Poised for blockbuster debuts this week are DC superhero movie “Aquaman,” family musical “Mary Poppins Returns,” and the latest (and possibly greatest) “Transformers” outing in “Bumblebee,” as well as a tale of talent and determination in “Second Act” and the remarkable road to recovery of true-life figurine feature “Welcome to Marwen.”
Aquaman (PG-13)
Select release dates: France, South Korea – December 19; Hong Kong – Dec 20; Canada, South Africa, USA – Dec 21; Australia, New Zealand – Dec 26. Since the week of Dec 12 in select European, Asian territories.
[Final Trailer: youtu.be/2wcj6SrX4zw]
Story: Half-human Arthur Curry is next in line to Atlantis’s throne, a kingdom in desperate need of a new leader after having declared war on the surface.
Starring Jason Momoa (“Justice League” and TV series “Game of Thrones”) with Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman and Temuera Morrison and directed by James Wan (“Furious 7”).
Mary Poppins Returns (PG)
Select release dates: Canada, France, Netherlands, USA – December 19; Ireland, UK – Dec 21; Singapore – Dec 25; South Africa – Dec 28; Australia – Dec 1; Philippines – Dec 8; Hong Kong – January 31
[Official Trailer: youtu.be/-3jsfXDZLIY]
Story: Supernanny Mary Poppins comes back to the Banks household to look after its children as well as grown-up brother and sister Michael and Jane.
Starring Emily Blunt (“Sherlock Gnomes,” “A Quiet Place”) with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, and Dick Van Dyke from the original “Mary Poppins.” Directed by Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Into the Woods”).
Bumblebee (PG-13)
Select release dates: Australia, Netherlands, Singapore – December 20; Canada, South Africa, USA – Dec 21; Ireland, UK – Dec 24; South Korea – Dec 25; France – Dec 26; Hong Kong – Dec 27; India – Dec 28; Philippines – January 8
[Official Trailer (September 2018): youtu.be/lcwmDAYt22k]
Story: The latest “Transformers” movie focuses on a single lead character who must protect the world from the self-descriptive Decepticons while surviving a military pursuit.
Starring Hailee Steinfeld (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Pitch Perfect” franchise) and John Cena (“Ferdinand,” “Blockers,” “WWE Raw”) and directed by Travis Knight (“Kubo and the Two Strings”).
Second Act (PG-13)
Select release dates: Netherlands – December 20; USA – Dec 21; France – Dec 26; South Africa – Dec 28; Singapore – January 3; India – Jan 4; Hong Kong – Jan 24; Ireland, UK – Jan 25. Australia since Dec 6.
[Official Trailer: youtu.be/YsVo5necW6Q]
Story: Maya goes from working retail to working the C-suite at a top-tier advertising firm, thanks to a sham resume and Facebook page she did not know she had. Will she get found out or can she actually do the job?
Starring Jennifer Lopez (“Maid in Manhattan,” “Ice Age” franchise) and directed by Peter Segal (“Get Smart,” “Grudge Match”).
Welcome to Marwen (PG-13)
Select release dates: Canada, USA – December 21; Ireland, UK – January 1; France – Jan 9; Australia, Netherlands – Jan 10; South Africa – Jan 25; Hong Kong – February 14; Singapore – March 7
[Official Trailer 3: youtu.be/qZGxWSuiiZk]
Story: After surviving a brutal attack, Mark begins creating miniature scenes to help him deal with the physical and mental aftermath.
Starring Steve Carell (“The Office,”
“Despicable Me” franchise) and directed by Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump,” “Back to the Future”).
