AQUAMAN, BUMBLEBEE & 3 Other Movies Are Set For A December 21 Release - Which One Will Reign Supreme?

In a rare turn of events, Hollywood is set to release 5 (potentially) huge films on the same day this December, and they include Aquaman, Bumblebee and Alita: Battle Angle. Which one will win the weekend?

By MarkCassidy - Aug 14, 2018 11:08 AM EST

Filed Under: Aquaman

Though technically there is still time for one or more of these features to change their release date and avoid the melee, as it stands there are 5 potential blockbusters all scheduled to hit theaters on December 21 this year.

The pre-Christmas weekend is always a popular time for studios as it's the final Friday before the holiday, and he last tentpole date they can get a big movie out during the fiscal year.

However, this year is shaping up to be the most competitive yet by some margin.

Below, we take a look at each movie and its chances of reigning supreme over the holiday season.

To view the movies all at once, simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!

Welcome To Marwen

We'll start will the movie least likely to come out on top, and actually has a decent chance of being crushed by the competition: Universal's fantasy drama Welcome to Marwen.

The story deals with a recovering crime victim (Steve Carell who creates a World War II art installation that comes to life.

It's an underdog for sure, but it does have Back to the Future and Forest Gump director Robert Zemeckis at the helm, so you never know!

Holmes And Watson

Another long-shot, but with the crowd-pleasing re-teaming of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Talladega Nights) Colombia's Holmes and Watson could surprise.

This humorous take on the iconic duo is also the only outright comedy of the bunch, so if audiences happen to be looking for some chuckles over the holidays, they'll no doubt flock to Sherlock and the good Doctor.

Alita: Battle Angel

Next up is James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez's Alita: Battle Angel, which is a big-screen adaptation of the popular manga.

The first teaser for this one didn't win many people over, but the full trailer was noticeably better received.

On its own this probably won't trouble the final two, but there are rumors that the first teaser for Avatar 2 may screen with it which could well get more butts in seats.

Bumblebee

Paramount's Transformers movies have never been big hits with critics, but that's never stopped them from raking it in at the box office - especially overseas.

That, along with the fact that this Bumblebee spin-off actually looks pretty good, and we could be looking at a very successful ride for the little yellow Autobot.

Will it be enough to dethrone The King?

Aquaman

Warner Bros. will be hoping that the first solo outing for Aquaman is a (much) bigger success than Justice League, and while we have put it at the top of our list, it's by no means a sure thing.

The trailer was well received (for the most part), and the lighter tone should go down well with those that have taken issue with DC's "grimdark" approach in the past, but it remains to be seen if the character - and the main star, for that matter - are popular enough draw in a sufficient amount of business.

Mary Poppins Returns

Okay, so Mary Poppins Returns actually opens on the Wednesday before these five - but it will still be right in the mix for their opening weekends, and could easily prove to be the ~~King~~ Queen of the holiday BO.

After all, would you bet against Disney?

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121 Comments

1 2 3 4

ThunderThighs - 8/14/2018, 11:08 AM

Yes, I do bet against Disney. Pretty sure that movies like Aquaman and (even if I hate to say it) Bumblebee get more people into the cinemas.
Don't have much faith in Holmes and Watson and Marwen (even though, it really looks interesting to me).
Alita is a big 50/50 chance imo.

MyBeard - 8/14/2018, 11:58 AM

@BootyPeep - Did you not see how much money the live action Beauty and the Beast remake made?

It might not be Star Wars or Infinity War money but Mary Poppins is going to draw in big crowds over the holidays.

JohnGrayson - 8/14/2018, 11:15 AM

Aquaman. the other movies just dont interest me.

DellRusk - 8/14/2018, 11:15 AM

MARY POPPINS Y'ALL!!!

marvel72 - 8/14/2018, 11:17 AM

Aquaman looks promising and should do well.Mary Poppiw could be the most successful but I think Welcome To Marwen will be the best movie but will probably end up making the least.

PantherKing - 8/14/2018, 11:17 AM

yeah it’s not going to end well for some of them. Deadpool and Solo was a week apart but these three on the same day. Their box office numbers are going to suffer.

OmegaDaGrodd - 8/14/2018, 11:20 AM

Welcome to Marwen looks like it'll be the best movie to come out that weekend but from a Box office standpoint I see it shaping up like this

1. Bumblebee
2. Aquaman
3. Mary Poppins
4. Alita

2 and 3 could easily switch but regardless this was a really dumb idea from several studios at once

Pantherpool - 8/14/2018, 11:21 AM

Aquaman will win the weekend, but Mary Poppins will win the month and will probably be the biggest grosser for the Holidays in the US (Fantastic Beasts will hold that title globally).

razorstar90 - 8/14/2018, 11:22 AM

Mary Poppins is going to crush it. It's the only straight up family movie, and Disney positioned knowing it's 5 day total could range in the 85M range. Add Lin Manuel Miranda and music...it's over.

Bumblebee has CRAZY buzz, no pun intended. Bumblebee is everyone's favorite Transformer and boys will be into it for him, and Haille Steinfield will be there for the girls, so it could be a big player for families too. Plus Travis Knight of Laika and Kubo fame will deliver a well reviewed movie.

Aquaman....idk. Something about it seems very John Carter-y. Jason Momoa has never starred in a movie that didn't flop. His biker looks might be off putting to Mom and Dad. Remember, BvS got gutted by not only Jungle Book but Zootopia as well. Then Justice League got gutted by Coco and Wonder (the movie about the kid with the weird head) so who knows what Mary Poppins and Bumblebee will do to Aquaman.

Also, Spiderman into the Spiderverse, don't underestimate the Black audience. If Sony can tap into 10% of Black Panther that film will be huge.

1. Mary Poppins
2. Bumblebee
3. Aquaman

That's what I'm going at.

blackandyellow - 8/14/2018, 11:23 AM

Aquaman or Bumblebee. Mary Poppins will probably do Christopher Robbins-ish numbers and come in a distant third.

1 2 3 4

AQUAMAN, BUMBLEBEE & 3 Other Movies Are Set For A December 21 Release - Which One Will Reign Supreme?

In a rare turn of events, Hollywood is set to release 5 (potentially) huge films on the same day this December, and they include Aquaman, Bumblebee and Alita: Battle Angle. Which one will win the weekend?

Welcome To Marwen

Holmes And Watson

Alita: Battle Angel

Bumblebee

Aquaman

Mary Poppins Returns

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