Lionsgate’s The Housemaid and Paramount’s The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants are leading the new releases coming to UK-Ireland cinemas on Boxing Day (Friday, December 26).
The Housemaid is playing at 642 sites. Paul Feig directs the adaptation of Freida McFadden’s 2022 novel of the same name, in which Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney play, respectively, a wealthy housewife and her new live-in hired help, both hiding dangerous secrets.
Also hoping to square up to major holdover Avatar: Fire And Ash, which took £9m in its first weekend (Dec 19-21), is the fourth SpongeBob theatrical feature. SpongeBob’s latest adventure is once again directed by Derek Drymon and has already had an extensive run of previews. It will be looking to get ahead of the most successful theatrical release in the franchise to date, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, which opened to £1.6m in 2015, plumped up to £2.3m including previews, from 483 sites.
Sony’s action comedy Anaconda opens in 583 sites over the weekend. Tom Gormican directs a cast of Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton.
Two key awards contenders come out on Boxing Day. Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme for Entertainment Film Distributors is opening in over 300 locations, and is headlined by Timothee Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow. Chalamet plays a young athlete who will stop at nothing to fulfil his dreams of being a champion table tennis player.
There’s also Mubi’s Sentimental Value, debuting in 103 cinemas. Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier’s sixth feature world premiered at Cannes and stars Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard. It follows the complex relationship between an estranged daughter and father.
Moviegoers’ Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri will be playing in around 100 sites this weekend, from director Sameer Vidwans. Further Indian releases this weekend are Zee Studios’ action comedy 45, RFT Films’ fantasy drama Vrusshabha, Dreamz Entertainment’s football drama Champion and Yash Raj Films’ war drama Ikkis.
Wildcard is opening Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s Saipan, an exploration of the 2002 clash between Irish footballer Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy, in 84 screens in Ireland only from Boxing Day, with more sites to be added from January 1. The Toronto premiere stars Steve Coogan and Eanna Hardwick. Vertigo will release in the UK from January 23.
In event cinema, Trafalgar Releasing will be in over 25 sites with Runseokjin_EP Tour The Movie, a concert film documenting BTS Jin’s first solo world tour.
Viavix has Don Ng’s Hong Kong exile drama No Time For Goodbye in fewer than 25 locations.
Studiocanal has a 4k restored re-release of Guillermo del Toro’s 2001 horror The Devil’s Backbone in seven sites.
Dogwoof is also releasing Jonathan Stiasny’s music doc Bowie: The Final Act this weekend.
New year releases (January 2-4)
There are also several releases to ring in the new year in the first weekend of 2026. Universal’s Song Sung Blue is going widest, at 589 sites from Friday, January 2. Craig Brewer’s drama follows a real-life Neil Diamond tribute band, with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson starring.
Opening on January 2 in 39 locations for Picturehouse is Ira Sachs’ Peter Hujar’s Day. Starring Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall, it centres around a day in 1974 Manhattan.
In re-releases, Park Circus has a Happy Feet 20th anniversary at 220 sites and a 40th anniversary release for David Lynch’s Blue Velvet at around 20 sites.
Trinity CineAsia has Ng Yuen-fai and Jack Lai’s Back To The Past in upwards of 25 sites, the feature film adaptation of Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s 2001 historical sci-fi series A Step Into the Past.
BFI Distribution is playing Frederick Wiseman’s French restaurant documentary Menus Plaisirs: Les Troisgros at 11 sites.
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