Movies Update: What if Christmas movies were sexy?

Plus, a "Wicked" season on the big screen

View in browser|nytimes.com November 8, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! With Halloween a distant memory, Hollywood is already unpacking the tinsel and ornaments. And this year, a few of the holiday movies on the way are downright sizzling. As our season preview explains, Netflix and Lifetime are turning up the heat (and peeling off the shirts) with offerings like "Hot Frosty," "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Carpenter Christmas Romance." But if you're looking for something a little more grand this season, not to worry. The studios have some major theatrical options, including "Wicked" and "Gladiator II." The stars of "Wicked," Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, discussed their big-screen take on the Broadway hit. (Hint: A lot of tears were shed.) And the director Ridley Scott spoke oh so candidly about making a sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 phenomenon. But all those movies are coming soon. If you'd like to get into the holiday spirit now, out this week is "Christmas Eve in Miller's Point" (a Critic's Pick) and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," both in theaters, as well as "Meet Me Next Christmas" on Netflix. Enjoy the movies! Dana Scruggs for The New York Times A 'Wicked' Tearful Talk With Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande The stars of the new movie reflect on their long ride together, getting through Covid and the actors' strike, and avoiding "playing to the green." By Kyle Buchanan Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix Netflix and Lifetime Ask: What if Christmas Movies Were Sexy? With "Hot Frosty," "The Merry Gentlemen" and "A Carpenter Christmas Romance," holiday fare is headed in a shirtless new direction. By Ashley Spencer Robbie Lawrence for The New York Times With 'Gladiator II,' Ridley Scott Returns to the Arena The director speaks his mind on rejected sequel ideas, Joaquin Phoenix's plan to quit the original and working with a "fractious" Denzel Washington. By Kyle Buchanan Kimberley French/A24 'Heretic' Review: Hugh Grant Puts His Charm to Fiendish Use In wily, vamping style, the actor plays a friendly neighbor to two missionaries before turning his home into a horror-filled slaughterhouse. By Manohla Dargis CRITICS' PICKS Enda Bowe/Lionsgate Critic's Pick 'Small Things Like These' Review: The Fears of a Watchful Father Cillian Murphy of "Oppenheimer" fame plays an Irishman interrogating a system of abuse and forced labor, despite everyone's warnings to look the other way. By Alissa Wilkinson IFC Films Critic's Pick 'Christmas Eve in Miller's Point' Review: Home for the Holidays Tyler Taormina's third theatrical feature is a lightly nostalgic ensemble piece set on Long Island. By Ben Kenigsberg ANATOMY OF A SCENE Neon Anatomy of a Scene Watch Mikey Madison Take a Mansion Tour in 'Anora' The writer, director and editor Sean Baker narrates an early sequence from his film, which also features Mark Eydelshteyn. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Atsushi Nishijima/Mubi 'Bird' Review: In Search of Safety Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski star in a film about a preteen girl who longs for a stability she's never experienced. By Alissa Wilkinson Icarus Films Documentary Lens A Chinese Homecoming Story That's Universal In the finale of Wang Bing's nonfiction trilogy, garment-factory workers return to their families and wrestle with the questions all young people do. By Alissa Wilkinson Samuel Goldwyn Films 'The Last Rifleman' Review: A World War II Veteran Hits the Road Pierce Brosnan plays a man who sneaks out of his retirement home to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in this charming, but corny drama. By Amy Nicholson Metrograph Pictures 'Meanwhile on Earth' Review: Outer Space and Inner Turmoil A bereaved young woman faces terrible choices in this dreamily uncertain blend of science fiction and moral philosophy. By Jeannette Catsoulis Vertical 'Elevation' Review: A High Place Humans flee monsters who refuse to surpass 8,000 feet in altitude in this "Quiet Place" copycat. By Natalia Winkelman Carlos Somonte/Netflix 'Pedro Páramo' Review: A Ghost Story Lacking in Spirit In this grave adaptation of Juan Rulfo's surreal novel, the living pray for salvation and the dead murmur regrets, but the filmmaking is oddly orthodox. By Natalia Winkelman Allen Fraser/Lionsgate 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' Review: How It Got So Great The film, based on a 1972 children's book by Barbara Robinson, tells the story of an unlikely group of kids stunning a small town for the holidays. By Glenn Kenny Marni Grossman/Netflix 'Meet Me Next Christmas' Review: An a Cappella Affair to Remember This Netflix Christmas rom-com inexplicably wants to remind viewers that the group Pentatonix still exists. By Brandon Yu NEWS & FEATURES Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures Critic's Notebook All Hail the Theater Kid! (We Mean That Sincerely.) For stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, showmanship is a virtue. That's a big change from the days when Anne Hathaway was vilified for her effortful work. By Esther Zuckerman via Apple How 'Blitz' Recreates War-Torn London Steve McQueen's latest film, set in 1940 during Germany's bombardment of the British capital, draws extensively from wartime photos, and much of it was shot outside London. By Simran Hans and Sarah Eckinger Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times For 'Dinner in America,' a Surprise Theatrical Run Is Dessert The film became popular on TikTok two years after its quiet initial release. Now, it's getting a second chance in movie theaters. By Mariella Rudi Popperfoto, via Getty Images Filmmaker's Private Archive Rekindles Debate Over Her Nazi Ties Recent access to Leni Riefenstahl's estate has prompted new discussions in Germany about her politics and a reconsideration of her photographs of the Nuba people in Sudan. By Thomas Rogers STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Illumination/Universal Pictures 5 Children's Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include sequels galore and an animated adventure out of Canada. By Dina Gachman Philip Lozano/Shudder Five Horror Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include 2000s nostalgia, feminist thrills and the one and only Corey Feldman. By Erik Piepenburg Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Stream These 9 Titles Before They Leave Netflix This Month A slew of great movies and TV shows are leaving Netflix for U.S. subscribers in November. Here's a roundup of the best. By Jason Bailey How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. 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