December brings an exceptional selection of entertainment across major streaming platforms, offering something for every viewer during the holiday season. From highly anticipated series finales to festive films and blockbuster mysteries, this month delivers premium content worth celebrating.
Major Highlights Across All Platforms
Streaming services are pulling out all the stops for December, with Netflix leading the charge through an impressive lineup that includes the conclusion of one of television’s most beloved series. The platform drops its most anticipated content throughout the month, culminating in two massive releases during the final week.
Disney Plus counters with its own powerhouse programming, featuring the return of a popular fantasy adventure series and exclusive content from one of music’s biggest stars. The service balances family-friendly entertainment with sophisticated documentaries that appeal to adult audiences.
Hulu and Prime Video round out the offerings with their own exclusive premieres, while HBO Max provides quality programming that caps off the year with style.
Netflix December Must-Watch Content
Series Finales and Season Premieres
The crown jewel of December streaming arrives with the final episodes of Stranger Things. Volume 2 releases on Christmas Day at 5 p.m. PT, followed by the series finale on December 31 at 5 p.m. PT, marking the end of an era for fans who have followed the Hawkins crew since 2016. The finale promises an emotional conclusion as the entire party unites to hunt down Vecna.
Emily in Paris returns for Season 5 on December 18, with the marketing executive now leading her agency from Rome instead of the French capital. The season explores new challenges as Emily adjusts to Italian culture while navigating professional setbacks and personal relationships.
Film Premieres
Rian Johnson’s latest mystery, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, debuts December 12. Daniel Craig reprises his role as detective Benoit Blanc to investigate a crime at a small-town church, continuing the acclaimed franchise known for its clever twists and ensemble casts.
Noah Baumbach’s dramedy Jay Kelly stars George Clooney as a world-famous actor embarking on a journey of self-discovery with his longtime manager, played by Adam Sandler. The film drops December 5 and has generated significant awards buzz following its Venice Film Festival premiere.
Troll 2 launches December 1, with director Roar Uthaug returning alongside the core cast. The sequel to Norway’s blockbuster creature feature finds beloved adventurers facing their most perilous mission when a dangerous new troll awakens across the country.
Additional Netflix Originals
The Abandons premieres December 4, featuring Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey as rival matriarchs in an 1850s Western drama. Their families’ fates become intertwined through crimes, secrets, and star-crossed romance over a silver lode in Washington territory.
Comedy specials arrive from major names, including Ricky Gervais: Mortality on December 30 and Tom Segura: Teacher on December 24. Matt Rife kicks things off early with his Christmas crowd work special on December 2.
Documentary enthusiasts should mark their calendars for All The Empty Rooms on December 1, which documents preserved bedrooms of children lost to school shootings, and Cover-Up on December 26, tracing legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh’s career.
Disney Plus Programming Highlights
Percy Jackson Returns
Percy Jackson and the Olympians returns for Season 2 on December 10, based on “The Sea of Monsters”. After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy embarks on an odyssey to find his missing friend Grover and retrieve the legendary Golden Fleece. The season introduces his cyclops half-brother and explores changing friendships as Kronos’s forces threaten the camp.
Taylor Swift Takes Over
Disney Plus becomes the exclusive home for two major Taylor Swift releases this month. The End of an Era docuseries debuts December 12, offering never-before-seen insight into what it took to create the phenomenon of the Eras Tour, with two episodes releasing weekly. The series features interviews with performers, family, and friends including Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Florence Welch.
Accompanying the docuseries, Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show streams the complete concert filmed in Vancouver during the tour’s final performance, featuring the full Tortured Poets Department set that was added following that album’s 2024 release.
Family Entertainment
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw arrives December 5, adapting the third installment of Jeff Kinney’s bestselling series. Greg Heffley faces his dad’s ultimatum to toughen up, leading to characteristic mishaps and family comedy that appeals to audiences of all ages.
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures returns December 8 with Season 3, while Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation continues releasing new episodes throughout the month for anime fans.
Hulu Exclusives
All’s Fair premieres December 4 as a new legal dramedy, offering fresh courtroom drama for subscribers. The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball returns December 22 with Season 2, providing animated entertainment for younger viewers.
Made in Korea debuts December 24 with its Hulu Original episodes, set in 1970s South Korea where a man living a double life as a KCIA agent and dangerous businessman faces off against a determined prosecutor.
Prime Video Offerings
Fallout returns for Season 2 on December 17, continuing the hit video game adaptation that captivated audiences with its post-apocalyptic storytelling. The series has become one of Prime’s most successful launches.
Holiday movie enthusiasts will find multiple new releases throughout December, including Oh. What. Fun. on December 3 and The Merchants of Joy on December 1. True crime fans should tune in December 7 for Confessions of a Female Serial Killer.
HBO Max December Finale
The platform closes out December with the season finale of I Love LA on December 21. Mad Men joins the library December 1 for viewers looking to revisit the acclaimed drama series.
Classic Films and Library Additions
Beyond original programming, December brings beloved films to various platforms. Netflix adds Pulp Fiction, The Wolf of Wall Street, Little Women (2019), Forrest Gump, and Zero Dark Thirty to its library. Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, both Rio films, and the Big Mama’s House movies provide family-friendly options.
Disney Plus enhances its catalog with Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and The Polar Express, perfect for holiday viewing. The platform also adds comprehensive series runs including The West Wing (all seven seasons on Netflix December 9) and Mad Men on HBO Max.
Planning Your December Viewing
With such extensive programming across platforms, strategic planning helps maximize your streaming subscriptions. Consider these viewing tips:
Holiday Timing: Many platforms schedule major releases around Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The Stranger Things finale strategy exemplifies this, with Volume 2 arriving Christmas Day and the series finale on New Year’s Eve.
Binge vs. Weekly: While films and comedy specials are available immediately, series like Percy Jackson and the Taylor Swift docuseries release weekly, requiring patience from eager viewers.
Family Coordination: December’s mix of adult thrillers, family animations, and holiday classics makes planning group viewing sessions easier. Coordinate schedules to enjoy content together during the season.
Subscription Strategy: If you don’t subscribe to all platforms, consider which month’s lineup best justifies temporary subscriptions. December’s strong programming across multiple services may warrant bundle deals.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 concludes, streaming platforms demonstrate their commitment to quality content that spans genres, demographics, and storytelling styles. From the emotional conclusion of Stranger Things to the musical spectacle of Taylor Swift’s tour documentation, December offers memorable viewing experiences that will resonate well into 2026.
Whether you prefer mysteries that keep you guessing, family films that bring generations together, or prestige dramas that spark conversation, this month delivers exceptional options. The combination of exclusive originals, beloved classics, and holiday-themed programming ensures viewers have plenty to watch as they ring in the new year.
For comprehensive details about specific release dates and complete platform lineups, visit Netflix’s official site and Disney Plus’s press page.
