With films like “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” coming out in 2023, it was a strong year for movie releases.
Since 2024 is just beginning, here’s a list of some of the most anticipated movies released over winter break.
“Wonka”
Timothée Chalamet, star of “Dune” and “Call Me by Your Name,” played the third live-action film portrayal of Willy Wonka in “Wonka.” The movie was directed by Paul King who also directed “Paddington” and its sequel.
Unlike the Roald Dahl novel it’s based on and the two film adaptations before it, “Wonka” focuses on Wonka’s origin story and his early days as a chocolatier.
The musical released in theaters on Dec. 15.
“Maestro”
Bradley Cooper starred in and directed this film from Netflix about composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg produced the film alongside Cooper.
The biographical drama centers around the life of Bernstein (Cooper) and his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan). The film chronicles Bernstein’s life over four decades, from his first encounter with Felicia to his bisexuality.
“Maestro” is available to stream on Netflix now.
“The Iron Claw”
“The Iron Claw” directed by Sean Durkin was A24’s last film to come out in 2023 with a release date of Dec. 22.
The drama tells the true story of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who were successful in the world of competitive professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Even with their triumphs, tragedy strikes the family, referred to as the “Von Erich curse.”
Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany and Maura Tierney starred as the Von Erich family.
“Poor Things”
Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest film “Poor Things” had a wide release for U.S. audiences on Dec. 22. The film is based on a 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.
The movie starred Emma Stone as Bella Baxter, a young Victorian woman who was resurrected with the brain of her infant after committing suicide.
In addition to Stone, the film also starred Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef.
“The Color Purple” (2023)
Directed by Blitz Bazawule, “The Color Purple” is based on the stage musical of the same name based on the novel by Alice Walker. Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Spielberg, who all worked on the 1985 film of the same name, were producers on the 2023 film.
“The Color Purple” depicts the life-long struggles of a Black woman named Celie (Fantasia Barrino and Phylicia Pearl Mpasi) in the South during the early 20th century. She faces many hardships, including an abusive husband and being separated from her sister, Nettie (Ciara and Halle Bailey). Celie is finally able to stand up for herself through the unbreakable bond of sisterhood.
The movie premiered on the silver screen Dec. 25.
