Christmas is coming and Netflix is gifting us with many promising movies and shows over the next few weeks.
Movie highlights include Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, a dark adaptation of the classic tale, and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery which sees the return of Daniel Craig’s celebrity sleuth, Benoit Blanc.
If you’re looking for a new show to binge-watch over the festive season, you might want to consider The Recruit, a new espionage thriller starring Noah Centineo, or The Witcher: Blood Origin, a prequel to the popular fantasy series that takes place a long time before the adventures of Geralt of Rivia.
Check out all of our highlights below and then keep scrolling for a look at all of the other titles that may be worth unwrapping this December.
1st December
Troll (2022)
Based on Nordic folklore, this big-budget horror movie from Tomb Raider director Roar Uthaug has been highly anticipated. It tells the tale of a fearsome troll who wakes up from its 1000-year slumber and starts to destroy everything in its path. It’s up to a ragtag group of heroes, led by Norah, a renowned archaeologist (Ine Mari Wilmann), to put a stop to the monster before it wipes out humanity.
2nd December
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)
Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell star in this latest adaption of D.H. Lawrence’s steamy novel. It tells the tale of an unhappily married aristocrat who engages in a torrid affair with her gamekeeper. She falls head over heels in love with him but to secure her chances of happiness, she has to break the traditions of the time. The film recently played in cinemas where it was critically well-received so this may be required (adult) viewing if you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see it.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
Charles Dicken’s famous novel has been adapted many times before so it begs the question: do we really need another? Probably not but if you’re a fan of the Albert Finney-starring musical adaption of the classic story, you might want to check this one out as it’s a loose remake of that film. The cast, which includes Luke Evans as Scrooge and Olivia Colman as the Ghost of Christmas Past, is a good one and it’s imaginatively animated, so this might be enjoyable even if the story is overly familiar. Of course, whether or not it can surpass The Muppet Christmas Carol remains to be seen!
Warriors Of Future (2022)
In the future, the Earth has been ravaged by pollution and global warming. Matters for our planet become worse when a meteorite crashes down, bringing with it a powerful alien that threatens to destroy everything in its path. It’s up to a heavily-armoured military group to save the day before our world is destroyed forever. This Chinese-American co-production did very well at the Hong Kong box office so it might be worth a look if you enjoy sci-fi action movies overloaded with fantastical special effects.
Sr. (2022)
Robert Downey Jr’s documentary is a tribute to his late father, the visionary director of such movies as Putney’s Swope and Greaser’s Palace. Filmed over the last three years of the director’s life, the doc features interviews between the father and son that shed light on Downey Sr.’s long life and celebrated movie career.
Hot Skull: Season 1
Based on Afşin Kum’s 2016 novel of the same name, this Turkish sci-fi series is set in a dystopian world where an epidemic of madness has been spread through language and speech.
The main protagonist is reclusive former linguist, Murat Siyavus, the only person unaffected by the disease who might be the key to ending the plague and saving humanity. The premise is certainly interesting so if you’re not tired of the glut of epidemic thrillers that have hit our screens since the recent pandemic, this could be worth adding to your watchlist.
8th December
Lookism: Season 1
Delayed from November.
Based on the South Korean webtoon that debuted in 2014, this new animated series tells the story of a high school student who struggles to thrive in a society that values beauty above all else. He is bullied because of his weight and height but for reasons that you’ll understand if you have seen the webtoon, he is suddenly given the opportunity to switch to a new body that fits society’s beauty standards. Will his life change for the better as a consequence?
9th December
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
This is the second Pinocchio movie to land this year but whereas the previous entry was a live-action adaption of the cutesy 1940 Disney animation, this is a stop-motion take on Carlos Collodi’s classic children’s novel that is far darker than the movie Robert Zemeckis brought to the screen. According to critics, Del Toro’s movie is much better too, thanks to the stunning animation that brings the famous fable to life. Younger children might want to steer clear of this version of the story as it’s apparently rather harrowing but older kids (and brave adults) should definitely make time for the famed director’s latest masterpiece.
14th December
Kangaroo Valley (2022)
A real-life coming-of-age adventure featuring a nervous young kangaroo named Mala whose odds are firmly not in her favour when she tries to make it through her first year. She faces both hungry dingoes and the harsh cold of winter in this nature documentary that was filmed on location at the legendary Valley of Kangaroos in New South Wales, Australia.
15th December
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery
Murderville fans rejoice! Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) is back and this time he is joined by Maya Rudolph and Jason Bateman, the two unlucky celebs who have to work their way through this festive murder case without a script! They have no idea what will happen to them during their investigative mission which makes the whole silly affair a lot more fun to watch.
16th December
BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (2022)
The latest movie from The Revenant director Alejandro González Iñárritu tells the story of an acclaimed journalist and documentarian (Daniel Giménez Cacho) who, after winning a major award, is given cause to look back on his life and the events that led to his successful career. This is a trippy and visually stunning piece of work from the acclaimed filmmaker but its self-indulgent nature has divided some critics.
Boogie (2021)
Fresh Off The Boat creator Eddie Huang makes his movie directorial debut with this insightful basketball drama about a young Chinese-American man who has to defy cultural expectations when pursuing his dreams of becoming an NBA player. The movie doesn’t quite achieve a slam-dunk due to the occasional lack of polish but it still tells a compelling story that will particularly resonate with those who can relate to the struggles faced by the young protagonist.
The Recruit: Season 1
Noah Centinio stars in this new espionage drama about a rookie lawyer who starts working for the CIA. His first week on the job proves trickier than expected when he is assigned to a case involving a former asset who has been accused of a severe crime. The stakes are high as she is threatening to release agency secrets if she is not exonerated so the lawyer has more to worry about than decorating his new office.
20th December
Mothering Sunday (2021)
Mothering Sunday, an adaptation of Graham Swift’s 2016 novella, is a decent British period drama that is steeped in tragedy. Odessa Young stars as Jane Fairchild, a young housemaid, whose secret relationship with Paul Sheringham (Josh O’Connor), the only surviving member of a well-to-do family, has repercussions that will later shape her future life.
23rd December
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Daniel Craig returns as world-famous detective Benoit Blanc in the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to Knives Out. This time around, Blanc gets an invitation to attend a murder mystery party in Greece but the fun and games soon come to an end when a real-life murder is committed. It’s up to Blanc to peel back the layers of the mystery he gets caught up in using his special set of skills! If you’re a fan of the character, you’ll be glad to know that director Rian Johnson will be reteaming with Craig for a third Knives Out movie sometime in the future.
The Fabulous: Season 1
Delayed from November.
This new South Korean series follows the friendships, struggles, and romances of a group of young people working in the competitive fashion industry. Starring SHINee’s Minho and Rookie Cops star Chae Soobin, this upcoming series has been much anticipated by fans of its stars.
25th December
The Witcher: Blood Origin (Limited Series)
Set thousands of years before the events of The Witcher, this prequel miniseries is set in an Elven world where seven outcasts join forces in a quest against an all-powerful empire. This somehow leads to the origin of the very first Witcher and the pivotal “conjunction of the spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one. Laurence O’Fuarain, Michelle Yeoh and Minnie Driver are among the cast of this fantasy saga that will hopefully be better than that other prequel series of 2022, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.
26th December
Treason (Limited Series)
Daredevil star Charlie Cox stars as Adam Lawrence, an MI6 agent with a sketchy past. When his past catches up with him, in the form of Russian spy Kara (Olga Kurylenko), he is forced to question everything he knows about his life.
30th December
White Noise (2022)
After working together on Marriage Story, director Noah Baumbach and actor Adam Driver have teamed up again for this comedy-drama about an American family whose lives are torn asunder when a nearby chemical explosion results in a life-threatening “Airborne Toxic Event” in their town. This would usually be the set-up for a blockbusting disaster movie but Baumbach’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s widely praised novel is more of a philosophical family drama than an effects-filled epic.
They Cloned Tyrone (2022)
John Boyega, Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris star in this sci-fi comedy about an unlikely trio who, after investigating a series of eerie events, discover a vast underground complex where a government-backed lab is performing experiments on the local Black population. There are no reviews of this one yet but early word suggests this could be something special.
The Glory: Season 1
This South Korean series focuses on a young woman who plots revenge on her former high school bullies and her classmates who did nothing to protect her at the time. Song Hye Kyo (Full House) stars as Moon Dong Eun, the vengeful protagonist of this cathartic drama.
Also Streaming…
1st December
A Christmas Miracle For Daisy (2021)
A Kindhearted Christmas (2021)
Angel Falls Christmas (2021)
Christmas Time Is Here (2021)
Spilt Gravy On Rice (2022)
Qala (2022)
Goodbye (2022)
Farha (2021)
Stuart Little (1999)
Girl Clock (2010)
Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper (2004)
The Raven (2012)
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas
The Masked Scammer
Dead End: Season 1
Firefly Lane: Season 2
Archer: Season 13
Blippi Wonders: Season 2
2nd December
U-Turn (2021)
Los Intocables Contra Al Catone (1998)
My Unorthodox Life: Season 2
Supermodel Me: Revolution: Season 1
3rd December
Green Sea (2020)
Jelgava ’94 (2019)
Kidnap – Bo’s Most Exciting Holiday Ever (2015)
The Diary Of Anne Frank (2016)
I Love You Heavenly (2017)
Falchi (2017)
In Oranje (2004)
Het Echte Leven (2008)
Non è vero…ma ci credo (2019)
Langer Licht (2006)
Finalmente Sposi (2018)
Dreams Drawn by Dust (Limited Series)
Bewaarders
5th December
Mighty Express: Mighty Trains Race: Season 1
Electronic Dance Music: A Top Export From Germany
6th December
Delivery By Christmas (2022)
Boss Baby: Christmas Bonus
Sebastian Maniscalco: Is It Me?
7th December
Burning Patience (2022)
The Marriage App (2022)
Too Hot To Handle: Season 4
Smiley: Season 1
The Most Beautiful Flower: Season 1
I Hate Christmas: Season 1
8th December
Sayap-Sayap Patah (2022)
The Blue Whale (2020)
The Master Plan (2020)
In Broad Daylight: The Narvarte Case
The Elephant Whisperers
9th December
God’s Crooked Lines (2022)
CAT: Season 1
Dragon Age: Absolution: Season 1
Dream Home Makeover: Season 4
10th December
Prípad Mrtvého Neboztíka (2020)
Phileine zegt Sorry (2003)
Nevermind (2018)
Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow: Season 1
Marc Chagall
13th December
Tom Papa: What a day!
Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure: Season 1
Last Chance U: Basketball: Season 2
Singles Inferno: Season 1
14th December
I Believe In Santa (2022)
Glitter: Season 1
Blood Ties
15th December
The Big 4 (2022)
Violet Evergarden (2021)
Sonic Prime: Season 1
16th December
Private Lesson (2022)
Cook At All Cost$: Season 1
Dance Monsters (New Episodes)
A Storm For Christmas (Limited Series)
Far From Home: Season 1
How To Ruin Christmas: Season 3
Paradise PD: Season 4
Summer Job: Season 1
Beast Of Bangalore: Indian Predator
The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari
17th December
Inkheart (2008)
De Held (2016)
L’eroe (2018)
Tomorrow Is Saturday (2020)
19th December
Trolley: Season 1
20th December
The Seven Deadly Sins: Grudge of Edinburgh Part 1 (2022)
A Not So Merry Christmas (2022)
21st December
Emily in Paris: Season 3
I Am A Killer: Season 4
The Interest of Love: Season 1
22nd December
Alice in Borderland: Season 2
23rd December
Domino Effekt (2014)
Pinata Masters!
25th December
Time Hustler: Season 1
27th December
Chelsea Handler: Revolution
28th December
The Circle: Singles
Love Is Blind: Brazil