Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The latest annual instalment from the galaxy far, far away. Little was revealed about the secretive storyline before The Last Jedi‘s release on December 14. Since then, critics and audiences have gone off for the return of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) … positively and negatively. If you haven’t seen The Last Jedi yet, there’s a good chance you have been trying to avoid spoilers, so you can get into a Boxing Day session. With that in mind, I won’t reveal anything you shouldn’t already know or suspect about the return of the Force and its supernatural powers. You’re welcome.

Ferdinand

From the makers of Ice Age franchise and starring the voice of wrestler John Cena, animated Ferdinand also has been out for a few weeks. Ferdinand is about a Spanish bull who doesn’t want to rampage. He’d rather go about life calmly. Sounds like another big-budget cartoon dose of proving who you REALLY are, even when others think you MUST be something entirely different.

Downsizing

Matt Damon stars in a comedy drama that boasts the best idea of any movie in 2017: in the near future, people are being shrunk to tiny sizes, to minimise their impact on the planet. But as Downsizing plays out, the solution to sustaining our existence isn’t as simple as trying to shrink our problems.

Coco

Like Ferdinand, Coco is a Spanish-tinged animated adventure. But Coco is from the Disney Pixar powerhouse and is set in the spiritual realm of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Somehow, its meant to be for kids of all ages, as a young aspiring musician tries to work out his life – among the walking dead.

The Greatest Showman

Hugh Jackman stars as legendary entertainer PT Barnum, who revolutionised the circus circuit during the 19th Century. The Greatest Showman is a singing-dancing spectacular about Barnum’s focus upon different performers as the stars of his shows. Expect a whole lot of “be yourself, no matter what” fanfare and celebration.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

As has become popular, here’s another unexpected and belated sequel to a hit movie from decades ago. The Rock and Jack Black star in this special effects festival about getting trapped in a dangerous game. Any good? Nah, not really. Limp idea for a reboot, stodgy story, daggy humour and questionable innuendo.

Paddington 2

Forget The Last Jedi. My most anticipated sequel of 2017 is Paddington 2, the follow-up to the too-cute-for-words family hit of 2014. While not quite being as adorable as its predecessor, Paddington 2 does effortlessly reclaim the original movie’s lovely sense of community and loving your neighbour. Even if your neighbour is a fuzzy bear from Peru who continues to get up to charming adventures in London.