A Look at the 8 New Movies Coming Out This Week: ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,’ ‘Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire,’ and More!

There are a lot of highly-anticipated new movies coming out this week, including the latest from DC Studios!

Jason Momoa makes another splash as the King of the Seven Seas in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Zack Snyder brings us his space opus Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire. And Zach Efron portrays Kevin Von Erich as part of the legendary doomed wrestling family in The Iron Claw.

Also opening this week is Jeffery Wright as a novelist in way over his head in American Fiction and Bradley Cooper’s film about the flamboyant composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein in Maestro.

All that and an animated film about a wayward family of ducks flying to Jamaica via New York City in Migration. It’s going to be a busy week watching movies!

Below is the full list of all the new movies coming out this week in theaters and streaming!

New Movies Coming Out This Week: December 18, 2023, – December 24, 2023

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom  (2023)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Summary: In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, having failed to defeat Aquaman (Jason Momoa) the last time, Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is determined to find the mythic Black Trident, a weapon that could help him defeat the man that killed his father. Aquaman must turn to his imprisoned brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to defend his family and the world from irreversible destruction.

What to Watch For: The movie is from filmmaker James Wan, who directed the 2018 Aquaman.

Word on the Street: Jason Momoa pitched the plot for this film to the studio and James Wan. He has been given writing credit film for the film.

My Take: Ben Affleck will make his fifth and probably final appearance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The role will make Ben Affleck the actor with the most live-action film appearances as Batman.

Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire  (2023)

Rating: PG-13

Release Date: Premiering on Netflix on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 10 pm (EST).

Summary: Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is about Kora (Sofia Boutella), a stranger with a mysterious past, who, after crash landing on a moon, is allowed to start a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. However, an evil Regent named Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), come to the settlement with the intent of destruction. Now, Kora must gather a group of insurgents and mercenaries to fight Balisarius and his army.

What to Watch For: The film is from Zack Snyder, the filmmaker who gave us 300 (2006), Sucker Punch (2011), Man of Steel (2013) and Justice League (2017).

Word on the Street: This is part one of a two-part film series. The second film, Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver is already in post-production.

My Take: Sofia Boutella is best known (besides being a backup dancer for Madonna) for her roles as Gazelle in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Jaylah in Star Trek Beyond (2016), and as Selva in the 2018 film Climax.

The Iron Claw  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres nationwide on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Summary: The Iron Claw is the story of the professional wrestling family, the Von Erichs, who went from fame and fortune to horrible tragedy in just a few years.

What to Watch For: The film is based on the real Von Erichs, who in the 80s were wrestling superstars for the family-owned World Class Championship Wrestling, filling up outdoor stadiums long before WWE and Vince McMahon even thought it was possible.

Word on the Street: The film has several current and former wrestlers in the cast, most notably Chavo Guerrero Jr., who plays The Sheik.

My Take: I won’t miss this film. I am a big wrestling fan. And in the 80s, Kevin Von Erich (played by Zac Efron) was my favorite wrestler.

American Fiction  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Summary: In American Fiction, Monk (Jeffery Wright) is a writer whose last book wasn’t exactly a success. He is fed up with ‘Black’ entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. Monk decides to write a ‘Black’ book of his own, and much to his surprise, it becomes a big hit. Now Monk must play the part of a mysterious, anonymous, angry black writer, precisely whom he claims to disdain in real life.

What to Watch For: This is Emmy-award-winning writer Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut.

Word on the Street: The Atlanta Film Critics Circle recently picked the film as one of the top ten movies of 2023.

My Take: I love this cast, including Sterling K. Brown, Keith David, Adam Brody, Leslie Uggams, John Ortiz, Tracee Ellis Ross, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Issa Rae, and Erika Alexander.

Maestro  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: Now in select theatres and premieres on Netflix on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

Summary: Maestro is the love story chronicling the relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). Leonard was a famous conductor because of his TV appearances and brilliant composing, but he had a secret that threatened his career and marriage.

What to Watch For: The film is directed and co-written by Bradley Cooper. Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star is Born (2019), was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Word on the Street: Steven Spielberg considered directing Maestro until he saw A Star is Born. He then told Cooper, ‘You will be directing Maestro.’

My Take: I can’t wait to see this film. I know Bradley Cooper studied how to be a conductor for six years to learn how to conduct like Leonard Bernstein.

Migration  (2023)

Rating: PG

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Summary: Migration occurs after meeting a migrating duck family on the pond with tales of wondrous places they have visited. Pam (voiced by Elizabeth Banks) convinces Mack (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani) to take the family on a much-deserved vacation. The Mallard family is about to go on a trip that will take a wrong turn, like to New York City.

What to Watch For: The voice cast includes Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Keegan-Michael Key, David Mitchell, Isabela Merced, Carol Kane, and Boris Rehlinger.

Word on the Street: The film is co-directed by Academy Award nominee Benjamin Renner, known for his award-winning film Ernest & Celestine (2012).

My Take: I have high hopes for this animated tale, as Ernest & Celestine is one of my favorite animated films of the 2010s.

All of Us Strangers  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Summary: In All of Us Strangers, Adam (Andrew Scott) lives in a London high-rise that is nearly empty. He meets what seems to be his only neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal), a stranger who shows up at his door in the middle of the night. It’s a chance meeting that could change Adam’s life.

What to Watch For: The film has received five British Independent Film Award nominations. And Andrew Scott is nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in the movie.

Word on the Street: The director, Andrew Haigh, used his childhood home as a location for the film as Adam’s house where he grew up.

My Take: The film is based loosely on the novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada, which also inspired the 1988 award-winning Japanese film The Discarnates.

Anyone But You  (2023)

Rating: R

Release Date: In theatres on Friday, December 22, 2023.

Summary: Anyone But You starts when Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) go on a first date that has sparks at first. However, then things happen that sour the two on each other. Now they have been unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in, of all places, Australia. Their exes are also there, so they do what two mature adults would do: pretend they are a couple.

What to Watch For: Sydney Sweeney is the film’s executive producer and was instrumental in hiring Glen Powell as her love interest.

Word on the Street: The film was shot on location in Australia.

My Take: I like the tagline for the film: ‘They only look like the perfect couple.’

Which New Movies Coming Out This Week Are You Excited to Watch?

Below, let us know what new movies you plan to see this week!