"A teacher is never a giver of truth - he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst." Bruce Lee was born on this day in 1940. What's his best film?

MY GIRL, starring Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky, was released in the US on this day in 1991 🐝 The most tragic love story ever?

The director behind incredible films such as Near Dark, Strange Days, The Hurt Locker, and Point Break; Kathryn Bigelow was born on this day in 1951.

ROCKY IV opened in the US 40 years ago today. Did you know Arnold Schwarzenegger helped train Dolph Lundgren to make sure he was in the right shape for the film?

The fourth installment of the Alien franchise, ALIEN RESURRECTION, opened in the US on this day in 1997. Sigourney Weaver originally declined to do a fourth Alien film. When asked why she changed her mind, she replied, "They basically drove a dump truck full of money to my house."

"Physical strength in a woman--that's what I am." Happy birthday to the late Tina Turner, born on this day in 1939.

STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME opened in the US on this day in 1986. Leonard Nimoy said that after the dramatic nature of all previous Star Trek films and the events that occurred in them, he felt the need to lighten things up in the fourth film.

If you're joining us on Mon, 8 Dec for our screening of WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, you'll be the first to find out what our brand new January-March 2026 season of films will be. Until then, get these dates into your diary: 12 January 9 February 9 March We'll see you at the movies

THREE MEN AND A BABY opened in the US 38 years ago today. Directed by none other than Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, the film went on to be the highest-grossing movie of 1987 in the States.

It's exactly 1 month until the Big Man comes to visit! Who has been your favourite big screen Santa Claus?

CREED opened in US cinemas 10 years ago today. Sylvester Stallone was 69 when the film was released, the same age as Burgess Meredith when the original Rocky was released.

Join us on Monday, 8 December, when we'll be taking you to a world of pure imagination for our final film of the year, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, starring the incredible Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, only at Parkway Cinema #Beverley, #Cleethorpes and #Workington. wewatchfilms.com

GOLDENEYE was released in the UK 30 years ago today! At the time the script was being written, the producers were under the assumption that Timothy Dalton would be renewing the role of Bond. It was written to match Dalton's darker, more realistic portrayal of 007.

"Blade Runner (1982)'s poster is something I will always show with great pride. I make sure everybody knows that the name on the "Blade Runner" art is Alvin. Always has been, always will be." Happy birthday to the late movie poster artist, John Alvin was born on this day in 1948.

Robin Williams delivered an unforgettable performance as MRS DOUBTFIRE, which opened in the US on this day in 1993. According to director Chris Columbus, Robin Williams improvised so much that there were PG, PG-13, and R edits of the film (though always intended to be released as PG-13).

William Henry Pratt, who would later be known to the world as Boris Karloff and become one of horror's most iconic names, was born on this day in 1887.

Cowabunga, dudes! TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES hit UK screens 35 years ago today. Did you know that one of the early ideas for the film was that it would follow a similar approach to Who Framed Roger Rabbit in which the actors would be interacting with animated versions of the turtles?

The Oompa-Loompas have been busy putting your prize haul together for our next BIG MOVIE QUIZ, here at We Watch Films HQ! Join us on Mon, 8 Dec, from 7pm, before we screen WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, to win this hamper of sweet treats! Book tickets: wewatchfilms.com

POINT BREAK opened in UK cinemas on this day in 1991. Unbeknownst to the producers, when not on the day's call sheet Swayze and others would occasionally run out to an airport and go skydiving, even though they'd been asked to stop for insurance purposes.

"I'm so tired of hearing casting directors ask if I have a sore throat. The people who have told me that my voice is distinctive, it's unusual... those people have always been close to my heart." We love her distinctive and unusual voice, Scarlett Johansson turns 41 today!

CASINO opened in US cinemas 30 years ago today. Did you know most of the conversations between Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci were improvised? Martin Scorsese would tell them where to start and where to end. The rest was up to them.

"Well, I was too young - 19 or 20 - to turn away work. And why should I, when the characters were good people? I didn't have to swear, I didn't have to wear tight jeans or bounce my tits! I played Intelligent women, usually the lead." Happy birthday to Jamie Lee Curtis, who turns 67 today.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." Back to the Future Part II was released in the US on this day in 1989. What's your BTTF ranking?

Did you know that when Gene Wilder died in 2016, Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, changed his social media profile to "Former child actor, veterinarian, inherited a chocolate factory on August 29, 2016."

One of our favourite Frank Darabont movies, THE MIST, opened in the US on this day in 2007. If you know, you know.

"The best comedy touches something that's timeless and universal in people. When it's right, those things last." The late, great Harold Ramis was born on this day in 1944.

"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around." Happy 22nd birthday to good old British rom-com LOVE ACTUALLY, which opened in the UK on this day in 2003. What's your favourite festive rom-com?

Kevin McCallister's second outing, HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK opened in the US on this day in 1992. Even though it didn't work and was created specifically for the movie as a prop, Macaulay Culkin was allowed to keep the Talkboy after the film wrapped.

Hayao Miyazaki's HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE opened in the US 21 years ago today. What's been your favourite Studio Ghibli animation over the years?

"I'm not in the business. I am the business." - Rachael, Blade Runner Mary Sean Young was born on this day in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1959.

"Adriaaaaaaan!" ROCKY had its world premiere in New York on this day in 1976.

Join us on Mon 8 Dec at Parkway Cinema #Beverley, #Cleethorpes and #Workington, for our final film of the season, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. There'll be our usual free-to-enter quiz, chocolate, and you might just walk away with a year of free We Watch Films screenings! wewatchfilms.com

"Acting, for me, is exhausting. I'm always more energized by directing. It's more intense to direct. I can pop in and express myself, then pop out again. It's a huge passion for me." Jodi Foster was born on this day in 1962. What's your favourite of her roles?

He's in town with a few days to kill. PREDATOR 2 had its World Premiere in Westwood, California, 35 years ago today.

Don Bluth's THE LAND BEFORE TIME opened in US cinemas on this day in 1988. About nineteen scenes comprising ten minutes of footage, mostly of the T-Rex and the five characters in mild peril or distress, were cut or trimmed due to them being too dark and intense for young children?

James Cameron's TITANIC received its London Premiere on this day in 1997. Gloria Stuart, being only 86, was aged by makeup to play Rose at age 100. She did not find this a pleasant experience. She later died in 2010 at age 100.

Happy birthday to Hull's very own Jon Campling, born on this day in 1966! You'll probably know Jon best as the Death Eater in Harry Potter who stops the Hogwarts Express, but he's also starred in The Northman, Final Fantasy XV and the Predator short, Dark Ages.

LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL opened in the US 30 years ago today. Besson had apparently planned to do a sequel, following an older Matilda, starring Natalie Portman, but the idea was later used for the 2011 Zoe Saldana film Colombiana. Here's hoping we still get that sequel one day!

3 weeks to go!! Join us on Mon 8 Dec for WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, our free-to-enter BIG MOVIE QUIZ before the film, plus we'll be giving away a year of We Watch Films to one member of the audience at each cinema! Book tickets to make sure you get in on the action! wewatchfilms.com

In a bit of local film news, here's a first look at local lad, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link in the new Legend of Zelda live action film, which has just started filming, starring alongside Bo Bragason as the titular Zelda. As Zelda game lovers, we can't wait to see this one! Good luck, Benjamin!

James Bond's Seventeenth and twenty-first outings, GOLDENEYE and CASINO ROYALE were both released in the US on this day in 1995 and 2006 respectively. Both films brought in new era of Bond for their generations, but who had the best films?

"Cinema is a matter of what's in the frame and what's out." Martin Charles Scorsese was born on this day, 1942 in Queens, New York City. What's your Scorsese movie?

HEATHERS, starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder, opened in the UK 36 years ago today. Ryder's agent begged her not to be in the movie, stating her "career would be over."

Whatcha reading? We love a good book here at We Watch Films, and we'd love to know what books you're currently reading, so let us know your current reads or recommendations you think we all might like! wewatchfilms.com

Richard Curtis' LOVE ACTUALLY had its UK premiere on this day in 2003. Did you know Andrew Lincoln was initially unsure about his character, as he thought the scene with handwritten signs was "borderline stalker territory."

Today we remember Burgess Meredith. Probably best known for his roles as The Penguin on the iconic 60s "Batman" TV series and Sylvester Stallone's cantankerous old mentor Micky Goldmill in the "Rocky" films, Meredith was born on this day in 1907.

Home Alone was released in the US 35 years ago today! Did you know Macaulay Culkin still calls Catherine O'Hara "Mom"?

Ralph Bakshi's classic animated version of THE LORD OF THE RINGS opened in the US on this day in 1978. We STILL can't get over that poster art!

Trainspotting and Hackers star Jonny Lee Millar turns 53 today. Did you know his Grandfather is Bernard Lee, who played M in the early James Bond movies?

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND had its world premiere in New York on this day in 1977. The iconic five-note melody was a chance arrangement that both composer John Williams and director Steven Spielberg happened to like out of hundreds of different permutations Williams had created.