Friday Flicks: ‘The Shape of Water’, ‘The Disaster Artist’, ‘Wonder Wheel’

Back when Disney first announced its blockbuster purchase of 21st Century Fox assets, the move signaled a seismic shift in how major studios would compete. The deal, valued at roughly $52.4 billion in stock at announcement, closed in 2019 after revisions pushed the final figure higher. Against that backdrop of consolidation, several smaller titles offered viewers something outside the franchise machine, and their stories still reward a closer look.

The Disaster Artist (A24 Films)

The story that James Franco was born to tell, The Disaster Artist is a hilarious and welcome reminder there’s more than one way to become a legend. Based on Greg Sestero’s best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy Wiseau's infamous cult classic The Room, Franco transforms the tragicomic true story of the Hollywood outsider into a celebration of friendship, artistic expression, and dreams pursued against insurmountable odds. Directed by Franco from a screenplay written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer), The Disaster Artist stars Franco (Spring Breakers), Dave Franco (Nerve), Seth Rogen (This Is the End), and Wiseau himself. Limited release December 1, 2017, wide December 8, 2017, $29.8 million worldwide. Watch the trailer for The Disaster Artist

The Shape of Water (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

From Guillermo del Toro, the master storyteller behind Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, comes an otherworldly romance tale set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America. In a hidden high-security laboratory, lonely Elsa is trapped in a life of isolation. But her life is about to be forever changed, as she stumbles upon a classified experiment. Merging the pathos and thrills of the classic monster movie tradition with shadowy film noir, The Shape of Water stars Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), Octavia Spencer (The Help), Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), and Doug Jones (Hellboy II: The Golden Army). $195.2 million worldwide; 4 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. Watch the trailer for The Shape of Water

My Friend Dahmer (FilmRise Releasing)

Jeffrey Dahmer murdered seventeen men and boys between 1978 and 1999, cementing him as one of history’s most infamous serial killers. This is the story before that story. Directed by Marc Meyers (How He Fell in Love), My Friend Dahmer is based on Derf Backderf’s graphic novel of the same name, recounting his time in high school with the would-be Milwaukee Cannibal. Haunting and darkly funny, the film stars Ross Lynch (Austin & Ally), Alex Wolff (The Sitter), Anne Heche (Donnie Brasco), and Dallas Roberts (Walk the Line). November 3, 2017 release; $1.4 million worldwide. We had the opportunity to sit down with director Marc Meyers ahead of the release of My Friend Dahmer, as he walked us through his so-called “cautionary tale”. Boy, did he have some choice words to tell us. But before taking a trip down that rabbit hole, we’d recommend heading over to read our review first. Watch the trailer for My Friend Dahmer

Wonder Wheel (Amazon Studios)

Written and directed by Woody Allen, Wonder Wheel is a “powerful and dramatic story” of passion, violence, and betrayal about four characters whose lives become intertwined amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s. Meet Ginny, an emotionally volatile former actress; Humpty, Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey, a dashing young lifeguard who dreams of becoming a playwright; and Carolina, Humpty’s estranged daughter, who is hiding from the mob. Stars Kate Winslet (Titanic), Jim Belushi (Little Shop of Horrors), Juno Temple (Killer Joe), and Justin Timberlake (The Social Network). December 1, 2017 release; $15.9 million worldwide. Watch the trailer for Wonder Wheel

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Academy Award-winner Frances McDormand (Fargo) channels a “modern, female variant of the classic western hero in a showdown-style performance” in this “darkly comedic drama” from Martin McDonagh (In Bruges). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, a mother pushed to the edge makes a bold move by commissioning three signs with a controversial message directed at the town's revered chief of police. Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Sam Rockwell (Moon), Kerry Condon (Avengers: Age of Ultron), and Caleb Landry Jones (Twin Peaks) star opposite McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. November 10, 2017 release; $162.7 million worldwide; 2 Oscars. Watch the trailer for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Wonder (Lionsgate)

Directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and based on the bestselling novel by R.J. Palacio, Wonder tells the “incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story” of August Pullman. Born with facial deformities that prevented him from leading a normal life, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters fifth grade. As his family, his classmates, and the community at large struggle to find compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove “you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out”. Stars Jacob Tremblay (Room), Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman), Owen Wilson (Midnight in Paris), and Izabela Vidovic (Homefront). November 17, 2017 release; $315 million worldwide; one Oscar nomination. Watch the trailer for Wonder

Awards Season Outcomes

The Shape of Water won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design at the 90th Academy Awards. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Supporting Actor for Sam Rockwell, confirming the strength of its performances on a national stage.

Box Office Performance Summary

The Disaster Artist earned $29.8 million worldwide. Wonder grossed $315 million, showing how family-oriented indie fare could scale commercially. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri reached $162.7 million, underscoring the appeal of adult drama when word of mouth aligned with awards momentum.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

The Shape of Water received a Criterion 4K and Blu-ray edition that highlighted its craftsmanship for new viewers. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was added to HBO Max in early 2026, keeping its sharp dialogue and performances in circulation nearly a decade after release.

Studio Landscape Shifts Post-2017

The Disney-Fox deal closed in March 2019. Certain Fox assets later moved to the Burbank lot by 2025-2026, illustrating how the original announcement reshaped physical footprints and distribution pipelines across the industry.

Director and Performer Career Notes

Guillermo del Toro earned his first Best Director Oscar for The Shape of Water. James Franco’s dual role as star and director of The Disaster Artist added another line to his eclectic résumé. Frances McDormand collected her third Best Actress Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, reinforcing her place among the era’s most consistent leading performers.