As we’ll be taking a break over the holiday season, today we’re profiling the notable big screen releases landing over the next three Fridays. Here’s what’s waiting for you if you venture out to South African cinemas in the coming weeks. And for Throwback fans, you can find the December line-up here, while the original The Wizard of Oz returns on 2 January.

19 December

Actually out from 17 December is the third of James Cameron’s epic sci-fi action adventures set on the dazzling alien world of Pandora. In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jake and Neytiri’s family encounter an aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, and who are evidently willing to align with the human forces of Colonel Miles Quaritch for greater fire power in their favour. Watch this one on IMAX for maximum visual impact.

For a different kind of escapism, there’s The Housemaid, a very twisty psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel of the same name. Sydney Sweeney plays a young woman who accepts a job as a live-in maid for the picture-perfect Winchester family. Except, once she’s in the household, she uncovers disturbing secrets, largely centred on her unstable new employer Nina (Amanda Seyfried).

Here’s what we thought of The Housemaid.

Finally, there’s animated Biblical adventure David, a Faith-based musical adapting the first two books of Samuel. The film explores how a humble shepherd clashed with Goliath, and became a target of King Saul before uniting, and reigniting the faith of, the people of Israel. Fun fact: David is made by South Africa’s Sunrise Animation Studios and has the backing of indie entertainment powerhouse Angel Studios.

Look out for our David review before the end of the week.

26 December

Turns out it’s not just South Africans who have fond memories of repeat Anaconda viewings in the 90s through Noughties. New action horror comedy Anaconda is a meta reboot as it sees best friends Griff and Doug (Paul Rudd, Jack Black) venture forth into the Amazon to achieve their dream of remaking their all-time favorite movie. But life soon imitates art when a gigantic anaconda starts stalking them.

On the feel-good musical front there’s Song Sung Blue, based on a true story, and 2008 documentary of the same name. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star in this tale of a Milwaukee husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act, who experience both success and heartbreak in their musical journey together, spanning the 80s and 90s.

Everyone’s favourite sea sponge returns to the big screen in a new animated adventure The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. In this fourth feature, with the show’s regular voice cast, SpongeBob sets out to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs by following mysterious ghost pirate The Flying Dutchman to the deepest depths of the ocean.

2 January

2025 ends with animation, and it turns out 2026 is starting with a cartoon too. In the Chinese co-produced Tom And Jerry: Forbidden Compass, Hanna-Barbera’s classic cat and mouse rivals enjoy their third big screen caper. Things are a little different this time, though, as the pair end up transported through time and space when a museum chase causes them to encounter a magical object.

In 1985, novel adaptation Kiss of the Spider Woman released to critical acclaim and Oscar glory. Almost a decade later, it was turned into a Tony-winning stage musical, and it’s that format that the new Kiss of the Spider Woman film is based on. In South America, political prisoner Valentín (Diego Luna) shares a cell with window dresser Molina (Tonatiuh), and the pair bond as Molina recounts a Hollywood musical starring his favorite silver screen diva, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez). Dreamgirls’ Bill Condon directs.

Showing in select Ster Kinekor theatres meanwhile is A24 drama Marty Supreme. Loosely based on a true story, Timothée Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a young man living in 1950s New York City with a table tennis dream no one respects. Still, there’s nothing he won’t do to achieve greatness. Also with Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary and Fran Drescher. Uncut Gems’ Josh Safdie directs.