FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

It is a weekend that feels uniquely British in its distribution, offering a balanced diet of intellectual stimulation and visceral thrills. Here is what you can expect to find at your local multiplex and independent arthouse next week, or some home releases too.

Next week, we see a return to a beloved horror franchise that has been reinvented for a new generation, a heartwarming exploration of human connection in modern Japan, and a devastating docudrama that demands our absolute attention.

This week, two films in particular have been circling my radar, and their arrival in UK cinemas this Friday feels like a significant moment for British and Irish talent.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival has always occupied a singular space in the awards season calendar. It serves as a sophisticated precursor to the Academy Awards, often highlighting the intersection of global stardom and genuine cinematic craft. This year, the festival has announced that Miley Cyrus will be the recipient of the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 2026 ceremony.

The primary event kicks off on Friday, 16 January 2026. This date marks the nationwide return of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and notably, many venues are opting to screen the gargantuan Extended Editions.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to seismic shifts, but the lead-up to the next ensemble epic feels different. As we stand on the precipice of a new era for the franchise, the anticipation surrounding "Avengers: Doomsday" has reached a fever pitch. Fans have spent years dissecting the mechanics of blockbuster storytelling, and it is rare to see a production carry this much weight.

This weekend, the visionary director returns to the world of the Na'vi with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third instalment in a saga that continues to push the boundaries of what is technically possible in a darkened room. While the previous chapter took us into the depths of the Metkayina reefs, this new journey promises a shift in temperature, introducing us to a darker, more volatile side of Pandora.

Boxing Day. It is, without question, a critical day in the entire cinematic calendar for UK distributors. This is the moment when the public, saturated with turkey and family chat, flocks to the multiplexes seeking refuge and spectacle. The release schedule for December 26, 2025, reflects this perfectly.

The news landed like a tremor in the geekosphere: Peter Jackson’s seminal fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, is set for a massive return to UK cinemas in January 2026. For a generation of filmgoers, this is nothing less than a pilgrimage—an opportunity to witness the vast plains of Middle-earth, the epic battles, and the quiet weight of a hobbit’s burden, all in the place they truly belong: the gigantic, light-eating darkness of the big screen.

On February 6th, UK audiences will finally have the opportunity to engage with her powerful new picture, The Chronology of Water. Adapted by Stewart herself from the unflinching 2011 memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch, the film is a deeply personal, impressionistic, and often confrontational exploration of trauma, survival, and the cathartic transformation of anguish into art. This is not a star slumming it; this is a serious artist launching herself fully into the realm of auteur ci

The rumour mill has been churning for months, but a new, deliberately understated poster for Kristoffer Borgli’s 2026 feature, The Drama, has finally given us something tangible to sink our teeth into. And, as expected from an A24 production helmed by the singular talent behind Dream Scenario, the first piece of publicity is far from conventional. It’s an intimate, grainy photograph that speaks volumes about the star power and potentially unsettling tone awaiting us when the

The news we’ve all been waiting for—the rumble of drums from Moria, the soaring sound of a score that defined a generation—is finally here. Peter Jackson’s masterful cinematic epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, is officially returning to UK cinemas early next year. This is not just a standard re-release; this is the launch of the film’s massive 25th-anniversary celebrations, and for film lovers, it is truly a precious event.

Pastor Leung (Anthony Chau-Sang Wong) runs the church of Faith and Love, where he deals out no-nonsense advice along with food to the homeless. In an opening scene, he advises a local unfortunate briskly to “stop taking drugs” while providing a hot dinner.

The Best Films Coming to UK Cinemas December 2025

It’s official: Trieste Science+Fiction Festival is celebrating its 25th birthday, and what a spectacular party it sounds like! For over two decades, this festival in Italy has been a beacon for all things fantastic and imaginative, proving year after year that science fiction is far more than just spaceships and laser guns. The best sci-fi holds a mirror up to our own world, and the line-up for October 28 to November 2 promises to be one hell of a compelling reflection.

With the release of the new Bennie Safdie film, The Smashing Machine, it seems timely to take a look at the films Dwayne Johnson has been in.

What We Know About Scream 7 So Far

Yes, Disney is indeed making Frozen III. And not only that, but the House of Mouse is laying the groundwork for a fourth instalment simultaneously, promising a truly epic, and potentially final, adventure for Elsa, Anna, and the gang.

On the 21st of November, the UK will finally get to experience the second and concluding chapter of this fantastical saga, Wicked: For Good.

A feature drama directed by Bizhan Tong, written by Tong, Stephen Belber, Selina Lee and Bonnie Lo and starring Kenny Kwan, Selena Lee and Adam Pak.