Movies

As a huge film fan, I was really excited to hear about the early screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash in early December. The reviews were finally released on December 16th, 2025 – exactly three years after Avatar: The Way of Water came out. Initially, the first reactions were good, but now that the full reviews are in, it seems like the film isn’t quite as well-received as the previous Avatar movies, or really, anything James Cameron has directed. It’s still a fresh release, but the critical scores are definitely lower than expected.

I was really looking forward to this new horror movie, scheduled for January 9th, 2026, but it seems like Universal has not only cancelled its release, they’re actually trying to sell it off to another studio! As far as anyone knows, there’s no word yet on who might take it on, which is a shame. I’m hoping someone will still give it a chance.

I was initially doubtful when Audible said they were creating full-cast recordings of these popular audiobooks. However, they’ve mostly impressed me, and I really enjoyed their take on the first book. My only issue is the actors often make unclear sounds – little noises and grunts – which repeatedly disrupt the story and are quite distracting.

Netflix offers a wide range of TV shows, from epic stories set in fantastical worlds like Stranger Things and The Witcher, to realistic dramas that explore the darker side of real life. Their collection of crime shows is particularly popular, featuring series like Mindhunter, The Night Agent, Unbelievable, and another new show coming in December 2025.

The trailer is brilliantly mysterious, which is perfect for this kind of film. It shows Emily Blunt seemingly taken over by something alien while giving a live weather report. Her bizarre message quickly grabs the attention of millions of viewers. At the same time, Josh O’Connor appears to understand what’s happening and is determined to reveal it. With elements like crop circles, unusual animal activity, and Colin Firth linked to a strange machine that controls bodies, Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp are building a film that looks set to be a big summer success.

A recent report from Bloomberg indicates Warner Bros. Discovery is likely to pass on a potential deal with Paramount, citing concerns about financing and the conditions of the offer. Sources close to the situation told Bloomberg that the company’s board reviewed the Paramount proposal but currently favors an offer from Netflix.

The movie The Hustle, starring Anne Hathaway, is proving popular on Netflix. For the week of December 8th to 14th, 2025, it ranked as the seventh most-watched movie globally on the streaming service.

Just like the Marvel movies, the DC Universe started by introducing its main heroes in individual films, including the 2017 Wonder Woman movie starring Gal Gadot. Jan Fuchs, a writer who recently worked on IT: Welcome to Derry, co-wrote Wonder Woman with Zack Snyder and Allan Heinberg. He recently shared that the film originally planned to introduce Kalibak, the son of the villain Darkseid, though the main antagonist ultimately became Ares, played by David Thewlis.

Over the past few years, action movies have become much more graphic, as both viewers and filmmakers have become more comfortable with on-screen violence. These films often aim for a realistic portrayal of conflict. However, the high level of violence usually earns them an R-rating, which means younger fans of the genre can’t see them. The question of whether to reduce the intensity is a larger discussion for another time. Here are some movies where characters frequently find themselves in dire situations – if they survive, that is.

Most directors experience both successes and failures, but Rob Reiner’s career has been an extreme rollercoaster. He effortlessly delivered smart, popular films at the height of his career, then later made movies that seemed surprisingly misjudged. While you might call him a versatile director, it doesn’t quite capture how he created films as assured as When Harry Met Sally, as hilariously chaotic as This Is Spinal Tap, or as uniquely balanced in tone as The Princess Bride. Because of these huge swings, it’s hard to neatly categorize his work.