As always, the Christmas week releases are fewer in number, but bigger in name. Searchlight publishes the biopic about Bob Dylan A complete unknownFocus brings vampires back to the cinema Nosferatuand A24 rings Pavlov’s bells Baby girl. The directorial debut of cinematographer Rachel Morrison The fire within Premiere for Amazon MGM, while Paramount releases a very different kind of musical biopic with Robbie Williams Better man. Everyone will be vying to draw audiences’ attention to last weekend’s hugely successful film Sonic the Hedgehog 3and they were decidedly less successful Mufasa.

Films listed are from studios other than the Big Five – Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the films listed will only have a limited release in the US for the first week or two. So it may still be a few weeks (or months) before they appear at your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out last week’s posts to see other films that may be opening near you: December 20th, December 13th, and December 6th.

A complete unknown

Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro
writer: James Mangold, Jay Cocks, Elijah Wald
director: James Mangold
genre: drama, biography, music
Plot: In 1961, unknown 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City with his guitar. During his meteoric rise, he forges relationships with Greenwich Village music icons, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that resonates worldwide.
What you should know: All actors sang and acted live during filming.
Where to see: In the cinema

Baby girl

Stars: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde
Writer/Director: Halina Reijn
genre: Drama, Thriller
Plot: A powerful CEO puts her career and family at risk when she begins a steamy affair with her much younger intern.
What you should know: Nicole Kidman was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this film.
Where to see: In the cinema

Nosferatu

Stars: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgard, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
writer: Robert Eggers, Henrik Galeen, Bram Stoker
director:Robert Eggers
genre: Horror
Plot: A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire who is in love with her, causing unspeakable horror.
What you should know: The exterior shots of Orlok’s Castle were filmed at Hunedoara Castle, also known as Corvin Castle, a Romanian castle in Transylvania and one of the largest surviving medieval castles in Europe.
Where to see: In the cinema

The fire within

Stars: Ryan Destiny, Brian Tyree Henry, Jazmin Headley, Kylee D. Allen
writer: Barry Jenkins
director:Rachel Morrison
genre: Drama, Sports
Plot: The story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan, who trained to become the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.
What you should know: Brian Tyree Henry’s role was originally supposed to be Ice Cube.
Where to see: In the cinema

Vermiglio

Stars: Tommaso Ragno, Roberta Rovelli, Martina Scrinzi, Giuseppe De Domenico
Writer/Director: Maura Delpero
genre: drama, story
Plot: 1944, Vermiglio, a remote mountain village. The arrival of deserter Pietro into the local teacher’s family and his love for the teacher’s eldest daughter will change the course of everyone’s life.
What you should know: The film submitted by Italy was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
Where to see:

2073

Stars: Samantha Morton, Naomi Ackie, Hector Hewer
writer: Asif Kapadia, Tony Grisoni
director: Asif Kapadia
genre: Documentary, Thriller
Plot: A time traveler risks his life to change the course of history and save the future of humanity.
What you should know: Inspired by Chris Marker’s iconic 1962 featurette La Jetee.
Where to see: In the cinema on Friday

Santosh

Stars: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Pratibha Awasthy, Shashi Beniwal
Writer/Director:Sandhya Suri
genre: crime, drama, thriller
Plot: Newly widowed Santosh inherits her husband’s job as a police officer in the rural wastelands of northern India. When a girl’s body is found, she is brought into the investigation under the leadership of the charismatic feminist Inspector Sharma.
What you should know: The film, submitted by the UK, was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.
Where to see: In the cinema on Friday

Major studio release

Better man – Of utmost importance

Stars: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton, Alison Steadman
writer: Simon Gleeson, Oliver Cole, Michael Gracey
director: Michael Gracey
genre: drama, biography, music
Plot: Based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time
What you should know: It took a year and a half to get permission to film the elaborate dance sequence on Regent Street in London as it belongs to the British Royal Family. Two nights before filming began, Queen Elizabeth II died after spending a full week in rehearsals, and filming had to be postponed.
Where to see: In the cinema

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Happy Holidays, ONTD! What have you seen lately, ONTD? Did you see anything this weekend?