Now that cinemas are finally open in Pakistan, people are slowly heading out to quench the thirst that’s been building up for almost 2 years. With Holiday movie season in full swing, there are tons of releases to look forward to, including ones which had already been released internationally. So, here are all the December releases to look forward to.
Pakistani Releases
Udham Patakh
Director Abu Aleeha’s latest release is a horror comedy. Think of Zombieland, or Shaun of the Dead. The trailer promises a lot of laughs and quite a few thrills. The film was initially slated for release in October, but got pushed because of further lockdowns.
Udham Patakh comes out on December 10th.
Kahay Dil Jidhar
Kahay Dil Jidhar was originally slated for a 2020 release, but fell prey to COVID-19 lockdowns like hundreds of films. Starring Junaid Khan as a rugged police officer, and Mansha Pasha as a rising journalist, the film centres on a desire to improve and change things, and is youth centric and upbeat.
Kahay Dil Jidhar comes out 17th December.
Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer
Javed Iqbal is Abu Aleeha’s Third and most awaited release this year. Starring Yasir Hussain, the film centres on the most vicious serial killer in the history of Pakistan. The novelty of a subject like this being covered in a Pakistani film is enough to fill seats, but Yasir Hussain’s casting, who has only been known for his comedy chops until now, adds to the intrigue.
Javed Iqbal comes out on 24th December.
International Releases
F9
Are you ready for the latest instalment of the franchise that puts FAMILY first? F9 is the ninth entry in the Fast and Furious series and it’s totally bonkers like the previous few. John Cena is Vin Diesel’s brother, and a car swings by a rope like Spiderman. What else do you need to know?
F9 comes out in theatres on 3rd December, 2021.
No Time to Die
James Bond’s latest release and Daniel Craig’s final outing as the titular spy is finally coming to Pakistan. The film has received great reviews and has enthralled fans of both the series and of Craig’s portrayal.
No Time to Die also stars Ana De Armas and Rami Malek and comes out 10th December.
West Side Story
The remake of the classic 1961 musical helmed by Steven Spielberg has been creating buzz ever since it was announced. Those of you fond of old Hollywood and classic musicals may find themselves swept away by this beloved film. Those of you who consider themselves above remakes may be convinced to give it a chance since it’s Spielberg at the helm.
West Side Story comes out on 10th December.
Nightmare Alley
Nightmare Alley reminds one of the old grand films about circuses and theatricality that Hollywood was known for in the 50s and 60s. We’ve seen more recent attempts at it like Moulin Rouge or the Prestige. Nightmare Alley adds a dark twist to its setting. The trailer points to a monster hidden inside the circus. What is that monster? Well, we’ll have to see the film to find out. But since it’s directed by Guillermo Del Toro, you can expect the monster to be pretty unique.
Nightmare Alley stars Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, among a cast of other veterans and comes out 17th December.
Spiderman: No Way Home
Do I even need to tell you about this film? You’ve already made up your mind to see the first show haven’t you? Spiderman No Way Home promises to give us the biggest superhero film experience since Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
Hold on to your seats. This is going to blow your minds. Spiderman No Way Home comes out on 17th December.
The King’s Man
This is another one of those films which has been held up since 2020. A prequel to the Kingsman film series, this goes back to the establishment of the private spy agency. The plot dates back to World War I and has Rasputin as the main villain. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Djimon Hounsou and Gemma Arterton among others.
The King’s Man comes out on 24th December.
The Matrix: Resurrections
This is a film we’ve been waiting for, for decades. The Matrix Resurrections is the fourth installment in the Matrix film series. Almost everything about the film’s plot is vague since the story was pretty neatly wrapped up in the Matrix Revolutions. However, everyone’s going to go see it, since the trailer looks awesome. The Matrix Resurrections stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, and Priyanka Chopra, among others.
It comes out 24th December.
Chal Mera Putt 2
Chal Mera Putt 2 is an Indian Punjabi film from the franchise starring Amrinder Gill and Simi Chahal. However, it also stars 5 Pakistani actors: Zafri Khan, Iftikhar Thakur, Nasir Chinyoti, Rubi. Anam, and Akram Udas. It’s the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan since February 2019. Since it’s an Indian Punjabi film, it’s most likely a result of the goodwill cultivated by the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.
Watch this one for the laughs, the quick wit, and the camaraderie. It comes out on 24th December, 2021.
