A Look at the 6 New Movies Coming Out This Week: ‘Mufasa: The Lion King,’ ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3,’ and More!
Looking to plan your perfect movie night? From epic animated adventures to pulse-pounding action, this week’s new movies coming out pack quite the punch for both theatrical and streaming releases!
Disney roars back into theaters with Mufasa: The Lion King, inviting audiences to journey back in time to discover how a young cub became the legendary king of Pride Rock.
Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite blue speedster races back to the big screen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where our heroes face their darkest challenge yet in the mysterious Shadow.
Whether you’re planning a family outing to the theater or cozying up on the couch for a streaming premiere, we’ve got your complete guide to every new release. So, grab your popcorn and dive into our roundup!
New Movies Coming Out This Week: December 16 – 22, 2024
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
Rating: PG
Release Date: In theaters nationwide on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Summary: In Mufasa: The Lion King, Mufasa is a cub who is lost and alone. He meets another cub named Taka, heir to a royal bloodline. They become fast friends, and with Taka’s help and some new friends, Mufasa might survive in this savage and beautiful world.
What to Watch For: The film is from Barry Jenkins, the Academy Award-winning director of Moonlight.
Word on the Street: The voice cast includes Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Mads Mikkelsen, John Kani, Thandiwe Newton, Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce, Keith David, and Donald Glover.
My Take: The screenplay was written by Jeff Nathanson, who wrote The Lion King (2019) and Young Woman and the Sea (2024).
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Rating: PG
Release Date: In theaters nationwide on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Summary: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 begins with Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails facing their most powerful foe ever, Shadow. If they have any hope of defeating Shadow, they will need help from a very unexpected source, Dr. Robotnik.
What to Watch For: The producers of the film stated that they would not recast the role of Dr. Robotnik if Jim Carey did not want to do the part.
Word on the Street: Jared Leto, Jason Momoa, Robert Pattinson, and Johnny Depp were all considered for the part of Shadow before they picked Keanu Reeves for the role.
My Take: One of my favorite actors, Krysten Ritter, has been added to the cast as Director Rockwell.
The Brutalist (2024)
Rating: R
Release Date: In IMAX theaters, select theaters for one week, starting Friday, December 20, 2024. The film will be in wide release on Friday, January 23, 2025.
Summary: The Brutalist begins in the aftermath of WWII, when visionary architect László Toth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) flee post-war Europe to restart their lives. When László begins working for a wealthy client, Harrison Van Buren (Guy Pearce), he little realizes how much his life will change.
What to Watch For: The film was shot entirely in VistaVision, a widescreen format. It is the first American film to be shot in the format in over 60 years.
Word on the Street: Because of its run time of three hours and thirty-five minutes, there is a 15-minute intermission in the middle of the film’s screenings.
My Take: Many film critics feel this role could bring another Academy Award for Adrien Brody.
The Six Triple Eight (2024)
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: The film premieres on Netflix on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Summary: The Six Triple Eight takes place in 1943 during the height of WWII, when priorities changed, and a huge backlog of undelivered mail was overflowing warehouses. The 6888th Women’s Army Corps’ all-Black battalion was tasked with sorting years’ worth of mail and raising the spirits of soldiers and their families worldwide.
What to Watch For: The film is directed and co-written by Tyler Perry.
Word on the Street: The cast includes Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Sarah Jeffery, Shanice Shantay, Laura Radford, Susan Sarandon, Sam Waterston and Oprah Winfrey.
My Take: A song for the film was written by fifteen-time Oscar-nominated Diane Warren and performed by H.E.R.
The Count of Monte Cristo (2024)
Rating: N/A
Release Date: In theaters on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Summary: The Count of Monte Cristo is about Edmond (Pierre Niney), who, after escaping from an island prison where he spent 14 years wrongly accused of treason, takes the title of the Count of Monte Cristo and returns to exact revenge on the men who betrayed him.
What to Watch For: The film was on the shortlist by France’s Oscar committee to be submitted to the Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category.
Word on the Street: The film had a budget that made it the most expensive French movie produced in 2024.
My Take: The film has been a tremendous hit in Europe and played at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Homestead (2024)
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: In theaters on Friday, December 20, 2024.
Summary: Homestead takes place after America is attacked and the world becomes increasingly violent. Two families are brought together. One family is an ultra-prepared, wealthy family living in an isolated compound. The other family is led by a military veteran hired to provide security for the property.
What to Watch For: The film is based on the best-selling book series Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross.
Word on the Street: The cast includes Neal McDonough, Dawn Olivieri, Currie Graham, Susan Misner, Bailey Chase, and Jesse Hutch.
My Take: Neal McDonough played Robert Quarles on one of my favorite TV series, Justified.
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.
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