Indie Film Release Guide: December 1st [An ONTD Original]

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The major studios all opted out of releasing anything this weekend, so every new release is of the mini-major or independent variety. Beyoncé and AMC are releasing her concert film in theaters, while Lionsgate brings us John Woo’s latest, Silent Night. Other new releases include Godzilla Minus One and William Oldroyd’s Eileen, starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Five” - Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, and Columbia Pictures. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: November 23rd, November 17th, and November 10th.

Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé

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Director: Beyoncé
Genre: Music, Documentary
Storyline: Pop superstar Beyoncé performs hit songs in concert and discusses the creative process behind her world tour.
What you should know: As with Taylor Swift’s recent film, this release once again sees a megastar teaming up with AMC Theaters for distribution, leaving traditional studios out of the picture.
Where to watch: In theaters



Eileen

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Stars: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Sam Nivola
Writer: Luke Goebel, Ottessa Moshfegh
Director: William Oldroyd
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Plot: A woman's friendship with a new co-worker at the prison facility where she works takes a sinister turn.
What you should know: Despite having the look of being shot on film, cinematographer Ari Wegner shot on digital with a special camera lens due to budget constraints.
Where to watch: In theaters

Godzilla Minus One

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Stars: Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Yuki Yamada
Writer/Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Plot: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
What you should know: It’s in Japanese.
Where to watch: In theaters

Silent Night

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Stars: Joel Kinnaman, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Scott Mescudi, Harold Torres
Writer: Robert Archer Lynn
Director: John Woo
Genre: Action
Plot: A grieving father enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve.
What you should know: This is director John Woo’s first film since 2017’s Manhunt.
Where to watch: In theaters

Shayda

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Stars: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Selina Zahednia, Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell
Writer/Director: Noora Niasari
Genre: Drama
Plot: A young Iranian mother and her six-year-old daughter find refuge in an Australian women's shelter during the two weeks of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz).
What you should know: Official submission of Australia for the Best International Feature Film category of the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
Where to watch: In theaters

The Sweet East

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Stars: Talia Ryder, Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri
Writer: Nick Pinkerton
Director: Sean Price Williams
Genre: Drama
Plot: A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.
What you should know: Director Sean Price Williams won the Jury Prize at the 2023 Deauville Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters

In Water

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Stars: Shin Seok-ho, Ha Seong-guk, Kim Seung-yun, Kim Min-hee
Writer/Director: Hong Sang-soo
Genre: Drama
Plot: A young actor explores the surroundings, waits for the right light to emerge and watches the horizon from the coast.
What you should know: This is one of writer and director Hong Sang-soo’s two 2023 films, with the other being In Our Day.
Where to watch: The Metrograph in NYC

Candy Cane Lane

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Stars: Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton
Writer: Kelly Younger
Director: Reginald Hudlin
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Plot: A man is determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win--and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which brings unexpected chaos to town.
What you should know: Reginald Hudlin also directed Eddie Murphy in Boomerang.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Tropic

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Stars: Pablo Cobo, Louis Peres, Marta Nieto, Marvin Dubart
Writer: Mauricio Carrasco, Edouard Salier, Thibault Vanhulle
Director: Edouard Salier
Genre: Sci-Fi
Plot: In France, two trained astronaut twins face adversity when one of them is contaminated with a mysterious residue from space.
What you should know: It’s in French, English and Spanish
Where to watch: In theaters

Pianoforte

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Director: Jakub Piatek
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Young pianists take part in the legendary International Chopin Piano Competition. A unique chance of a lifetime, portrayed from backstage and set to Chopin's music.
What you should know: Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in World Cinema - Documentary at Sundance 2023.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

The Shift (Trailer)
Teddy’s Christmas (Trailer)
Animal (Trailer)
How I Learned to Fly (Trailer)
Raging Grace (Trailer)
Everyone Will Burn (Trailer)
La Syndicaliste (Trailer)
Holiday Twist (Trailer)

New to Streaming

May December (Trailer) on Netflix
American Symphony (Trailer) on Netflix

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Seeing anything this weekend?