This festive season is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy some of the most popular films hitting theatres and streaming platforms. Whether you’re excited for Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) or Alia Bhatt’s emotional journey in Jigra, there’s plenty to enjoy. Don’t miss The Wild Robot, an animated adventure loved by kids and parents alike, or the inspiring documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. With a mix of exciting hits and touching tales, here are the here are the Film Friday picks for the top 7 films to watch this festive season.

1. Joker: Folie à Deux

Joaquin Phoenix once again delivers a chilling performance, making Joker: Folie à Deux a must-watch for fans of Todd Phillips’s Joker (2019). Expectations were high for the sequel, and while it takes Arthur Fleck’s dark journey deeper into his fractured psyche, it occasionally leaves you with a “what’s going on?” moment, as the script sometimes loses its clarity. The film finds Arthur institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as the Joker. As he struggles with his dual identity, he not only stumbles upon true love but also discovers the music that has always been inside him. Lady Gaga‘s presence brings more excitement and emotion to the story, making the relationship between the characters even more interesting to watch.

Genre: Drama, Suspense/Thriller

2. The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot is a beautifully animated, heartwarming adaptation of Peter Brown’s award-winning book, perfect for kids. The story follows Roz, a brave robot voiced by Lupita Nyong’o, who finds herself on a forest island and must learn to communicate with the animals while adjusting to the challenges of her new surroundings. With a blend of adventure and themes like family, nature versus technology, and empathy, the movie delivers plenty of heart. While moments of danger, including storms, fires, and predators, arise, they are presented with humour and care, making it a safe and engaging experience for young viewers.

Genre: Action/Adventure, Animated, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

3. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from an unknown actor to an iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate cinema today. Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down. After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care. This inspiring journey is a true example of his resilience and commitment to the film industry and those facing similar challenges.

Genre: Documentary

4. Jigra

Jigra, which means ‘courage,’ is an Indian Hindi-language action-thriller directed by Vasan Bala. The film stars Alia Bhatt as Satya, a troubled young woman determined to rescue her brother Ankur (played by Vedang Raina) from a foreign prison. After enduring a difficult childhood, Satya is left with no one but her brother, who is being tortured in captivity. With no other choice, she must summon extraordinary courage and attempt the impossible—breaking him out of prison and bringing him to safety.

Genre: Action, Thriller

5. Terrifier 3

After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they’re safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe.

Genre: Horror

6. We Live in Time

Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. Through snapshots of their life together- falling for each other, building a home, becoming a family -a difficult truth is revealed that rocks its foundation. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.

Genre: Drama, Romance

7. Tekka

It’s an Indian Bengali-language film directed by Srijit Mukherjee that opens with Iqlakh Alam (Dev), a janitor at a corporate office in Kolkata, who loses his job after protesting against communal remarks made by some employees. Desperate to get his job back, he kidnaps a young girl and holds her hostage. The situation takes a darker turn when the girl’s mother, Pooja, retaliates by kidnapping Iqlakh’s son, Guddu, leading to a tense standoff between the two parents.

Genre: Drama

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