As the holiday lights switch on and the year winds to a close, there’s no better time to settle in with a fresh watchlist. From long-awaited new seasons to glossy new dramas, the month’s releases are shaping up to be seriously binge-worthy. Whether you’re all geared up for the Stranger Things finale, ready to set sail to Italy with Emily in Paris’ fifth season, or cosied up with a hot chocolate to watch the Knives Out threequel, all of your favourite series are making a comeback—including blockbuster franchise Avatar. Keep reading for our round-up of all the new releases and titles to keep you at the edge of your seat this holiday season.
Stranger Things Season 5: Volume 2
Premieres 25 December on Netflix
With the first volume of the show’s final season out, the Duffer Brothers have us playing the waiting game with more questions than ever. What started as an homage to horror novelist Stephen King—with some fun ‘80s nostalgia—ended up gripping and stealing the hearts of audiences worldwide. The 12-time Emmy-winning cult classic comes to a close after nearly a decade, and its ending is a spectacle. If you haven’t already seen the first volume, beware of spoilers online and from cheeky friends. Though, that gives you the perfect reason to beat the masses to it, and to kickstart your binge watch ASAP.
Watch the trailer here.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Premieres 12 December on Netflix
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery brings back detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig)—this time to a small-town church in upstate New York, where a seemingly impossible murder rocks the congregation. Alongside a guilt-ridden young priest (Josh O’Connor)—we can’t get enough of those (Fleabag, anyone?)—and a stellar ensemble cast including Andrew Scott, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington and more, the film unravels secrets and betrayal in a razor-sharp murder mystery. The film being the third instalment in the Knives Out series—we are beyond excited to see our detective crack the case once again.
Watch the trailer here.
Are You Sure?! Season 2
Premieres 3 December on Disney+ Hotstar
After time apart, Jimin and Jungkook of K-pop sensation BTS reunite for a brand-new journey in Season 2 of Are You Sure?!. This time, the chaotic duo trade entourage and glam for a 12-day adventure across Switzerland and Vietnam armed with just a small suitcase and a worn-out guidebook. Navigating the unfamiliar, the two are full of laughs and surprises as always. Ahead of the band’s 2026 comeback, this is just what we needed to remind ourselves how much we missed them.
Watch the trailer here.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Premieres 18 December in Cinemas
Plunging us back into the wild and beautiful world of Pandora where former Marine-turned-Na’vi-leader Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) must protect their family, Avatar returns with its third instalment—Avatar: Fire and Ash. Facing off against the volcanic-dwelling Ash People, the Sullys are dragged into a morally charged conflict that shakes the very foundation of Na’vi unity. Packed with jaw-dropping visuals and raw emotion, the James Cameron blockbuster is an incredible three hours long, so we’re making sure to grab a large popcorn.
Watch the trailer here.
Jay Kelly
Premieres 5 December on Netflix
The star-studded film follows washed-up movie star Jay Kelly (George Clooney) and his lifelong manager Ron (Adam Sandler) on a soul-searching road trip across Europe. Along the way, they’re forced to confront fame, regret and fractured relationships in a raw, wistful drama that hits hard long after the credits roll. From lovers of Hollywood history to anyone craving a movie that’ll make you both laugh and cry, this is the one to watch.
Watch the trailer here.
The Abandons
Premieres 4 December on Netflix
Hurling us straight into the rough-and-tumble frontier of 1850s Manifest Destiny Oregon, The Abandons is a Western you’ll want queued up come December. Two fierce, widowed matriarchs—Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey), a devout protector of a found family of orphans and outcasts, and Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), the ruthless heir of a powerful mining dynasty—are at the heart of the film. When Constance’s ambition puts their silver-rich land in the crosshairs, everyone’s forced to pick a side. With illicit romance, murder and revenge, it blurs the line between justice and survival.
Watch the trailer here.
Emily in Paris Season 5
Premieres 18 December on Netflix
With Agence Grateau’s new Rome office under her wings, Emily finds herself juggling glamorous job ambitions, tricky romance and cultural chaos—the very thing that made the show a guilty-pleasure classic. Now done up with an Italian twist, romance flickers between familiar faces and fresh interest. Full of heart, humour and la dolce vita, it’s Emily in Paris’ next chapter—Emily in Rome (and Venice).
Watch the teaser here.
Goodbye June
Premieres 24 December on Netflix
A bittersweet, heavy-on-the-heart family drama—Kate Winslet’s directorial debut film Goodbye June comes to Netflix this December. Set just before Christmas, the film reunites four siblings when their mother’s sudden health crisis forces them to confront grief and lingering resentment, and the fragile bonds holding them together. It’s tender, raw and beautifully heartbreaking. Keep a tissue box close—this one’s going to be a tear-jerker.
Watch the trailer here.
Man Vs Baby
Premieres 11 December on Netflix
When quiet school caretaker Trevor Bingley’s (Rowan Atkinson) life takes a wild detour, he finds himself housesitting a swanky London penthouse over Christmas, only to end up babysitting a mysterious infant no one came to collect. As he scrambles to keep the place intact and the baby fed, holiday mayhem strikes with plenty of slapstick mishaps to get in his way. Four 30-minute episodes, a baby underfoot and a Christmas countdown—it’s the perfect light-hearted and silly series to put on the telly this holiday season.
Watch the trailer here.
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