New Movies Releasing Worldwide This Week: December 17

As the holiday season approaches, the week of December 17 to December 23, 2025, brings a mix of highly anticipated blockbusters and family-friendly animations to theaters worldwide. Major studios are rolling out global releases for big titles, with some variations in exact dates due to regional holidays, distribution strategies, and local market preferences. This comprehensive guide breaks down new theatrical movie releases country by country, focusing on wide and notable openings.

Key highlights this week include the long-awaited Avatar: Fire and Ash (the third installment in James Cameron’s epic franchise) and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, both poised for massive international appeal. Smaller films and expansions may also occur, but major releases dominate.

United States

• December 19, 2025:
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Paramount’s animated adventure featuring the iconic Bikini Bottom crew on a new quest. Directed by Derek Drymon, with voices including Tom Kenny and Bill Fagerbakke.
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – James Cameron’s sci-fi spectacle returns to Pandora, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, and Sigourney Weaver. Expected to be a box office titan with IMAX and 3D screenings.
• Ongoing expansions from earlier December releases like Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 may continue, but no new wide openings mid-week.

The US market sees coordinated Friday releases for maximum weekend earnings.

United Kingdom

• December 19, 2025 (aligned with US for major titles):
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Wide release across Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue chains.
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – Major rollout with premium formats; UK often syncs closely with North American dates for blockbusters.
• Some indie films may have limited London premieres, but family and sci-fi dominate.

Canada

• Releases mirror the US due to shared distribution:
  • December 19, 2025: Both The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants and Avatar: Fire and Ash hit theaters nationwide, including Cineplex locations.

Australia

• December 18 or 19, 2025 (often Thursday openings):
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Event Cinemas and Hoyts wide release.
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – Anticipated day-and-date with global markets to combat piracy.

Australia frequently aligns with international dates for Hollywood tentpoles.

India

• December 19, 2025:
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – Dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and other languages for PVR, Inox, and multiplex chains.
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Family-oriented release with English and dubbed options.
• Bollywood or regional films may compete, but Hollywood blockbusters secure prime slots during holidays.

France

• Traditional Wednesday releases:
  • December 17, 2025 (likely):
    • Avatar: Fire and Ash – Pathé and Gaumont theaters; France often gets early European access.
    • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Wide family release.
• French-dubbed versions (“Avatar: Feu et Cendres”) enhance accessibility.

Germany

• December 18, 2025 (Thursday standard):
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – CinemaxX and CineStar chains.
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Strong appeal for younger audiences.

Italy

• December 18 or 19, 2025:
  • Both major titles release wide, with dubbed Italian versions popular.

Spain

• December 19, 2025:
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Yelmo Cines and Cinesa.

Brazil

• December 18, 2025 (Thursday openings common):
  • Wide releases for both films via Cinemark and Kinoplex.

Mexico

• December 19, 2025:
  • Cinépolis and Cinemex rollout for the animated and sci-fi hits.

Japan

• Releases can lag or advance:
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash – Likely December 19 or earlier for Toho cinemas.
  • The SpongeBob Movie – Strong anime competition, but family slots secured.

South Korea

• December 17-19, 2025:
  • Early openings possible for CGV and Lotte Cinema; high demand for visual spectacles like Avatar.

China

• Subject to regulatory approval, but major titles often get prime dates:
  • December 19, 2025 (or nearby): Both films expected wide, with quotas favoring blockbusters.

Other Regions (Middle East, Southeast Asia, etc.)

• Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia): December 18-19 via VOX and Reel Cinemas.
• Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand): Aligned with December 19, often with English and local subs/dubs.

Note: Release dates can shift slightly due to local holidays or censorship. For smaller arthouse or national films, check local listings as they may premiere regionally without global coordination.