In the cinematic calendar, winter is traditionally a dumping ground for smaller movies with no discernible audience. Recently, however, the increased number of tentpole releases means that blockbusters are now unveiled all year round.
In Hong Kong specifically, this is when local distributors unveil the year’s awards hopefuls, as they garner nominations and gather steam on route to the Oscars, next scheduled for March 3, 2025.
With the Lunar New Year also earmarked as a potentially profitable window for big family-friendly fare, winter has transformed into a bountiful season for local film-goers.
Below are our picks for the 15 biggest Hollywood movies to look out for between now and the start of spring (opening dates are for Hong Kong).
1. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Struck from the appendices of Tolkien’s iconic trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim gives Middle Earth a decidedly Miyazaki-esque twist courtesy of Japanese anime director Kenji Kamiyama.