New Films & Shows To Watch On Boxing Day
So you’ve unwrapped your presents and eaten more mince pies than is good for you… What’s next? Well, you could rush to nab a Boxing Day deal, or you could kick back and enjoy the best new films to watch. From the [profile-link]Robbie Williams[/profile-link] biopic Better Man to the return of Squid Game, there’s plenty to make “the weird bit between Christmas and New Year” go by quicker.
In Cinemas
Better Man
Better Man retells pop star Robbie William’s story in a decidedly unconventional way, the singer portrayed as a monkey. The zany biopic sees Williams voiced by actor Jonno Davies with singing by Williams himself, as the film recounts his meteoric rise to fame as part of Take That and then as a solo artist, before falling into addiction issues, and eventually making his way to recovery. Of course, it features songs and performances from his career and recognisable moments from his much-publicised private life, with everyone else as a human. Meanwhile, the film also stars Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman, Damon Herriman, Anthony Hayes and Raechelle Banno.
Releases: Boxing Day
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Thai language film How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies is also out this Boxing Day, and has received critical acclaim. It follows M (played by singer Putthipong Assaratanakul, also known as Billkin) as a directionless young dropout in his early 20s who hopes to one day be a popular streamer online. M decides that the only way he might be able to get some cash is by helping out his elderly and ailing grandmother, Menju (Usha Seamkhum). Menju has recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and the condition is terminal- but M hopes that he might perhaps be able to get into her good books by caring for her in her last days, and might be able to collect a tidy inheritance.
Releases: Boxing Day
Nosferatu
Ring in the New Year with the creepy new horror film Nosferatu, starring Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp. A remake of the seminal silent film from the 1920s, Nosferatu retells the story of Dracula as a young woman living in a German town who becomes the obsession of a terrifying vampire. Her husband, Thomas Hutter (Nichols Hoult), travels to do business at the estate of Count Orlok, who unbeknownst to Thomas is a creature of the night and will wreak havoc on the local people. As the chaos spreads, the young Ellen Hutter fears for her life as the Count seeks her out. Emma Corrin, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor Johnson and Ralph Ineson also stars.
Releases: New Year’s Day
On Streaming
Squid Game
Squid Game season two sees Lee Jung-Jae returning as tournament winner Seong Gi-hun. It takes place three years after the events of last season when Gi-hun emerged victorious from Squid Game, but very much changed. Having had his mind set on leaving Korea and moving to the US, he decides instead to remain in the country and find a way to stop the deadly games for good. But this will mean he must once again become a contestant, and once again hope that he can get through unscathed. Gi-hun comes face to face with Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who’s cloaked in shadow and secrecy, and whose real motivations remain unknown. Stopping the ordeal for good will not be easy.
Releases: Boxing Day
Watch it on: Netflix
Outnumbered
Award-winning comedy Outnumbered returns for a new Christmas Special this December. Eight years after we last saw them, the Brockman family have changed in some ways but not others. Pete (Hugh Dennis) and Sue (Claire Skinner) decide to invite their kids (who are now adults) to celebrate Christmas together traditionally as a family in their new downsized home. But things remain chaotic as always as Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), Ben (Daniel Roche) and Karen (Ramona Marquez) join them for festivities. Standing in the way of them are “fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services”, making things even less smooth as the Brockmans try to have some sense of normal.
Releases: Boxing Day
watch here: BBC One and iPlayer
Black Doves
If you’ve finished your annual rewatch of Love Actually, stream the Keira Knightley-starring Black Doves which released this month. This thriller series is about a spy posing as the wife of a high-ranking politician, whose cover is threatened when he’s been assassinated. Helen (Knightley) has been getting state secrets from Jason (Andrew Koji) throughout their relationship and marriage to give them to her organisation, the Black Doves, but now that things have gotten messy, a hitman, Sam, (Ben Wishaw) with his own personal issues is sent to bail her out of trouble. Set at Christmastime in London, Helen and Sam set off to find out who exactly killed her husband, all while being watched by spymaster Reed (Sarah Lancashire).
watch here: Netflix
