC. 5
One year after the “supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza,” former security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson) has kept the truth from his 11-year-old sister, Abby (Piper Rubio), concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. When Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie (Matthew Patrick), Chica (Megan Fox) and Foxy, she sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s.
“MERV” – IN THEATERS DEC. 10
Charlie Cox, Zooey Deschanel, Chris Redd and Patricia Heaton star in this romantic comedy film that follows an estranged couple (Cox and Deschanel) who learn the dog that they share is suffering from depression following their break-up and end up having an awkward reconciliation over the holidays when they take their dog on vacation to Florida to lift his spirits.
“HAMNET” – IN THEATERS DEC. 12
This historical drama film, which is directed by Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao, follows the relationship between Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and the impact of the tragic death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, on their lives, leading to the creation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Rounding out the cast is Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn and Jacobi Jupe.
“WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY” – STREAMING DEC. 12 ON NETFLIX
The third installment in the “Knives Out” film series, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” seesDaniel Craig reprise his role as master detective Benoit Blanc who takes on a new case, the impossible murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) at a small-town church in upstate New York. Blanc teams up with a young and recently assigned priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) to investigate the death, which occurred inside of a sealed room. The film’s suspects include Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack and Thomas Haden Church.
“GOODBYE JUNE” – IN SELECT THEATERS DEC. 12, STREAMING DEC. 24 ON NETFLIX
This Christmas drama film is Kate Winslet’s directorial debut which “follows a group of fractured siblings who must come together under sudden and trying circumstances,” the official synopsis reads. Winslet also stars in the movie alongside Helen Mirren, Toni Collette and Jeremy Swift.
“AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH” – IN THEATERS DEC. 19
The third installment in the “Avatar” film series will follow Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldana) family who is grappling “with the grief after Netayam’s (Jamie Flatters) death, encountering a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.” Rounding out the cast is Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Sigourney Weaver and Giovanni Ribisi.
“THE HOUSEMAID” – IN THEATERS DEC. 19
From director Paul Feig and based on the 2022 novel of the same name, “The Housemaid”stars Sydney Sweeney as a young woman with a troubled past who becomes a live-in housemaid for a wealthy family. But their seemingly perfect life unravels when she discovers their household hides secrets. Starring alongside Sweeney is Amanda Seyfried, Michele Marrone and Elizabeth Perkins.
“MARTY SUPREME” – IN THEATERS DEC. 25
This sports comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Josh Safdie, is loosely inspired by American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Set in New York City during the 1950s where up-and-coming table tennis star Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) “goes to hell and back in the pursuit of greatness,” the synopsis says. Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O’Leary, Fran Drescher and Penn Jilette also star in this A24 film.
“ANACONDA” – IN THEATERS DEC. 25
This action/comedy/horror film, a meta-reboot of the 1997 film of the same name, follows Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd), seeking to recapture their youth as they travel to the Amazon to film an amateur remake of the original film. Buttheir project unravels when a giant anaconda shows up, turning the fun shoot into a mega fight to stay alive. Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton also star in the flick.
“SONG SUNG BLUE” – IN THEATERS DEC. 25
Based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder in Milwaukee, WI, experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together. The film is named after Diamond’s 1991 hit song.