As was also the case in November, December is poised to overwhelm with new, highly-anticipated releases. As awards season officially befalls us, so too does a barrage of must-see films that have either garnered buzz throughout the long festival season or have quietly established themselves as the year’s best, holding off on release. 
READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2025 
It’s a star-heavy line-up, with new films starring Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie, and more. Behind the camera, there are new releases from Barry Jenkins and Pedro Almodóvar. From a new “Lord Of The Rings” inspired anime production, to the superb adaptation, “Nickel Boys,” under-the-radar gems and awards favorites, there’s something worth watching each week leading up until the end of the year. 
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“The Order”Jude Law stars as an FBI agent pursuing the recent violent acts of a white supremacist group in “The Order” from director Justin Kurzel (“Nitram,” “True History of the Kelly Gang.) Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Alison Oliver, and Marc Maron also star. (Read our review)Release Date: In theaters December 6 via Prime Video. 

“Nightbitch” Amy Adams and director Marielle Heller team up for the adaptation of Rachel Yoder’s horror comedy book, “Nightbitch.” The film follows a woman who begins to believe she’s turning into a dog. (Read our review)Release Date: In theaters December 6 via Searchlight Pictures. 

“The Return” Ralph Fiennes leads his second buzzy film of the year in the retelling of Homer’s “The Odyssey” in “The Return.” Directed by Uberto Pasolini, the film also stars Juliette Binoche as Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. (Read our review)Release Date: In theaters December 6 via Bleecker Street. 

“The End”Documentarian filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer (“The Act of Killing,” “The Look of Silence”) pivots to narrative feature filmmaking in “The End.” Starring Tilda Swinton, George Mackay, Moses Ingram, Michael Shannon, and more, the film follows a family living in an underground bunker decades after the apocalypse. (Read our review)Release Date: In theaters December 6 via NEON. 

“Oh, Canada”Director Paul Schrader reunites with Richard Gere in their first film together since “American Gigolo” with the adaptation, “Oh, Canada.” Based on the 2021 novel “Forgone” and starring Uma Thurman, and Jacob Elordi alongside Gere, the film follows the life of a documentary filmmaker on the brink of death. (Read our review)Release Date: In theaters December 6 via Kino Lorber.