"Are you not entertained!?", our new movies guide asks you. If you've been underwhelmed by some of November's offerings so far, you won't be this weekend's big release (in the UK and Australia, anyway): Gladiator II, which stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, and Joe Quinn among others. US readers can check out festive flick Red One instead, though it doesn't sound very good, so I'd advise you to spend your money on something else.
If you're not fussed on watching the sequel to one of Ridley Scott's best movies (and why wouldn't you be?), there are many other new films to enjoy before 2024 ends. To that end, I've rounded up every new movie that's due out before December 31, plus a couple of early 2025 releases for UK and Australian readers to particularly keep an eye out for. Here, then, is my rundown of the big screen entertainment fare to keep tabs on.
New movies: November 2024
Gladiator II
Release date: out now (UK and Australia); November 22 (US)
Prepare to be entertained all over again as Gladiator II has finally fought its way into theaters. Set years after Emperor Commodus was slain by Maximus in the 2000 multi-award-winning original, it'll follow Paul Mescal's Lucius, Commodus' nephew, as he's forced to end his Rome-based exile when he's forced to follow in Maximus' footsteps and enter the Colosseum to earn his freedom. Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joe Quinn, and Connie Nielsen are among its extraordinarily talented cast.
Gladiator II's epic first trailer epic showed Paul Mescal fighting a rhino in the Colosseum, among other tantalizing glimpses at Ridley Scott's latest feature, while its official trailer (see above) gives us an even better look at the highly-anticipated historical drama. It's certainly whet our appetite for another trip back in time – between you and us, we hope it has a happier ending that its forebear. Its 75% Rotten Tomatoes score suggests it isn't as good as the original, but let's be honest: did anyone expect it to be?
Heretic
Release date: out now (US and UK); November 21 (Australia)
A Quiet Place writer Scott Beck and Bryan Woods continue their journey through the horror genre with Heretic, a new indie folk horror flick that's the perfect post-Halloween palette cleanser before the festive season arrives.
British icon Hugh Grant plays Mister Reed, a reclusive individual whose peace is seemingly disturbed when two missionaries – Sisters Paxton (Chloe East) and Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) – turn up at his front door. Unfortunately for the Lord-abiding pair, their faith is soon put to the test when the creepy and unsettling Mister Reed forces them to engage in a horrifying, house-based game of cat-and-mouse. With a 92% critical Rotten Tomatoes score, this is another smash hit from A24 that you need to watch ASAP.
Red One
Release date: out now (worldwide)
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson knows a thing or two about starring in bang-average movies that perform extremely well at the box office and/or on streaming platforms. His latest venture, Red One, seems as if it'll fall right into that category, too.
The forthcoming festive feature stars Johnson as the North Pole's Head of Security Callum Drift. But, when Santa Clause (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped on the eve of, well, Christmas Eve, Drift reluctantly teams up with the world's best bounty hunter Jack O'Malley (Captain America alum Chris Evans) to rescue Santa and save Christmas. A festive action movie whose trailer suggests it won't be a wonderful Christmas time – and that's proved to be the case, judging by its insipid 35% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, at least my colleague Liuy Buglass had something positive to say about Red One...
Conclave
Release date: out now (US); November 29 (UK); January 9, 2025 (Australia)
From Edward Berger, director of Netflix's harrowing war flick All Quiet on the Western Front, this religious conspiracy thriller – based on Robert Harris' book of the same name – sees Ralph Fiennes play Cardinal Lawrence, who leads the Catholic Church's search for a new Pope when the current incumbent dies. The covert process is made all the more difficult, however, by a power struggle within the Vatican, as well as an unsettling discovery Cardinal Lawrence makes.
With a strong supporting cast including Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, and Stanley Tucci among its ranks, and a 92% critical Rotten Tomatoes rating, Conclave is a must-see religion-based mystery thriller that'll keep you guessing throughout its two-hour runtime.
Wicked Part One
Release date: November 22 (US and UK); November 28 (Australia)
Wicked, the world-famous musical that's based on the legendary tale, characters, and world of The Wizard of Oz, is getting a magical silver screen glow-up. In fact, the John M. Chu-directed project will get two installments – Wicked Part One is out in time for Thanksgiving (in the US) this year, with its follow-up releasing one year later.
For the uninitiated: Wicked tells the untold story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the eventual Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande), who aids The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy on her quest through The Land of Oz years later. Part One will explore the duo's unlikely friendship as students of Shiz University and the eventual breakdown in that relationship. Jeff Goldblum will play the Wizard of Oz, while Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, Jonathan Bailey, and Marissa Bode are among its other notable supporting cast members.
Wicked Part One's first whirlwind trailer arrived in February, with its official trailer (see above) launching in May. Our advice? Don't watch the latter if you don't want most of its plot ruined for you pre-release...
Moana 2
Release date: November 27 (US); November 28 (Australia); November 29 (UK)
The sequel to 2016's hit animated movie Moana sets sail in time for Thanksgiving 2024 (in the US, anyway). In it, the titular hero and her demigod buddy Maui reunite after three years to embark on a new voyage – one centered on an unexpected call from Moana's ancestors – across the ocean for, according to Disney, "an adventure unlike anything she's experienced before".
Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson reprise their roles from Moana 2's predecessor, while Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foaʻi, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina have penned the soundtrack – the trio replacing Lin Manuel Miranda as songwriter-in-chief.
September 5
Release date: November 27 (US); January 24, 2025 (UK); TBC (Australia)
A film that's going to cut a little too close to home due to ongoing events in the Middle East, September 5 is a harrowing drama inspired by true events. Set during the 1972 Olympics in Munich, it tells the tale of a US sports broadcasting team that quickly pivots to live coverage of an unfolding hostage situation involving Israeli athletes in the German capital. John Magaro, Peter Sarsgaard, and Leonie Benesch are among its main cast.
Given its positioning as a late 2024/early 2025 film release, it seems Paramount Pictures is gearing up to put September 5 forward as a contender for next year's awards ceremonies. With critics already labeling it one of the best movies of 2024, it may just win a gong or two, too.
Queer
Release date: November 27 (US); December 13 (UK); TBC (Australia)
Tackling a role that's a complete departure from his James Bond days and current lead status in Netflix's Knives Out film franchise, Daniel Craig could be in the running for Best Actor on the 2025 awards circuit if his outstanding performance in Queer is anything to go by.
Luca Guadagnino's latest feature sees Craig play William Lee, a US expat and loner living in 1950s Mexico. However, when he strikes up an unexpected friendship with former soldier Eugene Allerton, Lee finds that he may finally have found someone to develop an intimate relationship with. With critics already hailing its towering acting performances and unusual visuals, Queer could do well at the box office in late 2024.
New movies: December 2024
Piece By Piece
Release date: out now (US and UK); December 5 (Australia)
Lego-based movies are slowly becoming mainstream, with hits like The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie, and a scene in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse making full use of the versatile toy's use in a multimedia capacity. Now, it's the turn of Pharrell Williams to get the Lego treatment, with the cultural icon's life and career being *ahem* rebuilt using the Danish toy franchise and stop-motion animation.
From Pharell's humble beginnings all the way through to the present day, Piece By Piece re-enacts his journey to become one of the most recognizable music-led faces on the planet. Shot in a docufilm-style manner complete with imaginative set-pieces, director Morgan Neville's is a sheer delight, as evidence by its 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Block out a row at your local theater and watch it with friends ASAP.
Nightbitch
Release date: December 6 (US and UK); TBC (Australia)
Billed as a comedy-horror, this Amy Adams-fronted flick – which is based on Rachel Yoder's 2021 novel of the same name – sees Adams play Mother, an unnamed woman who puts her career on hold to become a stay-at-home mom. Things take a turn for the supernatural not long after, however, as Mother starts to become convinced that, at night, she turns into a dog. No, really. Scoot McNairy, Jen Chao, and Mary Holland are among the supporting cast.
Marielle Heller, who helmed 2019's wonderful and optimistic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, is certainly steering into unchartered territory with this horror-fuelled feature. But, considering her three previous movie offerings all hold 95% or above critical ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Nightbitch won't have viewers or critics *ahem* barking up the wrong tree with their review scores before the year is over.
Kraven the Hunter
Release date: December 12 (Australia); December 13 (US and UK)
Sony continues to dive into Spider-Man's rogues’ gallery with their second 2024-based effort to expand the SSU (Sony’s Spider-Man Universe), which is simultaneously separate from, and tenuously connected to, the MCU.
In the '60s, Kraven the Hunter was an original member of Marvel’s Sinister Six and discussed as a potential big-screen foe for Peter Parker. Now, he’s following in the footsteps of fellow anti-heroes Venom and Morbius by headlining his own movie. And, just like his villainous contemporaries, Kraven's first solo live-action adventure doesn't look all that appealing, even though its official trailer suggests it might be worth seeing to some people.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Kick-Ass) plays the titular hunter and Ariana DeBose (Wish, Argylle) will play long-term Kraven associate Calypso. The Many Saints of Newark’s Alessandro Nivola takes on lead villain duties as Rhino, while Russell Crowe is also on hand to play Kraven's emotionally cold father.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Release date: December 12 (Australia); December 13 (US and UK)
The Rings of Power may be pulling in viewers worldwide on Prime Video, but it's been many years since The Lord of the Rings franchise was last depicted on the big screen. That'll change in mid-December, with an animated movie called The War of the Rohirrim charging into theaters very soon.
Helmed by iconic Japanese filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama, it's set almost 200 years before The Lord of the Rings and tells the story of legendary King of Rohan Helm Hammerhand. After his daughter Hera refuses to marry Wulf, the son of Dunlending lord Freca who Helm kills after an attempted coup, the Hammerhand clan are forced to defend their lands from Wulf and his humungous army at the Hornburg, aka the ancient stronghold that goes on to become known as Helm's Deep. Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, Miranda Otto, Laurence Ubong Williams, and Shaun Dooley are among its ensemble voice cast.
The Room Next Door
Release date: out now (UK); December 20 (US); December 26 (Australia)
Starring two titans of the industry in Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door promises to deliver acclaimed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's deft filmmaking in an English language movie for the first time in his illustrious career.
Based on Sigrif Nunez's novel 'What Are you Going Through', it'll follow Ingrid (Moore), an author and resentful daughter of Ingrid (Swinton), a former war correspondent who didn't go out of her way to win any Mom of the Year awards. One of October's new movies that, judging by its 90% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, is one to catch amid its horror-fuelled movie brethen.
Mufasa: The Lion King
Release date: December 20 (worldwide)
A prequel to 2019's The Lion King "live-action" remake, Mufasa will see Rafiki recount the story of Simba's father (the titular character, for the uninitiated) to Simba's daughter Kiara, with a little embellishment-based humor from Timon and Pumba.
Aaron Pierre takes over from James Earl Jones on voice acting duties as a younger version of Mufasa, with the big game feline's own film revealing how he came to be King of Pride Rock. It'll also explore his initially strong bond with his brother Scar (he'll be known as Taka in this movie) before the pair's relationship becomes irreparable for reasons yet to be revealed.
Mufasa's first trailer brought thrills and chills upon release in late April, although plenty of people suggest it looks like nothing more than a high tech demo for lifelike visuals. Its second trailer, which debuted at D23 Expo 2024 in mid-August, did little to change our opinion, too. Still, we'll see if it has substance to go with its style before 2024 ends.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Release date: December 20 (US); December 21 (UK); December 26 (Australia)
It's CGI lion versus animated hedgehog this festive season as Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to go toe-to-toe with Mufasa for families' attentions at the box office this Christmas (Nosferatu, see below, is also out in the US, but it's not kid-friendly).
This time around, Team Sonic – the titular blue blur (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessy), and Knuckles (Idris Elba) – are forced to team up with Sonic's arch-nemesis Doctor Eggman (Jim Carrey) to tackle Shadow, a bioengineered anthropomorphic hedgehog who's way more powerful than any of the quartet have faced before and who has an ax to grind with the world.
Sonic 3's first trailer confirmed that beloved actor Keanu Reeves will voice Shadow; a move we called "an adventurously great fit". Let's hope Sonic's third big-screen adventure will live up to the hype this holiday season.
Nosferatu
Release date: December 25 (US); January 1, 2025 (Australia); January 3, 2025 (UK)
An unusual time of year for a gothic horror film, but Christmas Day will be the first time that viewers (in the US, anyway) will likely be terrified by director Robert Egger's reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel.
Nosferatu stars Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter, a young woman who the vampiric Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) becomes infatuated with. As Orlok's obsession grows ever stronger, he begins to leave untold horrors in his wake, leading Hutter and her husband Thomas (Nicholas Hoult) to seek the aid of any and all scientists, bounty hunters, and other individuals who'll stop the terrifying supernatural blood-sucker from tracking her down. Expect this one to be a big hit before 2024 ends.
A Complete Unknown
Release date: December 25 (US); January 17, 2025 (UK); January 22, 2025 (Australia)
Timothée Chalamet will aim to pick up his first Academy Award with A Complete Unknown, the forthcoming biographical drama that charts the rise of (and at-the-time musical controversies surrounding) legendary musician Bob Dylan in 1960s America. Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, and Scoot McNairy are among its starry cast.
After his latest film – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – flopped at the box office last year, James Mangold will hope to rebuild his reputation with a flick that feels like a shoo-in for multiple nominations on the 2025 awards circuit.
Better Man
Release date: December 26 (UK and Australia); January 17, 2025 (US)
A biopic unlike you've ever seen before, Better Man will tell the extraordinary story of UK popstar Robbie Williams. From his meteoric rise as a member of '90s boyband Take That, to his playboy lifestyle and fall from grace, and then his career resurrection, this flick from The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey is one that Williams fans won't want to miss.
Okay, so what's the catch? Rather than hire an A-lister to portray Williams in this tale inspired by real-life events, the singer-songwriter and UK actor Jonno Davies provided mocap performances that, under the watchful eye of multi-award-winning visual effects studio Weta, have been digitally recreated to turn Williams into a chimpanzee. That's how Williams apparently sees himself, after all. Don't be surprised if it unique approach to movie biopics is a hit in British, Irish, and Australian cinemas before 2024 ends.
A Real Pain
Release date: out now (US); December 26 (Australia); January 10, 2025 (UK)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Batman v Superman) and Kieran Culkin (Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Succession) team up in this Eisenberg-directed comedy-drama that drew plenty of praise the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In it, the pair play mismatched cousins who reunite to embark on an awkward tour of Poland in honor of their recently deceased grandmother.
Unfortunately for UK and Australian viewers, A Real Pain will arrive after much later than its US debut, so those of us who don't live stateside have got a lengthy wait on our hands. Still, its official trailer makes it look really good, so this is one of those new movies that may be worth the wait.
New movies: January 2025
Paddington in Peru
Release date: out now (UK); January 1, 2025 (Australia); January 17, 2025 (US)
The first two Paddington movies are some of the best family movies we've seen in a long, long time. The debuting of the third movie's trailer and confirmation of its release dates (sorry, US and Australia, you've got a longer than expected wait on your hands), then, has been met with celebratory marmalade sandwiches among the movie series' global fanbase.
Unsurprisingly, Paddington In Peru sees the titular bear return to his homeland – with the Brown family in tow – to visit in Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton). However, upon arriving in the South American nation, the group learn that Lucy has gone missing in the Peruvian jungle. Cue a riotously fun quest to find out where she's disappeared to.
Saturday Night
Release date: out now (US and Australia); January 31, 2025 (UK)
Saturday Night Live has become a cultural juggernaut since its October 11, 1975 debut, but it was almost a complete failure ahead of its inaugural show. Almost 50 years on from that night, Jason Reitman (2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife) delivers a wild, "inspired by true events" flick that tells the story of the 90 minutes leading up to the sketch/improv comedy series' first-ever showing.
It's got a whole host of big names attached to it, too. Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard, iconic actors J.K. Simmons and Willem Dafoe, Perry Mason's Matthew Rhys, The Fablemans' Gabriel LaBelle, Bottoms' Rachel Ann Sennott, Dickinson's Ella Hunt, and The Responder's Emily Fairn are just some of its all-star ensemble cast. With a 80% critical and 84% audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, it's one to catch in a theater near you.
Want more new movies recommendations? Our new Netflix movies, new Max movies, new Prime Video movies, and new Disney Plus movies lists are full of streaming-based suggestions for a night at home instead.
