“Wicked”
The success of “Wicked“ is undeniable. The movie has earned over $360 million at the box office and counting, not to mention the soundtrack and countless brand collaborations. With Ariana Grande playing Glinda and Cynthia Erivo playing Elphaba, the pair shows great chemistry and vocal talent.
“Wicked” isn’t groundbreaking nor an original idea. In an age of remakes and minimal creativity in Hollywood, “Wicked” adds to the issue. Despite this, it’s a fun time in the movie theater. Additionally, it’s the big hit of the year, so in order to stay hip with pop culture references, “Wicked” should be on your watch list.
“Dune: Part Two”
In Denis Villeneuve’s second sci-fi film in the “Dune” series, the sequel transports audiences to the fictional desert planet of Arrakis. Timothée Chalamet, playing the lead Paul Atreides, joins the Fremen people against the larger backdrop of themes of love, family and power.
The world-building, action scenes, score and character development are stellar. Additionally, the production design and cinematography are some of the most impressive cinematic feats of the year. In 2022, “Dune” took home six Oscars at the Academy Awards. Expect similar Oscar buzz and Hollywood praise for the sequel.
“Challengers”
Luca Guadagnino — who you might recognize as the director of “Call Me by Your Name” — gives audiences a sports-romance movie with a love triangle between three actors. Zendaya plays Tashi, a young tennis star courted by two doubles partners, played by Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor. The film follows the three tennis players as they compete in tournaments and navigate their relationships.
This movie is a fun time and also quality cinema. The script builds suspense perfectly, keeping audiences interested throughout the entire movie. The score — composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails — is fun and fast-paced, the acting is believable, and the action scenes of the tennis matches are well-shot.
“Gladiator II”
Paul Mescal hit the big screen in “Gladiator II,” a sequel to the original “Gladiator” movie. Follow Lucius, played by Mescal, as she enters the Colosseum and fights in gladiator battles. The movie premiered on the same release date as “Wicked” in an event titled “Glicked.”
Hollywood stars such as Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn join Mescal on the big screen. “Gladiator II” is an action-packed movie with great battle scenes. Although the script lacks a deeper emotional connection, Ridley Scott’s new release is noteworthy.
“Twisters”
Kate, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, returns to Oklahoma to chase tornadoes after leaving for New York after a traumatic tornado encounter with her friends when she was younger. Along the way, she pairs up with Tyler, played by Glen Powell, to track and chase storms. This action film puts audiences in the eyes of tornado chasers while also building character development along the way.
Check out Luke Combs’s song “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,” which was written for the movie. The song has topped the country charts for the year. “Twisters” is a fun, action-packed movie that was a hit of the summer.
Honorable mentions
Other noteworthy movies include “The Wild Robot,” “We Live in Time,” “Conclave,” “Saturday Night” and “A Real Pain.” Robert Eggers’ film “Nosferatu” is set to release on Christmas.
