• It’s Dezemba, and the movie line-up at the cinema is chock-a-block.
• New releases include sequels, adaptations, and original stories.
• Our handy movie guide will help you keep track of the summer’s must-see movies. 

The December holidays have finally arrived, so what better way to spend them than visiting the big screen?

Various movies are expected to hit the big screens, from sequels to adaptations and original stories.

These are a few of the films slated to be released in December at selected South African cinemas.

Silent Night (8 December)

Directed by John Woo, this Christmas-themed action thriller tells the story of electrician Brian Godlock (Joel Kinnaman) going on a personal revenge mission to avenge his son’s death at the hands of gang members.

The film is reported not to have any dialogue and to be Woo’s first Hollywood movie in 20 years since Paycheck was released in 2003.

Wonka (8 December)

Starring Timothée Chalamet (Dune: Part One) and directed by Paul King, this fantasy musical is set to be the origin story of Willy Wonka, an iconic character from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory novels by Roald Dahl.

READ | The return of very long movies and what they mean for the future of cinema

While based on pre-existing characters, the script will follow an original story co-written by King. Co-starring opposite Chalamet are Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Rowan Atkinson, and Hugh Grant.

The Inseparables (8 December)

This animated feature, based on an original idea by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow (the co-writers of Toy Story), follows the story of a puppet and a stuffed toy and their misadventures in New York City while learning the true meaning of friendship.

This movie is directed by Jérémie Degruson and is a joint production by France, Belgium and Spain.

Dream Scenario (15 December)

In this fantasy black comedy, a biology professor (Nicolas Cage) starts to appear in multiple people around the world’s dreams, making him reluctantly famous.

However, things take a turn when his presence in people’s dreams becomes more sinister, affecting his waking existence. Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, this film is another instalment of movies produced by A24 studios.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (22 December)

Jason Momoa returns as the DC Comics superhero in this instalment of the DC Extended film universe. This time, he is pitted against his enemy, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), once again, with the future of Atlantis at stake.

James Wan directs the sequel, with Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, and Amber Heard returning to reprise their respective roles.

Dunki (22 December)

In this Hindi comedy starring prolific Hindi actor Shah Rukh Khan, five friends plan on immigrating to England for a better life.

However, since none of them has a visa or a means of travel to their destination, they have to rely on an illegal immigration method called “donkey flights”, or Dunki, to cross the borders and get into England.

Migration (22 December)

Featuring the voice talents of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, Keegan-Michael Key and Danny DeVito, this Illumination animation feature tells of a family of ducks and their trip from New England to Jamaica.

What ensues is chaos, self-discovery, and learning the meaning of family.

Next Goal Wins (22 December)

Based on the 2014 documentary of the same name, this sports comedy-drama tells the story of Dutch football coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) and his efforts to help shape the American Samoa national football team to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Directed and co-written by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit), the film also stars Oscar Kightley, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss, Luke Hemsworth, and Kaitlyn Dever.

Anyone But You (29 December)

After their attraction to one another withers, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) pretend to be a couple at a wedding to keep up appearances after unexpectedly being reunited.

This romantic comedy, directed by Will Gluck, is also set in Australia.

The End We Start From (29 December)

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Megan Hunter, this UK-based film chronicles the story of a young mother’s (Jodie Comer) struggle for survival and her newborn.

After an ecological crisis causes London to be flooded, fleeing north seems like the only viable option. The cast also boasts the talent of Katherine Waterston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong.

Ferrari (29 December)

Faced with one personal tragedy after another, Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), founder of the Ferrari manufacturing company, decides to participate in the 1957 Mille Miglia; in this biopic, based on the 1991 biography Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine by Brock Yates.

Joining Driver are Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Jack O’Connell, and Patrick Dempsey, with Michael Mann as the film’s director.