The Best Movie Releases For December 2021

With Christmas just around the corner, many film companies are bringing their A-game, with some of the year’s best releases making their way to DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. Today, I will be breaking down these releases letting you know the six best titles hitting shelves in December 2021! These picks are just my opinion, but hopefully, you find something you like among them. So, without further ado, here are my 6 picks for this December.

Karate Kid Trilogy 4K UHD – With the success of the Cobra Kai tv show, which sees the characters from the original trilogy returning over twenty years after. It makes sense for these titles to be re-released on 4K UHD as they are fan favorites and boy is this collection awesome. The three original films have all been re-mastered in 4K and they look incredible. The picture, the sound, the action, it all feels so much better with the enhanced picture quality almost improving the overall product. Part I and Part II are filled with special features as well, including deleted scenes, featurettes, and director commentary. This set is just fantastic for film fans and the casual collector alike. A must-have this December!

Buy The Karate Kid Movies on DVD & Blu-ray here

Mulholland Drive 4K UHD – David Lynch ranks among my favourite filmmakers of all time. He creates surreal films with a lot of depth. There are no better examples of this than his magnum opus ‘Mulholland Drive’ and this month it gets a stunning ‘Classics Re-mastered’ 4K UHD release! The film has a lot of layers and deserves your complete, full, and undivided attention. It beckons to be analysed, it isn’t a film you can just chuck on in the background, no, no, no, it needs to be watched with the intent of watching it. The film stars Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, and Justin Theroux. The film's plot incorporates mystery with suspense, drama, and character. Lynch blends all of this so well. This release also includes special features including director commentary with Lynch and featurettes. This is a must-have for any film collector!

Buy Mulholland Drive on 4K UHD here

Stillwater Blu-Ray – Matt Damon has been one of Hollywood’s go-to leading men for the best part of 15 years. His diverse range which includes comedy, action, drama, and more action, has allowed him to stand the test of time. His latest film to grace the silver screen (and now the small screen) is the Tom McCarthy (13 Reasons Why and Spotlight) directed ‘Stillwater’. The film follows Bill (played by Damon) who travels to France to help his estranged daughter Allison (played by Abigail Breslin) who is in prison for a murder she claims she didn’t commit. This film is great, showcasing great acting from the cast led by Damon. The mystery aspect keeps the audience guessing and the characters really do add to the overall impact of the film. This is one of the best films of 2021 and should not be missed.

Buy Stillwater on DVD or Blu-ray here

The Last Duel 4K UHD – Ever since their Oscar win for best original screenplay back in 1997 for ‘Good Will Hunting’, audiences all around the world have been begging Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to write another feature and finally in 2021, they have and have teamed up with veteran director ‘Ridley Scott’ (Alien, Blade Runner, The Martian, and Gladiator) to bring us ‘The Last Duel’. The film also stars Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Harriet Walter and follows Knight Sir Jean de Carrouges (played by Matt Damon) settling his dispute with his squire, Jacques Le Gris (played by Adam Driver) by having a duel to the death. This film was stunning. Scott brings this epic tale to life majestically. He is such a great visual director, bringing to life the amazing action set pieces with such skill. The characters here are amazing though, with Affleck and Damon doing a masterful job here with this story. They don’t shy away from the details here either, painting the conflict in an honest light from all accounts, not shying away from the grittier details. This film looks amazing in 4K UHD and is a must-have this December!

Buy The Last Duel Movie on DVD, Blu-ray or 4K UHD here

Antlers Blu-Ray – A casualty of the 2020 film slate, ‘Antlers’ finally got a release this year and as a horror fan, I am incredibly impressed with the end result. Director Scott Cooper, does such a great job visually here, creating a modern-day fairy tale in a very dark and disturbing way. I love what he does with this story, blending real drama, with realistic and disturbed characters and horror in a profound and effective way. The film left me thinking long after the credits rolled, contemplating life, death, and everything in between. I loved the way this film brings all of this together. Jesse Plemons and Kerri Russell do an amazing job bringing this story to life and leading the way, but newcomer Jeremy T. Thomas stole a lot of the film for me. I was thinking about this performance long after the credits role. This is one of my favourite films of the year and is absolutely worth checking out this December.

Buy Antlers on DVD or Blu-ray here

Ron’s Gone Wrong Blu-Ray – This month sees the release of a fun new animated film from the wonderful team at Blue Sky entertainment (Robots, Rio and Ice Age) with ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’. The film follows middle schooler Barney (voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer) and Ron (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) his new walking, talking, digitally connected device. The film is a really important one for young viewers, emphasizing the importance of friendship to the backdrop of social media and the digital age. It's colorful, fun, and hilarious. The film will provide loads of entertainment over the holiday period! One of the best-animated films out right now and a definite crowd-pleaser this December.

Buy Ron's Gone Wrong on DVD or Blu-ray here

With so many great releases each and every month, it can become increasingly hard to keep up. I hope that this blog post has made this easier for you. There is something in here for everyone. Be sure to pick up copies of these films from your local Sanity or shop from the comfort of your own home. 

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here