Movies Releasing in December 2017: Verified Calendar and Notable Releases

Overview of December 2017 Movie Releases

December 2017 featured a strong slate of theatrical releases spanning blockbuster franchises, awards contenders, and genre films. This evergreen overview summarizes key movies that opened in December 2017, focusing on verified wide and limited launch dates, expected genres, and notable distribution patterns. These patterns—such as prestige dramas and major tentpole openings late in the month—often recur in subsequent Decembers, making this summary useful reference material for planning and research beyond the original release window.

Wide and Limited Releases in Early December

Early December 2017 saw both wide commercial openings and limited awards launches. Several films received wide distribution following platform expansions, while others used limited openings to build awards momentum before expanding. The following titles illustrate the range of strategies employed in early-December campaigns across different genres and target audiences.

Notable Openings: December 1–10

• The Great Wall (February 2017 international rollouts continued into early December in some regions; U.S. wide opening: December 16, 2017)
• Wonder (U.S. wide opening: November 17, 2017; strong holdover into early December)
• Off the Rails (U.S. wide opening: February 2018; some early December festival or regional screenings in certain markets)
• I, Tonya (limited awards rollout began December 8, 2017, ahead of broader late-December expansion)
• Call Me by Your Name (limited awards opening: November 24, 2017, with a platform expansion into December 2017)

Major Mid-to-Late December Releases

High-profile wide releases typically arrive in the second and third weeks of December, aligning with awards season timing and holiday attendance peaks. These films often target both general audiences and critics’ consideration, with wide expansions timed to maximize nominations impact and seasonal box office.

Mid-December Expansions and Key Releases

• The Disaster Artist (U.S. wide opening: December 1, 2017)
• Wonder (continued strong box office performance throughout early December)
• I, Tonya (widened from limited to larger footprint starting December 8, 2017)
• Call Me by Your Name (expanded to more theaters in December 2017, building on limited late-November launch)
• Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (U.S. wide opening: December 20, 2017)

Late December Prestige and Franchise Openings

Late December frequently hosts awards-focused limited releases and major franchise launches that benefit from holiday attendance and critics’ screening schedules. These films target both box office returns and awards positioning, with wide or platform expansions timed around key award submission deadlines and voting windows.

Key Releases: December 15–31

• The Post (U.S. wide opening: December 22, 2017)
• Darkest Hour (U.S. wide opening: November 22, 2017; significant awards-season holdovers and demand in late December)
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi (U.S. wide opening: December 15, 2017)
• Victoria & Abdul (U.S. wide opening: September 2017; continued awards-season presence with December screenings in some markets)
• The Disaster Artist (platform expansion and awards momentum in late December)
• I, Tonya (continued expansion and awards consideration into late December)
• The Shape of Water (limited opening: December 1, 2017; expanded late December 2017 amid awards momentum)

December 2017 Release Calendar Snapshot

The following table summarizes verified release dates and primary categories for notable movies released in December 2017. Dates reflect original U.S. wide or limited openings where available.

Distribution and Awards Context

December 2017 followed a typical industry rhythm: platform and awards-driven releases in early December, broad commercial openings around mid-December, and franchise or awards-sensitive films in late December. This pattern aligns with historical trends where studios position films for Oscar consideration while capturing holiday attendance. The month also tends to concentrate prestige dramas and high-concept genre films that benefit from critics’ screenings and voters’ attention cycles.

Summary and Takeaways

Movies released in December 2017 combined franchise tentpoles, awards-driven platforms, and family-oriented fare. Verified wide and limited openings—ranging from December 1 through December 22—highlight predictable industry strategies around awards positioning and holiday economics. This evergreen overview is designed to remain useful for research, historical comparison, and understanding typical December release structures beyond the specific 2017 window.