New Releases Smash Box Office

The entertainment industry has been striving to create a film that will capture the attention of a new generation. This is difficult to do when movies like Zootopia, Wicked, and the Stranger Things series are so iconic that they cannot be topped by a different story. We find comfort in movies that we already love, so what's the harm in a sequel? Typically sequels don't live up to the original movie or seasons' abundance in popularity; however, when Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, and, Season 5 of Stranger Things came out, people have nothing but love for them.

I saw Wicked: For Good in theaters during Thanksgiving break, and found it an enchanting experience. The performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo engaged and mesmerized their audience. Their voices blended together gracefully and brought a tear to the eye, especially in the song “For Good”. The plot expanded on the original movie, in both surprising and expected ways, all tying up nicely in the end with a heartwarming finish.

Wicked: For Good was not the only sequel that was released recently. Zootopia is a childhood favorite of many teenagers nowadays, and as we start to feel the pressure and reality of adulthood, the release of Zootopia 2 is a nice reminder that we can still hold onto our youth for a little while longer. As 93 percent of the ratings were a four out of five, it is clear that the movie is well-liked. When talking to sophomore Tim Blewett, he told me about how he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and themes of the story: “Oh boy, oh boy, I enjoyed that movie so much. It really represented current issues like discrimination well.” Throughout their adventure, Judy and Nick work with the snake, Gary De’Snake, to uncover the true meaning behind reptile ostracization in Zootopia, which represents the colonization and taking of land in the Americas in the 1600s. Through each treacherous trap and obstacle, the bond between Judy and Nick grows, building an everlasting relationship that fans can't seem to get enough of.

Lastly, on Wednesday, November 26, the first volume of Season 5 of Stranger Things aired on Netflix. This long-awaited season comes full of twists and turns. When talking to my friends about the show, they said how it is a great watch but left them in suspense for part two. “I think the new season of Stranger Things is very good and has some great moments like the other seasons – but without a doubt the greatest part of the season was the very Delightful Derek,” stated sophomore Luke Parambil. It's been a blast growing up with the Stranger Things cast, as we see them evolve and change beside us, and newer characters, including the “Delightful Derek,” are fun additions to enhance the group.

Ultimately, each and every one of these new releases turned out exciting and definitely lived up to - if not exceeded - expectations. So grab the popcorn, and in the near future, make sure to give them a watch. I hope you enjoy!