The 2025 Films That Are Already Popping Our Corn
Is it REALLY the last month of 2024?! In this month’s movie news, we share an exciting win for musical kids, work out if ‘Glicked’ is really the new Barbenheimer, and take a peek at the movies we can’t wait to see in 2025.
good.film
2 months ago
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Your Streaming Picks of the Month
There’s a glittering ocean of content out there, so what are you diving into next? If you’re umming & ahhing over your next binge, here’s some shows that other good.film members reckon might be worth your while.
@justasksiri: “Sophie Turner shows off her impressive range as a single mother who escapes her abusive partner and turns to a life of crime to get her daughter out of the social care system.
Combining thrilling jewel heists & poignant social commentary, this is an engaging series wrapped in an oversized 80s bow.”
@sandshoes: “Redmayne's Bond Audition Tape is great, and though it doesn’t have the wit of Slow Horses, it’s still punchy, exciting and drama-filled. If you like British spy vibes served straight up with a side of guns, it’s worth a watch.”
@alisonmclennan: “Impeccably acted and scripted drama with political intrigue, sparring politicians, warring countries, sexy flirtations and a huge dose of female empowerment. Warning: the cliff hanger at the end will leave you desperate for more.”
@sandshoes: “This gender flip, non-reboot is a fun take that ticks all the boxes. Seeing a badass older woman in the lead is refreshing (Kathy Bates is amazing) and the show also shines a light on the plight of older women and the concept of invisibility.”
Our Streaming Picks of the Month
Not quite grabbing you? Here’s a few of the very best new movies kicking around on streaming! What are you in the mood for?
Something inspiring…
This fab and moving new Disney+ flick is a winner for the holidays, especially if you want your younger ones watching something a bit more meaningful. Tweenager Melody has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but she’s overlooked because her cerebral palsy means she’s non-verbal – until a new assistive “voice” brings her personality alive. It’s an authentic look at childhood disability, focusing on Melody's everyday life and aspirations as well as her challenges – and Phoebe-Rae Taylor, an actress with cerebral palsy, knocks it out of the park. It’s a triumphant delight.
Something Aussie…
Sound familiar? Yep, this Binge original movie, co-written with musician Meg Washington, is inspired by the Paul Kelly classic of the same name. It wraps around a letter written by Joe, a prison inmate who’s prepping for his first Chrissie away from family – asking poignant questions like “Who’s gonna make the gravy now?” Dealing with themes of trauma and regret, it’s also an unexpected heartwarmer. And with its nostalgic Aussie-ness of hot summer barbies, it’s a great antidote to all those snowy, frosty Christmas movies that make no sense in our sunburnt country.
Something captivating…
A big-budget Netflix adaptation of the revered August Wilson play, Samuel L. Jackson’s latest has been hailed “a masterpiece from start to finish.” Directed by Malcolm Washington (yep, son of Denzel), The Piano Lesson portrays a rich family history, with a key motif being carvings made on a prized piano… by their enslaved ancestor. If you’re in the mood for a powerful first-rate drama touching on cultural heritage, family conflict and the American Dream, you’ll want this one at the very front of your queue.
A border message hitting here at home
Last month, good.film teamed up with Sharmill Films to help promote the courageous and award-winning thriller Green Border to Australian audiences.
Some may wonder what a film about Syrian refugees crossing into Poland has to do with our day-to-day lives in Australia? So it’s ironic timing that just days ago, a new set of Migration laws were passed through Australian Parliament.
The Human Rights Law Centre explains that these Bills give the Australian government unprecedented powers to:
- impose travel bans on entire countries;
- jail people who have lived here for years for refusing to assist with their own deportation;
- exile people to be warehoused in third countries forever; and
- disconnect people from lifesaving communication with their families by stripping mobile phones in immigration detention.
Governments worldwide are struggling with how to respond to the rising number of displaced people. The number has exploded from about 2 million in the 1950s to nearly 123 million in 2023. And of course, some political parties have tried (and succeeded) to weaponize the issue for their own advantage.
Green Border doesn’t provide answers, but it does give us the chance to step into the shoes of its characters - those who fight for refugees, those who ignore them, and those caught in moral dilemmas. Simply put, powerful films like these are an access point. They help us engage with overwhelming yet profoundly important issues, and shape how we view ourselves, our country, and our humanity within the wider world.
Let’s talk about GLICKED
Have you seen Wicked yet? How about Gladiator II… or both? Last year, Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day, becoming a marketing sensation that no-one could’ve predicted… and giving the world the term “Barbenheimer”.
While they haven’t hit the billion-dollar highs of Barbenheimer just yet, both films are performing great - since November 22, Gladiator II has earned $320M+ globally, and Wicked even more with $360M in worldwide ticket sales. But it turns out there was an ocean leviathan lurking nearby with EVEN MORE pulling power…
Moana 2 has just earned the biggest five-day opening of all time, trawling an astonishing near-$390M from the global box office in just 6 days of release. The family-friendly adventure is clearly hitting for kids who mightn’t be old enough to go see Wicked… or maybe for older kids who are relieving the original they loved in 2016… or maybe both (plus their parents of course - ka-ching!!)
So it looks like the marketing gurus who hoped for the next big thing might’ve been sniffing around the wrong colosseum. Maybe Gladiator II wasn’t quite the right dance partner for a Wicked double-bill… and the Barbeheimer sequel none of us expected is actually Moana 2 + Wicked after all. MOA-NICK-ED, anyone?
Kids education that hits the right note
good.film followers will know we got behind the recent release of Mozart’s Sister, a superb documentary that reveals a hidden mystery in the classical world. We’re thrilled to report that the film has just crossed a new milestone at the local box office, where it’s now the 4th highest grossing documentary of the year!
But that’s not all. Alongside the film’s release, we worked with the filmmakers and the team at MusicApprentice to develop a groundbreaking AI powered study guide!
It means that kids can dive into the world of Mozart's Sister with a platform that brings the film to life, enhancing their learning with detailed historical insights and using interactive content that’s designed to deepen their understanding of classical music.
CHECK OUT SOME NEWS COVERAGE HERE
Seasons Greetings to Cinephiles!
It’s the MOST Wonderfuuul TIIIIME of the YEEEEAAAR… sure, Christmas is fun, but what really gets our tinsel tingling and sleigh bells jingling are the fabulous and fascinating new films that land over the new year!
Why? Studios always position their juiciest movies towards the end of the year, giving them the best chance to scoop up next year’s Oscars, Golden Globes and more… which means there’s usually a slate of great flicks to catch at the cinema (while you escape those sticky December temps).
This year’s no exception, with career-best performances heading our way from Zoe Saldana, Adrien Brody and Ralph Fiennes, plus the Mexican cartel movie with a difference Emilia Perez, a sex comedy Anora that some are calling a masterpiece, and the new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown that could break an Academy Awards record for Timothee Chalamet.
They’re all in Aussie cinemas soon, so stay tuned. We’ll be stuffing your stocking later this month with our guide to these killer new end-of-year releases… just in time to emerge from your Christmas coma.
