What's coming out in cinemas in December 2023?

Virgin Radio

29 Nov 2023, 15:15

It’s time to see what’s on in the cinemas as we wind down 2023!

The Christmas holidays are upon us, and there’s some cosy festive features to keep us warm. 

Here are the films to watch out for in cinemas in December 2023: 

Femme (1st December)

Set in Suburban London and shot mostly at night, Femme follows the story of Jules (Nathan Stewart Jarrett), who is a drag artist called Aphrodite Banks. Off-stage, Jules is simply a femme gay man, but one day, when he is dressed as Aphrodite, he is attacked by a group of men and their leader, Preston (George Mackay) 

Years later, he meets Preston once again, but he has no idea who Jules is out of drag. The pair exchange numbers and are drawn closer as their relationship blossoms. However, Jules cannot forget the crimes of the past.

Speaking more about Femme and the messages it holds, Mackay said on The Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose: “It’s a film about drag and about the way that you can take a certain part of your identity and obscure it to another part of your identity and the power that can be found by leaning on certain aspects of who you are. It’s about creating a character for yourself to live inside of.”

“It’s sort of like a rom-com mixed with a neo-noir.”

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce (1st December) 

Move over Taylor Swift! Beyonce is about to drop the next major tour documentary flick. 

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce follows the development and production of the sell-out stadium tour fronted by Queen B herself earlier this year. 

Not only will there be footage from the tour itself, but also from the production of her album of the same name. Make sure you keep an eye out for some famous faces too, as husband Jay-Z, Diana Ross and Kendrick Lamar will also make appearances. 

Wonka (8th December) 

Timothée Chalamet transforms into Roald Dahl’s chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka in the latest adaptation, Wonka. 

Directed and co-written by Paul King, known for his work on Paddington, Wonka delves into the origin story of the enigmatic chocolatier, tracing his journey from selling chocolate in a small candy store to becoming the whimsical genius immortalised in the original story .

The film features a who's-who in its stellar ensemble cast, with Sally Hawkins, Olivia Colman as the formidable Mrs. Scrubbit, and Hugh Grant in the unexpected role of an Oompa Loompa. 

Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Mathew Baynton, Rowan Atkinson and Jim Carter round out the stellar lineup.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (8th December) 

23 years after the original, Chicken Run finally hatches its sequel - Dawn of the Nugget. 

The follow-up film focuses on Ginger’s life post her daring escape from Tweedy’s farm. Settled on a peaceful island with her flock and new family, Ginger has seemingly found her dream. 

But back on the mainland, the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. So for Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!

Despite acting as a continuation of the 2000 story, the film has added several new voices to its cast list. These include Zachary Levi in the role of Rocky (previously voiced by Mel Gibson) and Thandiwe Newton as Ginger (previously played by Julia Sawalha).

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (21st December)

Speaking of sequels, Jason Momoa will once again return to the waves in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. 

Expanding on the world of the DC Extended Universe, Momoa not only stars as Arthur Curry / Aquaman but he also had a hand coming up with the story too. 

Directed once again by James Wan, Aquaman 2 will see Arthur stepping in to protect Atlantis after an ancient power is unleashed by Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Nicole Kidman also makes a comeback as Aquaman’s mother Atlanna.

Ferrari (26th December) 

Adam Driver is barely recognisable in biographical sports drama Ferrari. 

The Marriage Story star plays the silver-haired Enzo Ferrari, founder of the luxury car brand.

Written and directed by The Last Of The Mohicans' Michael Man, the cast includes Penelope Cruz as Enzo's wife Laura, Shailene Woodley as Enzo's mistress Lina Lardi, the mother of Ferrari's now-vice chairman, Piero Ferrari.

Patrick Dempsey stars as racecar driver Piero Taruffi, Jack O’Connell as racer Peter Collins, Sarah Gadon as Linda Christian and Gabriel Leone as driver Alfonso de Portago, whose Ferrari crashed into the stands killing him and nine others.

The logline for the movie reads: 'It is the summer of 1957. Behind the spectacle of Formula 1, ex-racer Enzo Ferrari is in crisis. Bankruptcy threatens the factory he and his wife, Laura built from nothing ten years earlier.

'Their volatile marriage has been battered by the loss of their son, Dino a year earlier. Ferrari struggles to acknowledge his son Piero with Lina Lardi. Meanwhile, his drivers' passion to win pushes them to the edge as they launch into the treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy, the Mille Miglia.'