The Mule

Director Clint Eastwood

Genre Crime | Drama | Mystery

Cast Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Taissa Farmiga, Michael Peña

Rating R

Release Date December 14th, 2018

“A 90-year-old horticulturist and WWII veteran is caught transporting $3 million worth of cocaine through Michigan for a Mexican drug cartel.”

From accomplished actor turned director Clint Eastwood, The Mule is a crime drama about a 90-year-old horticulturalist and WWII veteran who gets caught transporting $3 million worth of cocaine. Eastwood is unquestionably one of the greatest actors in the history of film but he has also proven to have a great deal of talent behind the camera with Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino, to name a few. I am a sucker for crime thrillers and The Mule looks like it will be yet another edge of your seat cartel thriller. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Mule:

• The movie is inspired by the real story of Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran in his 80s who became the worlds oldest and most prolific drug mule for the Sinaloa Cartel.

• Clint Eastwood's second collaboration with Laurence Fishburne. Eastwood previously directed Fishburne in "Mystic River" (2003).

Ben Is Back

Director Peter Hedges

Genre Drama

Cast Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges, Courtney B. Vance, Kathryn Newton

Rating R

Release Date December 7th, 2018

“Nineteen-year-old Ben unexpectedly returns to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve. Ben’s mom, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son’s drug addiction. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother’s undying love gets put to the test as Holly does everything in her power to keep Ben clean.”

Written and directed by Peter Hedges (About a Boy, Dan in Real Life), Ben Is Back is a drama that tells the story of a nineteen-year-old who returns to his families suburban home on Christmas Eve, putting everyone on edge due to his struggle with drug addiction. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts. Ben Is Back:

• Writer/director Peter Hedges is the father of lead actor Lucas Hedges who is best known for his Oscar-winning performance in Manchester by the Sea (2016).

• Lucas Hedges and Kathryn Newton co-starred the year before in Lady Bird (2017) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), marking this movie their third collaboration.

Mortal Engines

Director Christian Rivers

Genre Action | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Cast Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Robert Sheehan, Jihae

Rating Unrated

Release Date December 14th, 2018 

“Many years after the “Sixty Minute War,” cities survive a now desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources.”

The directorial debut for Christian Rivers who worked in the art department on the majority of the Lord of the Rings films, Mortal Engines is set to be an epic sci-fi film based on the novel from author Philip Reeve. Also just to add to the excitement the screenplay was written by talented writer Peter Jackson. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mortal Engines:

• Author Philip Reeve, writer of the novel on which the movie is based, published a blog post on July 19th, 2017 stating that principle photography had ended and he had been invited to the set back in May of the same year. He noted that he had been impressed by the actors and the sets, mentioning that "Most of it looked very much as I'd imagined, except for the bits which looked better."

The Innocent Man

Genre Documentary

Cast James Walsh, Geoffrey Russell, Maura Antas, J.J. Arends

Rating Unrated

Series Premiere December 14th, 2018 (Netflix)

“The story of Ron Williamson, a man who sat on Oklahoma’s death row for 11 years for a crime he didn’t commit. Based on John Grisham’s “The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town.””

The Innocent Man is a documentary that tells the story of Ron Williamson, a man who sat on Oklahoma's death row for 11 years for a crime he didn't commit. Based on John Grisham's "The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town." Check out the official trailer below!!

The House That Jack Built

Director Lars von Trier

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Siobhan Falon Hogan

Rating R

Release Date December 14th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“The story follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer over the course of 12 years and depicts the murders that truly develop Jack as a serial killer.”

From controversial director Lars von Trier, The House That Jack Built ruffled more than a few feathers in the indie film festival circuit as people consistently got up and walked out during the film. The story follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, during the course of 12 years depicting the murders that truly develop Jack as a serial killer. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The House That Jack Built:

• When premiering at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14th, 2018, a large number of audience members (including critics) walked out, condemning the film for its shocking, extreme violence and nihilistic tone.

• Von Trier originally developed the idea as a television series, but in February 2016, he announced that it would be a film.

Holmes & Watson

Director Etan Cohen

Genre Adventure | Comedy | Crime

Cast Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Rebecca Hall, Kelly Macdonald

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 25th, 2018

“A humorous take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.”

Co-written and directed by the talented Etan Cohen, Holmes & Watson is a seemingly slapstick take on the larger than life investigative duo. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly team up again after a variety of successful comedic roles together including Talladega Nights and Step Brothers. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Holmes & Watson:

• Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell were once attached to star as Sherlock Holmes and Watson.

• The movie is based on a Saturday Night Live (1975) sketch, in which Will Ferrell starred.

Vice

Director Adam McKay

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell

Rating R

Release Date  December 25th, 2018

“The story of Dick Cheney, the most powerful Vice President in history, and how his policies changed the world as we know it.”

LEFT: Former Vice President Dick Cheney | RIGHT: Actor Christian Bale as Dick Cheney

Written and directed by Adam McKay, the academy award winning co-writer and director of The Big Short, Vice tells the untold true story of how the most powerful Vice President in history changed the world as we know it. The cast for this film is absolutely stacked and McKay is undeniably talented as a writer/director so I cannot wait for this movie. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Vice:

• Christian Bale gained 40 pounds, shaved his head and bleached his eyebrows to play Cheney. He said he achieved his hefty physique for the film by eating a lot of pies.

• It was revealed that Amy Adams stayed in character during filming, especially keeping her character's distinct voice. She would even have political debates with the director while maintain the voice. Adams revealed that it was the first time she stayed in character throughout filming.

•  Christian Bale and Dick Cheney share the same birthday, January 30th.

Destroyer

Director Karyn Kusama

Genre Action | Crime | Drama

Cast Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Sebastian Stan

Rating R

Release Date December 25th, 2018

“A police detective reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past in order to make peace.”

From director Karyn Kusama, who brought us Girl Fight, Æon Flux, and The Invitation, Destroyer is a unique and deep crime drama about a police detective who reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past in order to make peace. Critics are already raving about the film and saying this is Nicole Kidman’s absolute best performance by far so I am definitely looking forward to checking this out. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Destroyer:

• The film premiered at TIFF (Toronto international Film Festival) in Canada in September 2018.

• While preparing for his role, Sebastian Stan met an FBI agent who was on the TV series, "Inside the FBI" in New York who gave him some tips.

On the Basis of Sex

Director Mimi Leder

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 25th, 2018

“The story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights and what she had to overcome in order to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.”

From director Mimi Leder (Shameless, The Leftovers), On the Basis of Sex is a biography drama that tells the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights, and what she had to overcome in order to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, On the Basis of Sex:

• Natalie Portman was attached to star as Ruth Bader Ginsburg for at least 4 years as the project was stuck in development. She eventually dropped out and was replaced by Felicity Jones.

• Received 17 votes on 2014's Blacklist competition, which ranks the best unproduced scripts of that year.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Director David Slade

Genre Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Cast Asim Chaudhry, Will Poulter, Fionn Whitehead

Rating TV-MA

Release Date December 28th, 2018

“A young programmer makes a fantasy novel into a game. Soon, reality and virtual world are mixed and start to create confusion.”

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is a feature-length entry in the extremely popular Netflix sci-fi anthology series. Bandersnatch is set in 1984 and tells the story of a young programmer adapting a “sprawling fantasy novel” — the titular Bandersnatch — into a video game. In classic “Black Mirror” fashion the line between fantasy and reality begin to blur. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch:

• Rumored to be a Black Mirror film, in which the viewer can chose a plot direction several times. The amount of footage that was filmed is reported to be close to 5 hours. The actual running time of the film is 90 minutes.

Stan & Ollie

Director Jon S. Baird

Genre Biography | Comedy | Drama

Cast John C. Reilly, Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston

Rating PG

Release Date December 28th, 2018

“Laurel and Hardy, the world’s most famous comedy duo, attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song - a grueling theatre tour of post-war Britain.”

From director Jon S. Baird (Filth, Vinyl), Stan & Ollie tells the true story of the worlds most famous comedy duo as they attempt to reignite their film careers. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Stan & Ollie:

• Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly were the first choices of director Jon S. Baird and screenwriter Jeff Pope for the role of Laurel and Hardy.

• Jeff Pope has described Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as his heroes.

Top 10 Christmas Movies

Ahh the infamous Red Ryder BB Gun movie that gave birth to the phrase "No. Shoot your eye out". Also, this 1983 instant classic served as my voice of reason each and every time I even considered touching my tongue to a frozen pole (don’t worry, it only came up a few times).

One of the many National Lampoon's classic films, Christmas Vacation is the ultimate Christmas movie for the entire family because let's be honest, this family makes us feel soooooooo much better about ours no matter how messed up they are. 

A fantastic Christmas movie full of nostalgia and memorable moments. It is also a double-edged sword as it skyrocketed star Macaulay Culkin to instant stardom and in turn ripped his family apart (true story, look it up).

It is undeniable that Elf is a fan favorite - people are absolutely obsessed with this movie. Surprisingly highly rated by critics all things considered, this is an over-the-top goofy classic that is a ton of fun to watch as long as you know what to expect. 

No top movie list would be complete without the classic love story, and Love Actually is perfect thanks to this story of interconnected love. Have an issue with a little romance during the Holidays?! Well that sounds like a YOU problem.

Bad Santa is raunchy and ridiculous, just the way I like my Christmas evening to be (kidding, kinda). But seriously, Billy Bob Thornton basically plays himself and keeps the laughs coming.

What is there to say about this movie aside from the obvious fact that it is one of the all-time classic’s so the 1946 family drama had to be on the list.

Another Christmas Classic with the ageless and undeniably talented Bill Murray with a surprisingly heartfelt feel-good story.

I don’t really need to explain why this movie made the list, but this family film starring Tim Allen is slightly underrated and is absolutely a classic. I have seen it myself at least 10-15 times.

It is impossible to forget about this Tom Hanks classic thanks to the constant special screenings during the Holiday’s but who am I to complain?! This is a movie that will continue to excite generations to come.

 Disagree with our list? Let us know in the comments below.

Aquaman

Director James Wan

Genre Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Cast Jason Mamoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 21st, 2018

“Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and to be a hero to the world.”

From visionary director James Wan, Aquaman is the highly anticipated origin story for the popular DC character. Arthur Curry aka Aquaman learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis  and must step forward and lead his people. Everyone is aware that DC has fallen well short of it's MCU counterpart but with Mamoa as the lead and Wan behind the camera, not to mention a very strong supporting cast, this could be a big stepping stone similar to Wonder Woman. But it could be terrible, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the latter. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Aquaman:

• The film is based on Geoff Johns's 2011 "Aquaman" comic.

• Nicole Kidman, who plays Aquaman's mother Queen Atlanna, had declined the role of Queen Hippolyta in Wonder Woman (2017) (in the comics, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman was Aquaman's ally and sometimes love interest).

• Aquaman's suit was supposed to be a surprise in 2016. Instead, Zack Snyder released the photo of Momoa wearing the Aquaman suit in February 2015. Snyder called Momoa moments before its release to the world.

Bumblebee

Director Travis Knight

Genre Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Cast Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Martin Short, Pamela Adlon

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 21st, 2018

“On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.”

From director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings), Bumblebee is the story of where it all began for the yellow Transformers star. On the run in 1987, Bumblebee finds himself in a junkyard in a small California beach town and is discovered by nearly 18-year old Charlie who who is searching for a sense of belonging. The cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Martin Short, and Pamela Adlon. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Bumblebee:

• This won't be a sequel but a spin-off based on the popular Autobot Bumblebee, as well as a prequel tale to the Transformers films.

• Bumblebee's alternate mode in this feature is a Volkswagen Beetle, his original mode in The Transformers (1984).

• In an interview Hailee Steinfeld revealed that her "Edge of Steventeen" writer/director/producer Kelly Fremon Craig did a rewrite of the script.

Mary Poppins Returns

Director Rob Marshall

Genre Family | Fantasy | Musical

Cast Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Dick Van Dyke

Rating PG

Release Date December 19th, 2018

“In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. ”

From director Rob Marshall (Chicago, Into the Woods), Mary Poppins Returns is the latest foray into the world of the enigmatic Mary Poppins, a character that was brought to life by Walt Disney himself in 1964 when he personally cast Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, alongside Dick Van Dyke. Now Mary Poppins is played by Emily Blunt (great choice if you ask me), and the rest of the cast includes Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and a welcome return for Dick Van Dyke. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mary Poppins Returns:

• When the first Mary Poppins movie was being written, the lead role was offered to Julie Andrews by Walt Disney himself. Andrews told Disney that she was pregnant and couldn't do the movie. Disney wanted Andrews so much that he postponed the production in order to accommodate Andrews' pregnancy. When this movie was announced, the history repeated as Emily Blunt was also pregnant and the movie was postponed to accommodate her pregnancy.

Welcome to Marwen

Director Robert Zemeckis

Genre Biography | Drama

Cast Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, Eiza González

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 21st, 2018

“A victim of a brutal attack finds a unique and beautiful therapeutic outlet to help him through his recovery process.”

From director Robert Zemeckis, the man who brought us Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Flight, just to name a few, Welcome to Marwen is a biography drama about a man who is the victim of a brutal attack but finds a beautiful and therapeutic outlet to help him through his recovery process. The cast includes Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger, and Eiza González. Check out the official trailer below!! 

Ted Takes Film Facts, Welcome to Marwen:

• The film is a dramatization of the 2010 documentary film Marwencol which told the story of Mark Hogancamp. Hogancamp, an artist and photographer, was attacked outside of a bar by 5 men who nearly beat him to death. After a lengthy stay in the hospital he began to form a new reality to help in his recovery process.

• The documentary received widespread critic acclaim, holding a 98% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and also received the "Golden Tomato" award for best reviewed documentary of the year.

Second Act

Director Peter Segal

Genre Comedy | Romance

Cast Jennifer Lopez, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 21st, 2018

“A big box store worker reinvents her life and her life-story and shows Madison Avenue what street smarts can do.”

From talented director Peter Segal, the man who brought us 50 First Dates, Get Smart, and Grudge Match, to name a few, Second Act is a romantic comedy about a woman who uses her street smarts to reshape her life and proves those who doubted her wrong in the process. The cast includes Jennifer Lopez, Milo Ventimiglia, Vanessa Hudgens, and Leah Remini. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Second Act:

• Food Bazaar Supermarket in Long Island City, New York, was used for location filming and remained open for three days while filming in October, 2017.

• Actor Milo Ventimiglia made his acting debut in 1995 on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Mowgli

Director Andy Serkis

Genre Adventure | Drama | Family

Cast Christian Bale, Kate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomi Harris

Rating PG-13

Release Date December 7th, 2018 (Netflix & Limited Theaters)

“A human child raised by wolves, must face off against a menacing tiger named Shere Khan, as well as his own origins.”

From veteran actor turned director Andy Serkis, Mowgli is a much darker version of the live-action film The Jungle Book (2016). The film was originally slated to release in 2016 but the release was delayed to 2018 after news broke that Disney would be releasing The Jungle Book. The cast includes Christian Bale, Kate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Naomi Harris, Andy Serkis, and Matthew Rhys. Check out the official trailer below!! 

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Mowgli:

• Andy Serkis directs the film and provides the voice of Baloo.

• This is the third time Christian Bale has provided voice work for a non live-action role in his career. He previously played Thomas in Pocahontas (1995) and Howl in the English version of Howl's Moving Castle (2004).

Top 10 Netflix Binge Worthy Shows

Finding something good to watch on Netflix can take all night sometimes, and who wants that?! Lucky for you, your friends at Ted Takes are here to offer some suggestions for what we consider to be "binge worthy" shows currently available on Netflix. Check out the trailers below!!

- note that many of these shows have multiple seasons and the trailer may be for the latest season.

Happy binge watching!!

Bird Box

Director Susanne Bier

Genre Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Sarah Paulson

Rating Unrated

Release Date December 21st, 2018 (Netflix)

“Something is out there, something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse of it, and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.”

From director Susanna Bier, Bird Box is a Netflix exclusive dystopian horror/thriller about a mother and her children attempting to navigate a dangerous world inhabited terrifying that cannot be seen. The premise sounds very familiar to the recent sci-fi thriller The Quiet Place, but i’m still willing to give this a fair shake especially considering it is based on a book and seems to have a great deal of story depth in comparison. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Bird Box:

• Based on the 2014 novel of the same name written by Josh Malerman, the lead singer of The High Strung.

• Second collaboration between Sandra Bullock and Sarah Paulson following Ocean's Eight.