Top 10 Movies That Should Be On Your Radar This Winter
#10: “Madame Web”
Release Date: February 14 Of all the superhero cinematic universes, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe has had the roughest time finding its footing. Will “Madame Web” be the one that finally gets it right or are we looking at the next “Morbius?” Admittedly, this line has us leaning toward the latter: “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died.” Meme-fuel aside, there are a few other reasons that “Madame Web” is on our radar. Namely, there’s Dakota Johnson, who has proven herself to be one of our most charismatic and adventurous actresses, never afraid to take a risk. She’s not the only promising name at the center of this web, which also features up-and-comers Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced. Whether it’s another misfire or a bold new direction, we’re eager to see what exactly they’ve spun up.
#9: “Damsel”
Release Date: March 8 The bad news is that you’re gonna have to wait a little longer for the final season of “Stranger Things.” On the plus side, Millie Bobby Brown’s next Netflix project is just around the corner. When you need a young actress to play a badass heroine, Brown should be at the top of every callsheet. It was only a matter of time until she added Warrior Princess to her resume. Brown plays Princess Elodie, who enters an arranged marriage without getting all the details. Before Elodie can ask for an annulment, she’s being sacrificed to a fearsome dragon. Considering Brown’s past roles, the dragon is the one who should be afraid in a film that promises a unique blend of the fantasy and survival genres.
#8: “Lisa Frankenstein”
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Release Date: February 9 First, Kathryn Newton put a horror movie spin on “Freaky Friday.” Now, she’s giving “Frankenstein” a comedic twist. It’s come full circle! “Lisa Frankenstein” looks like the kind of suburban horror comedy that Tim Burton would’ve made earlier in his career. Just as Burton turned Johnny Depp from teen idol to Edward Scissorhands, director Zelda Williams molds Cole Sprouse from Riverdale’s resident heartthrob to Frankenstein monster. Albeit, a hunky Frankenstein monster. And yes, that’s Zelda Williams as in Robin Williams’ daughter, making her feature directorial debut. With “Jennifer’s Body” being reevaluated as a modern classic, it’s about time screenwriter Diablo Cody revisited horror. The premise might be kooky, but with a lineup like this, we don’t see how “Lisa Frankenstein” can go wrong. It’s alive!
#7: “Bob Marley: One Love”
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Release Date: February 14 Kingsley Ben-Adir may not be a household name yet, although he’s already played some of the most influential voices in Black history. He gave an underrated performance as Malcolm X in 2020’s “One Night in Miami…” In this biopic, Ben-Adir portrays another figure who tragically didn’t live to see age 40. Bob Marley’s music lives on “One Love,” which chronicles the pioneering reggae singer’s life. Despite not coming from a musical background, Ben-Adir would learn to sing and play guitar in a performance that’ll combine his vocals with recordings of the real Marley. We’re not even through the current award season, but between Ben-Adir and director Reinaldo Marcus Green of “King Richard,” “One Love” already has us looking ahead to next year’s Oscars.
#6: “Imaginary”
Release Date: March 8 Move over, Teddy Ruxpin. There’s a new teddy bear bound to haunt our nightmares, although this one is intentionally creepy. With “M3GAN” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” both being two of last year’s biggest financial success stories, it only makes sense that Blumhouse would combine elements of the two in “Imaginary.” The premise also possesses echoes of a “Twilight Zone” episode, particularly “Living Doll” and “Little Girl Lost.” Chauncey the Bear seemingly has all the making of a modern horror icon, who will surely leave you on edge the next time your kid says they’re playing with an imaginary friend. Speaking of which, we imagine this will make for a fun double feature when “IF” comes out later in May.
#5: “Spaceman”
Release Date: March 1 When is Adam Sandler going to get his Oscar nomination? That might’ve sounded like an odd question if we asked it a decade ago. With “Uncut Gems” and “Hustle,” though, Sandler has been turning in one gripping performance after another as of late. This sci-fi drama from “Chernobyl” director Johan Renck may bring Sandler’s most intriguing dramatic performance yet. The setup calls to mind “Moon” starring Sam Rockwell and “Enemy” starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Sandler plays an isolated astronaut who finds companionship in an extraterrestrial spider, voiced by Paul Dano. It’s surreal to say the least, but this Netflix film has the potential to deliver a poignant and fascinating experience. By the way, did the marketing campaign for “Funny People” predict this movie?
#4: “Argylle”
Release Date: March 1 Henry Cavill was this close to playing James Bond, but the producers went with Daniel Craig. Almost 20 years later, Cavill steps into another Bond-esque role as Agent Argylle. Director Matthew Vaughn previously delivered a fresh spin on the spy genre in the “Kingsman” movies. “Argylle” takes an even more meta approach with Bryce Dallas Howard playing a novelist whose work imitates life. Or is this a case of life imitating fiction? That’s one of the hooks in a thriller reminiscent of “North by Northwest” and “Charade” with a dash of “Romancing the Stone.” In addition to Howard and Cavill, we likely won’t find a more stacked cast this season with Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, and Samuel L. Jackson being some of the other names.
#3: “Drive-Away Dolls”
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Release Date: February 23 We might’ve spoken too soon because “Drive-Away Dolls” also has an assembly of A-listers, from Matt Damon, to Pedro Pascal, to Colman Domingo. This road comedy is primarily a showcase for two rising stars, Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan. The plot draws parallels to “Thelma & Louise,” although Jamie and Marian are initially oblivious to the trouble that they’re in. The two inadvertently get wrapped up with bumbling criminals in a farce that can only be described as Coen-esque. “Drive-Away Dolls” marks Ethan Coen’s first narrative feature without his brother Joel. Co-writing the script with his wife and long-time editor Tricia Cooke, Ethan Coen seems to be revisiting what he does best with a mix of comedy, crime, and classic misunderstands that get out of control.
#2: “Kung Fu Panda 4”
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Release Date: March 8 It’s been 16 years since Po became the Dragon Warrior. We’re sure that makes you feel old, but imagine how Po must feel. With Po starting another chapter as the Spiritual Leader, he must find his successor while taking on several villains (new and old). Viola Davis sounds deliciously evil as the Chameleon, who enlists a few foes from Po’s past. DreamWorks has a solid track record with legacy sequels, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” being among the most pleasant surprises of recent memory. Here’s hoping that “Kung Fu Panda 4” follows the same example, revisiting the series’ roots while looking ahead. DreamWorks is branching out from sequels as well with “Orion and the Dark” hitting Netflix in February.
#1: “Dune: Part Two”
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Release Date: March 1 It’s our most anticipated movie of 2024… that was originally supposed to come out in 2023. We have every reason to believe that “Dune: Part Two” will be worth the wait. Why? Because director Denis Villeneuve delivered an instant cinematic classic with his 2021 sci-fi epic… and that was only the beginning! Anyone who has read Frank Herbert’s dense novel knows that the real meat of Paul Atreides’ story is in the second half. Villeneuve’s adaptation hasn’t even gotten to characters like Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by Austin Butler, and Princess Irulan, played by Florence Pugh. Time will only tell if Villeneuve returns for “Dune: Messiah,” but one thing is for certain. We’re seeing this second chapter on the biggest screen possible. What’s on your watch list for this winter? Let us know in the comments.
