‘Squid Game,’ Beyoncé, Beetlejuice and more headline the top titles coming to streaming in December
‘Squid Game,’ Beyoncé, Beetlejuice and more headline the top titles coming to streaming in December
From the return of “Squid Game” to a Beyoncé halftime show, here are the best titles and events coming to streaming this month.
It’s the holiday season, and this December, the gifts keep on coming! Before 2024 comes to a close, top streamers like Netflix, Peacock, MUBI, and more are getting ready to end the year with a bang, led by major season premieres, streaming debuts, and livestreamed events.
Among the most notable this month is the long-awaited second season of Netflix’s Korean survival thriller “Squid Game,” with Emmy winner Lee Jung-jae returning as Player 456 to try to take down the deadly competition from the inside. But from this year’s NFL Christmas match-ups (and a halftime show by Beyoncé to the first project of DC Studios’ newly relaunched DCU, there is plenty to watch this month across the streaming world.
Ready to watch? Check out our picks for the best movies and series coming to streaming this December!
“Kneecap” | Monday, Dec. 2 (Netflix)
Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh) raises a fist and a finger to language erasure as the rowdy Irish rap trio fights censorship and becomes the unexpected faces of a movement to save their native language, reminding us to never forget the power of our own tongue and voice. Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, Simone Kirby, and Michael Fassbender make up the supporting cast as the group makes their feature debut— a great start to their acting career: the film was selected as the Irish entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Oscars.
Kneecap
When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.
“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” Premiere | Tuesday, Dec. 3 (Disney+)
“The Goonies” goes to space for Disney+’s latest “Star Wars” series, which is less for the cynical fanboys than it is for their hopefully-better-adjusted kids. The adventure follows a group of kids who make a mysterious discovery on their home planet and get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy. Young stars Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith lead the cast with adult supervision from Jude Law, Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, Nick Frost, and more. The first two episodes will be available to stream on Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Four ordinary kids search for their home planet after getting lost in the Star Wars galaxy.
“Black Doves” Season 1 Premiere | Thursday, Dec. 5 (Netflix)
“Die Hard” gets a new cousin at the Christmas action title table. This time, make it a series with some added espionage and intrigue. Keira Knightley takes on the mission as Helen Webb, a down-to-earth wife and mother by day, a professional spy by night who has spent the past decade passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for, the titular Black Doves. When her secret lover is killed, though, her spymaster calls in her old friend to keep her safe. Sarah Lancashire and Ben Whishaw, helping yet another English spy, co-star with Andrew Koji, Andrew Buchan, Omari Douglas, and more. All episodes of the first season will be available on premiere day, and go ahead and get invested: the series has already been renewed for a second season.
Black Doves
When a spy posing as a politician’s wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance.
“Creature Commandos” Premiere | Thursday, Dec. 5 (Max)
It’s a big moment for DC Studios, which is in the middle of a major reboot. “Creature Commandos” will mark the beginning of the DC Universe (DCU), the relaunch of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) that will shake up all future timelines and universes, just to make things a little extra complicated. The edgy adult-animated series from new DC co-head James Gunn (who writes all seven episodes) follows the events of “Peacemaker” Season 1, tracking the titular team of incarcerated superhumans and monsters assembled by Amanda Waller.
If it seems weird the DCU’s starting with an animated series to launch its first chapter, the first season was reportedly already half-written when DC Studios reached for Gunn to co-lead the new era with Peter Safran (and before the series was even commissioned). But “Creature Commandos” holds a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes in early reviews, so we’re happy to forgive the boss’s passion project. The first two episodes will premiere on Max on Dec. 5.
Watch the trailer for “Creature Commandos”:
Creature Commandos
Follow the exploits of the Creature Commandos, a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for missions deemed too dangerous for humans. When all else fails… they’re your last, worst option.
“The Sticky” Premiere | Friday, Dec. 6 (Prime Video)
Esteemed character actor Margo Martindale skips the sweetness in an all-new heist comedy series worthy of all her multi-facets. Straight(ish) from the headlines, “The Sticky” is inspired by a real-life 2012 maple syrup heist in—where else?—Canada where more than $18 million worth of product was stolen from Quebec’s national reserves. Martindale plays Ruth, a tough maple syrup farmer who turns to crime when authorities threaten to take away everything she holds dear, teaming up with a hot-tempered Bostonian mobster (Chris Diamantopoulos) and a mild-mannered French-Canadian security guard (Guillaume Cyr). All six episodes of the comedy, which already has a solid 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, will be available on Friday.
The Sticky
Ruth Clarke, a tough, supremely competent middle-aged Canadian maple syrup farmer has had it with being hemmed in by the polite, bureaucratic conventions native to her country’s identity. With the help of Remy Bouchard, a pint-sized local blockhead and an aging Mike Byrne, a low-level mobster, Ruth changes her fate — and transforms the future of her community with the theft of millions of dollars’ worth of maple syrup.
“The People’s Joker” | Friday, Dec. 6 (Mubi)
While 2024 was home for another Joker’s folly, Vera Drew and Bri LeRose’s “The People’s Joker” was the hero we don’t deserve. Drew leads the absurd show as Joker the Harlequin, a painfully unfunny aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity while attempting to join the ranks of Gotham City’s sole comedy program in a world where comedy has been outlawed. Alongside a group of fellow rejects and misfits, she forms an illegal anti-comedy troupe that puts her on a collision course with the Caped Crusader.
With Drew, Lynn Downey, Nathan Faustyn, and Kane Distler star in the dark comedy forming a sort of Gotham Second City with a host of cameos to match: Tim Heidecker, Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford, Scott Aukerman, and more. Beyond “just” cast, concept, and story, though, content and community dictate form: the film is shot entirely on a green screen using the work of over 200 predominantly queer artists, musicians, and animators for something aspirational.
The People’s Joker
An aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity combats a fascistic caped crusader.
“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” | Friday, Dec. 6 (Max)
Let’s face it: for every “Terminator” or “Toy Story,” there are dozens of should-be standalone films turned into franchises by way of lackluster sequels. The fact that 1988’s basically perfect “Beetlejuice” could have joined the latter group is enough to have nearly sent me to an early grave, but thankfully, the Tim Burton classic could dearly depart for 36 years and be revived once more with a follow-up so nice you’ll say it twice. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara return for the sequel with Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Arthur Conti, Jeremy Frazier, and more as the three Deetz ladies return to the Winter River, Connecticut, where Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife, forcing Lydia to follow after her and come face-to-face with her past.
Watch the trailer for “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” below:
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Betelgeuse, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.
“Secret Level” Premiere | Tuesday, Dec. 10 (Prime Video)
Ready up: “Love, Death & Robots” creator Tim Miller and his Blur Studio move from Netflix to Prime Video for an all-new animated anthology series paying tribute to video games and gaming franchises, “PAC-MAN,” “Warhammer 40,000,” “Mega Man,” “Dungeons & Dragons,” “Armored Core.” A nostalgic gift for those among us who have spent thousands of hours getting carpal tunnel, yes, but also plenty of action for those who just love action, thanks to a voice (and likeness) cast including Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Luna, Kevin Hart, Laura Bailey, and more.
Secret Level
Adult animated series of original short stories which are set within the worlds of beloved video games. Each episode serves as a gateway to a new adventure, unlocking exciting worlds from beloved gaming classics and highly anticipated new titles.
“Dream Productions” Premiere | Wednesday, Dec. 11 (Disney+)
Disney finds more to mine in Riley’s mind with an all-new episodic “Inside Out” adventure, but this time, it’s her dreams worth analyzing. The miniseries takes a look at the studio that makes Riley’s dreams literally come true, thanks to acclaimed director Paula Persimmon (voiced by Paula Pell). But as the teen girl continues to grow up and more complex emotions are introduced, Paula’s work just isn’t cutting it anymore and she has to team up with overly confident daydream director Xeni (Richard Ayoade) to try to save her career. The voice cast also includes Amy Poehler (back in her mockumentary element), Maya Rudolph, Ally Maki, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, and Phyllis Smith.
Dream Productions
Riley is growing up and when her memories need some extra processing, Joy and the rest of the Core Emotions send them to Dream Productions.
“One Hundred Years of Solitude” Part 1 | Wednesday, Dec. 11 (Netflix)
There may be no greater adaptation undertaking than Gabriel García Márquez’s Nobel Prize-winning “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” so much so that Márquez himself refused to sell the screening rights because a) a movie wouldn’t be long enough to cover the plot and b) he didn’t want it in any other language than Spanish, although the novel has been translated into over 40 languages so far in its lifetime. Netflix accepted the challenge, giving the seven generations of the Buendía family a 16-episode Spanish-language series filmed exclusively in Márquez’s Columbia with support from his son, an encouraging amount of respect for Márquez and his masterpiece. The series will premiere in two parts, with the first half coming on Dec. 11.
Watch the trailer for “One Hundred Years of Solitude” Part 1 below:
One Hundred Years of Solitude
In the mythical town Macondo, seven generations of the Buendía family navigate love, oblivion and the inescapability of their past — and their fate.
“Maria” | Wednesday, Dec. 11 (Netflix)
Pablo Larraín loves a powerful woman. “Maria,” his biopic of opera supernova Maria Callas, marks film number three in the filmmaker’s recent mononymous trio including Oscar nominees “Jackie” and “Spencer.” And a powerful woman begets a powerful woman, with Angelina Jolie leading the theatrics as the American-Greek soprano in her later life as she reckons with her career and identity. Jolie trained hard to find the performer’s voice, leading to a career-high performance, but the actor already knew a thing or two about being a woman in an overly demanding industry. The film premiered in theaters on Nov. 27 but will move to its exclusive Netflix streaming home on Dec. 11.
Maria
Maria Callas, the world’s greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life.
“No Good Deed” Premiere | Thursday, Dec. 12 (Netflix)
“Dead to Me”-heads get an early Christmas gift as creator Liz Feldman makes her return to the streamer. The new black comedy follows three families competing to buy the same house in Los Angeles and quickly realize their dream home may actually be a nightmare. Led by sitcom vets Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, the all-star comedy cast also stars “Dead to Me” co-star Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Teyonah Parris, O-T Fagbenle, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu, Dennis Leary, and more. All eight episodes will be available to stream at premiere on Dec. 12.
No Good Deed
The sale of Paul and Lydia’s picture-perfect LA home forces them to face painful family secrets — and hide them from prying eyes and cutthroat buyers.
“Laid” Premiere | Thursday, Dec. 19 (Peacock)
No better time to be a weird little hopeless romantic than the holiday season, especially when Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna decide to gift us all a “f*cked-up rom-com.” Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”) stars as Ruby, who discovers her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and teams up with her best friend AJ (Zosia Mamet) to confront her past before the body count gets any higher. Michael Angarano and Tommy Martinez co-star with guest stars including Andre Hyland, Olivia Holt, David Denman, Finneas O’Connell, Chloe Fineman, Ettore “Big E” Ewen, and John Early. All eight half-hour episodes will be available on Peacock at premiere.
Laid
A woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward.
“Juror #2” | Friday, Dec. 20 (Max)
“Juror #2” is film #40 for the 94-year-old Clint Eastwood, a career that goes far beyond the numbers. If the toned-down legal thriller is the filmmaker’s swan song, it all ends on a high note. Nicholas Hoult leads the cast as family man Justin Kemp, who, while serving as a juror on a high-profile murder trial, finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma that he could use to sway the verdict. Jonathan Abrams wrote the screenplay, a slight change of pace from his most recent project, Broadway’s Huey Lewis and the News jukebox musical “The Heart of Rock & Roll.” The cast also stars Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, Gabriel Basso, Zoey Deutch, and Chris Messina.
Juror #2
While serving as a juror in a high profile murder trial, family man Justin Kemp finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma…one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict—or free—the accused killer.
National Christmas Tree Lighting | Friday, Dec. 20 (Paramount+ With SHOWTIME)
The White House will turn on the Christmas lights next Friday, Dec. 5, but no need to hop a flight to D.C. to see the tree light up the night. CBS will broadcast the 102nd lighting ceremony on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET, with the livestream available simultaneously on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan. Held on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park, country music artist Mickey Guyton hosts the ceremony with performances from Adam Blackstone, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, James Taylor, Trombone Shorty, Trisha Yearwood, and The War and Treaty, as well as the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note.
Kennedy Center Honors | Sunday, Dec. 22 (Paramount+ With SHOWTIME)
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts welcomes in its 47th class of first-class arts, including Francis Ford Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Arturo Sandoval, and Harlem’s iconic The Apollo. The actual event will be held in D.C., on Sunday, Dec. 8, but you can watch on CBS or stream on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME from anywhere on the 22nd at 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT.
The Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.
“What If … ?” Season 3 Premiere | Sunday, Dec. 22 (Disney+)
While DC launches a whole new universe, Marvel is having some fun playing with alternate timelines of its own. Disney+’s “What If…?” will ask the question one last time as it heads into its third and final season, continuing to explore the multiverse to find out what would happen if major moments from the MCU films occurred differently. The journeys may all be different, but the grander outcome is the same: the animated series, Marvel Studios and Marvel Studios Animation’s first, has been action-packed, attention-grabbing, and creative since the start. The final season will premiere on Dec. 22 with daily episode releases through Dec. 29.
What If…?
Taking inspiration from the comic books of the same name, each episode of this animated anthology series questions, revisits and twists classic Marvel Cinematic moments.
NFL Christmas Games | Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Netflix)
Whether you’re playing or watching, the holiday doesn’t really feel complete without Christmas pigskin, just like Jesus would’ve wanted. (He was a big Saints fan.) The NFL will gift you two chances to continue the time-honored tradition, both streaming live on Netflix: the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the Baltimore Ravens versus the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET.
And if you’re not interested in the actual football portion of the game, follow the brightest star: Beyoncé will perform the halftime show in Houston.
“Squid Game” Season 2 Premiere | Thursday, Dec. 26 (Netflix)
“Squid Game” is the W4.56 million prize for Netflix. Quickly after and ever since Season 1 of the Korean survival thriller premiered in 2021, it’s become the most-watched show in the streamer’s history with over 2.2 billion hours logged. The six-time Emmy recipient returns for more, with Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae) back in the deadly game to try to put an end to it and save the lives of his fellow competitors. Season 2 unquestionably has a lot to live up to, but there’s no question about the quality of the show so far.
Watch the trailer for “Squid Game” Season 2 below:
Squid Game
Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits — with deadly high stakes.