Winter wonders

Black Doves
On Netflix from 5 December

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is the new series from writer Joe Barton (Giri/Haji, The Lazarus Project) which follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother and, shock horror, professional spy. For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for called the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe. Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.

Rumours 
In cinemas 6 December

The leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies meet for the annual G7 summit, tasked with drafting a statement on a pressing global crisis. But what begins as a high-stakes diplomatic effort takes a bizarre turn when they find themselves stranded in misty woods, facing surreal and escalating obstacles. Co-directed by Guy Maddin alongside Evan and Galen Johnson, Rumours turns its lens on the incompetence and absurdity of global power players, exposing how their trivial concerns take precedence even as the world teeters on the brink. Featuring Cate Blanchett as a polished yet calculating German Chancellor and Charles Dance as a cynical American President, this satire blends biting humour with Maddin’s signature surrealism, unravelling the fragility of those entrusted with saving the world.

Nightbitch
In cinemas 6 December

Amy Adams stars in Nightbitch, a black comedy that blends body horror with a metaphor for motherhood. Directed by Marielle Heller and based on Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel, the film follows a former artist turned stay-at-home mother whose maternal instincts take an unsettling turn as she begins transforming into a dog. As she grows fur, a tail, and extra nipples, the line between her identity as a mother and her own sense of self blurs. With its take on motherhood, Nightbitch explores themes of isolation, primal instincts, and the sacrifices of parenting. Just as Barbie reimagined girlhood, Nightbitch unpacks the untold truths of motherhood, with Amy Adams truly serving us what it means to be mother.

Kraven The Hunter
In cinemas 13 December

Sony continues to churn out it’s Marvel properties, the latest being one of Spider-Man’s villains given his own film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Kraven who’s complex relationship with his Russian gangster father (Russell Crowe) sets him on the path of vengeance motivating him to become the greatest hunter the world has ever seen. His prey isn’t defenceless deer or foxes, he’s going for more high profile targets as revealed when Sony released the first eight minutes of the film. 

Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim
In cinemas 13 December

Rankin/Bass brought J. R. R. Tolkien’s world to animated life back in 1977 with The Hobbit, Ralph Bakshi followed it with The Lord Of The Rings in 1978 (albeit a telling that ends after The Two Towers) and then Rankin/Bass returned for their telling of The Return Of The King in 1980. Now, almost 50 years later, animated Middle Earth is back, with a story set 183 years before the events of Peter Jackson’s trilogy. The tale looks at a king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and his daughter Hèra, as they face a deadly threat that will lead them to an epic battle and a fortress that will eventually bear his name: Helm’s Deep. Director Kenji Kamiyama has already handled stories from the world of Blade Runner (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) and Star Wars (Star Wars: Visions – The Ninth Jedi), let’s just hope with this material he’s being… precious. 

Spirited Away  
In cinemas 26 December

Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar winning masterpiece returns to cinemas on Boxing Day. Dreamlike in style and structure, the story follows a young girl who’s forced to work in a magical bathhouse, tending to the various gods and monsters who frequent it. But the joy of the film is less in its plot and more in its relentless invention, with frames exploding with unique characters, stunning environments and boundless creativity. For many this would’ve been their first encounter with Studio Ghibli – and Japanese animation in general – when it was first released on UK screens over 20 years ago, and the chance to rediscover it or introduce new audiences to it via a big screen shouldn’t be missed. 

Better Man 
In cinemas 26 December

A semi biographical satirical musical about the life of singer/entertainer Robbie Williams with a CGI chimpanzee in the lead role. Written and directed by The Greatest Showman’s Michael Gracey whether you like this film is always going to depend on what you think about the ex-Take That singer from Stoke-On-Trent. And that’s all we’re going to say about that. 

Squid Game Season 2
On Netflix from 26 December

The second season of the “world’s most-watched show” (according to Netflix) returns on Boxing Day. Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) returns, locked in a tense battle with the shadowy Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). As new games unfold, the stakes grow deadlier, and Gi-hun’s mission to end the games once and for all takes center stage. Will he succeed, or will the system claim even more victims? 

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
On Disney+ from 3 December

The next series releasing from the galaxy far, far away takes us to an unknown planet, with an unknown cast bar Jude Law and Kerry Condon, is set in the now very well-known Mandoverse era of Star Wars. Helmed by many acclaimed directors, such as Jon Watts, The Daniels and Bryce Dallas Howard, Skeleton Crew follows the story of a group of kids that accidentally find themselves lost in space. They’ll have to watch out for pirates, bounty hunters, monsters, and all the threats you can imagine from the Star Wars galaxy.