Friday Flicks: ‘Wonder’, ‘Angelica’, ‘Sweet Virginia’
Weekend film picks still carry that same pull years later, especially when one title quietly built a following that refused to fade. The 2017 slate offered intimate dramas and animated stories that held their own against bigger studio fare. Several of those releases now sit comfortably on streaming, while one property has extended its reach through new chapters and a stage version. The focus remains on the original line-up, with updated context on how these films landed and where they stand today.
Wonder (Lionsgate)
Released November 2017. 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). The film earned $315 million worldwide and later spawned a direct spin-off.
Angelica (Freestyle Digital Media)
Released November 2017. In Victorian England, innocent shopgirl Constance falls in love with medical researcher Dr. Joseph Barton. They quickly marry, but their intense passion is cut short. After the life-threatening birth of daughter Angelica, puritanical doctors order abstinence, condemning Constance’s lascivious appetite. Sexual repression opens a rift between the young couple, leading to obsession, supernatural visions, and madness in this psychological thriller. Based on the novel by Arthur Phillips, Angelica is written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein (Teeth). Stars Jena Malone (The Neon Demon), Janet McTeer (Tideland), and Ed Stoppard (The Pianist).
The Breadwinner (Gkids)
Released November 2017. From executive producer Angelina Jolie (Salt) and the team behind The Secret of Kells comes this adaptation of the children’s novel by Deborah Ellis. The Breadwinner is the “universal story of girl empowerment and the potential of imagination to transform one’s circumstances”. The film follows Parvana, a young girl living in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy and become the breadwinner of the family when her father is wrongfully imprisoned. Against all odds, Parvana draws strength from the fantastical stories she invents, as she embarks on a quest to find her father and reunite her family. The directorial debut from Nora Twomey. It later earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature and won Best Independent Animated Feature at the Annie Awards.
Mudbound (Netflix)
Released November 2017. Two men return from war to work on a farm in rural Mississippi but soon find themselves coming face-to-face with the brutal realities of prejudice, farming, and friendship during World War II. Based on the novel by Hillary Jordan and directed by Dee Rees, Mudbound is the epic story of two families pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and abroad. Written by Rees (Pariah) in collaboration with Virgil Williams (Criminal Minds) and stars Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy), Jason Mitchell (The Chi), Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty), and Carey Mulligan (An Uncivil War). The film received four Academy Award nominations, including for Mary J. Blige and Dee Rees.
Sweet Virginia (IFC Films)
Released November 2017. In the wake of a triple murder that leaves the residents of a remote Alaskan outpost on edge, tightly wound drifter Elwood checks into a motel run by Sam, a former rodeo champion whose imposing physical presence conceals a troubled soul. Bound together by their outsider status, the two men strike up an uneasy friendship that will spark a new wave of violence and unleash Sam’s darkest demons. Directed by Jamie M. Dagg (River) and written by Benjamin China and Paul China, Sweet Virginia is a “nerve-jangling slice of raw suspense” starring Jon Bernthal (Baby Driver), Christopher Abbott (It Comes at Night), Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later), and Rosemarie Dewitt (La La Land).
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (Netflix)
Released November 2017. In 1998, Jim Carrey portrayed his idol Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon. Carrey earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe for the performance, but many of the production’s most Kaufmanesque moments played out behind the scenes. The documentary footage, shot on set by Andy’s former girlfriend Lynne Margulies and former writing partner Bob Zmuda, was kept closely under wraps for twenty years. Now in Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond filmmaker Chris Smith (The Yes Men) connects us with the man behind the performance itself, as he delves into Carrey’s incredible transformation.
Wonder Franchise Expansion
The Wonder universe grew in 2024 with White Bird, a companion piece that adapts R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel and shifts focus to Julian Albans’ grandmother during World War II. The film serves as both prequel and extension, carrying forward themes of empathy and resilience while introducing new characters. Stars include Gillian Anderson and Helen Mirren, with Bryce Gheisar returning from the original cast. Its release refreshed interest in the 2017 film and widened the property’s reach beyond the initial story of August Pullman.
Wonder Stage Adaptation
A musical version of Wonder ran from December 2025 through February 2026 at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston. The production adapted the novel for the stage and cast performers with facial differences in the central role of Auggie. This live iteration demonstrated the story’s continued pull and gave new audiences a way to experience the material without relying solely on the screen version. The limited run underscored how the narrative has traveled across formats while keeping its core message intact.
Awards Recognition for The Breadwinner and Mudbound
Both films collected significant honors after their initial releases. The Breadwinner earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and won Best Independent Animated Feature at the Annie Awards. Mudbound secured four Oscar nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Dee Rees and Best Supporting Actress for Mary J. Blige. These nods confirmed the critical weight of the projects and placed them alongside larger studio entries during awards season.
Streaming Availability and Legacy Viewership
Several titles from the slate found longer life on streaming platforms. Mudbound and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond began as Netflix releases and remain accessible there. The Breadwinner has appeared on Netflix in various regions and on other services. This continued presence has introduced the films to viewers who missed the limited theatrical windows and kept the 2017 slate relevant long after opening weekend.
Together these updates show how a single weekend’s slate can stretch forward through awards recognition, platform availability, and fresh adaptations. The original films still reward a first or return viewing, and the added chapters keep the conversation open without overwriting what made the 2017 releases distinctive in the first place.
