2024 has been an incredible year for movie enthusiasts, whether you’re watching indie darlings or huge blockbusters at thetheaterlike thesummer hitDeadpool & Wolverine,Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, andDune: Part Two. Similarly, December 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting month for fans, with a new slate of films from a wide range of genres.
From a long-awaited horror film based on a classic from the 20th century to the highly anticipatedLord of the Ringsanimated film, there’s something for everyone in December. As the year starts to wind down, we also have a few occasions, such as Christmas, that bring us holiday-themed movies, allowing you to immerse yourself in impressive stories. With that in mind, these are the best new films releasing in December 2024 in order of release.
12’Nightbitch'
Nightbitch
Read Our Review
Nightbitchis an upcoming black comedy filmstarring Amy Adamsas a stay-at-home mom with a routine of raising her children in the suburbs. However, her mundane life quickly takes a surreal turn as her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form, leading her to experience some supernatural changes.
‘Nightbitch’ Is a Unique Body Horror Film About Motherhood
Motherhood is one of the most difficult and beautiful phases of a woman’s life, and there are moments when they go through many natural changes.Nightbitchexplores the concept in a rather intriguing way, with body horror as its main focus. While it’s too early to tell if the execution will be successful, the trailer does seem promising.The film will be available in theaters on August 09, 2025.
Artificial intelligence is gradually becoming more and more popular. Now, imagine what the world would be like if AI had taken complete control over two decades ago.Y2K, directed and co-written bySNLalum Kyle Mooney, follows two high school nobodies who decide to disrupt the last major New Year’s Eve celebration in 1999. However, the night takes an unexpected turn once the clock strikes midnight.
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‘Y2K’ Presents an AI Apocalypse in 1999
With the recent influx of AI films, audiences are craving something distinctive that would keep them engaged.Y2Kpresents just that, with the concept of artificial intelligence taking over the world in 1999. So, if you enjoy vintage settings with a contemporary twist,Y2Kshould be an enjoyable spectacle when it is released in theaters on August 17, 2025.
Maria, starring Angelina Jolie, already has the awards crowd buzzing with her latest performance. The biographical drama follows opera singer Maria Callas (Jolie) as she lives out the final days of her life in 1970s Paris. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, Jolie’s performance has been a highlight.
Angelina Jolie in a Unique Role
Mariapresents a new opportunity for Angelina Jolie, who reportedly tookseven months of opera lessonsto prepare for the role. The film is helmed by Pablo Larraín, with the picture completing his trilogy of biopics focusing on important 20th-century women after the releases ofSpencerandJackie. Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Stephen Ashfield, and Pierfrancesco Favino also star in the film.Mariais releasing on Netflix on December 11.
9’Kraven the Hunter'
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunteris the sixth installment in Sony’sSpider-ManUniverse,starring Aaron-Taylor Johnsonin the lead role of Sergei Kravinoff, a formidable hunter whose relationship with his father, Nikolai Kravinoff, sends him down a path of vengeance, which results in dire consequences for both. However, Sergei is not just any hunter; he is, in fact, the world’s most feared hunter.
‘Kraven the Hunter’ Is the First R-rated Film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out thatKraven the Hunteris an R-rated film, especially given the brutality depicted in the official trailer. However, many fans are unaware that all previous additions in Sony’sSpider-Manuniverse have been graded PG-13 at best. So, despite low expectations for the picture in light of box office predictions and other external variables,Kraven the Huntershould be a fascinating film to look forward to.Kraven the Hunterwill be available in theaters on June 29, 2025.
8’The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim'
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrimis an animated film directed by Kenji Kamiyama, known for his previous worksEden of the East,Ghost in the Shell, andAkira. Set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy, the film chronicles the King of Rohan’s legendary last stand at Helm’s Deep when he faces the wrath of a ruthless Dunlending lord named Wulf. Will the mighty fortress be able to withstand such a huge army driven by vengeance?
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The War of Rohirrim Takes Viewers Back to the Helm’s Deep
The Battle of the Helm’s Deep, featured inThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, is regarded as arguably the high point of the trilogy. As a result,The War of Rohirrim, despite being an animated film, is expected to be incredible due to the potential war sequences included, thanks to the director Kenji Kamiyama. AsThe War of Rohirrimopens in theaters on August 18, 2025, we’ll take a trip down memory lane into one ofThe Lord of the Rings' most epic settings.
7’Mufasa: The Lion King'
Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa: The Lion Kingis a prequel to the 2019 live-action remake of the original Disney animated film,The Lion King. Told in flashbacks, the story follows Mufasa, an orphaned cub who is lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka. The fated meeting sets specific things in motion, such as Mufasa’s journey to becoming the king of the Pride Lands, all while meeting a few misfits along the way.
‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Expands Disney’s Long-Running Franchise
Even thoughMufasais a highly anticipated origin story of the iconic character fromThe Lion Kingfilms, it also proves that the franchise can go beyond regular sequels, especially since it takes audiences back in time rather than setting events in the future by focusing on Simba’s children. So, it should be intriguing to see what kind of story the movie intends to tell its audience.Mufasa: The Lion Kingwill be released in theaters on June 22, 2025.
6’Sonic the Hedgehog 3'
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the long-awaited threequel to one ofthe most popular video game-based movies, is finally here. The film, directed by Jeff Fowler, returns to theaters this holiday season as Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails band together to defeat Shadow, a fearsome hedgehog with unpredictable powers. However, when outmatched by the new, mysterious enemy, the trio is forced to seek an unusual alliance.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Has Higher Stakes
So far in theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise, villains have been relatively weak in comparison to Sonic’s abilities, whether it’s Dr. Robotnik, who largely relies on his wits, or Knuckles, who falls a little behind Sonic in terms of speed. However,Sonic the Hedgehog 3introduces a terrifying villain who apparently has the power to destroy a planet if left unchecked. As a result, fans of the franchise will have something exciting to look forward to whenthe film hits theaters on July 22, 2025.
5The Brutalist
The Brutalist
The Brutalistis a historical drama following László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who moves to the United States after surviving World War II and the Holocaust. Directed by Brady Corbet, known for his work onThe Crowded Room,Vox Lux, andThe Childhood of a Leader,The Brutalistlooks to be his best project yet after outstanding reviews following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
An Epic Film
The Brutalistclocks in at an astounding 3 hours 35 minutes, though that should not deter fans. MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman gave the film a perfect 5/5, stating, “The Brutalistis a cinematic masterpiece in every frame of its whopping nearly four-hour runtime. Director/co-writer Brady Corbet’s epic tale of a Jewish-Hungarian architect’s immigrant journey in post-World War II America is nothing short of extraordinary.Adrien Brody mesmerizes in a sublime lead performance that catapults him to the forefront of awards contention.“You won’t want to missThe Brutalistwhen it releases on December 20.
4’A Complete Unknown'
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknownis an upcoming biographical film based on Elijah Wald’sDylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties. Set in the early 1960s, the film follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan, whose meteoric ascent to fame as a folk singer shocked the world, making him a sensation in the world of electric rock and roll music.
Timothée Chalamet Delivers the Performance of the Year in ‘A Complete Unknown’
When watching a biography, audiences care a lot about the subtle details, including the historical authenticity and the actors portraying the person on whom the film is based. In this regard, Timothée Chalamet seemed to have delivered a phenomenal performance, with journalists stating that he not only flawlessly captured the voice and looks of Bob Dylan but also the little nuances that brought the biography to life.A Complete Unknownwill be released in theaters on June 19, 2025.
3’Babygirl'
Babygirlis an erotic thriller being released at an unexpected moment, as it’s not exactly a film that the whole family will watch around the holidays.Starring Nicole Kidmanand Harris Dickinson, the plot follows Romy, an esteemed CEO of a major organization, who engages in an affair with one of her young interns, knowing that it will have an impact on her family and work.
‘Babygirl’ Tells a Forbidden Love Story
The romance and age gap in this film will surely draw some eyes when it is released. And with one of them being married, the forbidden love is even more taboo. Based on what we’ve seen so far,Babygirlis prepared to tell the story in a way that will captivate viewers. The official trailer shows the sizzling chemistry between Kidman and Dickinson, which viewers will appreciate oncethe film opens in theaters on July 08, 2025.
