12 of the Best Films to Watch on Your Holiday Break
These spectacular scenes deserve to be enjoyed on the big screen.
Once the food coma has worn off and you’ve collected the last bits of wrapping paper off the floor, the 26th of December is usually a day for rest and relaxation.
December 26 is one of the biggest days in the film industry, with a bunch of new releases and ready to be viewed on the big screen. So if you're in need of something to do on your day off, why not watch one of these 12 films in the cinema with a bucket of buttery popcorn by your side.
1. Saltburn
In cinemas 17 November
This R-rated thriller narrates the story of Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan), a timid and socially awkward freshman at Oxford University, who forms an unlikely friendship with Felix (Jacob Elordic), a well-liked aristocratic student. Oliver quickly gets a taste of the glamorous life when he’s invited to Felix's family estate for a wild and unforgettable summer.
Directed by Emerald Fennel (Promising Young Woman), and starring Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, The Wheel of Time), and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, She Said) alongside Keoghan and Elordi, this visually spectacular flick is sure to have everyone talking.
2. Anyone But You
In cinemas Boxing Day
Another R-rated film coming to the big screen at the end of this month will be Anyone But You. The film is said to be a modernised adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, following the lives of Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell), two young singles who share an amazing first date, whose attraction towards each other quickly sours.
Much to their dismay, the two of them meet again at a destination wedding in Australia, where they pretend to be a perfect couple to appease those around them.
3. The Boy and the Heron
In cinemas 7 December
Anime fans will be delighted by director Hayao Miyazaki's most recent work. The Boy and the Heron is a semi-autobiographical fantasy that tells the story of a young boy named Mahito who struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. A heron who tells Mahito his mother is still alive prompts him to search for her in an abandoned tower which leads into a fantastical world. With a stellar English voiceover cast including Christian Bale, Gemma Chan, Robert Pattinson, Florence Pugh and Willem Dafoe, this magical film isn’t one to be missed.
4. One Life
This biographical film drama tells the story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of Central European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II. Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton, alongside a supporting cast of Lena Olin, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Jonathan Pryce, and Helena Bonham Carter, One Life is a must-see film we’ve got at the top of our watchlist.
5. Two Tickets to Greece
Two Tickets to Greece is a French-language comedy drama about two wildly different childhood best friends who find themselves on the Greek holiday they once dreamed about as kids. Blandine (Olivia Côte) is recently divorced, careful and serious, while free spirit Magalie (Laura Calamy) marches by the beat of her own drum. Unfortunately, as adults, they do not get along. Joined on their travels by Magalie's friend Bijou (played by the glorious Kristin Scott Thomas), the trio find themselves learning lessons about grief, friendship and intimacy, all against the glorious backdrop of the Greek Islands.
6. Perfect Days
In cinemas now
Sometimes, the simple things in life are worth celebrating. In Perfect Days, a deeply moving film that premiered at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, we follow Hirayama, a toilet cleaner in Tokyo who seems contented with his simple life, but is he? A co-production between German director and writer Wim Wender and Japanese writer Takuma Takasaki, Perfect Days is a poetic reflection on the beauty to be found in the everyday.
7. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
The pop icon performs hit songs in a once-in-a-lifetime movie concert experience. See Swift as she takes her fans through her entire discography, one hit at a time. Directed by Sam Wrench, who brought the incredible live performances of Billie Eilish and Blur to the big screen, this two and a half hour film will have you dancing, singing, and maybe even crying!
8. Wonka
In cinemas 14 December
Timothée Chalamet has a very busy year ahead on the big screen, as he steps into the offbeat shoes of a young Willy Wonka in this origin story. Going back in time, we’ll see Willy Wonka’s past, as a budding chocolatier as he crosses paths with the Oompa-Loompas. Wonka is being brought to life by none other than Paul King, who received huge critical success with his two Paddington films.
9. Migration
Meet the Mallard family. Papa Mack is content paddling around the New England pond forever with his family by his side, while Pam (the mother duck), is eager for a change of scenery, showing their children Dax and Gwen the world that awaits them. After migrating, the Mallard family find themselves in a series of far-flung places, including New York City and tropical Jamaica.
10. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
What some have considered the concert tour of the century, Beyoncé’s 'Renaissance' is now ready to be witnessed on the big screen. The pop superstar performs her latest songs from her 2022 album on stage, while providing commentary on the creative direction and process leading up to the tour. Unlike T-Swift's Eras film, Renaissance gives viewers a behind the scenes peak and the highs and lows of working on one of the greatest shows of a lifetime – making you appreciate the work of Queen B even more.
11. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
After Black Manta fails to defeat Aquaman in the 2018 film debut, he now wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. In the latest film, Aquaman tries to end his reign of terror, and forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm (the former king of Atlantis). The brothers must set aside their differences and join forces to protect their kingdom, saving the world from irreversible destruction.
12. Wish
On December 26, a brand new animated musical will be hitting the big screen starring Chris Pine, Ariana DeBose, and Evan Peters. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios, the film centres around a young girl named Asha, who makes a wish so powerful it's answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. It’s with Star’s help that Asha is able to rescue her kingdom. Wish is one of those kids films that will be enjoyed by the whole family, so we're sure this new Disney flick will be a hit after Christmas.
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