Best new films of 2026: 26 movies to look forward to
It looks like being another brilliant 12 months of cinema – here are some of our most hotly anticipated films.
Lat year gifted us with a huge range of wonderful new films – from horror hits Sinners and Weapons to genre-defying epics likes Marty Supreme and One Battle After Another – and it looks like 2026 will be stuffed with plenty more cinematic treats. As is often the case, the first couple of months will see UK fans afforded the chance to see some major films that debuted in the US towards the end of last year, with Hamnet, The Secret Agent and The Testament of Ann Lee among the big hitters to look out for in January and February. That should set the tone for a 2026 slate that includes new films from legendary directors such as Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg, a range of franchise blockbusters such as Dune: Part Three and the latest Avengers movie, and a few films that seem destined to get people talking – like Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Do bear in mind that we've kept this list to films that already have confirmed UK release dates. There will be plenty more major films added to the schedule in due course, with David Fincher, Robert Eggers, Greta Gerwig, Joel Coen and Luca Guadagnino among the big-name directors with films in the pipeline that will most likely debut at prestigious film festivals throughout the year. And obviously, this list is not definitive. There's also a great variety of other films that debuted at festivals last year – including If I Had Legs I'd Kick You and Splitsville – in addition to horror sequels and reboots such as Evil Dead: Burn, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and Resident Evil, the latter of which is interestingly helmed by Weapons director Zach Cregger. There are also new films from genre directors including Sam Raimi (Send Help), M Night Shyamalan (Remain) and Rob Savage (The Other Mommy) plus a raft of family titles including The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Disney's Hexed and the live action remake of Moana. And as ever, for all that we can make predictions, a great joy every year is the fact that many under-the-radar films come from seemingly nowhere to completely surprise us. Maybe the best film of 2026 is completely unknown to us at this stage! But for now, read on for 26 films that we're especially excited about in 2026. 1. Hamnet View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 9th January 2026 Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal lead the cast of Chloé Zhao's awards-tipped adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel, which explores how a personal tragedy and the resulting grief propelled William Shakespeare to write his iconic masterpiece Hamlet. RT says: This adaptation has won rave reviews from critics – including a glowing 5-star verdict from us – and is being positioned as a major awards contender, with Jessie Buckley's performance as Agnes being singled our for praise. But be warned: the story is an emotionally devastating one, so you may want to come armed with tissues. 2. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple UK release date: Friday 16th January 2026 Less than a year after the previous film ended with a tantalising tease of what was to come, we return to the world of 28 Years Later with this sequel, which sees Hedda's Nia DaCosta take over directorial duties from Danny Boyle. It's the second chapter in what has now been confirmed as a trilogy. RT says: 28 Years Later was one of the real cinematic success stories of 2025, so it's exciting to be treated to this sequel so soon afterwards. It will be fascinating to see how DaCosta builds on the all-action ending to the previous film, which introduced Jack O'Connell as chilling Jimmy Savile-styled cult leader Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal – the ingredients are undoubtedly all there for another triumph. 3. No Other Choice UK release date: Friday 23rd January 2026 Esteemed South Korean director Park Chan-wook's latest film is a pointed satire with a tragicomic edge, starring Squid Game's Lee Byung-hun as a desperate man who goes to very extreme lengths to find a new job after being laid off by the firm where he's worked for 25 years. RT says: Director Park has consistently been one of the finest visual stylists in contemporary cinema, and this latest marvel is no different. The film is a timely – and often hilarious – satire on the state of 21st century capitalism, with some marvellous, often violent, set pieces scattered throughout the runtime. 4. Wuthering Heights View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 13th February 2026 Emily Bronté's iconic work of gothic fiction has been adapted for the big screen on several previous occasions, and now Saltburn and Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell delivers a new take on the source material, with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi starring as her Cathy and Heathcliff. RT says: Even before its release, this seems guaranteed to be one of the most talked about releases of 2026, with reactions to the casting and trailer already proving divisive to say the least. If Fennel's previous output is taken into account, we can guarantee one thing: it certainly won't be boring. 5. The Testament of Ann Lee UK release date: Friday 20th February 2026 Amanda Seyfried plays the title role in Mona Fastvold's spellbinding musical based on a true story, which explores how Manchester-born Ann Lee founded the radical, revolutionary religious sect known as the Shakers in the 18th century, building up a devoted following while trying to avoid persecution. RT says: This masterful, truly original piece of cinema has been curiously absent from many awards nominations, but make no mistake – it's one of the finest films to debut in recent years. Every single aspect – from the committed performances and richly detailed production design to the stirring music and breathtaking choreography – combine to create something unique, captivating and profound. Don't miss it. 6. The Secret Agent View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 20th February 2026 This latest film from Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho stars Narcos's Wagner Moura as a professor who finds himself embroiled in the political turmoil of 1970s Brazil, fleeing persecution against the backdrop of the country's military dictatorship. RT says: Wagner Moura took home the Best Actor award at last year's Cannes Film Festival for his lead performance in this film, and its acclaim has only grown since – emerging as a frontrunner for the Best International Feature Oscar. Expect a tense and layered drama which will leave you with plenty to chew on. 7. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man UK release date: Friday 6th March 2026 Three years after the TV show ended its original run, creator Steven Knight is bringing his immensely popular Birmingham-set gangster saga to the big screen, with Barry Keoghan, Rebecca Ferguson and Tim Roth among the starry names joining Cillian Murphy in the cast. It will have a limited theatrical run before being added to Netflix. RT says: If you're a fan of the TV show, then you probably won't need much convincing to tune into this one. We can expect more of what we're used to from Knight's series alongside an added cinematic grandeur – while it may also sow the seeds for the recently announced sequel show. 8. The Bride UK release date: Friday 6th March 2026 Maggie Gyllenhaal writes and directs this new monster movie which is inspired by the 1935 classic The Bride of Frankenstein, with Jessie Buckley starring in the title role and Christian Bale playing Frankenstein's Monster. Penélope Cruz, Annette Bening and Maggie's brother Jake Gyllenhaal also appear in the cast. The film had initially been on 2025's release but has now shifted to this year. RT says: We're living in a great era for reimaginings of classic monster movies – with Nosferatu and Frankenstein two key recent examples – and Gyllenhaal's take on the The Bride of Frankenstein certainly looks eye-catching, not to mention pleasingly eccentric. Let's hope it delivers on that promise. 9. Project Hail Mary UK release date: Friday 20th March 2026 Ryan Gosling leads this sci-fi adaptation from directing pair Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, based on Andy Weir's 2021 novel of the same name about an astronaut who awakens from a coma with no memory of the mission he'd been sent on. Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce and Ken Leung also star. RT says: There's a lot of early hype for this film, with reports of rapturous responses at test screenings last year. Let's hope it can set the scene for what looks like being a big year for non-franchise sci-fi fare. 10. The Dog Stars UK release date: Friday 27th March 2026 The ever-prolific Sir Ridley Scott returns with this star-studded post-apocalyptic thriller following a civilian pilot (Jacob Elordi) and a tough ex-marine (Josh Brolin) who face struggles in the aftermath of a flu virus that nearly wiped out humanity. Margaret Qualley and Guy Pearce also star. RT says: Scott has never exactly been shy when it comes to singing his own praises, and the veteran filmmaker has already labelled his latest effort "maybe my best movie". Given his filmography includes such all-time classics as Alien and Blade Runner, that certainly makes it seems worth a watch, especially when we bear in mind the impressive cast. 11. The Magic Faraway Tree UK release date: Friday 27th March 2026 Enid Blyton's iconic children's book about a magical tree has been adapted for the big screen by Ghosts star Simon Farnaby, with Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield and Nicola Coughlan just three of the big names in its impressive cast list. RT says: If you're after something for the whole family, this certainly has all the makings of a pleasantly nostalgic treat – with the revered source material being adapted by a man with a proven track record for penning family-friendly delights in the shape of the Paddington movies and Wonka. 12. The Drama UK release date: Friday 3rd April 2026 Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play a newly engaged couple in this intriguing drama from Dream Scenario writer/director Kristoffer Borgli – with not much officially revealed about the plot beyond the fact that one of the pair discovers an unsettling truth about the other. RT says: As if the two leads weren't reason enough to put this film on our most-anticipated list, the mysterious nature of the plot has only piqued our curiosity further. Borgli announced himself as a quirky filmmaker to watch with Dream Scenario, and early reports suggest this could be a step up. 13. Michael View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 24th April 2026 Antoine Fuqua directs this Michael Jackson biopic, which promises to "humanise but not sanitise" the story of the King of Pop. He will be played in the film by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, while Colman Domingo, Miles Teller and Laura Harrier are among the other stars. The film was originally set for release last year, but was delayed after reshoots. RT says: Given the hugely controversial nature of Jackson's legacy, there's no doubt this will be a film that kick-stars all sorts of conversations. The film was made with the involvement of the subject's family, so it remains to be seen if this will truly be the warts-and-all portrait many will be hoping for, but it's certainly worth keeping an eye on. 14. The Devil Wears Prada 2 UK release date: Friday 1st May 2026 Two decades after the first film became one of the most quotable movies of the 21st century, original cast members Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all reprise their roles in this sequel, with Sir Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley and Lucy Liu among the new faces in the cast. RT says: A legacy sequel to one of the most beloved comedies of the 21st century with its iconic cast all returning – need we say more? It will be interesting to see how the characters have adapted to a fashion industry and a press climate very different to the one glimpsed in the previous film. 15. The Mandalorian and Grogu UK release date: Friday 22nd May 2026 The first new Star Wars film since the Skywalker saga concluded with 2019's poorly received The Rise of Skywalker, this is a spin-off from popular Disney+ series The Mandalorian and will serve as a continuation of that story, with Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White joining Pedro Pascal in the cast. RT says: With the exception of the quite rightly glowing reviews for Andor, the Star Wars franchise hasn't exactly enjoyed the most plain-sailing time of late, and there's some scepticism as to whether this film can put the big-screen future of the sci-fi juggernaut back on track. Can it prove the doubters wrong? 16. Disclosure Day UK release date: Friday 12th June 2026 Steven Spielberg returns to the theme of UFOs and extra-terrestrial life in this sci-fi blockbuster, which stars Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt and Colin Firth. The cryptic logline reads: "If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?" RT says: It's been a long time since Spielberg embraced the sci-fi genre, but his record speaks for itself – and if this can even get close to the level of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and ET then we'll have another masterpiece on our hands. With a stellar cast and an intriguing trailer, the early signs are promising. 17. Toy Story 5 View Green Video on the source website UK release date: Friday 19th June 2026 Pixar returns to arguably its best-loved property with a fifth film focusing on Woody, Buzz and co – which will see them go head-to-head with a new threat to playtime: a frog-like tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. RT says: Pixar's recent focus on sequels has proven popular at the box office, even if the critical reception hasn't quite matched the highs of the animation studio's early days – but it's hard not to be excited about a return to the world of the beloved living toys. Lets hope the story is worthy of such fine characters. 18. Supergirl UK release date: Friday 26th June 2026 The second film in James Gunn's relaunched DC Universe sees Milly Alcock take centre stage as Supergirl after a brief cameo at the end of last year's Superman, and will follow her as she travels across the galaxy on a murderous quest for revenge. Cruella's Craig Gillespie is on directorial duties. RT says: Superman set the stage for the new DC Universe last year and it will be interesting to see how this follow-up builds on that momentum. Alcock has already proven she's a charismatic presence – especially with her turn as a young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon – and this could well launch her to proper movie stardom. 19. The Odyssey UK release date: Friday 17th July 2026 Christopher Nolan follows up his hugely acclaimed, Oscar-winning Oppenheimer with a very different sort of epic – an ambitious adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey. The mammoth cast is headlined by Matt Damon, while Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson are some of the other A-listers with key roles. RT says: All eyes were going to be on Nolan whatever he chose to do after the monumental success of Oppenheimer – and he's certainly not resting on his laurels. With impeccable source material, one of the best casts assembled in years and a writer/director clearly at the top of his game, this seems like a surefire hit if ever there was one. 20. Spider-Man: Brand New Day UK release date: Friday 31st July 2026 The first of two major MCU releases in 2026 – as the mega superhero franchise attempts to get back on track – is the fourth solo outing for Tom Holland's Spidey. After the multiverse shenanigans of 2021's No Way Home, this is expected to start a new arc for the character, with Stranger Things star Sadie Sink a major addition to the cast. RT says: Realistically, No Way Home was the last time an MCU entry really captured the imagination of the cinema-going public, and the webslinger's popularity seems unassailable even as the general appetite for the franchise has waned. With that in mind, this is the best hope yet for a return to the massive box office numbers that were once routine for Marvel. 21. Flowervale Street UK release date: Friday 14th August 2026 It Follows director David Robert Mitchell makes his first film since 2018's Under the Silver Lake with this sci-fi thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. According to official plot details, it will follow a family who start to notice unusual happenings in their neighbourhood – and there are strong rumours that time travel could be involved. RT says: After bursting onto the scene with his terrific chiller It Follows in 2014, David Robert Mitchell's stock was high – but the divisive reaction to his 2018 follow-up Under the Silver Lake somewhat dampened his reputation. This is his first effort since, and hopes are high that it could be a treat as we wait for more concrete details about the cryptic plot. 22. Digger UK release date: Friday 2nd October 2026 Tom Cruise has the lead role in this black comedy from two-time Oscar-winning Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant). Plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, but we know there's room in the supporting cast for Jesse Plemons, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Riz Ahmed, among others. RT says: After the last Mission: Impossible film, Tom Cruise has expressed a desire to move away from action and into more of the character-led, director-driven dramas that marked his earlier career. This is the first example of this new plan, and while much is still under wraps it certainly seems like a fascinating proposition. 23. The Social Reckoning UK release date: Friday 9th October 2026 Jeremy Allen White takes over from Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in this follow-up to The Social Network. The focus this time around is the 2021 Facebook leak, with Aaron Sorkin again penning the script – in addition to taking over from David Fincher as director. RT says: The Social Network is one of the most acclaimed films of the 21st century, and although much of its brilliance has been attributed to Fincher's direction, Sorkin's script was also first-rate. Can lightning strike twice? 24. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping UK release date: Friday 20th November 2026 The latest entry in the dystopian saga is based on prequel novel Sunrise on the Reaping, which follows a young Haymitch Abernathy after he is selected to compete in the 50th Hunger Games. Whitney Peak and Joseph Zada play the young leads, while Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace and Glenn Close are among the established names in the cast. RT says: If you're a Hunger Games fan, this film can't come soon enough – and indeed the movie was confirmed even before Suzanne Collins's novel had been published. With such a great cast – including the promise of cameos from original stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson – and the reliable direction of franchise stalwart Francis Lawrence, this seems guaranteed to please long-term fans. 25. Avengers: Doomsday UK release date: Friday 18th December 2026 The first Avengers movie since Endgame in 2019 features several high-profile returns: Joe and Anthony Russo are back behind the camera, Chris Evans will make a surprise return as Steve Rogers, and former Tony Stark actor Robert Downey Jr stars in his new role as villain Doctor Doom – whom the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers and "original" X-Men will team up to fight. RT says: It seems that almost every new Marvel release in the last couple of years has been pitched as a possible turning point back to the success of earlier instalments, and that's never been the case more than with this upcoming team-up movie. Will it be the beginning of a second wind, or the death knell of an ailing franchise? 26. Dune: Part Three UK release date: Friday 18th December 2026 Denis Villeneuve wraps up his Dune trilogy with this third instalment, which is based on Frank Herbert's sequel novel Dune: Messiah. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh Brolin and Rebecca Ferguson are all back, while Robert Pattinson is the highest profile new addition to the cast. RT says: Given what Denis Villeneuve accomplished with the first two Dune films, it seems safe to assume we can expect another magnificent slice of sci-fi this time around, even if the source material is rather more muted. With Chalamet's Oscar-tipped turn in Marty Supreme proving once and for all that he's the real deal as a movie star, let's hope this is the crowning jewel in one of the best movie trilogies of modern times. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Disney's Tangled live-action remake finally casts actors to play Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
Disney's ongoing project to remake its most popular animations as live-action films appears to be going nowhere any time soon – and the studio has now announced casting news for its upcoming remake of Tangled. After months of speculation – and plenty of fan casting – it's been confirmed that the roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider will be played by Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim respectively. Australian actress Croft has previously starred in the Netflix original film True Spirit and is probably best known for her role as Raven in the DC series Titans, which ran from 2018 to 2023. Meanwhile, Manheim has played the leading role of Zed in a number of films in the Disney Channel musical series Zombies, while he was also previously a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, finishing second in 2018 when he was just 17 years old. For both stars, this will be the biggest roles of their careers so far – and it will be interesting to see if starring in such a well-loved property elevates them to more major parts in the future. No further casting has been announced for Tangled thus far, but Better Man and The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey will be helming the project and according to The Hollywood Reporter attention will now turn to finding the film's villain, Mother Gothel. The original Tangled – a musical retelling of the classic fairytale Rapunzel – was released back in 2010 and has become one of the most popular Disney releases of the 21st century, with songs such as I've Got a Dream and I See the Light both becoming hits. Last year saw two new additions to Disney's live-action remake catalogue, with both Snow White and Lilo & Stitch arriving in cinemas, although to vastly different results. The former was a box office dud, while the latter became one of the highest-grossing movies of the year after taking in over $1 billion. Meanwhile, later this year it's Moana's turn to get the remake treatment – with Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as demigod Maui from the original animation and young star Catherine Laga'aia playing the title character. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Tron: Ares – is it streaming?
The third entry in the cult sci-fi franchise stars Jared Leto as an AI programme who comes into the real world.
There were a lot of very well reviewed films released in 2025, but it's safe to say that Tron: Ares wasn't quite one of them. Although our own 3-star review skewed ever-so-slightly positive, the film sits on just 53 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes – and didn't perform much better when it came to box office takings. The film was just the third movie to be released in the series since it launched with the original movie in 1982 (there's also an animated TV show and numerous video games), and studio executives clearly hoped that the loyal fanbase developed by the first two entries would be enough to secure another hit. Ahead of the release, director Joachim Rønning had explained in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com that he was "a huge fan" of the previous films and admitted that he found it "so daunting going in and making the next chapter of that". He added: "I think the previous films in many ways are masterpieces on so many levels and [that] put a lot of pressure on myself and everybody working on the film to try to take it to the next level or at least earn this next instalment." The idea of a new film had been at various stages of development ever since 2010's Tron: Legacy, before the producers eventually landed on the way to tackle a new film – somewhat flipping the franchise on it's head in the process. "The idea of exploring another part of the Tron mythology and universe in terms of the Dillinger grid, and then the assets coming into our world was sort of a breakthrough concept for us," explained producer Sean Bailey. "Now the digital world is going to come into our own." He added: "The idea of seeing a light cycle speeding down downtown streets sort of got everybody pretty galvanised." If you missed the film during its cinema run and aren't put off by the middling reception – or perhaps are a fan who felt that the reviews were overly harsh – you might be wondering when you can watch it at home. Read on for everything you need to know. How to watch Tron: Ares – is it streaming? Yes! As of 7th January 2026, Tron: Ares is now streaming on Disney Plus. That means it's possible for all subscribers to the platform to watch it at no extra cost. The film was originally released for an exclusive theatrical window – including on IMAX screens – on Friday 10th October, but it failed to ignite the box office, going down as both a critical and commercial flop – with Deadline reporting that it could lose as much as $132 million. According to an official release, the film will also be available in IMAX Enhanced on Disney Plus, which allows fans to watch in IMAX’s exclusive expanded aspect ratio. Meanwhile, both previous instalments in the franchise – 1982's Tron and 2019's Tron: Legacy – are also available to view on the platform, as is 2012's animated series Tron: Uprising. Tron: Ares cast – who stars with Jared Leto? Jared Leto leads the cast of the film as the title character – an AI programme named Ares – and he's joined in the ensemble by a host of other well known faces including Past Lives star Greta Lee and Dahmer's Evan Peters. Meanwhile, X-Files star Gillian Anderson returns to the sci-fi genre in a key role, while there's also space for a brief appearance from original star Jeff Bridges. You can find the full cast list below: Jared Leto as Ares Greta Lee as Eve Kim Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh Arturo Castro as Seth Flores Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth Dillinger Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn Cameron Monaghan as Caius Sarah Desjardins as Erin Selene Yun as Tess Kim Tron: Ares plot – what is it about? In a twist on the usual formula, the new film doesn't only see humans going into AI world, but AI assets coming into the human world. You can find the official synopsis below: "A highly sophisticated digital Program, Ares, is sent into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first face-to-face encounter with artificial intelligence. As Ares experiences his surroundings and has his first brush with humanity, his consciousness – and conscience – start to evolve. "He finds an unexpected ally in the brilliant technologist, computer programmer and current ENCOM CEO Eve Kim, who is on her own journey to discover a critical code written by Kevin Flynn. Betraying orders and relentlessly pursued, the two fight not only for their survival but for a future where technology and humanity can intersect." Tron: Ares trailer You can get a good impression of the film – and a little teaser of the excellent Nine Inch Nails soundtrack – by watching the trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website Tron: Ares is now streaming on Disney Plus. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Death of Robin Hood first-look trailer stars X-Men and Killing Eve legends in moody take on classic tale
Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer star in what looks to be a darker version of the iconic story.
Just a few months on from the release of MGM+'s small-screen reimagining of Robin Hood, Nottingham's most famous outlaw is set to be the subject of another new project – this time an A24 film starring Hugh Jackman in the lead role. The first trailer for the movie – which is titled The Death of Robin Hood – has just been released, and if the tone of the two-minute teaser is anything to go by, it looks like this will be a rather more brooding version of the iconic tale. "Would you like to know a secret," we hear a bearded, grizzled Jackman say in a gruff voice at the beginning of the trailer. "People speak of Robin Hood, tell his stories. They're all lies. He was not a hero, he was a murderous brigand." He then explains that he himself is Robin Hood, while his quotes are accompanied by some brutal images that very much illustrate his point, as we see him carrying out all sorts of violent deeds. Throughout the trailer we see this older version of the character reflect on his past with great pain, but also see hints of salvation after meeting a mysterious woman played by Jodie Comer – who appears to have saved his life – and a young girl who he seems to take under his wing. You can watch it in full below: View oEmbed on the source website In addition to X-Men's Jackman and Killing Eve's Comer, the film also includes major roles for Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu), Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Noah Jupe (Hamnet), while Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One director Michael Sarnoski is the man behind the camera. The official synopsis for the film – which does not yet have a confirmed UK release date – calls it a "darker reimagining" of the classic tale. It continues: "Set of its time, the film sees the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder; a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured after a battle he thought would be his last. In the hands of a mysterious woman, he is offered a chance at salvation." The Death of Robin Hood is coming soon to UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marvel movies legend tipped to join The Batman Part II in major role alongside Avengers' Scarlett Johansson – but who is he playing?
The Oscar nominee looks set to become the latest big name to star alongside Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader.
After some lengthy delays, we're finally seeing major progress when it comes to Matt Reeves's The Batman sequel – and it looks like the superhero flick may just have landed another exciting star. With Scarlett Johansson already set to join the cast in an as-yet undisclosed role, it's now being reported that another Marvel favourite is in line for a major part: Sebastian Stan. According to Deadline, the Bucky Barnes actor is "in talks" to join the film, which already boasts among its cast a number of high-profile returning stars including Robert Pattinson in the title role, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Andy Serkis as Alfred and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon. As for who Stan will be playing, that's not been confirmed just yet – but one rumour suggests he could be set to play iconic comic book character Harvey Dent/Two-Face, who has previously been played in film by Billy Dee Williams (Batman), Tommy Lee Jones (Batman Forever), Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) and most recently Harry Lawtey (Joker: Folie a Deux). That rumour has been heavily implied by Hollywood journalist Jeff Sneider on X, although that's by no means confirmation that Stan will definitely be playing Two-Face. Sneider had previously reported on TheInSneider.com that Dent, his wife, and his father would be playing prominent parts in the narrative, with Johannson set to play Mrs Dent and Brad Pitt having turned down the chance to play Harvey's alcoholic father. However, these reports also remain unconfirmed for now. Of course, while Stan is still best known for his long-running role in the MCU – which he will be reprising once again in this year's Avengers: Doomsday – he has recently won acclaim for his roles in non-franchise fare, including a standout turn in arthouse film A Different Man and an Oscar-nominated performance as Donald Trump in The Apprentice. He's also got several more director-driven projects in the pipeline, including Cristian Mungiu's upcoming Fjord, alongside Sentimental Value star Renate Reinsve, and Justin Kurzel's Burning Rainbow Farm with Leo Woodall. View Green Video on the source website It was announced last summer that The Batman II aimed to begin production in spring 2026, four years after the brooding first film opened to strong reviews in March 2022, with the sequel's release currently set for October 2027. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had previously defended the long gap between films, stating that Reeves "is committed to making the best film he possibly can". "No one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write," he wrote on Threads. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films." As soon as we hear any more concrete updates on the film's production timeline, we'll let you know. The Batman Part II is coming to cinemas in October 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Predator: Badlands – is it streaming?
The latest film in the long-running franchise – which starred Elle Fanning – was released in UK cinemas last November.
In the last couple of years Dan Trachtenberg has pretty much given a masterclass in how to relaunch and revitalise a film franchise. The writer/director – who had previously helmed 10 Cloverfield Lane – made his first foray into the world of Predator with his brilliantly realised prequel Prey back in 2022, and last year followed it up with not one but two new entries in the series. First up came Predator: Killer of Killers, a straight-to-streaming animated triptych that saw a member of the famous alien species hunting Earth in three distinct time periods, but the headline-grabber was Predator: Badlands, which arrived in cinemas in November. The film – which starred Elle Fanning – was the first in the series to really flip everything on its head, making the Predator the protagonist of the story for the first time. It followed an outcast member of the species named Dek (played in motion-capture by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) after he is sent to a deadly planet and forms an unlikely bond with a synthetic human (Fanning) as they each try to navigate the dangerous territory. As with Prey, the film opened to mostly positive reviews – while it also set up an intriguing crossover with the Alien franchise in the future, almost two decades after the last time the two properties merged on screen. If you missed the film during it's theatrical run, or perhaps are simply keen to give it another watch, you might be wondering when it's available to watch at home. Read on for everything you need to know. How to watch Predator: Badlands – is it streaming? Yes, Predator: Badlands is now available to stream at home. As of Tuesday 6th January, the film has been released to rent and buy digitally on a range of Premium Video on Demand platforms including Prime Video, Sky Store and Apple TV – with the price sitting at £15.99 for rental and £19.99 for purchase. Those who decide to spend the money will also unlock a number of special bonus features, including the chance to see some deleted scenes that were cut from the finished film, a number of behind the scenes featurettes that go into detail on how it was made, and exclusive audio commentary from Trachtenber and other key creative personnel. When is Predator: Badlands coming to Disney Plus? Of course given that the film was released by the Disney-owned 20th Century Studios, Predator: Badlands will eventually join all the rest of the films from the franchise on Disney Plus. As yet, there's no official information for when the film arrives on the platform, but we can make a pretty good educated guess based on Disney's regular release strategy for 20th Century Studios films – with the gap between theatrical and streaming release normally sitting at around 3 months. With that in mind, we can probably expect the film to arrive on Disney Plus in February – so if you're a subscriber to the streamer you might want to hold off on purchasing the film digitally unless you're desperate to watch it in the next month or so. We'll update this page when we get more concrete information of an exact release date. Predator: Badlands trailer If you're still unsure whether to watch the film, why not check out the trailer below. It gives a pretty good impression of the action-adventure vibe of the film, which is a little more family friendly than previous fare in the franchise. View Green Video on the source website Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marty Supreme soundtrack: Which '80s songs feature in the film?
In addition to an excellent score from Daniel Lopatin – the electronic musician best known as Oneohtrix Point Never – the acclaimed film also features several '80s needle drops.
Timothée Chalamet has emerged as a major awards contender for his lead role in Josh Safdie's new '50s-set ping pong drama Marty Supreme – but one other aspect of the film that plays as crucial a role as his performance is the use of music. Although the film includes some songs that fit the time period – including numbers from the likes of Fats Domino and Perry Como – the most notable needle drops are the more incongruous ones. Safdie peppers a number of '80s hits throughout the runtime, including Alphaville's Forever Young over the opening credits and Tears for Fears hit Everybody Wants to Rule the World as the closing credits roll. In an interview with Variety, the director explained that his decision to use these' 80s songs to play over key moments from the film stemmed from an obsession he was having with Peter Gabriel’s 1982 song I Have the Touch – which ended up making it onto the final soundtrack. "There was a contemporary quality to seeing the anachronistic music paired with the '40s or early '50s," Safdie explained. Intrigued by which songs feature? Read on for everything you need to know about the Marty Supreme soundtrack. Marty Supreme soundtrack: Which '80s songs feature in the film? The following '80s hits can all be heard during the film: Forever Young by Alphaville I Have the Touch by Change by Tears for Fears The Order of Death by Public Image Ltd The Perfect Kiss by New Order Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime by The Korgis Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears View Green Video on the source website Marty Supreme score: Tracklist for Oneohtrix Point Never's compositions In addition to the above needle drops, the film features an original score penned by Daniel Lopatin – the electronic musician best known as Oneohtrix Point Never, who also wrote the music for both Good Times and Uncut Gems. Speaking about the score in an interview with Paste Magazine, Lopatin explained who he was inspired by many things including the sport of ping pong itself. "Linking that to Marty Mauser’s essence in his buoyancy, his excitement, his aggression, his speed, and getting into sounds that have a formal register that speaks to the game itself," he explained. You can find the tracklist for the score – which can be listened to in full on Spotify – below: The Call Marty's Dream Endo's Game The Apple Pure Joy Holocaust Honey The Humbling Motherstone The Scape Tub Falls F***ing Mensch Rockwell Ink Hoff's Seward Park The Necklace Vampire's Castle Back to Hoff's Shootout I Love You, Tokyo The Real Game Endo's Game (Reprise) Force of Life End Credits (I Still Love You, Tokyo) Marty Supreme is currently showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marty Supreme true story: How accurate is the ping-pong drama?
Timothée Chalamet's new sort-of-biopic has arrived in UK cinemas, but who was the real Marty Supreme?
Timothée Chalamet has certainly been raising eyebrows in Hollywood with his divisive interviews publicising his new film Marty Supreme. In one interview that went viral, Chalamet told a reporter that the film marked his best acting role yet, adding that was saying something given that he’s provided “top-of-the-line performances” over the last several years. While Chalamet’s comments during the press tour prompted quite a bit of discussion among fans on social media, the actor recently told Indiewire that it’s all in keeping with the energy of Marty Supreme. “This is in the spirit of Marty, and I feel like this is ultimately an original film at a time when original movies aren’t really put out,” Chalamet said. He continued: “It’s a movie about the pursuit of a dream. I’m leaving it on the field. Whether it’s the merch or the Zoom or the media appearances, I’m trying to get this out in the biggest way possible. In the spirit of Marty Mauser.” In the movie, which is out now in cinemas, Chalamet’s character is a New York City shoe salesman who is driven by a massive ambition to become the greatest table tennis player in the world, and he soon ends up going to extreme lengths to rise to the top. But how does the figure we see in the film compare to the real-life champion ping-pong player Marty Reisman, upon whom the movie is based? Read on for everything you need to know about the true story behind Marty Supreme. Marty Supreme true story: How accurate is the film? View Green Video on the source website As mentioned above, the film follows a character named Marty Mauser, who is loosely based on the real-life champion ping-pong player Marty Reisman – but it is not telling a one-to-one adaptation of his life or career. Instead, according to Deadline, Marty Supreme is "a fictionalised original, rather than a biopic". In other words, this is clearly a dramatised account of Reisman's career. Interestingly, there is a 2014 documentary about the real Reisman’s life titled Fact or Fiction: The Life and Times of a Ping-Pong Hustler, whose director Leo Leigh recently explained in an interview with The Smithsonian that Marty Supreme "has its own engine." He added that "the broad strokes are there, but it has its own agenda and thing going on" while also explaining that Josh Safdie had contacted him to ask some questions about Leigh's own time with Reisman while he was making his documentary. Who was the real Marty Supreme? The real Marty Supreme (or, rather, the real Marty Mauser) was actually called Marty Reisman. Reisman was born in 1930 and died at 82 in 2012. He was a champion table tennis player whose professional career spanned over 50 years. His career began at the age of just 12, and rumours quickly began to spread about his incredible talent – with comedian Jonathan Katz even once recalling that Reisman once beat him while using the flat end of a chess piece rather than a bat. Throughout his career, Reisman won five bronze medals at the World Table Tennis Championships – a combination of both singles and doubles medals – while he won a total 22 major table tennis titles including two US Opens and a British Open. He remained active in the sport long into his life, and was serving as president of Table Tennis Nation at the time of his death. To put his longevity into perspective: on the film's release date, Timothée Chalamet will be 29 - only half the number of years between Reisman's first and final major table tennis awards, in 1946 and 2002 respectively. Reisman published a memoir in 1974 titled The Money Player, The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Player and Hustler. And although it's nearly impossible to track down a copy today, it's possible that this served as an inspiration for Marty Supreme. Marty Supreme is in cinemas now. If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Film hub for all the latest news. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners list in full as Timothée Chalamet declares love for Kylie Jenner in acceptance speech
One Battle After Another, Frankenstein and Sinners dominated the film awards – while The Pitt and Adolescence were the big winners for TV.
The winners of the Critics Choice Awards – honouring the best in TV and film from 2025 – were unveiled last night in a glittering ceremony at the Santa Monica Airport. Frankenstein, Sinners and One Battle After Another were the big winners as far as films were concerned, with the former two receiving four awards apiece and the latter three, but perhaps the biggest headline grabber was Timothée Chalamet's Best Actor win for his performance in Marty Supreme. The actor, who is currently favourite to win the Oscar for his role, thanked his girlfriend Kylie Jenner in his acceptance speech, saying: "Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." One Battle After Another was named Best Film, with Paul Thomas Anderson taking home the awards for both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, while the prizes for Sinners included Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and Best Young Actor/Actress for Miles Caton. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley was voted Best Actress for her leading turn in Hamnet, while Weapons star Amy Madigan's terrifying performance as Aunt Gladys earned her the Best Supporting Actress gong – with both stars good bets to pick up several more accolades over the course of awards season. On the TV front, The Pitt was named Best Drama Series, while The Studio won Best Comedy Series and Adolescence was victorious in the Best Limited Series category. Meanwhile, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – which was released straight to streaming in the US – was named Best Film Made for TV. You can find the full winners list below: Critics Choice Awards 2026 winners list in full Best Picture Bugonia Frankenstein Hamnet Jay Kelly Marty Supreme One Battle After Another – WINNER Sentimental Value Sinners Train Dreams Wicked: For Good Best Actor Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme – WINNER Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon Michael B Jordan – Sinners Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent Best Actress Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee Emma Stone – Bugonia Best Supporting Actor Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein – WINNER Paul Mescal – Hamnet Sean Penn – One Battle After Another Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly Stellan Skarsgard – Sentimental Value Best Supporting Actress Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value Amy Madigan – Weapons – WINNER Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another Best Young Actor/Actress Everett Blunck – The Plague Miles Caton – Sinners – WINNER Cary Christopher – Weapons Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl Best Director Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER Ryan Coogler – Sinners Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value Chloé Zhao – Hamnet Best Original Screenplay Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Ryan Coogler – Sinners – WINNER Zach Cregger – Weapons Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein Will Tracy – Bugonia Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet Best Casting and Ensemble Nina Gold – Hamnet Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another Francine Maisler – Sinners – WINNER Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good Best Cinematographer Claudio Miranda – F1 Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein Łukasz Żal – Hamnet Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams Best Production Design Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein – WINNER Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good Best Editing Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite Stephen Mirrione – F1 – WINNER Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor Michael P Shawver – Sinners Best Costume Design Kate Hawley – Frankenstein – WINNER Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet Lindsay Pugh – Hedda Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman Ruth E Carter – Sinners Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good Best Hair and Make-Up Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein – WINNER Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good Best Visual Effects Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1 Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman Best Stunt Design Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1 Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – WINNER Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another Andy Gill – Sinners Giedrius Nagys – Warfare Best Animated Feature Arco Elio In Your Dreams KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER Little Amélie or the Character of Rain Zootopia 2 Best Comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island Eternity Friendship The Naked Gun – WINNER The Phoenician Scheme Splitsville Best Foreign Language Film It Was Just an Accident Left-Handed Girl No Other Choice The Secret Agent – WINNER Sirat Belén Best Song "Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1 “Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER “I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners “Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee “Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams “The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good Best Score Hans Zimmer – F1 Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein Max Richter – Hamnet Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER Best Sound Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1 – WINNER Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V Butler – Sinners Laia Casanovas – Sirat Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare Best Drama Series Alien: Earth Andor The Diplomat Paradise The Pitt – WINNER Pluribus Severance Task Best Actor in a Drama Series Sterling K. Brown – Paradise Diego Luna – Andor Mark Ruffalo – Task Adam Scott – Severance Billy Bob Thornton – Landman Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER Best Actress in a Drama Series Kathy Bates – Matlock Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age Britt Lower – Severance Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us Keri Russell – The Diplomat Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Patrick Ball – The Pitt Billy Crudup – The Morning Show Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat Wood Harris – Forever Tom Pelphrey – Task Tramell Tillman – Severance – WINNER Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show Denée Benton – The Gilded Age Allison Janney – The Diplomat Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt – WINNER Greta Lee – The Morning Show Skye P Marshall – Matlock Best Comedy Series View Green Video on the source website Abbott Elementary Elsbeth Ghosts Hacks Nobody Wants This Only Murders in the Building The Righteous Gemstones The Studio – WINNER Best Actor in a Comedy Series Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER Alexander Skarsgard – Murderbot Best Actress in a Comedy Series Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face Rose McIver – Ghosts Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones Carrie Preston – Elsbeth Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Ike Barinholtz – The Studio – WINNER Paul W Downs – Hacks Asher Grodman – Ghosts Oscar Nuñez – The Paper Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker Hannah Einbinder – Hacks Janelle James – Abbott Elementary – WINNER Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts Best Limited Series Adolescence – WINNER All Her Fault Chief of War Death by Lightning Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Dope Thief Dying for Sex The Girlfriend Best Movie Made for Television Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy – WINNER Deep Cover The Gorge Mountainhead Nonnas Summer of ’69 Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Stephen Graham – Adolescence – WINNER Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Jessica Biel – The Better Sister Meghann Fahy – Sirens Sarah Snook – All Her Fault – WINNER Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex Robin Wright – The Girlfriend Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER Wagner Moura – Dope Thief Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning Michael Peña – All Her Fault Ashley Walters – Adolescence Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Erin Doherty – Adolescence – WINNER Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault Julianne Moore – Sirens Christine Tremarco – Adolescence Best Foreign Language Series Acapulco Last Samurai Standing Mussolini: Son of the Century Red Alert Squid Game – WINNER When No One Sees Us Best Animated Series Bob’s Burgers Harley Quinn Long Story Short Marvel Zombies South Park – WINNER Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Best Talk Show The Daily Show Hot Ones Jimmy Kimmel Live! – WINNER Late Night With Seth Meyers The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen Best Variety Series Conan O’Brien Must Go Last Week Tonight With John Oliver – WINNER Saturday Night Live Best Comedy Special Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things Marc Maron: Panicked Sarah Silverman: PostMortem SNL50: The Anniversary Special – WINNER Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
What films are out in UK cinemas this week? Reviews from Song Sung Blue to Peter Hujar's Day
Your weekly round-up of all the films currently showing in UK cinemas.
A new year is upon us, and 2026 is already shaping up to be a huge one for cinema – with major releases from Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey to Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day in addition to some of this year's big awards contenders including Hamnet and The Testament of Ann Lee. That's all to come, but we're starting the year off with two new releases that have arrived in time for the first weekend of the year: Song Sung Blue and Peter Hujar's Day. The first is a true story musical drama starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson which tells the unusual tale behind a Neil Diamond Tribute Drama, while the second is a low-key, intimate film that imagines a 1974 conversation between photographer Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall). You can find our positive reviews of both films below, while you can also discover our lowdown on the other major movies released in UK cinemas in recent weeks, including Wicked: For Good, Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value. Read on for your weekly round-up of all the films currently showing in UK cinemas. What films are released in UK cinemas this week? 2nd - 8th January Song Sung Blue The highs and lows of a husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act were eventful enough to warrant an award-winning documentary, so it’s perhaps surprising to have taken a further decade-and-a-half for someone to turn their tale into a drama. For while both share a familiar, million-selling Diamond favourite as their title, and barely 10 minutes ever pass before another banger graces the soundtrack of writer-director Craig Brewer’s film, the music is largely a backdrop to a beautiful, big-hearted, blue-collar love story – with a shocking fork in the road along the way. Hugh Jackman is Mike Sardina, a Vietnam vet and recovering alcoholic celebrating 20 years sober when he meets a fellow traveller on Milwaukee’s low-rent "Legends" circuit of fairgrounds and old folks’ community centre casinos; Kate Hudson’s Claire, a lively, divorced mother of two struggling to pay the bills. "Good times never seemed so good," Neil Diamond sang on the evergreen Sweet Caroline, and this is a film where even the bad ones can be overcome on the path to something brighter. – Terry Staunton Read our full Song Sung Blue review Peter Hujar's Day New York photographer Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw) recounts his day to writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) in this casual but compelling two-hander. The conceit comes from a real-life taped conversation, held back in 1974 for an ultimately unrealised book Rosenkrantz was working on. As they move around Rosenkrantz’s apartment, even onto the rooftop, Hujar describes his previous day’s activities, a mix of the mundane (eating, napping) and the extraordinary (photographing poet Allen Ginsberg at his house). Rarely without a cigarette in his hand, Whishaw dovetails superbly with Hall, with neither actor trying to ramp up the text into anything overly dramatic. Rather this conversational piece is gently acted, as both let the words flow. Akin to My Dinner with Andre, what emerges is an engaging portrait of the mid-1970s New York arts scene, a world where William S Burroughs and Susan Sontag might appear. Director Ira Sachs, who previously made Passages with Whishaw, has conjured another indie gem in his idiosyncratic career. – James Mottram Read our interview with Ben Whishaw Best of the rest still showing in UK cinemas Marty Supreme A ferociously good Timothée Chalamet pursues sporting greatness in this electric screwball comedy drama from Josh Safdie, who goes solo after co-directing Uncut Gems with his brother Benny. Set in 1952 in New York and very loosely based on the life of a real ping-pong hustler, this shaggy story follows 23-year-old Marty Mauser, a shoe salesman with the gift of the gab and an extraordinary talent with a table tennis bat. As he represents his country with obnoxious showmanship in international tournaments, Marty's sweaty and scheming chase of the American Dream is exasperating for those in his orbit – including his long-suffering girlfriend (Odessa A’zion), a Japanese ping-pong prodigy (Koto Kawaguchi), a retired movie star (Gwyneth Paltrow) and her millionaire husband (Kevin O’Leary). No matter how deplorable Marty seems in the absurd and exhilarating chaos entirely of his own making, you will laugh as much as you condemn – and never look away. In a feat of sheer intensity, Chalamet channels Tom Cruise in The Color of Money or even Robert De Niro in Mean Streets, and the result is a breathless and brilliant all-American character study for our times. – Max Copeman Read our full Marty Supreme review The Housemaid A live-in maid finds herself in hot water with a well-to-do family’s mood-swinging matriarch in this frequently shocking psychological thriller, based on the novel by Freida McFadden. Recently paroled from prison, Millie (Sydney Sweeney) is desperate to keep the job in order to avoid being sent back behind bars. However, she endures all manner of poor treatment and violent outbursts from her unhinged employer (Amanda Seyfried) before more sinister problems come to the fore. Director Paul Feig has form walking the darker corridors of domesticity, but whereas 2018’s A Simple Favour revels in blackly comedic upheavals to happy homes, The Housemaid is a genuinely unsettling depiction of dysfunctional families and breathtaking cruelty. Seyfriend excels in a role that calls for her to flit from pantomime-like to pure evil, and Sweeney is impressive, too, blooming convincingly from put-upon maid to plucky heroine. – Terry Staunton Read our full The Housemaid review Sentimental Value An ageing film-maker re-assesses his life and his loved ones in this quietly moving English-Norwegian drama. Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård) is a director looking to revive his waning career with a film about his late mother. Planning to shoot it in the family home, he comes into conflict with his grown-up daughters – theatre actress Nora (Renate Reinsve) and married mother Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). Things further sour when he brings in Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning) to play the lead. Winner of Cannes’ Grand Jury Prize, the film is co-written and directed by Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), who crafts a meandering mood piece that will grip those willing to go with its flow. Skarsgård’s turn, lamenting the loss of things past, is terrific, especially in his tender scenes with a bright and watchable Fanning. For all its melancholy, there’s much-needed dark humour, too, especially when Gustav gifts his 10-year-old grandson some highly inappropriate DVDs, such as The Piano Teacher and Irreversible. Priceless. – James Mottram Read our interview with Joachim Trier and the Sentimental Value cast Avatar: Fire and Ash Returning us to the alien planet of Pandora, James Cameron’s third Avatar epic comes in all guns blazing, heating up the battle between the humans and the Na’vi. Though much of the focus is still on former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his Na'vi family, the threat from the colonising military group RDA grows worse when Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang) forms an uneasy alliance with Varange (Oona Chaplin), leader of the fire-friendly Mangkwan clan, also known as the Ash People. At over three hours long, the film's narrative never quite justifies its length, as Cameron lurches through multiple frenetic and overwhelming battles. But with a sincere if simple message baked in about the destructive qualities of humanity, several scenes – such as one where the planet's whale-like population is attacked – do hit home. This is not least because of the spectacular world-building characteristic of this series; the sheer effort put into creating the bio-luminescent forests, turquoise oceans and, now, fiery volcanos is worth the ticket price alone. Released once again in state-of-the-art 3D, it's a marvel of CG craftsmanship and of Cameron's pursuit of technical perfection. – James Mottram Read our full Avatar: Fire and Ash review Read our interview with Sigourney Weaver Read our interview with James Cameron Read our interview with Oona Chaplin Lurker Like its hanger-on protagonist, this psychological thriller seems unassuming to begin with, but gradually gets creepier and creepier. The plot brings LA shop-worker Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) into the orbit of up-and-coming British popstar Oliver (Archie Madekwe). Charismatic but thoughtlessly cruel, Oliver treats his entourage like playthings to be picked up and discarded at will. Once Matthew insinuates his way into a job shooting behind-the-scenes footage, he refuses to be so easily dismissed, no matter how many indignities are piled on him. First-time writer/director Alex Russell worked on TV’s The Bear, so he knows how to turn up the tension to almost unbearable levels. Madekwe is excellent as the impulsive star-in-ascendence, but this is Pellerin’s time to shine. "I’m just happy to be here," Matthew claims, a dopey smile frozen on his face while his eyes tell a different, far darker story. With its shades of The Servant and Nightcrawler, the film excels at daring us to keep watching, even as Matthew’s actions become more and more repellent. – Matt Glasby Eternity Lovers of golden age Hollywood supernatural comedies will love this third feature by self-described 'little Irish indie filmmaker' David Freyne (Dating Amber), who seems right at home in the big league. Elizabeth Olsen plays the woman who dies and arrives in limbo, where she is met by the spirits of her husband and the love of her young life. Which of these two contenders is she going to sail into eternity alongside? Callum Turner and Miles Teller play the men – one died heroically in the Korean War, the other choked to death on a pretzel – and take turns aiming for Cary Grant screwball suavité. If they’re a touch interchangeable, that’s partly the point and it barely matters because Da’Vine Joy Randolph and John Early, as celestial Afterlife Co-ordinators, provide solid comedy back-up. The production design is another standout and provides a running gag that keeps on giving, as this limbo is a teeming marketplace of competing versions of the afterlife (such as Beach World, Capitalism World, and Man-Free World). – Steve Morrissey Read our interview with the Eternity cast It Was Just an Accident A chance encounter in modern-day Tehran sparks a cycle of violence in this cast-iron morality tale. Warehouse worker Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) spies family man Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) and kidnaps him, fully intent on burying him alive. He’s convinced his captive is a state interrogator who tortured him in prison, but blindfolded during his ordeal, doubts creep in. Was this the man he heard? And so he gathers others – including photographer Shiva (Maryam Afshari) – who might be able to verify the prisoner’s identity. Winner of the Cannes festival's prestigious Palme d’Or, this tense, taut thriller comes from acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi (No Bears). Like his characters, he’s been imprisoned by the Iranian authorities, as well as banned from filmmaking, and there’s no escaping the film's in-baked sense of righteous anger. But Panahi wisely seasons the film with black comedy: witness two security guards who take a bribe (with a handheld credit card terminal!) to look the other way when they hear a ruckus in Vahid’s van. A powerful, poignant meditation on the futility of vengeance. – James Mottram Zootropolis 2 Brimming with rapid-fire sight gags and movie in-jokes, the sequel to Disney’s hit 2016 animation is a fast and funny combination of buddy cop comedy and conspiracy romp. It picks up where the original left off, with perky bunny Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) on police duty with her wily fox partner Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). Despite their clashing methods, the duo stumble on a mystery involving Zootropolis’s 100-year anniversary and Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), a rogue viper slithering amok in the supposedly reptile-free city. Predictable plot twists aside, the duo’s investigation nimbly spans genres and Disney tropes, with animal jokes, crime film influences and lightly handled messages about prejudice deftly interwoven. Old and fresh characters are breezily balanced, with series newcomers Quan, Fortune Feimster and Andy Samberg playfully nailing their voice roles. Featuring a winning lead pairing, pacey chase sequences and a richly realised world, the film builds on its predecessor’s appeal with charm, energy and the wittiest nod to The Shining in a kids’ movie yet. – Kevin Harley Pillion A nerdy young man finds his mojo in this racy, charming and hilariously funny British gem. Colin Smith (Harry Melling) is a parking attendant locked in a humdrum life until, one day, he’s picked up in a pub by enigmatic biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). After an unusual first date on Christmas Day, Colin is bewitched by this leather jacket-wearing hunk, and soon finds himself in an S&M relationship with the dominant, mysterious Ray. With its titular double meaning – slang in the niche world of BDSM-practising bikers, meaning those who take the submissive role – the film may prove a little too outré for certain viewers. However, British writer/director Harry Lighton finds humour and sweetness in the premise, leaning into the sexual dynamics on show without ever kink-shaming its participants. Melling and Skarsgård are wonderfully cast, especially Melling, who convincingly goes from dowdy and downtrodden to confident and cool. Seasoned with a dash of Mike Leigh-style suburban angst, Pillion will truly tickle your fancy. – James Mottram Wicked: For Good After last year’s Wicked: Part One, we’re back for some more Ozploitation. Jon M Chu’s two-part adaptation has already been a wild ride, tapping into the perennial enthusiasm for the long-running stage show by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which itself came inspired both by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel and, of course, Hollywood Golden Age musical The Wizard of Oz. Part One conjured a healthy $756 million global box office, followed by 10 Oscar nominations and two wins. There’s no reason to think Wicked: For Good won’t perform the same trick, or better it, with Chu bringing events to a rousing close. While he infuses enthusiasm into every frame, the same can be said for his leading ladies. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are back in top, lung-busting form as, respectively, the pink-hued Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the green-skinned witch who has been cast out of Oz, thanks to the machinations of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum, wickedly charming as ever), the ultimately carney-man. Now in exile, the demonised Elphaba’s name has been stained by the Wizard, in league with her one-time tutor, the former Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh, still wearing that delicious Mr Whippy ice-cream hair-do). The slightly vapid Glinda, meanwhile, thinks they need to be trademarking the word "good", while she’s also caught up in preparations for her impending wedding to Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), who has been charged with capturing Elphaba. – James Mottram Read our full Wicked: For Good review Read our interview with Wicked production designer Nathan Crowley Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best films to watch on TV today, tonight and this week
Whatever your taste, there's a movie on for everyone.
There may be plenty of movies available on streaming platforms and being released weekly in cinemas, but nothing quite beats the feeling of finding a hidden gem while flicking through the TV. With such a raft of options – old and new – to pick from this weekend, it can often feel like a bit of an insurmountable task to find one that really tickles your fancy. But that's where we come in to do the hard work for you, picking out some of the most stellar options available to tune into. This weeks selection includes everything from classics like Hitchcock's Rear Window to modern gems like comedy whodunnit See How They Run. There's something for everyone and if you're wondering where to find some of the best films on the terrestrial channels this week, we've got you sorted. Read on for an expertly compiled list of the best flicks airing across the next seven days. Friday 2nd January Mrs Doubtfire - 2:20pm, Channel 4 Comedy drama starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. When voiceover artist Daniel Hillard walks out of his day job, his wife Miranda decides it's time to walk out on him, and is granted custody of their children. Daniel is desperate to be with his kids, so when Miranda advertises for a nanny-cum-housekeeper he applies for the job in disguise. Read our full review Ben-Hur - 2:35pm, BBC Two Classic period epic starring Charlton Heston. Wealthy prince Judah Ben-Hur sets himself up against the tyranny of his Roman masters at the time of Christ, and is condemned to almost certain death as a galley slave by his childhood friend Messala. But the two men are fated to meet again. Read our full review Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade - 10:15pm, ITV1 Action adventure starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and Denholm Elliott. When archaeologist Henry Jones disappears, his son Indiana joins in the search for him. In a desperate race against time, Indy encounters some old enemies and once again finds himself in pursuit of an ancient religious artefact. Read our full review The Damned Don't Cry - 11pm, BBC Two Drama starring Aïcha Tebbae and Abdellah El Hajjouji. Middle-aged sex worker Fatima-Zahra leads a difficult life, constantly on the move with her teenage son Selim. After a violent encounter, Fatima-Zahra and Selim return to her home village. However, mother and son discover they are not welcome there, and the pair become increasingly estranged as their lives take different, harrowing paths. Read our full review Saturday 3rd January Carmen Jones - 10:20pm, BBC Two Musical melodrama starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. Carmen, a worker in a parachute factory, begins a torrid but ill-fated affair with a handsome GI. Read our full review Ghostbusters - 3:35pm, BBC One Supernatural comedy starring Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Dan Aykroyd. Three university professors researching parapsychology set up in business for themselves when their grant is withdrawn, and soon realise there's a burgeoning market for "ghost busters" in New York City. Read our full review The Guns of Navarone - 5:30pm, BBC Two Classic Second World War adventure, based on Alistair MacLean's bestseller, starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn. Buried deep in the solid rock of a cliff and impregnable to assault by plane or ship, the German guns on the Greek island of Navarone must be destroyed if the lives of two thousand British soldiers are to be saved. A crack team of commandos is assembled for this perilous mission, each with a special and deadly talent. Read our full review Stand By Me - 11:05pm, Film4 Coming-of-age drama, based on a story by Stephen King, starring Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix. A writer looks back on his childhood in late-1950s Oregon, in particular the time when he and his friends set out to find the corpse of a boy believed to have been hit by a train. Read our full review Moonage Daydream - 12am, Channel 4 View Green Video on the source website Documentary that tells the story of David Bowie's life and career, from his start on the rock and roll scene in 1960s London to his death in 2016. Footage collected from throughout the decades, much of which previously unseen, presents each of the singer/songwriter's evolving musical styles, fashions and personas, while Bowie himself "narrates" via audio material assembled from his recorded interviews. Read our full review Sunday 4th January Chariots of Fire - 1:55pm, BBC Two Sports drama based on a true story, starring Ben Cross, Ian Charleson and Nigel Havers. Among the British athletes aiming for glory in the 1924 Paris Olympics, two in particular come under the spotlight. Scot Eric Liddell runs for his religion, while Jewish Harold Abrahams races against prejudice. Both men are driven to prove themselves, on and off the track. Read our full review The Searchers - 3:55pm, BBC Two Classic western starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood. John Ford's masterpiece tells the story of Ethan Edwards and his five-year search for the last surviving member of his murdered family - a young girl captured by Comanches. Read our full review See How They Run - 7:05pm, Film4 Period murder mystery starring Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan. In London's West End, 1953, The Mousetrap has reached its landmark 100th performance. Yet, when a Hollywood director arrives with plans to shoot an adaptation of the play, his grisly demise puts the celebrations on hold. It's up to the world-weary Inspector Stoppard and eager Constable Stalker to deduce the killer among the many suspects backstage. Read our full review Rear Window - 8pm, BBC Four Classic thriller starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. Confined to a wheelchair following an accident, magazine photographer Jeff Jeffries passes the time by observing the behaviour of his neighbours. One in particular catches his attention: Thorwald, a salesman he sees leaving the flat with a suitcase, and whose invalid wife has seemingly disappeared. Convinced something terrible has happened to Mrs Thorwald, Jeff and his girlfriend Lisa decide to investigate, putting themselves in deadly danger. Read our full review Pretty Woman - 10:15pm, ITV1 Romantic comedy starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. A chance encounter on the streets of Hollywood leads wealthy corporate raider Edward Lewis into hiring beautiful prostitute Vivian Ward to be his companion for a week. As Edward introduces Vivian to the privileged world of the rich and powerful, romance begins to blossom. Read our full review Monday 5th January The Lady Eve - 2:50pm, BBC Two Classic screwball comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.Working the cruise liners, beautiful trickster Jean Harrington believes that the highly eligible Charles Pike is there for the taking. If she plays her cards right. Read our full review The Hunger Games - 10:40pm, BBC One Futuristic action thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence. In annual retribution for a failed uprising in the totalitarian state of Panem, each of 12 districts is forced to select a young boy and girl to take part in a televised fight to the death. When her younger sister is chosen, the resourceful Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place. Read our full review The Goonies - 10:45pm, ITV1 Adventure based on a story by Steven Spielberg, starring Sean Astin, Corey Feldman and Martha Plimpton. While clearing out an attic, a gang of boys known as the "Goonies" come across a map revealing the location of a long-lost galleon. But when they begin their search for the vessel, they find the evil Mama Fratelli standing in the way of a fantastic adventure. Read our full review Tuesday 6th January Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol - 9pm, Film4 Action spy thriller starring Tom Cruise. The elite Impossible Missions Force is officially disbanded after being blamed for a botched operation, forcing agent Ethan Hunt and his crack team to go off grid to prevent a terrorist from causing a nuclear disaster. Read our full review Air Force One - 10pm, Channel 5 Action thriller starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and Glenn Close. US President James Marshall, along with his wife and daughter, is returning home from Russia on the presidential plane when it is hijacked by Russian terrorists. Their leader, Ivan Korshunov, demands the release of an imprisoned general or else he will kill a passenger every half hour. Read our full review Priscilla - 11pm, BBC Two View Green Video on the source website Biographical drama starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi. In 1959 West Germany, 14-year-old American Priscilla Beaulieu meets rock 'n' roll superstar Elvis Presley, who is approaching the end of his military service. Despite her parents' concerns, the two eventually embark on a romantic relationship - but this is far from a fairy-tale ending for the naive schoolgirl. Read our full review Wednesday 7th January LA Confidential - 9pm, Film4 Oscar-winning crime drama based on the novel by James Ellroy, starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger. Three detectives become embroiled in a labyrinth of corruption, intrigue and murder involving a prostitute and the editor of a sleazy magazine. Read our full review Dr No - 9pm, ITV4 The first in the series of screen adventures based on Ian Fleming's famous fictional secret agent, James Bond, starring Sean Connery. Bond is sent to Jamaica to find out more about the mysterious killing of a fellow agent. With the help of CIA man Felix Leiter, he discovers the evil Dr No's plan to hold the United States to ransom by threatening its space programme. Read our full review Taken - 10:45pm, ITV1 Action drama starring Liam Neeson as former CIA operative Bryan Mills, who calls upon his tried-and-tested skills in a race-against-time bid to rescue his daughter from the sex traffickers who have kidnapped her during a holiday in France. Read our full review Thursday 8th January The Fugitive - 10:35pm, Channel 5 Thriller starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Despite protesting his innocence, Richard Kimble is sentenced to death for the murder of his wife. En route to prison, he is caught up in a disastrous escape attempt, and finds himself on the run. In order to clear his name, he must find the mysterious one-armed man with whom he struggled on the night of the murder, but the law is hot on his trail. Read our full review The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 10:40pm, BBC One The second part of the futuristic action adventure based on the novels by Suzanne Collins, starring Jennifer Lawrence. A year on from their victory, Katniss and Peeta embark on a winners' tour of the districts. But before they leave, they are issued with a stark warning by President Snow. Read our full review Tár - 12am, BBC Two Black comedy drama starring Cate Blanchett. Acclaimed classical music conductor Lydia Tár finds her perfectly curated image beginning to crumble when she is accused of abuses of power and sexual misconduct in the workplace. In refusing to examine her behaviour, Lydia only makes her situation worse. Read our full review Friday 9th January Bridesmaids - 9pm, ITV2 Comedy starring Kristen Wiig and Rose Byrne. After Lillian announces her engagement, she asks her lifelong pal Annie to be her maid of honour. However, Annie's life is in a mess, and she finds herself losing control over the bachelorette party to Lillian's seemingly perfect new friend Helen. Read our full review Shaun of the Dead - 10:45pm, ITV1 Comedy horror starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. On the day north London slacker Shaun decides to sort his life out, the dead rise and the city becomes overrun with zombies. Can Shaun and best mate Ed fight off the marauding hordes of the undead and win back Shaun's girlfriend? Or will they just go down the pub? Read our full review The Old Oak - 11pm, BBC Two View Green Video on the source website Drama directed by Ken Loach, starring Dave Turner and Ebla Mari. TJ, the landlord of a small pub in a former mining town, is struggling to keep his business open as the impoverished local community dwindles. When a small influx of Syrian refugees arrives, tensions arise among the locals but TJ forges an unlikely friendship with one of the newcomers, Yara, who helps TJ begin a community kitchen. Read our full review Superbad - 11:30pm, BBC One Comedy starring Jonah Hill and Michael Cera as Seth and Evan, two boys bonded by their lack of popularity. When the pair finally get invited to a party they embark on a quest to procure alcohol in the hope that it will not only lay to rest their geeky reputation but also improve their chances with the opposite sex. Read our full review If you have Netflix, we have rounded up the best movies on Netflix and the best series on Netflix to watch now – and Disney Plus viewers can check out our best movies on Disney Plus guide. Got Prime Video? We also have the best movies on Amazon Prime. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ben Whishaw on playing a half-forgotten photographer, resisting the commercial and being Padddington
The actor spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about his lead role in Peter Hujar's Day – the latest film from acclaimed arthouse director Ira Sachs.
A name half-forgotten who deserves to be remembered, Peter Hujar is undergoing something of an arthouse revival. The New York photographer, a staple of the Manhattan creative scene in the 1970s, is the centrepiece of Ira Sachs’ brand new two-hander, Peter Hujar’s Day, starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall. The story, such as it is, spans across a 24-hour period in December 1974, as Hujar (Whishaw) is interviewed by author Linda Rosenkrantz (Hall) for a book – ultimately unpublished – about artists’ lives. Across the film, Hujar sits in Rosenkrantz’s apartment, chain-smoking and recalling events from his previous day, from the everyday to the out of the ordinary. “I was really intrigued because it’s not material that’s obviously going to make a good film,” says the British-born Whishaw, 45. "Which is what is interesting to me about it. I like that kind of investigation of something apparently very undramatic or just very mundane. But if you look at it closely, it contains riches. I like that and I could sense that there was some potential for that using this text." Sachs, 60, calls Whishaw "a friend" and "a comrade", and they’re clearly kindred spirits. The Bedfordshire-born actor may be best known to audiences as the voice of Paddington in the recent trilogy of movies and as Q in the Daniel Craig-era James Bond films, but there are other facets to his artistic work. "We both have a really sustained and personal interest in creative life," says Sachs. "I think in a way we give each other strength, because we’re both resisting the commercial." It may be more arty than commercial, but that doesn’t stop Peter Hujar’s Day being utterly mesmerising. The meandering conversation is a sublime snapshot of 1970s New York, when artists could still afford to live in the centre of the city. During his recollections, Hujar frets about his health, enjoys a Chinese meal with a friend and even plays Bach on the harpsichord. At the other end of the scale, he visits Beat poet extraordinaire Allen Ginsberg to photograph him for an assignment for the New York Times, a particularly strange but hilarious encounter. Somehow, Sachs ensures this flowing back-and-forth between Whishaw and Hall doesn’t feel like a piece of theatre. "It was totally unlike a play," says Whishaw. "Plays require so much projection in every sentence. And this was so the opposite, it was so minimal and internal and quiet. It felt very unlike a play, actually, although I understand that, yeah, it’s lot of talking. But the talking is more like a piece of material. It’s something that washes over the viewer." View oEmbed on the source website While Hujar passed away almost 40 years ago, Rosenkrantz is still alive, now aged 91. Sachs first approached her after reading her book, Peter Hujar’s Day. Published in 2019, it contains a full transcript (previously thought lost) of her conversation with the photographer, although sadly, the tape of their chat had disappeared into the mists of time. Sachs contacted her on Instagram, telling her he’d like to adapt the book for the screen. Rosenkrantz became an enthusiastic supporter of the project. "She talked to Rebecca a lot and I think that was very helpful,” says Sachs. “And she would help Rebecca with certain words, [the] pronunciation. She’s a very generous, modest person." He also is full of praise for Hall’s take on Rosenkrantz. "Rebecca brings to the act of listening, both empathy and action. It’s a very active performance, of someone who’s listening. Maybe she made it up, but the love that she as Rebecca and as Linda feels for Peter and for Ben, I think, becomes the heart of the story." Unlike Hall, Whishaw couldn’t meet his on-screen counterpart. There’s also almost no existing video footage of Hujar, although that didn’t stop the actor, who dived into his research with absolute commitment. "I read a lot of about Peter," he says. "There are lots of essays with people recalling him, stories about him." He also took a visit to the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, where he was shown photos, documents, and even Hujar’s wallet and camera. Whishaw and the Sachs, who first worked together on the 2023 film Passages, did have some audio of Hujar they could listen to. One clips sees Hujar and David Wojnarowicz talk about what it means to be an artist, a conversation recorded shortly before Hujar died in 1987 of AIDS-related complications. “I also have this very rare tape, which is Peter Hujar hypnotising himself in order to stop smoking!" informs Sachs. "I got it in the Morgan library. I was like, 'What?!' So that’s pretty interesting." Sachs first read the transcript when he was making Passages, and Whishaw was soon on board. "I was really intrigued to explore it with Ira, because I think he has such an amazing, unusual way of working with actors and drawing things out of actors," he says. "Lots of directors don’t do that. You really have a relationship with him…although he doesn’t say always that much, you really feel like your performance is a dance with him. I just was excited by the combination of all the things." The film is also steeped in culture, especially given it was shot in New York’s Westbeth Artists Housing, a nonprofit housing and commercial complex dedicated to providing living and work spaces for artists, "It’s a building where [dancer and choreographer] Merce Cunningham had a studio for 50 years, where [photographer] Diane Arbus lived and died," explains Sachs. "It’s a building with a lot of history, and also it was a building that was given to us to make the film. I mean, not the whole building, but we were allowed access, and I think that made the film what it is, because we spent several weeks with stand-ins, body doubles, to understand how the space transformed meaning in terms of time of day and which corner you went to. And so I have a series of stills which became the movie." What really impresses is the naturalistic, organic way that Whishaw and Hall absorb the text and make it their own. "Like with everything, you do a lot of work, and then you forget about it to some degree, and what sticks sticks and what doesn’t doesn’t," says Whishaw. "Then you find some blend of who you think Peter Hujar might have been, and who I am. It had to feel very un-acted. It had to have something real in it. Otherwise it wouldn’t have interest. It had to be like something real between Rebecca and I. That’s what I felt." Even the constant smoking in the film feels unusual by today’s health-conscious standards. "I used to be a smoker," says Whishaw. "I’m not anymore, but they’re lovely props, aren't they? They’re really elegant, interesting things. But that’s Peter…he was a chainsmoker. He talks about it. So it had to be that way. And again, none of that was planned when I would light a cigarette or when I would take a drag. Each take different, each time different. Because it was just chance." Letting fate decide was something Sachs loved. "He would put a number of elements in the scene, like some food on the table, and then it would be just what happened by chance." Whishaw adds that Peter Hujar’s Day grew out of he and Sachs’s "conversations as friends" as much as anything. "We have lots of similar interests and we’re interested in similar artists," he says. "Sometimes films can be quite infantilising of actors, right? You don’t feel very creative actually, whereas I feel like Ira treats you like a creative adult, and a collaborator, and you’re just there, and the space is very free, and everyone is listened to and contributes." Indeed, Passages was arguably one of Sachs’s most critically and commercially successful films, but the director refused to cash in on his new-found cachet. "I got to make a incredibly free art film," he shrugs. "People gave me money to do that film. Anything that I’m going to embark upon, I have to think has allure and attractiveness and is sexy. So to me, Peter Hujar’s Day is a pretty commercial film. I think it’s cinematically really attractive. I think there’s an erotic quality to the image and to these two bodies. I don’t know, I find it pretty commercial. If you consider commercial to be…authentic." Like Sachs, Whishaw is a little conflicted by the more commercial choices he’s made. "Sometimes I’m regretful," he sighs. "Silly, isn’t it? I’m so grateful." But there can be no doubt he doesn’t include the Paddington trilogy in this, even if parents stop him in the street and point out who he is to their bemused kids. "It is weird because…the children find it strange because I’m obviously not Paddington, and they can’t understand that you’re the voice of Paddington. What do you mean? You’re either Paddington or you’re not. And I’m obviously not. So it’s kind of confusing for children. I can see they’re very unimpressed!" Peter Hujar’s Day opens in UK cinemas on 2nd January 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
2025’s 25 best new movies - from Frankenstein to Sinners
Our rundown of the best new film releases of 2025.
It's been another excellent year for new film releases in the UK – and as you can see from our top 25 below, a very eclectic one too. As ever, the year started with some great awards contenders that had debuted across the Atlantic at the tail end of 2024 – with the likes of The Brutalist, Nickel Boys and A Real Pain all featuring highly on our list. Meanwhile, it's also been a spectacular year when it comes to horror, with first Sinners and then Weapons capturing the imaginations of the cinema-going public with bold, original takes on the genre, before Guillermo del Toro delivered his version of one of the most iconic of all horror tales: Frankenstein. It's perhaps been a slightly less memorable year when it comes to the biggest blockbusters, but we do have at least one franchise film in our list as well: the fourth entry in the Bridget Jones franchise. Plus there are all sorts of great international films, independent gems and unexpected hits, so prepare to add a film or two to your watchlists. But what came in at number one? Scroll down our list to find out. 25. The Seed of the Sacred Fig This political thriller from Iranian writer/director Mohammad Rasoulof was made in secret, with its 2024 premiere leading to his arrest and eventual exile abroad. Set during the 2022 mass protests against the government, Rasoulof's impressive allegorical drama begins with Tehran lawyer Iman (Missagh Zareh) promoted to investigating judge, pleasing his loyal wife (Soheila Golestani) and two daughters. But the violent unrest on the streets soon renders Iman little more than a rubber stamp for swift draconian punishment, demoralising him and horrifying his offspring who begin to question his actions, especially after a female friend is shot and injured by police. The fraying of family relations is a slow-burning, claustrophobic and yet beautifully modulated affair, punctuated by visceral real-life news footage of the protests and subsequent police brutality. However, when Iman’s government handgun goes missing, suspicion, mistrust and paranoia take over, threatening the women and leading to a riveting denouement in the desert worthy of many a top thriller. – Jeremy Aspinall, Freelance Reviewer 24. Dreams (Oslo Stories Trilogy) There’s something delicate in the craft of this unique Norwegian drama, which follows a 17-year-old girl named Johanne (Ella Øverbye) who becomes increasingly besotted with her new teacher – an experience that soon begins to disrupt the relationship between Johanne, her mother and her grandmother. The second part of Dag Johan Haugerud’s Oslo Stories trilogy, exploring the intricacies of human relationships, Dreams is gentle-handed and non-judgmental in its examination of Johanne’s vulnerability, and in the shifting relationship dynamics that shape her throughout the course of the film. Powerful in both its writing and direction, this is a literary-infused, emotionally rich coming-of-age story that settles inside a quiet area of the human experience. – Chezelle Bingham, Sub-Editor 23. Frankenstein View Green Video on the source website "Frankenstein is a film — and a tale — that touches the very essence of what I am and all that I believe in," director Guillermo del Toro told the BFI back in 2012, with his long-awaited adaptation of Mary Shelley's gothic classic finally reaching audiences some thirteen years later. While some passion projects can be desperate vanity escapades, this one is far more triumphant, with Del Toro using his decades of genre eccentricities to create a tale as grotesque as it is poignant. Chiseled Hollywood star Jacob Elordi dons heavy white makeup to portray Frankenstein's iconic monster and does so with enough subtlety to carry the emotional heart of the film, chasing his estranged father figure (Oscar Isaac) across the globe to demand a reason for his forsaken existence. It’s a fleshy and absorbing tale accentuated by terrific performances from a dedicated ensemble cast and an inviting world of grandeur that will have you wanting to stay for longer than just 149 minutes. – Calum Russell, Sub-Editor 22. Bring Her Back It seems that with every year, horror films just continue to raise the bar – and with their sophomore feature Bring Her Back, directors Danny and Michael Philippou created yet another terrifying hit. Sally Hawkins is brilliant as Laura, an emotionally intense foster mother who takes on newly-orphaned kids Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong). The duo manage to settle into their new home despite Laura’s unusual, unhinged behaviours, but it doesn’t take long for Andy and Piper to discover darker secrets behind her eccentric persona, as well as the reality concerning the alarming presence of new foster brother Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). Certainly a film that is much more effective if you know nothing about it going in, Bring Her Back is a gory, unsettling domestic horror that successfully builds nail-biting, demonic tension and terminates in a satisfying, emotional conclusion without having to rely solely on jump scares – though of course, there are still enough of them to have you panicking. It's a film that could easily secure a place on your supernatural horror master list. – CB 21. It Was Just an Accident Jafar Panahi continues his extraordinary career with the superb It Was Just an Accident – a film that earned him both a Palme d’Or Award in Cannes and a prison sentence in his home country of Iran. It tells the story of a mechanic who believes he has found the sadistic guard who tortured him on behalf of the Iranian regime years earlier. Or has he? What follows is an exploration of justice versus vengeance, action versus restraint, and whether you can ever outrun the trauma of the past without ending the cycle of violence for the future. Despite the political fury, there is a searing humanity that runs through the film – the happy couple posing for their wedding photos, the young girl who just wants her father to dance with her, a surprising kindness in extreme circumstances at a hospital. It builds to a ferocious climax punctuated by a final scene that sucks all the air out of the room and leaves you frozen in your seat as the end credits roll by. – Christian Tobin, Production Editor 20. Pillion View Green Video on the source website You might think a BDSM love story in a motorcycle gang is quite niche for a romantic comedy. Still, first-time feature director Harry Leighton makes this so vividly realised and with such humour and heart that it’s possibly one of the most touching films of the year. Adapting the much more tragic novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, Pillion tells the story of the shy but sweet Colin (a wonderful Harry Melling) who meets the tall, handsome and mysterious biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård at his most charismatic) and from there enters into a submissive relationship with him and is introduced into a subculture where he discovers fraternity and also truths about his identity. Also watch out for a stunning turn from Lesley Sharp as Colin’s ailing mother, who is willing to be blunt to get the best for her son. It’s also arguably another entry in the alternative Christmas film list. This is moving, hilarious, and subversive. – Lewis Knight, Trends Editor 19. Hard Truths Throughout his career, Mike Leigh has crafted some of the best, most complex portraits of working class life in the history of British cinema, and this latest drama was another slam dunk for the veteran filmmaker. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is in ferocious form as Pansy, a misanthropic woman whose frequent disgruntled outbursts are initially the source of great hilarity for the audience until Leigh gradually makes us feel great empathy for a complicated woman who has been pushed to breaking point. The performances of Baptiste and Michele Austin – who plays Pansy's chipper younger sister Chantelle – complement each other perfectly, and both actors can consider themselves unfortunate not to have been rewarded with Oscar nominations earlier in the year. It's an always engaging, finely nuanced character study that reminds us we don't always know what pains people are hiding. – Patrick Cremona, Senior Film Writer 18. Nosferatu Period horror maestro Robert Eggers returned with his chilling update on the silent movie classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), itself inspired by Bram Stoker’s iconic novel Dracula. Eggers’s film centres the action very much in the psychosexual journey of the lead heroine Ellen Hutter, played by an exemplary Lily-Rose Depp, who feels a psychic connection with the monstrous count from a faraway land. Still, their connection grows ever closer to the physical as her husband ends up in grave danger in the monster’s thrall. Embracing a gothic aesthetic, immense dread, and a truly ghoulish turn from Bill Skarsgård as the titular vampire, Nosferatu is a dark tale of identity, sin, and the pull of destiny. The supporting players are also a treat, particularly the likes of Nicholas Hoult as Ellen’s perennially struggling husband Thomas and a suitably quirky Willem Dafoe as the vampire expert Albin Eberhart von Franz. Intoxicating, chilling, and experiential, just like any good vampire flick should be. – LK 17. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Oh Bridget! Those are the only words I could utter after watching Mad About the Boy, a beautiful fourth and final outing in the Bridget Jones’s Diary franchise. Not only are you left in a puddle of tears upon realising Mr Darcy is no longer by Bridget’s side, but also you see yourself in Bridget as she tries to find her own feet, whether it be as a single mother juggling a job or finding romance in an unlikely suitor – there’s a version of Bridget in everyone. While there’s a sadness to be felt as the film cements itself as the last time we’ll see our frazzled Bridget, it’s a perfect conclusion to the romantic comedy saga we’ve been treated to over the past two decades. – Katelyn Mensah, Senior Entertainment and Factual Writer 16. Die My Love Jennifer Lawrence immaculately straddles a careful balance between heartbreak and humour in Die My Love, the latest film from Lynne Ramsay, which explores the complexities of motherhood and mental health. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Ariana Harwicz, Lawrence stars as Grace, a new mother who has recently moved from New York to rural Montana with her unhelpful partner Jackson (Robert Pattinson). After the birth of her son, Grace’s life begins to unravel – further catalysed by loneliness, boredom and an insufferable barking dog that idle Jackson brings into their home. While perhaps more of a slow-burn than some of the other films on this list, it’s Lawrence's performance that makes this film so completely watchable. She’s deeply sympathetic as a woman on the edge of emotional exhaustion, and partnered with Ramsay’s intimate direction, a perfectly curated soundtrack and a powerful cast that includes the likes of Sissy Spacek and LaKeith Stanfield, Die My Love is a film that is both compelling and passionately crafted. – CB 15. Bugonia View Green Video on the source website There was likely never any doubt that the most recent collaboration between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos would make it onto this list, with its unpredictable premise, frantic tension and superb performances. An English-language remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet, the black comedy sci-fi follows the events that occur when two conspiracy theorist cousins (played by Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) kidnap a pharmaceutical CEO (Emma Stone) after they become convinced that she’s a member of an alien race known as the Andromedans. What results is 118 minutes of dark hilarity, serious tension and violent paranoia – all while confronting some unfortunately increasingly relevant questions about the state of humanity, and just how far humans will go to prove themselves right. Emma Stone remains a true powerhouse, and is ably supported by the strengths of Plemons and Delbis’s grease-covered cousins Teddy and Donny, as well as the surreal, trademark characteristics of any Lanthimos feature. With a divisive final sequence that will leave you reeling, if slightly perplexed, Bugonia warns us all of the dangers of going too far down the rabbit hole. – CB 14. On Falling Laura Carreira captures the eroding human spirit of an exploited gig economy worker with Loachian precision in her excellent debut feature. Holding a mirror up to one of society's most forgotten realities, On Falling tells the story of Aurora (Joana Santos), a Portuguese worker in a Scottish warehouse who tries to find fulfilment and human connection in a job that strips individuals of agency. It’s by no means an easy film to sit through, with Carreira confronting the cold realities such jobs present for their workers. Yet, amidst the haunting bleakness, a tender tale unfolds that quite beautifully illustrates the pain of quietly repressing what it means to be human. In one of the year’s most quietly devastating performances, Santos bottles a vacant anguish that is utterly heart-wrenching to see steadily surface. – CR 13. Dying This blacky comic German melodrama explores the fraught dynamics of a dysfunctional family. Elderly parents Lissy and Gerd have been diagnosed with cancer and dementia respectively, while their adult children are too preoccupied with their own problems to offer much support. Conductor Tom is immersed in rehearsals for the premiere of an orchestral work named Dying, and is about to become a co-parent, while his estranged sister Ellen is prone to alcohol binges. Despite its various deaths, Matthias Glasner’s powerfully acted film beautifully fuses the tragic and the comic in its engaging portrayal of characters stumbling through the messiness of their lives. – Tom Dawson, Freelance Reviewer 12. The Long Walk Not every recent Stephen King adaptation has been especially well-received, but The Long Walk smashed all expectations. The film follows 50 boys partaking in a twisted walking marathon in which they must march at a pace of three miles per hour or die. The desperation to survive is portrayed so effortlessly by each young boy, from Arthur’s (Tut Nyuot) devastating final wish for his grandmother, to the painful loss of Hank (Ben Wang). But the true stars of this movie are David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman, whose characters forge an unlikely friendship which is only the more impactful upon the realisation only one of them can survive. It’s the pair’s chemistry that truly makes the film, as you find yourself rooting for both of them to succeed, and increasingly feel as if you are on this dire walk alongside them. – KM 11. Sorry, Baby View Green Video on the source website The directorial debut of comedy writer Eva Victor, this is a sensitive, melancholic but ultimately life-affirming film that finds a delicate balance between pain and humour in the aftermath of a deeply traumatic incident. Victor stars in the lead role of Agnes, a high-achieving academic whose life is upended when she is sexually assaulted by her supervisor, with the film unfolding across various chapters as she slowly attempts to rebuild her life while confronting the numerous ways in which it has been forever changed. The film wisely avoids showing the incident of violence – which is referred to throughout only as The Bad Thing – and is all the more powerful for it, while as the narrative progresses there are a number of beautifully written interactions as Agnes navigates the difficult emotional complexities of her new life. The supporting cast, including Naomi Ackie as Agnes's empathetic, supportive best friend and Lucas Hedges as her affable neighbour and later lover, add plenty of warmth, and the film also includes perhaps the finest cat of 2025's cinema slate. – PC 10. Nickel Boys This audacious Oscar-nominated adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer prize-winning novel is an original work of heart-wrenching power. Adopting an innovative point-of-view visual approach, direcrer RaMell Ross telsl the story of Elwood Curtis (Ethan Herisse), an African-American teenager who is wrongly implicated in a car theft and sent to a racially segregated reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. While there, he strikes up a bond with the quietly rebellious Turner (Brandon Wilson) and tries desperately to search for hope and salvation against a backdrop of unbearable brutality. The unique shooting style takes some adjusting to, but quickly draws the viewer under its spell, creating a tactile and profoundly immersive experience punctuated by some deeply harrowing scenes. Meanwhile, Ross also adds several impressionistic flourishes and makes innovative use of archival footage and well-placed flash-forwards, leading to an astounding montage in the closing scenes. Both leads are fantastic, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is remarkable in a supporting role as Elwood's grandmother, shining in some of the film's most raw and affecting moments. – PC 9. Marty Supreme The kinetic and chaotic Marty Supreme centres on ping pong prodigy Marty Mauser, and bounces appropriately enough back and forth from one exhilarating scene to another at a mile a minute. Small sub-plots snowball into major narrative drivers as Marty’s relentless pursuit of glory sees all those around him caught in his whirlwind – for better and (frequently) for worse. There are standout supporting turns from Odessa A'zion and Gwyneth Paltrow who extract every last drop of screwball farce from Josh Safdie’s go-for-broke script, while a smart use of '80s music signposts that for all his faults, Marty is a man ahead of his time. Much like its central figure, the film is exhausting, provocative and undeniably brilliant. But the real star of the show is of course Timothée Chalamet, in his best performance to date. The Dune and Wonka actor made headlines at this year’s SAG Awards when he declared that he wants to be "one of the greats". With Marty Supreme under his belt, he’s already well on his way. – CT 8. 28 Years Later In the years since Danny Boyle and Alex Garland unleashed 28 Days Later on cinema-goers, zombies (or zombie equivalents) have become ten-a-penny, from The Walking Dead to The Last of Us. So why resurrect a franchise that looked firmly six feet under? 28 Years Later answers that question beautifully. Yes, there’s spinal cord-ripping carnage, but the focus here is on a fractured Britain looking to rebuild its identity and rewrite its own mythology in a post-post-apocalypse, where society bears more resemblance to the grotesque Slow-Lows that crawl along the ground than the imposing Alpha variants that rule the horizon. At the heart of it is an excellent Alfie Williams as young Spike, whose notion of heroism is upended as the film moves from fantastical horror to something all the more recognisable and devastating – before pulling the rug again with a truly gonzo ending. With hotly tipped sequel The Bone Temple arriving in January, and reports of a third movie in active development, the 28 Years series still has plenty of room yet to rage against the dying of the light. – CT 7. A Real Pain Jesse Eisenberg screenwriting and directorial debut When You Finish Saving the World may have divided audiences, but he managed to hit a home-run with this Oscar-winning comedy-drama. The script, about two cousins on a Jewish heritage tour through Poland, feels both deeply personal and also profoundly universal. The characters, both Eisenberg’s Benji and Kieran Culkin’s David, are exceptionally well-drawn – if you don’t feel like you know one of these people, then chances are you are one of these people. David also feels like the role Culkin was born to play, and the fact that Eisenberg didn’t write it with the actor already firmly in mind is baffling. While the film has big things on its mind, and delves into some weighty topics, the darkness never threatens to overwhelm the light and vice versa. There are some big laughs here, not just courtesy of the central duo, but also thanks to the supporting cast, including an excellent turn from Will Sharpe. – James Hibbs, Drama Writer 6. Train Dreams Joel Edgerton is God’s Lonely Man in Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s epic novella of the same name, which delicately tells the tale of an American railroad labourer grappling with life’s most existential questions. A quiet, introspective soul, Robert Grainier (Edgerton) finds contentment when he starts a family with fellow wholesome soul Gladys (Felicity Jones), only for his life to be upended by tragedy. What follows is an absorbing and pensive examination of what it means to be human in a world of wild devastation. Terrence Malick-like in its execution, Bentley harnesses the beauty of the natural world to punctuate his tale, coaxing you into the world of the film with some of the year’s most gorgeous cinematography. Powerful and succinct, Train Dreams is a pocket-sized ballad to the wonder of the everyday. – CR 5. The Ballad of Wallis Island View Green Video on the source website Every year, film fans prep their calendars with what they want to see, and already have in their mind’s eye an idea of what the biggest hits will be, the ones that will top their best of lists come December. Every year, those lists are upended by some true surprises, with one of 2025’s biggest being The Ballad of Wallis Island. This charming, funny, heartfelt film written by and starring Tom Basden and Tim Key, alongside Carey Mulligan, has a simple set-up, following a lottery winner who tries to reunite his favourite folk duo for a one-off, personal concert. It's a set-up which allows the character interactions space to breathe and Key’s winning comedic performance to shine through, and despite being set entirely on one small island, and featuring only a handful of characters, it never outstays its welcome, clocking in at a perfect 100 minutes. It also boasts one of the strongest, most ear-worm filled soundtracks of the year, meaning you will truly believe that McWyer Mortimer could have the hold on Key’s Charles that they do. Expect to laugh, well-up and tap your foot throughout, and even for long after – this is the type of film that stays with you. - JH 4. Weapons Writer/director Zach Cregger followed up his 2022 horror hit Barbarian with this unnerving and thunderously entertaining horror epic, which follows events in the aftermath of a deeply troubling incident in a suburban US town: one night, without explanation, all but one student in the third-grade class of a new teacher (Julia Garner) vanished from their homes. Divulging further plot details would severely dampen the viewing experience, but the non-linear structure employed by Cregger – who unspools the narrative from six different perspectives – allows the film to explore the complex ways people's psyches are affected by broken communities, traumatic events and surrounding public storms. Each chapter gradually teases more information about the bizarre events engulfing the town, resulting in a propulsive, perfectly-paced thriller that leaves things tantalisingly mysterious until a superb late reveal that introduces an instantly iconic villain. Of course, there are frights aplenty, with Cregger tapping into nightmarish, fairytale-esque imagery, but also no shortage of evidence of the director's comedic roots. It's the deft way in which he juggles those tones that made Weapons such a refreshing triumph. – PC 3. The Brutalist Director Brady Corbet helms another epic piece of cinema with this (ahem) brutal take on the American Dream. Anchored by a stunning turn from Adrien Brody as traumatised Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and architect László Tóth, who comes to the US seeking a better life for himself and his family but faces trials and tribulations – mostly at the hands of self-serving industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (a brilliantly underplayed Guy Pearce). There is absolutely moving work too from the still (somehow) criminally underrated Felicity Jones as Erzsébet Tóth, László’s wife, whom he reunites with during the film after the years of wickedness they have both experienced. This beast of a film gives scale, scope and sadness, with gorgeous cinematography from Lol Crawley and a stirring score from Daniel Blumberg. Ultimately, Corbet remains a true auteur, and we can only wait in anticipation for what he has up his sleeve next. – LK 2. One Battle After Another A new Paul Thomas Anderson film is always something to get excited for, yet despite the variety of the writer-director’s back catalogue, I don’t think anyone could have quite expected what he delivered here. A loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland, One Battle After Another is both a incredibly specific, one-of-a-kind picture from an auteur filmmaker, yet it’s also a genuinely propulsive, thrilling action movie, able to captivate all manner of film fans. The cast are all on top form here, whether it’s Leonardo DiCaprio carrying the weight of the narrative on his back, Chase Infiniti stealing scenes left, right and centre, Benicio Del Toro bringing the laughs or Sean Penn giving us one of the most profoundly unsettling villains of recent years. Meanwhile, Anderson truly delivers the goods, with breathtakingly staged, pulse-racing action, visually sumptuous sequences, impressive pacing across all 162 minutes and a superb team behind him all the way, including cinematographer Michael Bauman and composer Jonny Greenwood. – JH 1. Sinners View Green Video on the source website Sinners is yet another masterful outing from Ryan Coogler, following twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael B Jordan) on their return to their Mississippi hometown to rebuild their lives; only, something far darker awaits them. Shot entirely in both IMAX and Ultra Panavision cameras, the movie is spectacularly captured, particularly the Juke Joint dance scene which should rightfully go down in history as one of the most beautifully crafted scenes in cinema. Ludwig Göransson’s score effortlessly blends Irish folk music with the blues, providing a soundtrack to oppression intertwined with freedom, as each character runs away from the troubles of their everyday lives to be free, even if it’s just for one night. – KM The following writers submitted lists for this poll: Jeremy Aspinall, Calum Baker, Chezelle Bingham, Max Copeman, Patrick Cremona, Tom Dawson, Darcy Giles, Dave Golder, Kevin Harley, James Hibbs, Alan Jones, Lewis Knight, Sean McGeady, Katelyn Mensah, Steve Morrissey, Molly Moss, James Mottram, Jayne Nelson, David Parkinson, Emma Simmonds, Terry Staunton, Christian Tobin, Amber Wilkinson, Jamie Windust, and Josh Winning. 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Death in Paradise cast: Who stars in the BBC murder mystery?
Our guide to the stars – past and present – of the popular island detective series.
Ahead of Death in Paradise season 15, we're heading back to Saint Marie for the murder mystery's annual Christmas special – which sees Mervin and his team take on one of their most challenging cases yet. "The office Christmas party of a lifetime takes a dark turn when four co-workers wake up to find a stranger dead in the pool of their Caribbean villa," the official synopsis reads. "DI Mervin Wilson and the team identify the murder weapon, but they’re left baffled when they find that it was locked in a drawer when the murder took place... thousands of miles away from the crime scene, in Swindon!" Thankfully, there's a "familiar face" over in the UK who might be able to lend a hand. And Mervin is also "anxiously waiting to hear back from his newly discovered brother, which prevents him from embracing Saint Marie's Christmas celebrations". "Can Mervin resolve his family situation and get into the festive spirit – for the sake of his team and the island?" the logline adds. Alongside the main cast, several new guest stars have also been drafted in for the festive special, some of whom you might recognise from other shows. For more information about where you've seen the cast before and who they play in Death in Paradise, read on. Read more: Death in Paradise's Don Gilet responds to character criticism: 'I don't have to defend Mervin' Is Return to Paradise coming back for season 3? Death in Paradise cast The main cast of Death in Paradise is as follows: Don Gilet as Mervin Wilson Shantol Jackson as Naomi Thomas Élizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey Shaquille Ali-Yebuah as Sebastian Rose Ginny Holder as Darlene Curtis Don Gilet plays Mervin Wilson Who is Mervin Wilson? The detective inspector travelled to Saint Marie to meet his mother for the first time in the 2024 Christmas special when he was roped into helping the team with an investigation. He then found out that his mother had been murdered and eventually brought her killer to justice. But just when he was planning to leave the island and head back to London, he discovered he has a brother... What else has Don Gilet been in? He's best known for EastEnders, Holby City and 55 Degrees North. You might also recognise him from Shetland, Sherwood, The Stranger and The Loch. Shantol Jackson plays Naomi Thomas Who is Naomi Thomas? Sergeant Thomas joined in season 11 and fast became an integral member of the team. Prior to her entrance, she had never been part of a murder investigation before, but quickly adapted. In the 2023 festive episode, she made a move on her former colleague Marlon after one too many cocktails, but later regretted her decision. And last season, she encountered an old flame, which left her nursing a broken heart. But she picked herself up, thanks to Mervin, of all people – and slowly but surely, they are beginning to understand one another as police officers and people. What else has Shantol Jackson been in? Death in Paradise was something of a career breakthrough for Jackson, but she previously appeared in a small role in Idris Elba's film Yardie and had a main part in 2018 sports movie Sprinter. Élizabeth Bourgine plays Catherine Bordey <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/Catherine-8dba90d.jpg" width="4284" height="2856" alt="A woman wearing a colorful purple dress, headscarf, and layered jewelry stands inside a church, smiling calmly with her hands clasped. Behind her, a young woman in a red shirt and a man in a light blue uniform stand between wooden pews decorated with red flowers, while another person in a light-colored robe faces her in the foreground." title="Death in Paradise s15" /> Who is Catherine Bordey? Catherine Bordey is the island's mayor and owns her own beachfront bar. She's also a solid advice-giver and previously jumped at any chance to set Neville up on a date. Last season, she did her best to support Selwyn through his professional challenges and was thoroughly disappointed when he decided not to stay. But she also respected his decision. It was also teased that there could be some romance on the cards for Catherine in the coming episodes... What else has Élizabeth Bourgine been in? Like Jobert, Élizabeth Bourgiune is French and has appeared in several shows and movies in her home country, including Private Lessons, A Heart in Winter and My Best Friend. Shaquille Ali-Yebuah plays Sebastian Rose <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/12/Seb-2f0601c.jpg" width="4284" height="2856" alt="A man wearing a light blue police uniform stands between wooden church pews decorated with red flowers, leaning slightly forward and looking to the side. Sunlight fills the church interior behind him, highlighting his badge, shoulder patches, and light-colored belt." title="Death in Paradise s15" /> Who is Sebastian Rose? The team's newest officer. Darlene was charged with mentoring the larger than life character, who certainly enjoys thinking outside of the box. But while it doesn't always go down well with his colleagues, Seb is starting to find his feet. What else has Shaquille Ali-Yebuah been in? His credits include CBBC show Dixi, football comedy The First Team, sci-fi drama The Feed, sci-fi superhero film iBoy, and Channel 4 comedy I Hate You. Ginny Holder plays Darlene Curtis Who is Darlene Curtis? We first met Darlene in season 7 when she entered the frame as Dwayne Myers's love interest. She was initially the police station's office admin, but she's now a key part of the team – but sadly she only pops up in the Christmas special for a moment, via phone. "She goes from trainee to Officer extraordinaire, which is major for her," said Holder. "She's still quite feisty. She can never lose that because it's so needed." What else has Ginny Holder been in? Holder is best known for her role in Holby City, but has also starred in Doctors, DCI Banks, The Capture and Ragdoll. What's next for Selwyn Patterson? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/03/death-in-paradise-selwyn-patterson-don-warrington-97c8076.jpg" width="1605" height="1070" alt="Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, wearing a bright blue shirt with orange foliage design. There are palm trees in the background and he is looking at the camera scowling." title="Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise" /> Who is Selwyn Patterson? After being let go from his role as commissioner in the last season, Selwyn was eventually offered his job back when the powers that be realised they'd made a terrible blunder. But he decided not to accept the offer and remains a retired man. Will he change his mind? What else has Don Warrington been in? Warrington has appeared in countless productions on stage and screen. with highlights including playing Philip in Rising Damp, and appearing in Doctor Who's Rise of the Cybermen back in 2006. In 2008, he took part in Strictly Come Dancing, in which he was partnered with Lilia Kopylova. Death in 2025 Paradise Christmas special guest stars Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead, Sanditon) as Helen Dudgale - the managing director of a branded merchandise company. Helen decides to take her team to the Caribbean for their office Christmas party, as a reward for their hard work. Josie Lawrence (EastEnders) as Majorie Dodds - the Dugdale's receptionist. She is the only staff member who isn't invited to Saint Marie. James Baxter (Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, Still Open All Hours) as Gavin Bradbury - Dugdale's graphic designer. Peal Mackie (Doctor Who, The Diplomat) as Karen Hickson - Head of Sales at Dugdale's. She's in a relationship with Gavin. Billy Harris (Ted Lasso) as Neil Dugdale - Helen's son, who also works at the company as the accounts manager. Alix Serman as Darrian St Jules - a local fisherman who is found dead in a swimming pool, with Blitzen' written on the palm of his left hand. Oriana Charles (Extraordinary) as Ashley Simms - a former Dugdale's employee who left under a cloud of controversy a couple of months back. Death in Paradise former cast members Ben Miller played Richard Poole Who is Richard Poole? The first lead detective to feature on Death in Paradise, Richard Poole was a very accomplished detective – who was shockingly murdered in the first episode of season 3. What else has Ben Miller been in? Miller is well known as one half of the comedy double act Armstrong and Miller alongside Alexander Armstrong, while other major titles include Professor T, Bridgerton, Suspect and Paddington. Kris Marshall played Humphrey Goodman Who is Humphrey Goodman? Poole's replacement on Saint Marie, Humphrey Goodman arrived on the island in season 3 and became chief inspector. He enjoyed life in Saint Marie and was known for solving mysteries very quickly. He left to start a new chapter with his girlfriend Martha and they now have their own spin-off, Beyond Paradise. What else has Kris Marshall been in? Marshall is best known for My Family, Love, Actually and Sanditon. Ardal O'Hanlon played Jack Mooney Who is Jack Mooney? The third lead detective in the show's run, Mooney took over from Goodman and was a friendly and unassuming inspector. He was planning to travel the world with his love interest Anna, hut instead headed back to London to spend more time with his daughter. Jack recently popped up in Australian Death in Paradise spin-off Return to Paradise. What else has Ardal O'Hanlon been in? O'Hanlon's credits include Father Ted, My Hero, Extraordinary, The Woman in the Wall and Derry Girls, in addition to his successful stand-up career. Ralf Little played Neville Parker Who is Neville Parker? Neville Parker followed on from Jack Mooney as the show's lead detective. In season 11, sparks were flying between Neville and holidaymaker Sophie, but their love story crashed and burned when it emerged that she was on a mission to destroy him as revenge for the death of her sister – who Neville had arrested many years ago. Following that ordeal, he looked set to leave, but Neville stayed until the end of season 13, before sailing off into the sunset with Florence Cassell. What else has Ralf Little been in? Before joining the cast of Death in Paradise back in 2020, Little was best known for his roles on sitcoms The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. Joséphine Jobert plays Florence Cassell Who is Florence Cassell? Florence worked alongside Neville in the Saint Marie police force as a detective sergeant and had something of a will-they / won't-they romance with the detective. But she later told him that she only saw him as a friend. Florence then left Saint Marie due to being in danger after exposing a major big-time criminal, but she popped up in season 13 after exiting witness protection and appeared to have developed feelings for Neville. After some more will-they / won't-they action, the pair decided to go travelling together. What else has Joséphine Jobert been in? Alongside Death in Paradise, she has appeared on a number of TV shows in her homeland France including Cut, Summer Crush and Saint-Ex, nos années pension. Tahj Miles played Marlon Pryce Who is Marlon Pryce? Marlon was first seen on Death in Paradise as a petty criminal who spent his days scamming tourists, before becoming an officer with the local police force. In season 13, his sister received a scholarship to a school in Jamaica and with their mum unable to accompany her, he volunteered to go instead. What else has Tahj Miles been in? Miles recently starred in Mr Loverman. He previously appeared as part of the main cast on Class Dismissed, and also had a role in Steve McQueen's Mangrove – part of the Small Axe series of films on BBC One. Sara Martins played Camille Bordey Who is Camille Bordey? A Detective Sergeant who worked under both Richard Poole and Humphrey Goodman, Camille is the daughter of Catherine. She was departed the island after being assigned an undercover job in Paris. What else has Sara Martins been in? Martins has appeared in a number of series both in the UK and in France including Father Brown, Grand Hôteland, The Coroner and Those About to Die. Danny John-Jules played Dwayne Myers Who is Dwayne Myers? Dwayne was a long-serving police officer at Honoré Police Station, appearing in 57 episodes of the show – and knew the island of Saint Marie better than anyone. He previously left to spend time with his estranged father in London, who was ill. He did briefly return in the 2021 Christmas special, before exiting once again. But he then returned and remained on the show until the 2024 festive episode, before leaving once more to spend quality time with his old man. What else has Danny John-Jules been in? John-Jules is best known for Red Dwarf, while other credits include a role on CBBC children's spy drama MI High and CBeebies series The Story Makers. Tobi Bakare played JP Hooper Who is JP Hooper? A sergeant who is close friends with Dwayne Myers, JP had always dreamed of being a diligent and hard working police officer. He left to take on a new job, but returned briefly in season 13, and again at the beginning of season 14 for a particularly troubling case. What else has Tobi Bakare been in? Bakare played Jamal in the first two Kingsman films and has also had regular roles on The Tunnel and The Smoke. Gary Carr played Fidel Best Who is Fidel Best? Originally an officer – before being promoted to Sergeant, Fidel was a young investigator who was known for his organisational abilities and his eagerness to impress. He went on to work in St Lucia. What else has Gary Carr been in? Since leaving Death in Paradise in 2014, Carr has had major roles in a number of series including The Deuce, Genius and Trigonometry as well as appearing in four episodes of Downton Abbey and films including Bolden and 21 Bridges. Aude Legastelois Bidé played Madeleine Dumas Who is Madeleine Dumas? A Detective Sergeant who worked alongside Jack Mooney, arrived in Saint Marie after living in Paris for most of her life. She moved back to Paris after being offered a promotion. What else has Aude Legastelois Bidé been in? Legastelois Bidé has also appeared in episodes of Nox and The Hookup Plan. Shyko Amos played Ruby Patterson Who is Ruby Patterson? An officer who replaced Dwayne Myers on the Honoré Police Station team, Ruby was just starting her career in the police – and is the niece of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. After a trip to Paris, she decided to remain there permanently. What else has Shyko Amos been in? Besides Death in Paradise, Amos's most high-profile appearance to date was in an episode of A Very English Scandal in 2018. Death in Paradise season 15 will air in the new year on BBC One and iPlayer. Add Death in Paradise to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Traitors fans are flabbergasted by juicy twist in new teaser – but what could it mean?
It looks like we could be seeing the introduction of a red Traitor in the new season, which begins on New Year's Day.
The 2026 TV calendar is getting off to the best possible start on New Year's Day – with the latest season of The Traitors set to kick off at 8pm on BBC One. Claudia Winkleman will once again be inviting a group of strangers to the iconic castle in the Scottish highlands, with viewers set to be treated to yet another few weeks of treachery, twists and unmissable TV moments that will hopefully live up to the drama of the recent celebrity edition. And it looks like we won't have to wait long for the first major twist this season, with viewers spotting something out of the ordinary in one of the recent teaser trailers released by the BBC. In the clip, we hear Claudia's voice saying: "Have yourself a merry little Christmas", before she adds: "I'm joking." But more significant that what we hear, is what we see. As Claudia makes her announcement, a figure wearing one of the iconic Traitor's cloaks is seen ominously approaching while clutching a lantern. Only, rather than the usual dark green colour seen in previous seasons, the cloak in question is red. Watch the teaser below: View oEmbed on the source website When combined with a previous teaser that was entirely in black and white save for a few flashes of red, it seems clear that this colour will be playing a prominent role in the new run. But what exactly does it signify? We'll obviously have to wait until the first episode airs in a few days time before we know for sure, but fans have already been speculating on social media about the possible purpose of a red-cloaked traitor. "Oh is it a traitor traitor, where they’re told 'you will only win if you are the sole traitor at the end,'" one fan suggested on X (formerly Twitter). Another mused: "Imagine if the traitors are in trouble, they can call in a past traitor (the red traitor) to give them advice/tips," while a third fan wrote: "All money on it being a secret traitor that isn’t revealed to the audience." Those all seem like reasonable suggestions, and it will certainly be fascinating to see exactly how this season is set to differ from the past editions of the show. Of course, The Traitors has never been afraid of shaking things up with changes to the format year on year to add a little extra drama – with last year's addition of a new power known as The Seer just one of many notable examples. Whatever this one ends up being, we're pretty sure we can bank on another thrilling season of high drama. We can't wait! The Traitors season 4 begins on Thursday 1st January 2026 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-3 are available to watch on iPlayer. Add The Traitors to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Stranger Things creators confirm what actually just happened with Nancy and Jonathan
The emotional scenes between the Hawkins couple have left some viewers a tad confused.
**WARNING: Contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2* After nine years as a pop culture behemoth, Stranger Things has all but wrapped up – with just one episode to go before Netflix's sci-fi/fantasy show ends for good. Episodes five to eight of the rather drawn out final run dropped on Christmas Day – almost exactly a month after the first four instalments – and it's safe to say the new episodes have left fans with plenty of major talking points. One of those pertains to the storyline concerning couple Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) who shared an emotional conversation just as it seemed like they were looking at a certain demise. In the scene, Jonathan asked Nancy not to marry him, to which she agreed – although they both tearfully explained that they still loved each other. Moments later, it emerged that they weren't quite in the imminent mortal danger they had thought they were, and have lived to survive another day. But is the same true of their relationship? It's a moment which has caused a certain degree of confusion for fans, but now show bosses the Duffer brothers have stepped in to clear up whether this was really a breakup or not. "That's a breakup," Matt Duffer explained to <a href="https://people.com/stranger-things-did-nancy-jonathan-get-engaged-exclusive-11873748" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-url="https://people.com/stranger-things-did-nancy-jonathan-get-engaged-exclusive-11873748" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-hawk-tracked="hawklinks" data-mrf-link="https://people.com/stranger-things-did-nancy-jonathan-get-engaged-exclusive-11873748">People magazine. "They are broken up." That seems to spell it out about as straightforwardly as possible, so fans still in denial about the end of Nancy and Jonathan as a couple might have to begrudgingly accept it. Read more: Stranger Things season 5 has already stuck the landing with one monumental scene Stranger Things star reacts to "devastating" reveal and "tough" Eleven scene in volume 2 Speaking in more detail about the reason for this narrative decision, Duffer added: "It's hard to recall when exactly that idea came, but I think us — and the writers — all felt that Nancy needed to end up on her own and be independent and have an opportunity to find herself." He continued, "I mean, how many people wind up with their girlfriend or boyfriend that they met in high school?" Ross Duffer also went on to describe the former couple's relationship as a "trauma bond." Of course, with one episode left before the show bows out, it will be interesting to see just how Stranger Things ties up the storyline once and for all – and whether it tees up what's next for both Jonathan and Nancy now they're single. We've got less than a week to wait! Stranger Things season 5's finale will be released on New Year's Day. Add Stranger Things to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
King's speech tops Christmas ratings with surprise second place beating Strictly
The overnight ratings are considerably lower than last year's.
The King's Christmas message was the most watched programme on Christmas Day, with almost 7 million viewers tuning in to watch the royal address, according to BARB's overnight figures. That total combines all those who watched across various channels – including BBC, ITV, Sky News and GB News – as King Charles made his annual speech from the changed location of Westminster Abbey. In the address, the King urged the British public to get "to know our neighbours" as he made the case for forging greater community spirit in a world that has become increasingly divided. The second most viewed programme of the day was The Scarecrows' Wedding, the animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture book, which was watched by 4.3 million people. That's marginally more than the 4.2 million who tuned in to watch Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman host Strictly Come Dancing for the last time in the beloved ballroom show's festive special. Meanwhile, the top five in the day's ratings was rounded out by Michael McIntryre's The Wheel (3.7m) and the Call the Midwife Christmas Special (3.4m). The figures mark a significant downturn as compared to last year, which had seen the highest Christmas Day overnight ratings since 2008. Of course, last year's top two were the final episode of Gavin & Stacey (which was watched by 12.3 million) and new Wallace and Gromit film Vengeance Most Fowl, which saw 9.4 million viewers tune in. With no similarly major event broadcasts happening this time around, it was perhaps always inevitable that the figures would be lower. But even programmes that aired both years saw their total viewers dwindle, with just 2.85 million viewers tuning in to the first of two EastEnders specials this year, down from 4.4m and 4m for the two episodes in 2004. You can find the full breakdown of the top 10 most-watched shows on the day below: The King's Christmas Broadcast – 6.56m The Scarecrows' Wedding – 4.31m Strictly Come Dancing – 4.24m Michael McIntyre's The Wheel – 3.71m Call the Midwife – 3.44m Gladiators – 3.16m Amandaland – 3.05m EastEnders – 2.85m The 1% Club – 2.75m The Weakest Link – 2.63m Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Elle Fanning reveals the "meta-ness" of filming Sentimental Value as it mirrored real-life
Fanning has a key role alongside Stellan Skarsgård and Renate Reinsve in the new film from The Worst Person in the World director Joachim Trier.
In Joachim Trier's new film Sentimental Value, Elle Fanning stars as Rachel Kemp – a young actress who travels to Norway for the first time to star in a film made by an esteemed Scandinavian director. Given that, in real life, Fanning is also a young actress who was travelling to Norway for the first time to star in a film made by an esteemed Scandinavian director, it's fair to say there are some clear parallels between character and star. And so, when RadioTimes.com spoke exclusively to Fanning ahead of the film's release, we asked her how much she drew on her own experiences while playing the role. "I always feel like with acting... I mean, you are yourself, so you are maybe subconsciously drawing from things you've experienced," she explained. "Normally, I try to separate, but there were feelings that Rachel felt that I've definitely... I can say I've felt before. Maybe not to the magnitude that she is feeling them when we meet her, but you can't help but kind of see the meta-ness of it all, and the correlations between what is going on with me being an American actress coming to Norway for the first time to work with a Norwegian filmmaker." She added: "I mean, that was all happening in real time, so you can't help but pick up things and kind of put that into the character. But I still, I think she is quite different from me!" The director who Fanning's character is working with in the film is the once renowned Gustav Borg, who is played, in an excellent performance, by the Oscar-tipped Stellan Skarsgård. And Skarsgård has explained that while he did not want to draw too much from any one particular director he's worked with in the past while developing the character, there were certainly aspects of Gustav that he was able to relate to. "I mean, I'm an actor, I can play what the f**k whoever," he explained. "What wasn't like me at all was [that] he definitely belonged to an older generation than me, even if he has the same age. He's a very 20th century man. But then I could relate to him, because I know them." View Green Video on the source website He continued: "What I really could relate to is the artist that has the problem with dealing with his personal life and combining his passion for the art with the necessity of living a normal life too. Because as an artist, unlike other professions, it's not a profession. I mean, you have to do it, because if you don't do it, you'll die, in a way. And you won't be the same person. But it's hard to combine sometimes." One of the key themes of the film is the idea that sometimes it's easier to communicate difficult, personal conversations through art than it is face-to-face, and this was also something which Skarsgård could "absolutely" relate to. "I believe in that," he said. "But what is fantastic with Joachim is he shows all the unspeakable things, all the things that you can't explain in words, all the difficult things that you can only feel – and he manages to capture that." Sentimental Value is now showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Wake Up Dead Man filming locations: Where was the Knives Out film shot?
Everything you need to know about the real locations used to bring Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude to life.
It's been a couple of weeks since Wake Up Dead Man – the third entry in Rian Johnson's Knives Out series – arrived on Netflix, and many subscribers will no doubt have already watched the film and discovered who was responsible for the murder of Josh Brolin's Monsignor Wicks. So far, the film has been going down very well with viewers after similarly attracting praise from critics, with our own review praising it for the slightly more unsettling tone it adopts and even suggesting that it might just be the best entry in the series yet. Of course, in addition to the excellent central mystery, there are many other aspects of the film to enjoy: from its brilliant star-studded cast led once again by Daniel Craig, to a stellar soundtrack featuring an iconic Tom Waits tune. And one other thing which may have caught your eye is the locations, specifically the church that was used as the focal point of the drama – Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, as it is named in the film. If you were wondering which real locations were used as the backdrop for Wake Up Dead Man, read on for everything you need to know. Wake Up Dead Man filming locations: Where was the Knives Out film shot? Although the film is set in the fictional town of Chimney Rock in upstate New York, the bulk of filming actually took place in the UK – with interiors shot at Leavesden Studios in Watford and exteriors at the Church of the Holy Innocents in High Beach, Epping Forest. Meanwhile, further exterior footage – for the scenes set away from the Parish and in the town itself – was shot in Cold Spring, New York. Speaking in the film's press notes, Production Designer Rick Heinrichs explained how, as with the previous two films in the series, his first task had been to find the "linchpin location" for the movie. He explained that he felt that he had to find a location in which "every particular feature is a candidate for a reveal, either as a bona fide clue or a red herring, or simply as character texture that provides visual narrative." The plan had always been to shoot in the UK, but as for why the Church of the Holy Innocents was specifically selected, Heinrichs explained: "We scoured the UK possibilities from North to South and East to West, it was devilishly hard to find a church that didn’t look at least several centuries too old for a US church. "In the research of American churches though, I did find a tradition of neo-Gothic/Victorian age, mid-19-century American churches that overlapped with a few of the candidate UK churches that we had identified. The one that really caught our eye was Holy Innocents Church in Epping Forest close to London." View Green Video on the source website He added: "Besides checking the plausibility box, it had a storybook-like charm in its arboreal setting within an old graveyard that seemed to support Rian’s intent." As for the decision to film the interior scenes on studio sets rather than on location, he explained that the church itself was too small for the job it needed to do, explaining that it was really "more chapel than church" and that it "was disappointingly bland inside." He continued: "It lacked scripted interior features which would have been necessary for us to build in any case. The nail in the coffin was that there was always going to be considerable destruction of interior elements to consider, something that we felt certain would be unacceptably restricted in doing properly at a real location church." Meanwhile, as explained by BBC News, the vicar of the real church, Reverend Jane Yeadon, was so delighted that it had been chosen for the film that she had it written into the contract that she had to be on set every time filming took place. Although this was partly for security and safety reasons, it was also because she was a huge fan of both the previous films in the franchise. Filming also led to some surreal moments for the Reardon, with Mila Kunis even mistaking her for an extra. "It is understandable," she said. "It is a film set in a church with lots of priests... but she was so mortified and kept apologising." Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now streaming on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man unveils chilling first-look trailer as Tommy Shelby returns 'from the dead'
There's an early Christmas present for fans of the Birmingham-set gangster saga.
An early Christmas present has arrived for Peaky Blinders fans – with Netflix having just released the first trailer for next year's movie spin-off The Immortal Man. In the brief teaser, which you can watch below, we see our first footage of Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby since he faked his own death in the show's dramatic season finale back in 2022. We find him wandering around and cutting a very isolated figure, before we hear a voice asking: "Whatever happened to Tommy Shelby, the famous gypsy gangster?" Later, we hear him declare: "I'm not that man, any more", while the clip also teases all sorts of dramatic events, from massive explosions to a gathering of a group of apparent Nazis. Meanwhile, fans have also been given brief glimpse at one of the new faces who will be joining the cast for this continuation of the Birmingham gangster saga, in the form of Barry Keoghan. However, there's no sign yet of fellow series newcomer Rebecca Ferguson, who previously told RadioTimes.com that she had "wanted to work with Cillian for a very long time." Check out the trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website The trailer arrives just a few weeks after the film confirmed that it will be arriving on Netflix on 20th March 2026, following a release in cinemas on 6th March 2026. And while certain plot details are understandably being kept under wraps, a synopsis for the movie reads: "Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. "With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders…" Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Of course, regardless of the events that unfold in the film, we know for sure that this won't be the final chapter in the Shelby saga. It was confirmed in October that the series would return for not one but two more seasons, picking up after a time jump and telling the story of a new generation of Shelbys. The official synopsis for the show teases that "the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions". Peaky Blinders is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The movie will stream on Netflix – sign up from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media. Add Peaky Blinders to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Timothy Spall breaks down his emotional karaoke scene in Goodbye June – and why it was so important
The actor is one of many big name stars with key roles in Kate Winslet's directorial debut.
Timothy Spall has accomplished all sorts of incredible feats in his acting career, but in his latest film Goodbye June he faced a new challenge: performing an emotional karaoke scene. The tear-jerking moment comes relatively late in the family drama, with Spall's character Bernie – who had previously seemed in denial about the impending death of his wife June (Helen Mirren) – taking to the stage and devoting a song to her, unaware that his son Connor (Johnny Flynn) is watching. "Well I mean, they can go wrong," Spall told RadioTimes.com when asked about doing the scene. "But it's a way of this character getting in touch with everything that he's managed to avoid." He added: "And he's doing it not for anybody, particularly. For her [June], but not knowing anybody's watching. His son so happens to watch it. And this is a moment of a huge connection, where his son realises that he's felt it all the time." His co-star Toni Collette added that the moment represented a "final kind of acceptance" for Bernie and Connor, with Spall saying of the latter: "He understands his Dad's been in massive pain." The film is the directorial debut of Kate Winslet and mostly takes place inside the hospital where June is spending her final days in the run-up to Christmas, surrounded by her sometimes warring family who she is desperate to bring back together before she passes. Winslet – who also has a key role in the film herself – has assembled an impressive cast, and each of the stars seemed very impressed by the A-list actor's transition behind the camera. Andrea Riseborough described her as a "natural, knowledgeable" director, and continued: "She's had 30 plus years as a very brilliant person absorbing everything that happens in the industry. "Often we work with people who've made one or two films as directors. Kate's been in so many films, she knows exactly the way every last cog works in the machine that we have as an industry." Colette added: "You realise [most] directors actually don't get to work with other directors. As an actor, you have such a vast experience of diverse, different directors, so you can really kind of pick and choose what you might use in the future." She further explained how Winslet had been an "incredible listener" on set and that she had been "enamoured" by watching her talk to the other actors, while Spall noted that she was a "great director" who has "paid attention to everything around her" during her career. View Green Video on the source website All three stars also said they hoped there was a lot more to come from Winslet behind the camera, with Riseborough joking that she'd be knocking at her door asking if there was a role for her in any future directorial projects. For her part, it sounds like Winslet greatly enjoyed her first experience of directing, and she explained that the different relationships she developed which each of her actors was one of the highlights of the process. "Everyone needed something really, very different from me, just depending on how they work," she said. "And that's one of the things actually about directing this film and doing it for the first time that I loved the most of all. Just like, literally, I had to change the shape of my voice with one actor compared to how I could lift my volume with another. "I mean, honestly, it was quite amazing to learn that. And of course it was going to be like that, but I don't know... I just really took my breath away!" Goodbye June is now streaming on Netflix. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Is the Bruce Willis classic a Christmas movie? The debate continues.
Christmas Day is very nearly upon us, and film fans across the land will be deciding which films to watch to bring in the big day. While the likes of The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf and Love Actually are shoo-ins, there's always one film which remains a little more contentious. Over three-and-a-half decades after its initial release, the question of whether or not Die Hard can be counted as a true Christmas movie remains fiercely contested. It was originally released during the summer months, but its festive setting means it picks up a huge amount of interest around the Yuletide period. The film, which was directed by John McTiernan, stars Bruce Willis as NYPD detective John McClane, who touches down in Los Angeles on 24th December with grand plans of making amends with his estranged wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at her company’s Christmas party. Just before he enters her office, though, the building is seized by the villainous Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and his gang, who take everyone inside hostage. View oEmbed on the source website Film critic James King previously told RadioTimes.com that "Die Hard is a Christmas movie now but it didn’t start out as one". "Back in 1988 when it was released in the summer, I don’t think anyone thought it was a festive film," he continued. "Sure it had a seasonal setting but it was hardly warm and cuddly. "But over time, the fans have embraced its Christmas background and reinterpreted it as a yuletide classic. That’s what’s great about brilliant films: they don’t just have to be one thing." But is the film airing over the 2025 Christmas period, and where can fans stream it? Here’s all you need to know, so you can make your mind up on the Christmas movie debate once and for all. Is Die Hard on TV this Christmas? As perhaps is only right, Die Hard will be getting an airing on Christmas Eve, with the film showing on 4Seven at 10pm. Meanwhile, the film is also available to stream on Channel 4 (previously All4 and 4OD) for free until Sunday 4th January. You can watch the film here. Where else can I watch Die Hard? All five films in the series are available to stream on Disney Plus – including the first film, which originally joined the streaming service much later than the sequels. You can sign up to Disney Plus for £5.99 a month If you don't have a subscription to Disney Plus, you can buy or rent Die Hard and the other sequels on Prime Video. Apple TV also has the full collection available to purchase. Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Philosophers across the world ponder the big questions in life – and perhaps the most prominent is the conundrum: is Die Hard a Christmas movie, or is it just a movie that just happens to be set at Christmas? (It’s a Christmas movie and we won’t hear otherwise.) Like the pronunciation of "scone", it is a query that has plagued people for decades (at least, since 1988), with even Die Hard star Bruce Willis saying – controversially – that he doesn’t believe the action-thriller is a Christmas movie. A 2021 poll by YouGov stepped in to settle the festive debate, finding that the public does not consider it to be a true Christmas film – even though just one year prior the film's director John McTiernan had said that he thought it was one. However, more recently a closely-contested Channel 4 poll revealed that Die Hard actually it is a Christmas movie. In the poll, 39 per cent of viewers thought it was a Christmas film compared to 37 per cent of people who said it was not – with the remaining respondents sitting on the fence. Christmas film or not, Die Hard still remains one of the best and most influential action films ever made, and the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without settling down to watch Bruce Willis’s star turn. How to watch the Die Hard films in order There are five films in the Die Hard series which were released over a 25 year period. The latest, A Good Day to Die Hard, first hit US cinema screens on Valentine's Day 2013. Here's the order they came out: Die Hard (1988) Die Hard 2 (1990) Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) Live Free or Die Hard (2007) A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Love Actually soundtrack: Every song featured in the Christmas classic
Ready to dance along to Jump with Hugh Grant and cry to Both Sides Now with Emma Thompson?
In the last couple of years, Richard Curtis has been behind two brand new Christmas films: first 2023's Genie and then 2024's Netflix animation That Christmas. And while both of those films – especially the latter – have their fans, in truth neither seem likely to have anywhere near the long-lasting impact of the writer's earlier foray into the Christmas movie genre, 2003's beloved Love Actually. For millions around the country, no Christmas would be complete without an annual rewatch of the popular romcom. Of course, it follows eight different couples as they navigate their love lives in the countdown to Christmas, boasting a brilliant soundtrack and one of the best casts of British actors ever assembled on film: including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Dame Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley and many more. A festive classic it might be, but Curtis wasn't always so sure the film was going to become such an enduring hit. Asked whether he's surprised Love Actually has become a part of so many people's festive celebrations, Curtis told Radio Times last year: "I just consider that so lucky. We thought Love Actually was a disaster for months while we were trying to edit it. So, I always look back on it and think, 'I can’t believe we got away with it!'" Alongside a score from composer Craig Armstrong, the film also features a handful of pop songs. Wondering what they are? Read on for the full Love Actually soundtrack list and score. Love Actually score The full list of tracks in the movie composed by Armstrong are as follows: Opening Titles – Craig Armstrong Christmas Is All Around (Montage) – Craig Armstrong First Day – Craig Armstrong Natalie with Tea Trolley – Craig Armstrong In Love with Karl – Craig Armstrong Sam’s Bedroom – Craig Armstrong On the Bench – Craig Armstrong I’m in Love – Craig Armstrong Total Agony – Craig Armstrong Saucy Minx/Aurelia Arrives – Craig Armstrong Bad Policies – Craig Armstrong Discovery of Kiss/Press Conference – Craig Armstrong Croissants in France – Craig Armstrong The Lake Scene – Craig Armstrong Saddest Part of Day – Craig Armstrong Glasgow Love Theme – Craig Armstrong PM Redistributes Natalie – Craig Armstrong Jamie Leaves Aurelia – Craig Armstrong Sarah & Karl Go Wrong – Craig Armstrong Karen in Bed – Craig Armstrong Harry & Mia – Craig Armstrong Wrapping the Necklace – Craig Armstrong Natalie on the Stairs – Craig Armstrong Natalie at the School – Craig Armstrong Natalie Revealed/Karen Confronts Harry – Craig Armstrong Joanna Drives Off – Craig Armstrong Sam & Joanna – Craig Armstrong Portuguese Love Theme – Craig Armstrong Christmas Is All Around (Film Version) – Billy Mack Greenshoots – Craig Armstrong Restaurant Band – Craig Armstrong PM’s Love Theme – Craig Armstrong Christmas Is All Around (Soundtrack Version) – Billy Mack Love Actually soundtrack list: Every song featured in the Christmas classic There are actually two different versions of the soundtrack for Love Actually - one for the UK and one for the US. View oEmbed on the source website Love Actually UK soundtrack list The following songs feature in the UK version of the beloved Richard Curtis film: Jump - Girls Aloud Too Lost in You (Love Actually version) - Sugababes The Trouble With Love Is - Kelly Clarkson Here with Me - Dido Christmas Is All Around - Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) Turn Me On - Norah Jones Songbird - Eva Cassidy Sweetest Goodbye - Maroon 5 Wherever You Will Go - The Calling I'll See It Through - Texas Both Sides Now (2000 version) - Joni Mitchell White Christmas - Otis Redding Take Me as I Am - Wyclef Jean and Sharissa All I Want for Christmas Is You - Olivia Olson God Only Knows - The Beach Boys All You Need Is Love - Lynden David Hall Sometimes - Gabrielle Love Actually US soundtrack list The following songs feature in the US version: The Trouble with Love Is - Kelly Clarkson Here With Me - Dido Medley: Sweetest Goodbye/Sunday Morning - Maroon 5 Turn Me On - Norah Jones Take Me as I Am - Wyclef Jean and Sharissa Songbird - Eva Cassidy Wherever You Will Go - The Calling Jump (For My Love) - The Pointer Sisters Both Sides Now (2000 version) - Joni Mitchell All You Need Is Love - Lynden David Hall God Only Knows - The Beach Boys I'll See It Through - Texas Too Lost in You (Love Actually version) - Sugababes White Christmas - Otis Redding Christmas Is All Around - Billy Mack (Bill Nighy) All I Want for Christmas Is You - Olivia Olson The US version does not feature Gabrielle or Girls Aloud (swapping them out for The Pointer Sisters), and offers a different track for Maroon 5. Love Actually is airing several times this festive season, including a prime time spot on Christmas Eve. It's also available to watch on Netflix, Sky Cinema, and NOW. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Where are the cast of Home Alone now, 35 years later?
The film remains a festive staple all these years on – but what became of its stars?
Incredibly, it's been three-and-a-half decades since Home Alone first arrived in cinemas – and all these years later, the film remains one of the staples of festive viewing. While there have been a number of sequels and spin-offs over the years – most recently a fairly disastrous reboot in 2021 – and original star Macaulay Culkin has even recently been pitching a possible new sequel, in truth none on the later films have got anywhere near to the quality of the first two. With that in mind, you might be wondering what the cast of that original film are up to now? Of course, there have been some huge success stories, perhaps none more so than Macualay's brother Kieran Culkin, who has made an excellent transition from child star to adult actor by winning both an Emmy and an Oscar in recent years. But what of the rest of them – read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Home Alone and where they are now. Macaulay Culkin as Kevin Where is Macaulay Culkin now? Thanks to Home Alone, Culkin became one of the biggest child stars of all time, also appearing in sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and a range of other films in the early-to-mid '90s including My Girl, Richie Rich and The Pagemaster. Major roles dried up after that, although he did appear in a couple of independent films in the mid 2000s, including Party Monster and Saved! After some time away from acting – during which time he appeared in a pizza-themed comedy band named The Pizza Underground – he's more recently returned with roles in American Horror Story, The Righteous Gemstones, Zootopia 2 and Fallout, while he recently touted a potential new sequel idea in the Home Alone series... Joe Pesci as Harry Where is Joe Pesci now? The same year Pesci appeared in Home Alone he won an Oscar for his iconic role as Tommy in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, and he's appeared in a number of other notable films since including My Cousin Vinny, A Bronx Tale and Casino. He's been acting less in more recent years after going into semi-retirement in 1999, although he did earn another Oscar nod for his turn in Scorsese's 2019 mob film The Irishman and more recently starred in Pete Davidson's comedy series Bupkis and a boxing film Day of the Fight, both in 2023. Daniel Stern as Marv Where is Daniel Stern now? Stern has been consistently working in film and TV since his role in Home Alone and its sequel, although none of his big screen credits have been quite as major as those films. On TV he's had roles in Manhattan, Shrill and most recently acclaimed Apple TV series For All Mankind, in which he plays the role of Eli Hobson. Catherine O'Hara as Kate Where is Catherine O'Hara now? Already a popular comic actress, O'Hara became even more adored for her role as Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek between 2015 and 2020, which won her both an Emmy and a Golden Globe. She's also regularly appeared in the films of Christopher Guest – including Best in Show – and last year reprised her role as Delia Deetz in Tim Burton's sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. She also had two major TV roles in 2025 – as Patty Leigh in Seth Rogen's comedy The Studio and as Gail Lynden in the second season of The Last Of Us. John Heard as Peter Where is John Heard now? Heard sadly passed away at the age of 71 in 2017, after suffering a cardiac arrest. He continued to act until the end of his life, with notable post-Home Alone credits including a key part as Warren Vandergeld in White Chicks, an Emmy-nominated turn as Detective Vin Makazian on The Sopranos and a recurring role as Governor Frank Tancredi in Prison Break. Roberts Blossom as Marley Where is Roberts Blossom now? Blossom passed away at the age of 87 in 2011. He didn't have too many roles after Home Alone, but did have key parts in 1991 romcom Doc Hollywood and in Sam Raimi's 1995 Western The Quick and the Dead. Angela Goethals as Linnie Where is Angela Goethals now? Although Goethals continued to act for a couple of decades after Home Alone, she largely moved away from the profession in 2010, with her only credit since then being the 2018 short film P.T.A-Holes. Key film credits from her career include Jerry Maguire and Spanglish, while she had TV roles on sitcoms Phenom and Do Over, drama The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire and even had a recurring role on 24. Devin Ratray as Buzz Where is Devin Ratray now? Ratray continued to act pretty consistently after Home Alone, including roles in films Blue Ruin, Nebraska and Kimi and TV shows including Agent Carter, and The Tick, while has also appeared in episodes of everything from Law & Order to Girls to Better Call Saul. In 2024, he received a 3-year suspended sentence after he plead guilty to domestic assault. Kieran Culkin as Fuller Where is Kieran Culkin now? Undoubtedly the most successful of the younger cast members who appeared in the films, Culkin is now both an Emmy winner and an Oscar winner, the former for his long-running role as Roman Roy in hit TV show Succession, the latter for his supporting role in Jesse Eisenberg's 2024 comedy-drama A Real Pain. Other film credits have included Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and No Sudden Move, while he will shortly be starring as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Gerry Bamman as Uncle Frank Where is Gerry Bamman now? Further film credits for Bamman included The Bodyguard, Lorenzo's Oil, and Great Expectations, although he's largely been absent from screen roles since 2015, when he appeared in two episodes of The Following. Hillary Wolf as Megan Where is Hillary Wolf now? Although Wolf did not appear in any further films after Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, she went on to represent the United States in judo at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. John Candy as Gus Polinski Where is John Candy now? Legendary comic actor John Candy tragically passed away just 4 years after starring in Home Alone, dying of a heart attack in 1994. Film roles after Home Alone included JFK and Cool Runnings, while earlier this year Colin Hanks directed a documentary about his life and work titled John Candy: I Like Me, which is available to stream on Prime Video. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
32 football questions and answers for your virtual home pub quiz
If you're searching for football questions and answers to keep your friends on the ball in online pub quizzes, we've got 32 of the best lined up and ready to roll
Football fans, this is your moment. If your mates spend most of the year looking blankly while you talk about the beautiful game, a pub quiz is one way to guarantee they'll be interested in what you have to say. You can put your football knowledge – and theirs – to the test with our trivia quiz, covering everything from legendary players to historic moments. Challenge your friends and see who comes out on top as the ultimate football aficionado, or use our questions to form the basis of your very own quiz. And once you’re done, why not try our TV pub quiz, film pub quiz, music pub quiz or sport pub quiz for size? Plus there's many, many more quizzes available as part of our bumper general knowledge pub quiz. Football quiz questions Which English club was the first to win the European Cup in 1968? Who is the all-time top scorer for the German national team? Who is the youngest player to ever score in a men's World Cup tournament? Which club did Jürgen Klopp manage before joining Liverpool? Which player holds the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season? Which country hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup? Which player has won the most FIFA Women's World Player of the Year awards? In what year did the UEFA Cup change its name to the UEFA Europa League? Which player was known as "Il Divin Codino" (The Divine Ponytail)? England's women have won the last two European Championships in 2025 and 2022. Which nation won it previously in 2017? Which club has won the most FA Cup titles? Which manager won the UEFA Champions League three times in a row with Real Madrid from 2016 to 2018? Which country won the first-ever men's FIFA World Cup in 1930? Who scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history? Who is the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d'Or? Which club has won the most Scottish Premiership titles? In which year did the "Golden Goal" rule come into effect in football? Which club did Thierry Henry play for before joining Arsenal? Who was the first African player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award? Which team has won the most Women's Super League titles? Who was the manager of the Liverpool team that won the UEFA Champions League in 2005, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win on penalties? Which team is nicknamed "The Baggies"? Which two players have won the FIFA World Cup as both captain and manager? Which country won the men's UEFA European Championship in 2004, causing one of the biggest upsets in tournament history? In which season was the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system first introduced in the Premier League? Which Italian referee was known for his strict enforcement of the rules and was often referred to as the "Policeman of the Pitch"? Which club holds the record for the most consecutive promotions in English football, climbing from the fourth to the first division in just four seasons? Who is the oldest outfield player to have ever appeared in a Premier League match? In which year did the Republic of Ireland national team make their first appearance in the men's FIFA World Cup? Mohamed Salah has won the joint-most Premier League Player of the Month awards alongside two other players: Name one of them. (Maximum one point) Which stadium is known as "The Theatre of Dreams"? Which player has scored the most goals in a single men's FIFA World Cup tournament? Football quiz answers Manchester United Miroslav Klose Pelé Borussia Dortmund Erling Haaland Spain Marta 2009 Roberto Baggio Netherlands Arsenal Zinedine Zidane Uruguay Sadio Mané Lev Yashin Rangers 1993 AS Monaco George Weah Chelsea Rafael Benítez West Bromwich Albion Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps Greece 2019/20 Pierluigi Collina Swansea City Teddy Sheringham 1990 Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero Old Trafford Just Fontaine Can't get enough quizzing? 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Check out more of our <a id="menurm6i" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link Sport">Sport coverage or visit our <a id="menurm6k" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link TV Guide">TV Guide and <a id="menurm6m" class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/streaming-guide/" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/streaming-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Link Streaming Guide">Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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It's been more than 15 years since the popular kids film debuted.
Christmas 2025 is almost upon us, and that means one thing: it’s time to hunker down in front of the fire and watch a Christmas classic. And, when it comes to feel-good movies, there’s no better option than the Martin Freeman-starring film Nativity!, which was such a success following its release in 2009 that it spawned three films and a stage musical. Nativity! follows a former actor turned primary school teacher called Paul (Freeman) as he’s put in charge of his school Nativity play. Everything quickly begins to unravel, and matters only get worse when Paul ends up lying to a rival primary school teacher that a flashy Hollywood producer will be coming into their town to watch them perform. While Freeman leads the cast as the main teacher, the real stars of the film were Marc Wootton as lovable but chaotic classroom assistant Desmond Poppy, and the children themselves. With that in mind, you might be wondering what has become of those young stars who appeared in Nativity! a decade and a half ago... did they continue to act? Read on for everything you need to know. The Nativity cast: Where are they now? Marc Wootton played Mr Poppy Before we move on to the kids themselves, lets start with Mr Poppy – a hugely popular presence in the film played by Marc Wootton. Although this series of films is arguably still what he's best known for, he's had a steady acting career, with credits including the first ever episode of Inside No. 9, the Take That inspired film Greatest Days and the Channel 4 sitcom High and Dry, which he also wrote and directed. Most recently, he had a key role in the Noel Fielding Apple TV+ series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, while in 2024 he played the role of Marek in a National Theatre production of Till the Stars Come Down. Earlier this year, he co-wrote, produced, and starred in short film The Art of the Lie, which you can watch here: ﻿ Jake Pratt played Alfie Alfie was one of the big stars of the nativity play in the film – playing Joseph – and was played by Jake Pratt, who was one of the few kids in the film who was already somewhat well known, having appeared in the first season of Britain's Got Talent in 2007 and reaching the semi-finals. He also starred on the West End in Billy Elliot the Musical, and has gone on to appear on a number of CBBC programmes, with his most recent screen credit seeing him voice various animals in the mockumentary The Zoo. Off-screen, he has appeared in pantomimes and other stage shows. Sydney Isitt-Ager played Sadie Another star who continued acting, Isitt-Ager played Sadie in the films – a child who was too nervous to take part in the nativity in the first movie. Just two years ago, after a role in the Nativity! stage musical, she had a small role in the Netflix Christmas film Christmas on Mistletoe farm, while she's recently been touring the UK with I Should Be So Lucky – The Musical. Ben Wilby played Bob Bob was a real fan favourite character and was played by Ben Wilby – who has picked up a couple of TV credits since on episodes of Father Brown in 2014 and Cuckoo in 2019. On his Instagram page – which is set to private – he still describes himself as an actor and he has trained at the Emil Dane Academy, but it's not clear what roles he might have had recently. Krista Hyatt played Becky Hyatt played Becky – who attended rival school Oakmoor – and was another cast member who had previously appeared on Britain's Got Talent, as part of the dance duo Cheeky Monkeys in season 2. Although she has no further acting credits to her name, she has amassed a decent following on TikTok, where she has over 18,000 followers. Maeve Dolan played Sam The character of Sam – whose finest moment was her rendition of Wheatus hit Teenage Dirtbag – was played by Maeve Dolan, who also appeared in the sequel. She had a role in a 2023 short film titled Nothing Happened and is currently studying at the London College of Music, where she has starred in several musicals. She also regularly posts on TikTok, where she has just over 4,000 followers. Bernard Mensah played TJ The role of TJ – Angel Gabriel himself – was played by Bernard Mensah, who went on to play the role of Young Simba in the West End production of The Lion King. Although he attended acting school, it's not clear what he's up to now. Tom McGarrity played Zack Zack was responsible for a memorable performance during the nativity auditions in the film and was played by Tom McGarrity, who now works as a performer on cruise ships. Last year, he announced on Instagram that he had a new role as a Cruise Director and that he was "still sailing and entertaining". Cadi Mullane played Crystal Crystal played a star in the nativity and was portrayed in the film by Cadi Mullane – who has continued her career in the performing arts. She is a recent graduate of Royal Welsh Musical Theatre and is now looking to pursue acting work. Bessie Cursons played Christy Another cast member who had previous on Britain's Got Talent, Cursons also reached the final of the first series of the ITV talent show in 2007. She went on to pick up a few other stage and screen credits – most recently a 2016 episode of Casualty – while she is also qualified as a dancing coach and offers classes through The Bessie Cursons Theatre & Dance Academy. Nativity! is currently streaming on Netflix – Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Oscar contender Stellan Skarsgård "saved" Sentimental Value by agreeing to play "interesting asshole"
Skarsgård is tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role in the new film from The Worst Person in the World director Joachim Trier.
Four years after his previous film The Worst Person in the World became an international hit, Norwegian writer/director Joachim Trier has returned with his latest movie, Sentimental Value, which opens in UK cinemas on Boxing Day. The film – which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and is expected to land numerous Oscar nominations next year – is a family drama that sees once-renowned film director Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård) reunite with his estranged daughters while he is trying to make his next film. It becomes clear pretty early on that Gustav has not always been the best father to his children, and he does not always come across as the most likeable of characters, which made the decision to cast Skarsgård vital, as Trier explained in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. "I think he kinda saved us in the writing room," he said. "Because the more we wrote Gustav, and the more interesting an asshole he became, the more we needed a really nice person to actually play him, to create a real character of flesh and blood." He added that – with this being his sixth feature as director – another factor that fed into Skarsgård's casting was that he was desperate to tick off some of the actors he'd always been keen to work with. "Stellan was, in my opinion, top of the list of first Nordic actors, but also, in the world in that age category," he said. "You know, what hasn't he done? So before the screenplay was done, I flew to Stockholm and met him and tried to persuade him. And he was shyly pretending he wasn't that interested, but actually he was. "And it was a sweet lunch that we had and I kind of ended up begging him almost to play and he accepted. So thank God. Gustav Borg is very much that dynamic between an asshole written and a beautiful man playing him." For his part, Skarsgård claimed that Trier needn't have gone to such extreme efforts to convince him to take on the role – revealing he was interested in starring as soon as he heard of the project. "Well, he didn't have to do anything, but I didn't tell him that," he smiled. "So he had to pitch in vain... And I also paid the dinner we had together, so I didn't owe him anything, I said to him. "But I knew I'd take it, because I'd seen his films. And [the] script.. when I read it, was beautiful. It's remarkably light at the same time as it deals with big problems." View Green Video on the source website In the film, Skarsgård's character has complicated and rather strained relationships with his two daughters, Agnes and Nora (played by Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas). But it sounds like the on-set relationships between that pair and their on-screen father were rather more easy-going, even if they were a little intimidated by him at first. "He's very funny, he takes no bulls**t, he is badass," Reinsve said of her co-star. "I was a little intimidated. The first rehearsal we had, it was the scene where he hands Nora the script. But I feel also I could take that fear into the relationship, and the respect. "I took that in and then actually getting to know him more and more, I was kind of relaxing more and more around this mystic being that is Stellan Skarsgård!" Meanwhile, Lilleaas described Skarsgård as "a wonderful man" who was "gentle and calm and funny and very fatherly", while also revealing that she had a somewhat intense first day on set with him. "My first rehearsal was the scene where I yell at him," she explained. "Which I think was really smart because I was so scared before that. And [Trier] filmed the rehearsals. So I was like, this is the real deal. I'm gonna have to go for it. "And I did. And it felt like we did it for real. And that just broke the whole... like, any kind of intimidation. I just yelled at him and then we were sort of on the same level." Sentimental Value is released in UK cinemas on Boxing Day. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Avengers: Doomsday release date and latest news as first trailer drops
The full cast list has now been revealed for the upcoming MCU film – and it's certainly a star-studded affair.
Chris Evans is officially confirmed for the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, with a brand new teaser trailer showing our first look at Steve Rogers since his emotional send-off in 2019's Endgame. The actor pulled an Andrew Garfield on fans with his earlier insistence that he wouldn't feature in the upcoming sequel, echoing the Spider-Man star's rigorous denials of his own involvement in No Way Home. As recently as this summer, Evans was lamenting not being "invited to the party" (via ScreenRant), but this brand new footage proves that he is very much on the guest list – and no doubt, a VIP! In the exciting teaser, we see Steve pull up on his trademark Harley-Davidson motorcycle, right outside the quaint home he moved into with the love of his life, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Notably, Atwell doesn't feature in the teaser, but we do see Steve wearing a wedding ring and caring for a baby, so Peggy surely cannot be far away – unless this is all an intentional misdirect! Check out the Avengers: Doomsday trailer for yourself: View oEmbed on the source website Alas, any fans left wanting more have a long time to wait. Doomsday is still a full year away, after a seven-month delay was announced around the same time that cameras started rolling. Evans joins original Avengers co-stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston in this long-awaited fifth film, with veteran MCU talents Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Paul Rudd also due to feature, among others. Perceived as a make or break moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doomsday is hoped to redeem a spotty period in the franchise's history, which has seen some giddy highs as well as some embarrassing lows. If you're eager to know more about the Avengers: Doomsday cast, plus the current release date and fleeting story details released so far, read on for your full guide to the hotly anticipated film. Avengers: Doomsday release date Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas on Friday 18th December 2026. The epic film had previously been scheduled for early May of that year – a weekend that the MCU has previously dominated – but was forced to move as production was behind schedule. In its new spot, the Marvel flick will face formidable competition from Dune: Messiah – the third film in Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet's sci-fi saga – which means that sci-fi fans will be having a very merry Christmas indeed. Who will star in Avengers: Doomsday? Confirmed members Avengers: Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr as Victor Von Doom; a towering villain that unites the combined might of several superhero teams. It's unclear precisely what Doom has planned, or if he'll have any direct connection to Downey Jr's earlier role of Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), but comic book fans know that he is not to be underestimated. It appears that Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) will play a major role in the resistance to Doom's machinations, with the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer revisiting the character after his final moments in Endgame. Previously, Deadline had reported that Hayley Atwell would also appear as Peggy Carter, which seems very likely given how the short clip references Steve's marriage and apparent fatherhood. Some fans aren't ruling out the possibility of a misdirect, however, with one theory suggesting that this version of Steve could be a member of HYDRA – adapting a controversial storyline from the source material (see 'Secret Empire'). Even before Evans's reveal, the cast of Doomsday was looking spectacularly starry, boasting the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men and Thunderbolts teams, as well as wild cards Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Anthony Mackie is reprising the role of Sam Wilson aka Captain America, who was tasked with putting together a new Avengers team at the end of his recent solo outing Brave New World. Likely candidates for that group include Letitia Wright's Shuri, the new Black Panther, plus Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and Danny Ramirez's Falcon. As previously confirmed, the cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps will also reappear here, comprised of Pedro Pascal (Mr Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing). First Steps director Matt Shakman said – apparently mistakenly – in an interview that Mr Fantastic would go on to be "leader" of the Avengers, but Pascal himself has since corrected the record. "It’s big news to me, that's for one," he joked, in an interview with Associated Press. "There is something that happens in the comics where he is sort of drawn in by the Avengers family and asked to be put into a leadership position. "That is something that happens in the comics. It isn't necessarily something that my character's future entails." The Thunderbolts* cast will also reappear in Doomsday, with Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Wyatt Russell (USAgent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), David Harbour (Red Guardian) and Lewis Pullman (Sentry) all credited in the announcement. Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Marvel Studios has also announced the return of several cast members from 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise, which appears to have been revived in the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine's success. Returning from that smash-hit is Channing Tatum as Gambit, alongside franchise veterans Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), James Marsden (Cyclops) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast). Both Cumming and Marsden had warm words to say about returning from a long absence, with their incarnations of Nightcrawler and Cyclops not being seen since 2003's X-Men 2 and 2014's Days of Future Past respectively. On filming Doomsday, Paradise's Marsden said (via Deadline): "It's been a blast. It really has. It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map. It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character – this icon from the comics. And so, to step back into that role was pretty special." Meanwhile, Cumming described it as "really healing and really nice to go back to something that was a terrible experience when I did it the first time" (in another Deadline chat), although his time on set was short as his scenes were scheduled tightly so that he could be released to host the next season of The Traitors (US). Here's the confirmed Avengers: Doomsday cast in full: Robert Downey Jr (Doctor Doom) Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic) Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman) Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/The Human Torch) Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America) Chris Hemsworth (Thor) Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther) Winston Duke (M'Baku) Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon) Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow) Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) Wyatt Russell (John Walker/US Agent) Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost) David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian) Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry) Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier/Professor X) Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto) James Marsden (Scott Summers/Cyclops) Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme/Mystique) Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler) Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast) Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau/Gambit) Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor) Tom Hiddleston (Loki) As you might have noticed, that list includes some rather glaring omissions who were thought to be all but guaranteed for the next Avengers film. The absence of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch have been greeted with particular outcry from the fanbase. However, there is hope yet that these characters could factor into the story, with Marvel teasing on its social media channels that there is "always room for more" cast members. Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield are also uncertain, with the latter Spider-Man actor recently telling GQ that he is "unequivocally" not appearing in the blockbuster. It's just so hard to believe him after No Way Home! Recently, Marvel fans have been debating the probability of Reynolds returning as Deadpool for the crossover, with a source telling The Hollywood Reporter that the Merc with a Mouth would have a role – albeit, probably a small one. Reynolds himself later cast doubt on the claim, telling Variety that he hasn't "stepped foot on set", although that may just be some creative wording from the actor – after all, he could well have filmed scenes or recorded audio remotely. As for Jackman, the actor recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show, where he told the host that he is "never saying 'never' ever again," after cancelling his post-Logan retirement for 2023 hit Deadpool & Wolverine. Sadly for fans of Fox's original X-Men cast, Famke Janssen recently revealed (via Entertainment Weekly) that Marvel Studios hasn't ever reached out to her about the prospect of a Jean Grey comeback, so the reunion may never be complete. Something to consider, though, is that this line-up is for Avengers: Doomsday only, which is one half of a two-part storyline set to conclude in 2027's Secret Wars – so it seems likely that the sequel could scoop up some late-comers. Case in point: Benedict Cumberbatch has already told Business Insider that he'll be in the "next one" as Doctor Strange, after previously assuring fans that Marvel Studios was "cooking up a storm" with its latest cinematic event. What is Avengers: Doomsday about? Avengers: Doomsday does not yet have an official plot synopsis, but the movie is set to formally introduce Victor von Doom as a major threat to the Marvel multiverse. The character made a brief appearance in the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene, where he is seen (albeit, only from behind), approaching the universe's most powerful four-year-old: Franklin Richards. What does he want with him exactly? That remains to be seen. It's possible that the intricacies are still being worked out! Producer Kevin Feige confirmed (via The Hollywood Reporter) over the summer that the script was still being worked on after cameras started rolling, which he actually views as a strength of the production. He said: "Those actors, both the ones that are playing these characters for the first or second time and the ones playing them for the 10th or 12th time, are the best in the world at it, and know these characters so well. So if they have an idea, you want to listen to it and you want to adjust to it and you want to improve it. I wouldn't want to change that." Much like Infinity War and Endgame, which became two of the highest-grossing films of all time, Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars will serve as two parts of a larger narrative – with one leading directly into the other. Teasing the plot to The Hollywood Reporter, co-director Joe Russo said: "I think these movies are going to be a surprise to people – we found a way into the story that’s very exciting to us but we think very radical and I think it’s going to challenge audiences." In the 2016 comic book series Secret Wars, upon which the film may be inspired, Doctor Doom salvages elements of a destroyed multiverse and reforms them as 'Battleworld' – a domain in which he is the unquestioned god and ruler. Prior to this storyline, the Marvel comics had dealt with the concept of incursions, whereby one reality would collide with another, either destroying both or causing one side to take a deadly defensive action. Perhaps these terrifying events might begin occurring in Avengers: Doomsday, leading Doctor Doom to create his surreal new reality as he did in the source material – leaving enormous questions lingering for Secret Wars to answer. The post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* added weight to this theory, with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) addressing a "space crisis" which could well be other planets or realities on a collision course with Earth. Yelena vents frustration that her own New Avengers teams are viewed negatively by the press and public, while Sam Wilson's separately assembled team is regarded as more legitimate – and refusing to share intel. That's when an inter-dimensional ship carrying the Fantastic Four is spotted entering the atmosphere, with the team likely to be carrying a dire warning of apocalyptic threat (if the film's subtitle is any indication). Interestingly, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene was actually filmed on the set of Avengers: Doomsday, with director Jake Schreier describing it as "a small hint of that film" (via Entertainment Weekly). Another threat to the Fantastic Four will come from a most unexpected place, with Nightcrawler actor Alan Cumming recently revealing that he's filming an action scene that involves "hitting Pedro Pascal against the head" (via Buzzfeed). No doubt Mr Fantastic and Nightcrawler will eventually reconcile to face their real adversary. Don't expect the crossover to come to a neat conclusion, though, with Captain America star Mackie apparently confirming that – as expected – Doomsday will end on a cliffhanger comparable to the catastrophic 'snap' in 2018's Infinity War. "It's one of those stories that really pushes the boundaries," he teased in an interview with Collider. The cliffhanger at the end... the last moments of the film, it really builds and sets us up for a way for the continuation of the Marvel saga, which is really exciting." Mackie added: "You see these characters, and you see how they're introduced and how they play in the universe moving forward, and no one is safe. Everyone is expendable." Why was Avengers: The Kang Dynasty cancelled? Previously, the fifth movie in the Avengers franchise was to be named The Kang Dynasty and to continue plot threads previously established in Disney Plus series Loki and Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Jonathan Majors appeared in both projects as variants of Kang the Conquerer; a powerful time-travelling menace who was initially intended to be the MCU's next Thanos-level threat. However, Majors was dropped by Marvel Studios after he was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend by a jury in New York. He was convicted on two counts but acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment. Some had expected Marvel Studios to continue the storyline with a new actor as Kang, but the company has instead decided to go in an entirely different direction with its plans. Avengers: Doomsday trailer Marvel dropped the teaser for Avengers: Doomsday in December 2025, playing first before screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash before being released online days later. Watch here: View oEmbed on the source website Avengers: Doomsday is coming to cinemas in December 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey: Release date, plot and trailer for next film
The Oppenheimer director's next film looks set to be *the* movie event of 2026.
Almost exactly a year ago – in December 2024 – it was finally revealed that Christopher Nolan's first project since his revered Oscar-winning biopic Oppenheimer would be a very different sort of epic: a blockbuster adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey. Since then, anticipation has been slowly ratcheting up. That culminated in the recent release of the first official trailer for the film, which – as you might expect – paints a picture of a monumental, grandiose tale told with all the visual panache typical of Nolan's work. Meanwhile, some cinemagoers who have been to IMAX screenings of the newly released Avatar: Fire and Ash have been treated to something even better, with a five-minute prologue of Nolan's film playing in front of the main feature. While that footage has not been made publicly available, it reportedly sees Matt Damon's Odysseus emerging from the Trojan horse before engaging in some high-octane battle scenes. Of course, the film boasts an incredibly starry ensemble cast including key roles for Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway, all of whom feature in the trailer. And as if that wasn't enough, we also know that Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel and Mia Goth are among the the other big names set for prominent parts. While we'll be eagerly awaiting further updates between now and the film's summer release, there's probably already more than enough to go on to reassure us that this looks like being another triumph for the beloved director. It certainly looks like the cast appreciated the experience, with Holland telling GQ last summer that it was "the job of a lifetime" and teasing that "the movie is going to be unlike anything we’ve ever seen." Meanwhile, Universal Pictures’ president of domestic theatrical distribution, Jim Orr, praised Nolan's "visionary take" on the story of The Odyssey during the studio's presentation at Cinemacon, noting that "this film will be a once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would be very proud of." And if you were doubting just how epic the picture might be, Nolan told Empire in November 2025 that, staggeringly, he had "shot over two million feet of film" for the movie, claiming that he had accomplished "things that haven’t been done before." So, when can fans expect to see it? And what exactly is the film about? Read on for everything you need to know. The Odyssey release date Universal revealed in their announcement that the film is set to arrive on Friday 17th July 2026 — and it was later confirmed that the UK would be matching the US release date. That means that fans only have about half a year to wait – and IMAX tickets for the film's opening weekend have actually already been on sale (they sold out almost instantly!). View oEmbed on the source website Of course, it's no surprise that the film will arrive at the height of summer, with that time of year having long been favoured by Nolan, even when it came to the release of Tenet at the height of the pandemic. Oppenheimer also arrived in mid-July – famously on the same day as Barbie – and no film fan will need a reminder of how successful that film proved to be. Currently, the only other film set to be released on the same day as The Odyssey is Jonah Hill's comedy Cut Off, which stars Kristen Wiig, Bette Midler and Nathan Lane alongside Hill, and it's no great disservice to that film to suggest that it's unlikely there will be quite the same Barbenheimer-style double bill phenomenon this time around. The Odyssey plot The Odyssey is one of the most famous texts ever written in any language – originating as an Ancient Greek epic poem dating to the 8th century BC and attributed to Homer. Divided into 24 books, it tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he journeys home after the Trojan War. The journey itself lasts an additional 10 years, as Odysseus has to contend with plenty of perilous hurdles, while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus also have to contend with their own fair share of problems as suitors contend for Penelope's hand in marriage while Odysseus is presumed dead. It's safe to say that a lot happens in the story, so Nolan certainly won't have a shortage of material to work with, but it remains to be seen exactly how much of the poem the film will cover – and whether it will be set in Ancient Greece or perhaps adapted to a different place and time period. One thing that's for sure is that he'll be able to draw on a huge variety of previous films based on the poem – which was first adapted as a silent film by Italian director Giuseppe de Liguoro in 1911 and most recently served as the inspiration for the 2024 film The Return, which stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche and was based on just the second half of the text. So far, none of the adaptations have quite endured as beloved classics – we can't wait to see how this version measures up... The Odyssey cast The cast for the film looks set to be extremely star-studded – even by Nolan's own lofty standards. It's been confirmed that Matt Damon will star as Odysseus, Tom Holland as his son Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope. Meanwhile Zendaya will play Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war, and handicraft, Robert Pattinson stars as Antinous, one of Penelope's suitors, and Charlize Theron takes on the role of Circe a goddess and witch Meanwhile, there have been a slew of other casting announcements since, including both previous Nolan collaborators and those working with him for the first time, with the confirmed list consisting of (deep breath): Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia and Will Yun Lee. Filling out the rest of the cast are Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Nick E Tarabay, Jimmy Gonzales, Maurice Compte, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, Josh Stewart, and Ryan Hurst. Meanwhile, one actor who was previously cast but eventually left the film is Shogun's Cosmo Jarvis, who pulled out due to a scheduling conflict and was replaced by Logan Marshall-Green. Given the film is telling such an epic story, there could still be more cast members to be announced in due course – if we catch wind of anyone else who will star, and when we learn the actors' roles, we'll update this page accordingly. We'll keep this page updated when it become clear which stars will be playing which roles. Is there a trailer for The Odyssey? Yes! The first official trailer for the film was released in December 2025, comprising just under two minutes of footage and giving us a close look at Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as Telemachus while setting the scene for the epic. Check it out below: View oEmbed on the source website Previously, a teaser that had screened ahead of Jurassic World: Rebirth in cinemas leaked ahead of its official debut. The studio moved quickly to take it down, but it was online long enough to reveal a few intriguing details about the hotly anticipated film. That clip – which is not available to watch online – began with a shot of the ocean, with a voice heard saying: "Darkness. Zeus’ law smashed to pieces. A kingdom without a king since my master died. He knew it was an un-winnable war. And then, somehow, somehow he won it." It then cuts to Tom Holland as Telemachus, searching for his father Odysseus – announcing that he "has to find out what happened" to him. After he asks Jon Bernthal's character if he's seen him, he is told that he hasn't since the Trojan War, but there are rumours about his whereabouts. "Some say he’s rich. Some say he’s poor. Some say he perished. Some say he’s imprisoned," Bernthal says, before he muses: "What kind of prison could hold a man like that?” Concluding the trailer, viewers caught a glimpse of a man we can assume to be Odysseus himself, as he floats on the choppy seas on a piece of driftwood. Meanwhile, the longest look at the film so far – a 5-minute prologue – has also been shown in cinemas ahead of IMAX screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash. We're sure we'll get a few more glimpses of new footage between now and the film's July release, so keep checking back here for all the latest updates. The Odyssey will be released in cinemas on 17th July 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey releases epic first look trailer with star-stacked cast for mythological adventure
This is our best look yet at Matt Damon in the role of Odysseus in the upcoming epic.
It's been almost exactly a year since it was announced that Christopher Nolan's next film would be an adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey – and in the twelve months since, it's safe to say anticipation has been slowly ramping up. Well, now we've been given our best look yet at the upcoming project ahead of its release next summer, with a full trailer having been released by Universal. The teaser includes just under two minutes of footage from the blockbuster, giving us a close look at Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as Telemachus while setting the scene for what looks set to be a masterful, sweeping epic. Soundtracked by a foreboding score, we see the lead character traverse through beaches and forests and stormy seas, and even get some brief glimpses of the mythological beings he encounters during the saga. We also hear Damon's voice declaring: "After years of war, no one could stand between my men and home. Not even me." Meanwhile, at the very end of the trailer, we hear Anne Hathaway – as Odysseus's wife Penelope – emotionally tell her husband, "Promise me you will come back", to which he ominously replies "What if I can't?" Check out the trailer in full below: View oEmbed on the source website While this is the first footage of the film to be released far and wide, cinemagoers who have been to see Avatar: Fire and Ash in IMAX since it's release on Friday have been treated to a five-minute sequence from the opening of Nolan's latest epic, although it's not clear if that preview will eventually also be released online. Given the richness of the source material, the incredibly star-studded ensemble cast, and the director's stellar reputation when it comes to event cinema, there can be no doubting that The Odyssey was among the most hotly anticipated films set for release in 2026 even before the release of this tantalising trailer. Alongside the aforementioned Damon, Holland and Hathaway, Nolan's reimagining of Homer's iconic text will also include key roles for Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie and Mia Goth, among many others. It will be the director's first film since his Oscar-winning success with Oppenheimer, and he has been reunited with a number other behind-the-scenes talents who won Academy Awards for their work on that film, including cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, composer Ludwig Göransson and editor Jennifer Lame. The official synopsis for the film teases that it "follows Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, while attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope." That summer release date can't come soon enough... The Odyssey will be released in cinemas on 17th July 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.