FILM REVIEWS AND NEWS

Directed by Leon Joosen, The Land of Sometimes is a spritely addition to the children’s Christmas film genre. This animated piece is a well-crafted, vibrant, and touching creation that will light up family TV screens this Christmas. With dazzling performances from the entire cast, most notably Helena Bonham Carter, who delivers her usual sinister yet alluring demeanour, parents of children will feel engrossed and nostalgic as they become immersed in this film’s lively world.

The 2026 program of Oscar-nominated animated shorts is characteristically brilliant. Artistic styles range from brushstrokes to stop motion to simple, hand-drawn animation and the tales told run an even wider gamut. Gorgeous, heartwarming, clever and endlessly watchable, the shorts celebrate the boundless talent and creativity in human artistry.

If you had told me in 2010 that the small, gibberish-spouting yellow henchmen from Despicable Me would eventually command a global box office of over $5.6 billion, I might have checked you for a fever. Yet, here we are in 2026, and the "banana" enthusiasts are not just part of the furniture; they own the house. Following the massive success of last summer’s Despicable Me 4, Illumination has officially pulled back the curtain on their next venture: Minions & Monsters.

It is perhaps fitting, then, that Sony Pictures Animation’s latest venture is titled GOAT, leaning into the "Greatest of All Time" moniker that has sparked a thousand playground debates. The buzz surrounding this project is hard to ignore. For a basketball fan, the pedigree behind the scenes is enough to pique interest. The film is produced by none other than Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media banner.

You can’t go wrong with the timeless characters of Looney Tunes. I mean, ok, you can… you could make a space-set feature film named Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up without even one appearance by Marvin the Martian! – I mean, what the hell, guys?? Luckily, despite this egregious oversight, this entry into the series is a family-friendly triumph.

While the heavy hitters and the billion-dollar sequels are certainly present, there is a refreshing sense of creative risk-taking appearing across the Disney, 20th Century, and Searchlight banners. From high-concept survival thrillers to long-awaited returns to iconic worlds, 2026 is shaping up to be a year where the multiplex offers a genuine variety of spectacle and substance.

If you find yourself rolling your eyes at the mention of a certain red-nosed reindeer or a predictable romance in a snow-covered village, this list is for you. These five films offer something different. They are the cinematic equivalent of finding a forgotten bottle of gin in the back of the cupboard when the sherry has run out. They are unconventional, occasionally unsettling, and frequently misunderstood.

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.

Get ready for a sprinkle party on the big screen, UK! The beloved, colourful, and delightfully cat-tastic world of Gabby's Dollhouse is making the leap from your living room to cinemas this autumn, with Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie set to charm audiences from October 17th, 2025. This cinematic adventure marks DreamWorks Animation's first feature film based on the global smash streaming series, promising a brand-new, exciting story that fans of all ages won't want to miss.

What better time than now to watch or revisit these gems; what better time than now to re-release such a comfort as Totoro.