12 Movies to Watch in December

      As we approach the last month of the year, we will provide an in-depth look at the top films of 2025 (bookmark this page), but first, let's highlight the notable new releases for December. It's important to mention that several films will have qualifying runs this month, with their official releases scheduled for 2026. Additionally, Quentin Tarantino’s much-anticipated release of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, starting December 5, is not included in the list of new releases below, but I am eagerly anticipating the chance to view the 70mm version.

      12. The Plague (Charlie Polinger; Dec. 24)

      Train Dreams garnered well-deserved praise, but it's not the only Joel Edgerton project debuting this season. He also features prominently in Charlie Polinger’s Cannes sensation, The Plague, a gripping drama centered on bullying at a water polo camp. While Polinger’s directorial style is commendable, one wishes the screenplay was more engaging; nevertheless, it serves as a solid introduction to his work.

      11. WTO/99 (Ian Bell; Dec. 5)

      Debuting at the prestigious True/False Festival and nominated for a Critics Choice Documentary Award, Ian Bell’s esteemed archival documentary, WTO/99, chronicles the tension between the nascent World Trade Organization (WTO) and the over 40,000 demonstrators in Seattle in 1999, protesting the WTO's effects on environmental issues, human rights, and labor conditions. This impressive editorial piece, crafted by Bell and co-editor Alex Megaro, conveys a sense of urgency with each cut, culminating in a reflection on how we still grapple with the ramifications of those protests from a quarter-century ago.

      10. Ella McCay (James L. Brooks; Dec. 12)

      In the fifteen excruciating years since James L. Brooks has directed a feature, the type of adult-oriented, heartfelt dramas with relatable characters that marked his career have sadly waned in popularity. After staying active in helping up-and-comers like Kelly Fremon Craig realize their visions with successful films like The Edge of Seventeen and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, the 85-year-old director finally returns this month with Ella McCay, a political comedy-drama featuring Emma Mackey, Woody Harrelson, Kumail Nanjiani, Spike Fearn, Ayo Edebiri, Jack Lowden, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Becky Ann Baker, Joey Brooks, Albert Brooks, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

      9. The Testament of Anne Lee (Mona Fastvold; Dec. 25)

      Following the praised drama The Brutalist from last year, Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet have teamed up again for The Testament of Ann Lee, with Fastvold directing and Corbet co-writing. Starring Amanda Seyfried in a career-defining role, Ann Lee possesses the same flair and drama of last year's film, making it a strong recommendation, despite the character dynamics being a bit underdeveloped. Rory O’Connor remarked in his Venice review, “In The Testament of Ann Lee, Amanda Seyfried delivers the best performance of her career. The actress exhibits a range of emotions while performing an array of 18th-century hymns reimagined by composer Daniel Blumberg, who has previously made waves in the Oslo arts scene after winning an Oscar for The Brutalist earlier this year. Directed by Mona Fastvold and co-written by Brady Corbet, this film mirrors their previous collaboration to such an extent that it isn't difficult to envision Seyfried's Lee, the real-life founder of the Shaker movement, and Adrien Brody’s László Tóth coexisting within the same textured 70mm frame (despite being a century apart).”

      8. No Other Choice (Park Chan-wook; Dec. 25)

      While it may raise eyebrows in certain cinephile circles, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice is another exploration of striking style, though it ultimately leaves the viewer feeling somewhat detached. Regardless, it is definitely worth experiencing on the big screen. Christopher Schobert commented in his review, “It’s uncertain if Park Chan-wook has any admiration for the Sex Pistols. However, while watching No Other Choice, I found myself reflecting on John Lydon’s famous quote from their chaotic final concert in 1978: ‘Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?’ No Other Choice spans 139 minutes centered around that sentiment—what it means to be deceived by employers, competitors, and artificial intelligence, as well as what it truly takes to fight back.”

      7. Is This Thing On? (Bradley Cooper; Dec. 19)

      After undertaking two ambitious music-themed films for his debut projects, I was pleasantly surprised that Bradley Cooper has produced his finest film to date with the deeply affecting Is This Thing On? Drawing inspiration from the