Here at Atom Insider, we love to give love to the movies coming out every month. The month of December is packed full of great movies especially as we get closer to the holidays.
But what about the smaller and limited releases? What about special theatrical events? Those one-time-only screenings that always prove to be amazing experiences? This list is for you. Here are the most anticipated special movie events heading your way in December.
1. Warner Bros. Presents Peter Jackson’s ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’
Release Date: Saturday, December 7; Tuesday, December 17 & Wednesday, December 18
If you’re reading this thinking, Wait, wasn’t this already in theaters?, don’t worry, you’re not crazy. Indeed, it came out around this time last year. But Peter Jackson’s painstaking and incredible colorization of old WWI footage was so successful in its limited run that Fathom Events is bringing it back once again. The Academy Award-winning director of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies is a history buff, and this documentary passion project involved him poring through hundreds of hours of WWI footage, which he then colorized, to bring the Great War to life as we’ve never seen before.
2. ‘Promare’ (Redux)
Release Date: Sunday, December 8; Tuesday, December 10 & Wednesday, December 11
Like the movie above, Promare was a hit during its limited run in theaters so Fathom is bringing it back for another go. Studio TRIGGER’s first feature film is back for a three-night engagement. The bold visuals of the anime are eyepopping and gorgeous as they help tell an epic story: Thirty years ago, a race of flame-wielding mutants called the Burnish appeared and destroyed half of Earth with their fire. Now, a new group of mutants calling themselves the “Mad Burnish” have reappeared, pitting Galo Thymos, the leader of the Burning Rescue team, against Lio Fotia, the leader of the Mad Burnish. This special event also comes with short “SIDE: GALO” attached, showing Galo’s first day with Burning Rescue. Anime fans won’t want to miss this.
3. ‘Les Misérables’ – The Staged Concert
Release Date: Sunday, December 8
Not everyone has the means or the funds to get to Broadway in NYC or the West End in London. But Trafalgar Releasing is bringing the next-best thing to theaters with the filmed concert production of Les Misérables. Director Cameron Mackintosh produces a spectacular tribute to the beloved musical, one with an all-star cast pulled from some of the most famed performers to ever step into the characters’ shoes. Featuring performers like Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones and a 65-member orchestra, the songs of Les Misérables will be performed in a one-night-only event that is a must-see for musical lovers.
4. INXS: Live Baby Live At Wembley Stadium
Release Date: Monday, December 9
Five years after opening for Queen at Wembley, INXS returned to Wembley Stadium for a concert of their own. The sell-out crowd of 73,791 passionate fans was treated to a spectacle of a show that wasn’t soon forgotten. Dubbed the ‘Summer XS’ event, it was captured on film and turned into the best-selling concert film Live Baby Live by director David Mallet. Almost 30 years later, the 35mm film has been converted to digital and a widescreen format to bring it to theaters for a brand-new generation. During the restoration process, a previously lost performance of ‘Lately’ from the X album was uncovered and has been added to this newly remastered version of Live Baby Live.
5. Gorillaz: Reject False Icons
Release Date: Monday, December 16
For three years, filmmaker and documentarian Denholm Hewlett followed the band Gorillaz, documenting a span that covered making two critically-acclaimed albums and one world tour. He then put it all together in Gorillaz: Reject False Icons, an immersive documentary that dives into the life of the quirky and groundbreaking band. Fans will see never-before-seen footage where “the virtual meets the real.” The band is joined by a cast of friends and other musicians including De La Soul, Pusha T, Noel Gallagher, Pauline Black, DRAM, and a dozen more. Anyone who is into Gorillaz or is just a big fan of boundary-pushing music and virtual experimenting will want to check this one out.
