This year’s holiday season is almost upon us, and so are the promising movies, waiting to be released. Some of them are Hamnet, Anaconda, Avatar: Fire and Ash, etc.
This holiday season feels packed with movies worth watching, with big directors returning and new filmmakers ready to prove something real. James L. Brooks and Michael Showalter step back into the spotlight, and James Cameron brings another long journey to Pandora that carries huge expectations. Josh Safdie, Bradley Cooper, and Mona Fastvold also look ready to surprise with work that feels bold and unpredictable. Lineups like this can still fall short once the lights fade. But from where we stand in November 2025, it looks like one of the strongest seasons in years.
Here are the 8 movies to watch for this holiday season.
1. Hamnet
In theaters Nov. 26
In the movie, the private life of William Shakespeare unfolds through the eyes of his wife, Anna Hathaway. The story gains its strength from the way Jessie Buckley plays her softness and fire at the same time. The film gives Anne a voice that feels long overdue, and Buckley stands out as a powerful screen presence who holds every scene with quiet command. The world around her feels fully alive, with an Elizabethan setting that looks detailed and real enough to step into. It pulls you in with emotion and craft, making this one worth watching and thinking about long after it ends.
2. ‘Ella McCay’
In theaters Dec. 12
At 85 years old, writer and director James L. Brooks returns with his first feature film in fifteen years, and it feels like a real moment you need to pay attention to. The story follows Ella, played by Emma Mackey. She is a lawyer who became the governor of a state at just 34 years old. Jamie Lee Curtis steps in as her aunt, while Woody Harrelson plays her estranged father, setting the stage for conflict and humor. From the trailer, the film appears to blend comedy and drama in the familiar Brooks style that many movie lovers have missed. Albert Brooks and Kumail Nanjiani also show up in supporting roles, which adds even more promise. This film looks like something you can look forward to, the kind of movie that mixes depth with a warm human touch.
3. ‘Goodbye June’
In theaters Dec. 12, and streaming on Netflix Dec. 24
The best part of this movie is that this marks the feature directorial debut of Kate Winslet, and she rarely makes a wrong move! However, this is not the only exciting thing about this project; the screenplay comes from Joe Anders, her 21-year-old son! Well, nepotism sometimes truly can do wonders. The story is a family drama set around Christmas, with four adult siblings reuniting as their mother becomes critically ill. One of the many hopeful signs in this movie is its brilliant cast: Toni Collette, Stephen Merchant, Andrea Riseborough, and Helen Mirren.
4. ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
In theaters Dec. 19
James Cameron is still committed to proving that the Avatar saga is far more than a visual spectacle, and his latest sequel is returning to the theaters this year. With plans for five films overall, this third chapter arrives at 192 minutes, a runtime that signals Cameron wants the audience fully immersed again in Pandora. The trailer already hints at another large-scale conflict, because stoeis in worlds like this almost always reach a point where peace collapses into war. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldañareturn as the Na’vi couple at the center of the story. They are continuing their fight to protect their home and their people. There is ambition here, and the hope that this installment will deliver something deeper and unforgettable.
5. ‘The Housemaid’
In theaters Dec. 19
Sydney Sweeney continues her streak of intense and unpredictable roles, and this new project appears to push things even further. The story follows a housemaid with a troubled past who takes a job working for a wealthy couple on Long Island, played by Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar. What begins as a fresh start quickly turns into a dangerous domestic conflict filled with secrets and rising tensions. The film is based on the novel by Freida McFadden, and the trailer sets up a mix of thriller energy and emotional turmoil that feels gripping and impossible to look away from. This one already looks like a standout for the season!
6. ‘Is This Thing On?’
In theaters Dec. 25.
After A Star is Born in 2018 and Maestro in 2023, anything Bradley Cooper directs feels worth watching, and this new film seems especially strong. Will Arnett plays a stand-up comedian in the middle of a divorce, trying to rebuild both his life and his act. What stands out right away in the trailer is that the comedy material actually sounds funny. This is rare in movies about comedians, where the jokes often fall flat once they hit the stage. Laura Dern appears as Arnett’s estranged wife, adding emotional weight and sharp chemistry to the story. This looks like a compelling mix of humor and heartbreak.
7. ‘Song Sung Blue’
In theaters Dec. 25.
This is not a Neil Diamond biopic. It is based on a 2008 documentary with the same title and follows the true story of a Neil Diamond impersonator played by Hugh Jackman. He crosses paths with an admirer, played by Kate Hudson, and the two begin to build momentum as his act grows in popularity. The setup could seem like simple comedy, yet the trailer carries a gentle and emotional tone. It leans into the quiet struggles of real life and the comfort that music can bring. This Christmas Day release hints at something genuinely special.
8. ‘Anaconda’
In theaters Dec. 25.
If the movie delivers on the promise of its trailer, this could be a wild ride. Paul Rudd and Jack Black step into the roles of two clueless dreamers who head into the jungle to recreate their favorite action flick, Anaconda, from 1997. Their low-budget idea quickly turns chaotic when a massive real snake notices them and begins the hunt. Comedies can be unpredictable and sometimes peak in the trailer, but this one feels loaded with genuine laugh-out-loud moments and reckless fun.
Which one are you most excited about?
