From Fast X to The Super Mario Bros: the best movies on Showmax this December

9th Dec 2023 | Source: Showmax

<div><em>Fast X, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Genie, 65, Magic Mike's Last Dance, and The Amazing Maurice</em></div>

<div><strong>FAST X </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| First on Showmax | Stream now</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The end of the road begins in </span><em>Fast X</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, which was the #1 international box office opening of 2023. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they've ever faced: a terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past, fueled by blood revenge, and determined to destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever.  </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">All your faves are back, including Oscar winners Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren, Emmy nominees John Cena and Nathalie Emmanuel, Teen Choice nominees Michelle Rodriguez, Jason Statham, and Jordana Brewster, Teen Choice winners Tyrese Gibson and Scott Eastwood, Grammy winner Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, and Sung Kang as Han. Oscar winner Brie Larson (aka Captain Marvel), Jason Momoa (</span><em>Dune</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Aquaman</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Critics Choice Super Award nominee Alan Richtson (</span><em>Reacher</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) all make their franchise debuts too. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">As </span><em>Mashable</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> critic Kristy Puchko says, "This is what summer movies should be! It's spectacular! It's thrilling! And it's the kind of movie you can't wait to yammer about to your friends. Truly, I walked out of </span><em>Fast X</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> with a big Momoa smile on my face, so wide it hurt."</span></div>

<div><strong>THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| Stream from Monday, 18 December</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The biggest animated opening of all-time, and the biggest global opening of 2023, </span><em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie </em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">follows a couple of plumbers named Mario and Luigi, a princess named Peach, and an evil Koopa king known as Bowser ... Sound familiar? That's because the animated film </span><em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, from Nintendo and Illumination, is based on the classic megahit Mario video game franchise loved by generations of kids and kids-at-heart. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The film's all-star voice cast is led by Kids' Choice winner Chris Pratt (Owen Grady in the </span><em>Jurassic World</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> movies, and Marvel's Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord) as Mario and Emmy nominee Anya Taylor-Joy (</span><em>The Queen's Gambit</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as Princess Peach. Critics Choice nominee Charlie Day (Charlie in </span><em>It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> and the voice of Benny in </span><em>The Lego Movie</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">s) voices Luigi, with Kids' Choice winner Jack Black (the </span><em>Jumanji </em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">and </span><em>Goosebumps</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> movies, </span><em>School of Rock</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and the voice of </span><em>Kung Fu Panda</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">'s Po) as the villainous Bowser.</span></div>

<div><em>Variety</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> says </span><em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">'s "ingenuity is infectious. You don't have to be a Mario fan to respond to it, but the film is going to remind the millions who are why they call it a joystick."</span></div>

<div><strong>GENIE </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| Stream from Friday, 8 December </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">From Richard Curtis, the Oscar-nominated writer of</span><em> Love Actually</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> and </span><em>Notting Hill,</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> comes </span><em>Genie</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, a fairy-tale comedy about a workaholic man who enlists the help of a genie to help win his family back before Christmas.</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu </span><em>(I May Destroy You</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Gangs of London, The Capture</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and two-time Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy (</span><em>Bridesmaids</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Can You Ever Forgive Me?</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) co-star, opposite the likes of Critics Choice nominee Marc Maron (</span><em>GLOW</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), four-time Emmy nominee Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Screen Actors Guild winner Luis Guzmán (</span><em>Wednesday</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Deneé Brenton (</span><em>The Gilded Age</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">). </span></div>

<div><em>Love Life </em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">creator Sam Boyd directs. </span></div>

<div><strong>65</strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> | Stream from Monday, 11 December</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">In </span><em>65</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, a catastrophic crash strands Pilot Mills on an unknown planet, where he quickly discovers he's not alone. With only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, a young girl named Koa, face an epic fight to survive as they make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures ... that look uncannily like those that roamed the Earth 65 million years ago. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The sci-fi thriller stars Oscar nominee Adam Driver (</span><em>Star Wars</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">' Kylo Ren and Enzo Ferrari in </span><em>Ferrari</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Ariana Greenblatt (young Ahsoka Tano in </span><em>Ahsoka</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, young Gamora in </span><em>Avengers: Infinity War</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and Minnow in </span><em>Love and Monsters</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), along with Screen Actors Guild nominee Chloe Coleman (Kira in </span><em>Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and Lou in </span><em>Marry Me</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), and Nika King (Leslie Bennett in </span><em>Euphoria</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">).</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Written and directed by the Critics Choice Award-nominated writers of </span><em>A Quiet Place</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, </span><em>65 </em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">is produced by the likes of Sam Raimi (who directed </span><em>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, the </span><em>Spider-Man</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> trilogy and the </span><em>Evil Dead</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> movies) and four-time Emmy nominee Deborah Liebling (</span><em>PEN15</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">).</span></div>

<div><strong>MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCE</strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> | Stream from Monday, 25 December</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh (the </span><em>Ocean's</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> films), </span><em>Magic Mike's Last Dance </em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">sees People's Choice winner Channing Tatum back in the third instalment of the blockbuster film franchise, which went straight to #1 at the US box office. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The story picks up with "Magic" Mike Lane returning to the stage again after a lengthy break, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Oscar nominee Salma Hayek from </span><em>House of Gucci</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> and </span><em>The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) who lures him with an offer he can't refuse...and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he'll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off? </span></div>

<div><em>As Huffington Post</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> says, "Tatum, whose stripper past first inspired the character, looks more comfortable than ever in a role that, like the film, is in equal parts funny, playful, sexy and sincere."</span></div>

<div><strong>THE AMAZING MAURICE </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| Stream from Thursday, 7 December</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Based on Terry Pratchett's Carnegie Medal-winning novel </span><em>The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> (which was in turn inspired by the Brothers Grimm's Pied Piper of Hamelin), </span><em>The Amazing Maurice</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> follows a sassy, street-smart ginger cat with a sneaky disposition. Together with his band of rats and pied-piper friend Keith, he travels across the countryside, swindling villagers with a staged rat plague. But when the gang sets its sights on a scenic market town, they quickly realise that someone else got there first... </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The all-star voice cast is led by Emmy nominees Hugh Laurie (</span><em>House M.D., Avenue 5</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as Maurice, Emilia Clarke (G'iah in </span><em>Secret Invasion</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> and Daenerys Targaryen in </span><em>Game of Thrones</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as story narrator Malicia, Himesh Patel (Dr Watson in </span><em>Enola Holmes 2</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as Keith, and David Thewlis (Professor Lupin in the </span><em>Harry Potter</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> movies and Grail in </span><em>Enola Holmes 2</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as the dastardly Boss Man, with Emmy winner David Tennant (</span><em>Doctor Who</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, Crowley in </span><em>Good Omens</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and the voice of Huyang in </span><em>Ahsoka</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) as Dangerous Beans. </span></div>

<div><em>Common Sense Media</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> gives it a 4/5-star rating, recommending the film for ages 8+ and saying "this fun-packed animation captures the [Terry Pratchett] magic that appeals on multiple levels to kids and adults alike."</span></div>

<div><strong>MARGAUX </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| Stream from Thursday, 28 December</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">In </span><em>Margaux</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, a group of college friends rent a smart house for a weekend of partying but soon begin to realise that the house's super advanced AI system, Margaux, has sinister designs for them. And what Margaux wants, Margaux gets. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The cast includes Teen Choice winner Vanessa Morgan (</span><em>Riverdale</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">'s Toni Topaz), Richard Harmon (John Murphy in </span><em>The 100</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), Madison Pettis (</span><em>American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), Lochlyn Munro (</span><em>Peacemaker</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">'s Detective Larry Fitzgibbon, Hal Cooper in </span><em>Riverdale</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), and Jordan Buhat (Vivek Shah in </span><em>Grown-ish</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), with Susan Bennett (the original voice of Siri) as the voice of Margaux.</span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Nominated for three awards in its native Canada, including a Leo Award for Best Male Supporting Performance (for Richard Harmon), the thriller is directed by SXSW Award nominee Steven C Miller (</span><em>In the Line of Duty</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Marauders</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">). </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">"What makes Margaux an interesting antagonist is the idea that she's always watching, listening, and collecting information. Even the greatest of slasher villains aren't omnipresent," says </span><em>Dread Central</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, praising the horror's "darkly comedic sensibility" and calling the film "a fun time at the movies [that] entertains from start to finish."</span></div>

<div><strong>HOUSE PARTY </strong><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">| Stream from Thursday, 7 December</span></div>

<div><em>House Party</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, the remix to the fan-favourite 90s comedy, follows aspiring club promoters and best buds Damon (Saturn award nominee Tosin Cole from </span><em>61st Street</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Till</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> and </span><em>Doctor Who</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Kevin (BET and Black Reel Award nominee Jacob Latimore from </span><em>Detroit</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>The Chi</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and </span><em>Like a Boss</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), who are barely keeping things together. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Out of money, down on their luck and about to lose the roofs over their heads—and freshly fired from their low-lift jobs as house cleaners—the pair needs a huge windfall to make their problems go away. In a "what the hell?" move, they decide to host the party of the year at an exclusive mansion, the site of their last cleaning job, which just happens to belong to none other than real-life NBA star LeBron James. </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">No permission? No problem. What could go wrong? </span></div>

<div><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">The cast includes Melvin Gregg (</span><em>Snowfall</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), award winners Karen Obilom (</span><em>Doom Patrol</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), Allen Maldonado (</span><em>Heels</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>The Wonder Years</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Nigerian-American actor Rotimi (Dre in </span><em>Power</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), and Emmy winners Lena Waithe (</span><em>The Chi</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Ready Player One</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">) and Snoop Dogg, Grammy winners Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) and Lil Wayne, and of course, LeBron himself. Also look out for original franchise stars Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin (aka Kid 'n Play).  </span></div>

<div><em>House Party</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> is written by the Emmy-nominated duo, Jamal Olori and Stephen Glover (</span><em>Guava Island</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, </span><em>Atlanta</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif">), and is the feature film debut of Grammy-winning music video director Calmatic, who directed Lil Nas X's </span><em>Old Town Road</em><span style="color:#000000; font-family:verdana,sans-serif"> feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, and has worked with Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Anderson .Paak, and Jay-Z. </span></div>

<div><strong>MORE DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS ON SHOWMAX</strong></div>

<div><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">To see everything on Showmax in December 2023, including the first Showmax Original 2D animation </span><em>Twende</em><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, the local true-crime series </span><em>Convict Conman</em><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, the high school cheerleader whodunnit </span><em>Trompoppie</em><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, season 2 of </span><em>Adulting</em><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, and the Emmy-nominated series </span><em>Poker Face</em><span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">, visit </span><a href="https://usw2.nyl.as/t1/211/4d3rc2nl0fxq8aqjylt7cnfcv/8/9c50cb111c846f51712729ad562fc18e20dc7db5080d46c43a79e8883a6822b6" rel="noreferrer" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #1155cc" target="_blank">https://stories.showmax.com/za/whats-new-on-showmax-in-december-2023.</a></div>