Heyday Films (United Kingdom): 21

Directed by Paul King, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby based on a story by King, Wonka (2023) is a musical fantasy film. It delves into the early life of Willy Wonka, the beloved character from Roald Dahl’s classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. As an aspiring magician, inventor, and chocolatier, Wonka arrives in Europe to set up shop at Galéries Gourmet. However, facing financial struggles, he is persuaded to stay at Mrs. ...

Barbie (2023) is a fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig from a screenplay she wrote with Noah Baumbach. The story takes place in Barbieland, a matriarchal society where different versions of Barbies and Kens reside. However, there are also some discontinued models who are treated as outcasts due to their unconventional traits. While the Kens spend their days at the beach, it is considered their profession, while the Barbies hold prestigious jobs in various fields such as science, politics, and media. Ken, commonly known as Beach Ken (‘Ken’), has eyes ...

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), a fantasy film directed by David Yates, follows Newt Scamander as he aids a Qilin in giving birth in Kweilin, China in 1932. Grindelwald’s followers, led by Credence Barebone, intervene and kill the mother and take the newborn. Grindelwald then takes the Qilin’s life to exploit its ability to see into the future. However, unbeknownst to them, there were actually two babies born. Luckily, Newt manages to rescue the younger twin before engaging in a battle against Grindelwald. Despite being unable to confront Grindelwald due to their blood pact, Albus ...

Set in 1969 Hollywood, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The story follows Rick Dalton, a former star of the Western show Bounty Law, as he faces the decline of his career. After only landing small roles as TV villains, Dalton’s agent Marvin Schwarz suggests he make Spaghetti Westerns in Italy – an option that Dalton looks down on. His closest companion is Cliff Booth, a war veteran who serves as his stunt double, personal assistant, and driver. Booth lives in a trailer with his pit bull Brandy and struggles to find work due to rumors ...

Marriage Story (2019), a drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, also produced by David Heyman. The play, helmed by Charlie Barber, successful theater director of Exit Ghost in New York City, stars his wife Nicole who used to be an actress but is now content with not acting. However, their marriage is suffering as they seek mediation and are advised to write down what they appreciate about each other. Despite agreeing to go through the process together, Nicole declines to read her words aloud and they decide to skip counseling altogether. Later, Nicole receives ...

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling, is the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016). Serving as the second part in the Fantastic Beast series and the tenth in the Wizarding World franchise, it follows the events of 1927. During this time, Grindelwald escapes as MACUSA transports him to Europe for trial. Three months later, Newt Scamander meets his former Hogwarts classmate Leta Lestrange in London, where he also requests to have his travel ban ...

The comedy film, Paddington 2 (2017), directed and written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby respectively, is a live-action animated sequel to the 2014 movie Paddington. Produced by Heyday Films and StudioCanal UK, it is based on the beloved stories of Paddington Bear by Michael Bond. The lovable bear, now living with the Browns in Windsor Gardens, offers his support to his neighbors in various ways. In order to purchase a special pop-up book of London for his aunt Lucy’s milestone birthday from Samuel Gruber’s antique shop, Paddington takes on odd jobs ...

The fantasy film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), directed by David Yates and written by J. K. Rowling, is the first instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series and the ninth in the Wizarding World franchise. Set in 1926 New York City, it serves as a spin-off and prequel to the Harry Potter films, following British wizard Newt Scamander on his journey. While searching for a Niffler that escaped from his magical creature-filled suitcase, he crosses paths with Jacob Kowalski, an aspiring baker who accidentally swaps suitcases with ...

Paddington (2014), a live-action animated comedy film, was written and directed by Paul King. Based on Michael Bond’s beloved character Paddington Bear, the story was developed by King and Hamish McColl. In the depths of the Peruvian jungle, a British explorer comes across a group of bears with a love for marmalade. He dubs them Lucy and Pastuzo before bidding them farewell with an invitation to London. Forty years later, after their home is destroyed in an ...

Alfonso Cuarón’s sci-fi thriller, Gravity (2013), follows the journey of the Space Shuttle Explorer as it orbits Earth to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Commanded by veteran astronaut Matthew ‘Matt’ Kowalski, the ship is joined by Dr. Ryan Stone, who is on her first space mission to perform hardware upgrades on the telescope. However, their peaceful mission is interrupted when Houston reveals a dangerous situation caused by the Russian government shooting down a presumed defunct spy satellite. As more communication satellites are disabled by debris, Mission Control orders the crew to return to ...

In the fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, our hero must seek help from the goblin Griphook after burying Dobby. With Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger by his side, Harry suspects a Horcrux is hidden in Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault at Gringotts bank. Griphook agrees to assist them, on the condition that he receives the Sword of Gryffindor in return. Ollivander informs Harry that two wands previously belonging to Bellatrix and Draco Malfoy were taken from Malfoy Manor; sensing a ...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) is a fantasy film directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name, it is the first of two cinematic installments. At Malfoy Manor, Severus Snape meets with Lord Voldemort and his followers to report that Harry Potter will be moved to a safe location by the Order of the Phoenix. Voldemort takes Lucius Malfoy’s wand since his own is powerless against Harry’s, as they both share a phoenix feather core. ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), was directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves based on J. K. Rowling’s novel of the same name. Lord Voldemort continues to tighten his grip on both the wizarding and Muggle worlds in the film: his Death Eaters abduct Mr Ollivander and cause destruction to London’s Millennium Bridge. As Lucius Malfoy remains imprisoned in Azkaban, Voldemort assigns his son, Draco Malfoy, with a secret mission at Hogwarts. To ensure Draco’s safety, ...

Directed by Peyton Reed, Yes Man (2008) is an American romantic comedy film about Carl Allen, a bank loan officer. Since his divorce from Stephanie, Carl has become introverted and has a negative outlook on life. He often ignores his friends Peter and Rooney, even missing their engagement party. In a dream, he envisions his own death and realizes that Peter and Rooney wouldn’t be affected by it. Upon the suggestion of Nick, an old colleague who had previously broken a bank window with a rock, Carl attends a motivational seminar where he learns to say ‘yes’ to every opportunity. There, he meets ...

I Am Legend (2007) is an American post-apocalyptic action thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Akiva Goldsman and Mark Protosevich. The film depicts a world in which a measles virus, intended to cure cancer, instead becomes lethal and spreads rapidly, infecting 99% of the population and turning them into vampiric, albino, cannibalistic mutants known as Darkseekers. These creatures are vulnerable to sunlight and prey on the small number of people who are naturally immune. Three years have passed since ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), was directed by David Yates and written by Michael Goldenberg. It was based on the 2003 novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. While staying at the Dursleys’, Harry Potter is attacked by Dementors alongside his cousin, Dudley. With the use of a Patronus spell, Harry repels them successfully. However, this results in him being detected by the Ministry of Magic for underage magic use, leading to his temporary expulsion from Hogwarts. Luckily, he is ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. In the film, Harry has a nightmare in which a Muggle caretaker is murdered for overhearing a plot involving Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and an unidentified man. The next day, Harry joins the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, and his father Amos at the Quidditch World Cup. However, their evening is disrupted when Death Eaters ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1999 novel of the same name written by J.K. Rowling. Once again, Harry Potter endures a disappointing summer with his relatives, the Dursleys. However, things take a turn for the worse on his thirteenth birthday when Vernon’s sister Marge insults Harry’s parents in a cruel manner. Enraged, Harry causes her to inflate and float away. Believing he will be punished ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), was directed by Chris Columbus and written by Steve Kloves, adapting J.K. Rowling’s novel of the same name from 1998. While spending the summer with the Dursleys, Harry Potter meets Dobby, a house-elf who warns him not to return to Hogwarts as danger is looming. Despite Dobby’s warning, Harry refuses to stay away and ends up getting locked up by his relatives. Luckily, Ron Weasley and his brothers Fred and George come to his rescue in their ...

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is a magical film helmed by director Chris Columbus and produced by David Heyman. The screenplay, written by Steve Kloves, is based on J.K. Rowling’s popular novel from 1997. Late one evening, professors Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, along with Hogwarts groundskeeper Rubeus Hagrid, bring an orphaned infant wizard named Harry Potter to his Muggle aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley – his only ...