As we head into December, the state of our social lives is finally looking a lot better than it was a few months ago. Restaurants are open, people are out and about, and most excitingly, the cinemas are back on — just in time to save us from the relentless Aussie summer heat.
Perhaps the only silver lining we can think of for cinemas being shut (in some states) for most of the winter is that the December line-up at HOYTS is so thoroughly stacked, that we’ll be watching a movie on the silver screen every single week.
If you’re thinking of heading to the movies, we highly suggest you check out the eBay Tuesdays deal, which allows all eBay members to buy general admission movie tickets for $11 a pop and HOYTS LUX tickets for $25, every single Tuesday, for any movie showing at HOYTS cinemas.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
In cinemas on 16 December.
Perhaps the most highly-anticipated release of the month (or even the year), the latest instalment of Tom Holland’s Marvel films, Spider-Man: No Way Home, is finally arriving in HOYTS cinemas this month and we’re very excited about it.
At the end of the last Spider-Man movie, we saw Peter Parker be unmasked to the world, so we’ll be seeing him navigate life now that his identity is exposed — all while trying to save the world from bad guys.
Marvel fans are particularly excited for this film as it’s rumoured that we’ll see past Peter Parkers, Andrew Garfield and Toby Maguire, reprise their roles now that the existence of the multiverse has been confirmed. Will it actually happen, or are we all just really hoping that it does? We’ll have to wait for 16 December to see.
Dune
In cinemas on 2 December.
Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya are having a busy December, with the release of two movies each. In Dune, we see the first half of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert (also titled Dune) come to life with an all-star cast. The story from the book has been split in two, with the second part already confirmed, so you can expect the classic tale to be told in-depth and detailed.
This film tells the story of House Atreides as Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides, prepares to take over the helm from his father. But while the family prepares to travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to protect the single source of the universe’s most valuable commodity (spice), a woman (Zendaya) keeps visiting him in his dreams, trying to communicate something important.
While Dune is undoubtedly an action-packed sci-fi film, it’s also a coming-of-age love story at its core. And we weren’t kidding about the cast, which stars Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster, among others.
Encanto
In cinemas on 2 December.
In true feel-good Disney fashion, Encanto is a gorgeous, rainbow-hued animation about the Madrigals family who lives in a place called an Encanto. As the story goes, their casita (Spanish for cottage) is enchanted and has gifted every member of the family with their own unique magical talent. There’s a kid who can speak with animals, a woman with super-human strength, and a mother who can physically heal people through her food.
But the main character, Mirabel, is a bit different from her family: she was never given a magical gift. When the magic casita starts to crumble, and with it, the magic it holds, Mirabel vows to save their home and all of the gifts wrapped up in it.
Dear Evan Hansen
In cinemas on 9 December.
Ben Platt is bringing his Broadway hit to the big screen this December, with the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. The role of Evan Hansen is what put Platt on the map (he won a Tony and Grammy for his Broadway stint and a Daytime Emmy for a Today performance with the Dear Evan Hansen cast), so it’s especially exciting to see him pop his arm cast back on and reprise his role.
The story is an emotional one, following an anxious high schooler (Evan) who finds himself entangled in the life of a grieving family when a letter he wrote to himself as part of a task from his therapist is found in the locker of a classmate who had taken his own life. The show is still showing on Broadway and in London, but this is the first time it has been adapted for film.
The French Dispatch
In cinemas on 9 December.
The second film to be released in December with Timothée Chalamet at the helm is Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch. The film has been referred to as a loving ode to print media, with all of the classic stylings of a Wes Anderson film, so we’re excited to see this one when it hits cinemas.
The French Dispatch was originally slated for mid-2020, but due to the pandemic, its release has been delayed. Set in a fictional 20th-century French city, this film will see an all-star cast lead the European outpost of an American newspaper as they dive into stories about news, politics, and the arts.
When we say the cast is all-star, we really do mean it, with the likes of Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Elisabeth Moss, Owen Wildon, Henry Winkler, Saoirse Ronan, and more, all joining the team of American expats living and working in France.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
In cinemas on 9 December.
If terrifying action-horror movies are more your speed, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will probably fill the void. Going back to the roots of the Resident Evil games, this instalment is set in a Midwestern town called Racoon City, which has been ravaged by pharmaceutical giant, Umbrella Corporation.
With evil brewing underground, the townspeople are in for a rude shock when it’s unleashed, inspiring a group of brave survivors (including Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, Neal McDonough, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hopper) to rise up and fight against Umbrella as they try to uncover the dark truth about the corporation.
Back to the Outback
In cinemas on 2 December.
In a classic cartoon tale of animals trying to break out of the zoo, Back to the Outback is an adorable animated movie that’s coming to HOYTS cinemas (and Netflix) this December.
Expect snakes, spiders, and scorpions that are much sweeter looking than in real life all busting out of a wildlife park because they’re sick of being gawked at and children being scared of their scary exteriors. But before breaking free, they abduct the crowd favourite fluffy koala to come along with them, back to the outback.
Based on the trailer, Back to the Outback has some Finding Nemo vibes, but with more city adventures and fewer coral reefs.
To book your $11 general admission tickets and $25 HOYTS LUX tickets for HOYTS as part of the eBay Tuesday deal, head to the eBay website.
