If you want to be among the first to see the new Western that might win the Oscar for Best Picture, or the Shakespeare adaptation that could earn Denzel Washington his third Academy Award, you’ll have to venture out to a cinema.
Or, if you wait a couple of weeks, those movies will come to you.
Welcome to another semi-streaming awards season. In the face of a stubborn pandemic, studios remain unconvinced that moviegoers will flock to theaters to see this year’s Oscar-worthy movies. After all, ticket sales have been painfully slow to recover from COVID-19, reaching near-normal levels only in October. By contrast, the streaming service Netflix reported that it beat expectations by adding 4.3 million subscribers in the third quarter of the year.
So, the studios are splitting the difference, releasing some of their biggest titles in theaters for a short time before making them available at home. “The Power of the Dog,” a dark Western that could win Best Picture (and Best Director for Jane Campion) arrived in theaters Nov. 17 but will bow on Netflix Dec. 1. “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” with Washington in the title role, debuts in theaters Christmas Day but comes to Apple TV+ Jan. 14. As for “King Richard,” starring Oscar front-runner Will Smith as the father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, it will premiere in theaters and on HBO Max the same day, Nov. 19.
The choice is yours. Here are 23 big titles coming your way:
NOV. 17
Benedict Cumerbatch (l) and Jesse Plemons (r) in “The Power of the Dog.” Credit: NETFLIX/KIRSTY GRIFFIN
THE POWER OF THE DOG On a Montana cattle ranch, tensions build between two brothers (Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons), a widow (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). Directed by Jane Campion (“The Piano”). Streams Dec. 1 on Netflix.
NOV. 19
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(L-r) Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene “Brandy” Williams, Mikayla Bartholomewas Tunde Price, Will Smith as Richard Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams, Demi Singleton as Serena Williams and Danielle Lawson as Isha Price in “King Richard.” Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
KING RICHARD Will Smith could win his first Oscar as Richard Williams, the hard-driving father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton). Also on HBO Max.
Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Logan Kim in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” Credit: Columbia Pictures/Kimberley French
GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE A next-gen addition to the comedy franchise, starring Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd (plus several familiar faces). Directed by Jason Reitman and produced by his father, Ivan Reitman, who helmed the 1984 original.
C’MON C’MON Joaquin Phoenix plays a radio journalist who begins caring for his young nephew (Woody Norman). Written and directed by Mike Mills (“Beginners”).
BRIAN WILSON: LONG PROMISED ROAD. The Beach Boy takes a road trip with one of his biggest fans, Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine. Featuring interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and others. Also on VOD.
NOV. 24
ENCANTO An animated Disney musical about the Madrigals, a family with special powers living in the mountains of Colombia. With original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
HOUSE OF GUCCI Ridley Scott (“The Last Duel”) directs a drama about the making of the famous fashion brand. Starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino.
NOV. 26
LICORICE PIZZA Paul Thomas Anderson (“Boogie Nights”) directs this coming-of-age story set in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. With singer Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), Sean Penn and Bradley Cooper.
DEC. 3
WOLF A boy who believes he is a wolf (George MacKay) is sent to a clinic where he meets a mysterious girl named Wildcat (Lily-Rose Depp). Written and directed by Nathalie Biancheri (“Nocturnal”).
FLEE An animated documentary about Amin Nawabi, a refugee from Afghanistan who for 20 years has been keeping a painful secret. It’s Denmark’s official Oscar entry.
DEC. 10
David Alvarez as Bernardo in “West Side Story.” Credit: 20th Century Studios/Niko Tavernise
WEST SIDE STORY Steven Spielberg adapts the Broadway musical about a Romeo-and-Juliet romance amid New York street gangs. With Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler. Rita Moreno, from the iconic 1961 film version, plays a new character.
BEING THE RICARDOS Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem play Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Aaron Sorkin’s drama about a turbulent week in the making of “I Love Lucy.” It arrives on Amazon Prime Video Dec. 21.
DON’T LOOK UP Two astronomers (Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio) sound the alarm about a comet hurtling toward Earth — only to find that nobody cares. The latest from Adam McKay (“The Big Short”) also features Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill and Cate Blanchett. It’s on Netflix Dec. 24.
DEC. 17
Tom Holland is Spider-Man and Benedict Cumberbatch is Doctor Strange in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Credit: Sony Pictures/Matt Kennedy
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME When Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked as Spider-Man, he seeks help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). The big news here is Alfred Molina’s return as Dr. Octopus.
Rooney Mara and Bradley Cooper in “Nightmare Alley.” Credit: 20th Century Studios/Kerry Hayes
NIGHTMARE ALLEY Guillermo del Toro’s latest follows a manipulative carnival worker (Bradley Cooper) who meets his match in a psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett). Based on William Lindsay Graham’s hard-boiled novel.
Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan in “The Tender Bar.” Credit: Amazon Content Services LLC/Claire Folger
THE TENDER BAR George Clooney directs this drama about a fatherless boy who finds a second home in the Manhasset pub Dickens (now Publicans). Based on J.R. Moehringer’s memoir. With Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan. It arrives on Amazon Prime Video Jan. 7.
DEC. 22
Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in “The Matrix Resurrections.” Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS Keanu Reeves returns as hacker-turned-messiah Neo in a sequel to the iconic sci-fi franchise of the 1990s. Carrie-Anne Moss also returns. Of the writing-directing Wachowski siblings, however, only Lana is involved.
SING 2 Bono makes his animated film debut in this sequel about musical animals who put on a show. With the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson.
DEC. 24
PARALLEL MOTHERS Two women (Milena Smit and possible Oscar contender Penélope Cruz) meet in a hospital room where they are about to give birth. Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.
DEC. 25
Denzel Washington stars in “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” Credit: Apple TV+/Alison Rosa
THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in Joel Coen’s take on the Scottish play. It comes to Apple TV+ Jan. 14.
AMERICAN UNDERDOG The story of Kurt Warner (Zachary Levi), who went from grocery-store stock boy to Hall of Fame quarterback. With Anna Paquin and Dennis Quaid.
A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN The true story of a soldier in Iraq who kept a journal of fatherly advice for his infant son. Starring Michael B. Jordan and directed by Denzel Washington.
DEC. 31
CYRANO Peter Dinklage plays the title role in a new adaptation of the 19th-Century play about love and lookism. Haley Bennett is his Roxanne. Joe Wright, of “Atonement,” directs.
Source: https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/holiday-movies-king-richard-west-side-story-1.50417564