The Only New Movies You Need to See This Winter
The Disaster Artist (December 1)
Film aficionados know all about The Room, a drama film from 2003 that’s considered one of the worst movies of all time. Tommy Wiseau, a Polish actor, wrote, directed, and starred in the project, which is ridden with narrative flaws and technical difficulties. The movie is so laughably bad that it’s now a cult classic—and the story behind it comes to life in this new (genuinely good) movie starring James Franco. He plays Wiseau, and his performance is so on the nose that it’s downright scary. And Oscar-worthy.
The Shape of Water (December 8)
Guillermo del Toro directs this visually stunning feast about a mute, isolated woman in the 1960s who discovers a hidden, scaled creature in the government lab where she works. Octavia Spencer and Michael Shannon also star in this flick, which has a whopping 97 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
I, Tonya (December 8)
This cutting dark comedy explores the life of figure skater Tonya Harding. As we all know, Harding was at the center of a major scandal in 1994 when her ex-boyfriend and her bodyguard hired a man to break her main competition’s (Nancy Kerrigan) leg. Yes, that story is explored in full, but so is Harding’s psychology—which is ground not yet covered. Margot Robbie’s performance is sensational.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (December 18)
Daisy Ridley returns as Rey in this Star Wars epic, only this time she’s no rookie. Her powers are so strong that even Luke Skywalker is shook by them. Of course, both of their skills will come in handy when the Resistance and First Order duke it out, which is the central conflict of this film. Everyone will be talking about this movie over the holidays, so go see it and be a part of the conversation.
The Greatest Showman (December 20)
A circus movie starring Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, and Zac Efron? Sign us up. This dizzying musical film explores the rise of P.T. Barnum (Jackman), who created the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Expect lots of very cool acrobatics, signature Efron smolder, and cotton-candy pink hair from Queen Zendaya. Now that is a look.
Pitch Perfect 3 (December 22)
The Bellas come together for one final pitch-off in this second sequel, which boasts the same original cast and screenwriter. So, in other words, expect the same pun-tastic jokes and signature sass from Rebel Wilson. (Oh, and music—lots of singing happening here.)
Downsizing (December 22)
Kristen Wiig and Matt Damon star in this quirky dramedy about a science development that allows people to literally shrink in order to solve the world’s overpopulation problem. When a married couple (Wiig and Damon) decide to transition from big to small, their lives turn upside down—for both better and worse. It’s a convoluted concept, but you’re in good hands with the director, Alexander Payne.
The Post (December 22)
It’s the pairing Hollywood’s been waiting for: Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. The two of them join forces in Steven Spielberg’s new film The Post, which explores how the reporters from The New York Times and The Washington Post declassified the documents of the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War. Do you smell that? It’s an Oscars sweep.
Bright (December 22)
Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, and Noomi Rapace star in this sci-fi film about two officers who discover an ancient magic wand that has the potential to destroy the world. Rapace is the antagonist here: She plays a witch who’s desperate to control the wand. Sure, you’re supposed to root against her, but I low-key think all witches deserve their own wands. No questions asked.
Molly’s Game (December 25)
Jessica Chastain stars as Molly Bloom, a former Olympian who ran the world’s most exclusive poker game for a decade. For real: Her game attracted some of the wealthiest and most famous people in the world. This film tracks Bloom’s meteoric rise…and fall (She was arrested by the FBI in the middle of the night.) Chastain delivers an incredible performance, as per usual.
Phantom Thread (December 25)
Expect capital-O opulence and costumes galore in this period drama about an English dressmaker in the 1950s (Daniel Day-Lewis) who gives up his playboy ways after falling for a young woman played by Vicky Krieps. Fashion and sex? Sold.
Insidious: The Last Key (January 5)
Lin Shaye reprises her role as Elise Rainier for this fourth Insidious installment, in which she travels back to her childhood home in New Mexico to explore malicious paranormal activity. If this photo is any indication, expect some bone marrow-seeping scares.
The Commuter (January 12)
In this white-knuckled thriller, Liam Neeson plays a cardboard cutout businessman who receives an eerie proposition from the woman he’s commuting with (Vera Farmiga): He’ll receive $75,000 if he can figure out which person on their train is not what they appear to be. It’s like Taken meets Murder on the Orient Express, and I’m 100 percent on board.
Proud Mary (January 12)
All you need to know about this thrill ride is that Taraji P. Henson plays an assassin who kills people to the tune of “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner. If that’s not enough of a hook for you, Billy Brown’s abs also make an appearance.
Extinction (January 26)
Lizzy Caplan and Michael Peña star in this upcoming paint-by-numbers alien invasion film. You know the story: Martians take over Earth, humans fight back. But what makes Extinction intriguing is that Peña’s character dreamt about his family being destroyed long before the aliens invaded. Yikes.
Fifty Shades Freed (February 9)
The final chapter in the Fifty Shades trilogy is upon us. Ana and Christian are finally married, but their BDSM bliss is put in jeopardy when Ana’s former boss, Jack Hyde, comes back into the picture. Also, a woman from Christian’s past, Elena Lincoln, returns to mess things up. Damn. There better be some hot sex scenes to make up for all this drama.
Black Panther (February 16)
Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o star in this live-action Black Panther movie that will surely be the box-office hit of February. A quick synopsis for those unfamiliar with the story: The Black Panther (Boseman) must work in tandem with Jordan and Nyong’o’s characters to prevent a war from happening in their native nation, Wakanda. Badassery ahead.
Nostalgia (February 16)
Amber Tamblyn and Jon Hamm are part of an ensemble of characters in this movie dealing with loss, grief, and moving on. At first, Nostalgia seems to have shades of 2016’s Collateral Beauty, but let’s hope things don’t go down that path. No one needs a sequel to that.
Annihilation (February 23)
Natalie Portman returns to her sci-fi roots in this film about a biologist searching for her missing husband on an expedition. The jury’s still out on whether she finds him, but she does uncover some terrifying new species. Whatever the hell she’s dissecting in this picture can stay far away, to be honest.