Five Netflix releases to keep an eye out for in December 2025
It’s only a week left until December, and Netflix is taking full-throttle preparation to leave your mouth agape in wonder with an entertainment catalogue that feels like fireworks in itself. While every month has been eventful this year, one way or another, the holiday roster is somewhat extra special in 2025.
Viewers already know that the Upside Down saga will officially come to an end after a decade of rollercoaster adventure. But in addition to that, Netflix has a slate of releases, new and returning, to blow your mind and keep you glued to the screen.
Plus, considering the party plans that come with the onset of December, it’s pretty much impossible to ready your roster without early reminders.
So, to save you from those last-minute plan cancellations, here are five Netflix releases to keep an eye out for this December. Plan now, and don’t miss out on any.
Five Netflix releases to watch out for in December
The Abandons (Kurt Sutter, 2025)
Missing some Western action? Netflix has the ultimate character-driven drama, The Abandons, ready this December. However, unlike typical Western storylines, this one, set in the Washington Territory of the 1850s, revolves around two polar opposite matriarchs, portrayed by Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey. On one hand, we have the Van Nesses, a wealthy dynasty led by Constance, and on the other hand, there’s the Abandons, a close-knit found family, shielded by Fiona Nolan.
In order to continue and extend the Washington Territory settlement, Constance has eyes on Jasper Hollow, the ranch that Fiona and her children call home. But since both stand their ground to protect their land and legacies, a battle becomes inevitable. So, be here for it on December 4th when it lands on Netflix.
Jay Kelly (Noah Baumbach, 2025)
When it comes to comedy dramas, certain names are enough to have viewers sold. Lucky for you, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly has plenty. Slated to be released on December 5th, the upcoming Netflix flick stars Oscar-winner George Clooney as a famed movie actor, Jay Kelly, who heads out on an unforeseen journey through Europe with his dedicated manager, Ron, played by comedy king, Adam Sandler.
On their journey, Jay and Ron stumble across many such situations that leave them with no choice but to reflect on the choices they’ve made. Additionally, the adventure also pushes them to confront the bonds they have forged with their loved ones.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2025)
Benoit Blanc is onto cracking the most “perfectly impossible crime” in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery this December, and you cannot miss this for the world. In the third film from the Knives Out Mystery film series, Daniel Craig reprises his role as the meticulous detective, and heads to a parish in upstate New York to investigate a crime case that outwits every logic.
While small-town murder mysteries happen now and then, Wake Up Dead Man is not just an ordinary whodunit. To find out why and also for the perfect dose of crime and drama, tune into Rian Johnson’s next exciting adventure on December 12th.
Emily in Paris (Darren Star, 2020-Present)
Holidays mean vacation time, and December on Netflix is set to kick off in Rome this time with Emily in Paris. The Netflix series concluded with the budding romance between Emily Cooper and a handsome Italian fashion heir. As is tradition with Emily, where the heart is, work is, too, as was seen with her relocation to open an office in Rome for Agence Grateau.
While the story of Rome has barely begun, the Paris saga doesn’t end right here. Emily is also set to return to Paris, which means you also have to save some room for more drama than you can imagine. Better buckle up because the journey begins on December 18th.
Stranger Things (The Duffer Brothers, 2016)
Thanksgiving this year is going to be all about thanking the stars for Stranger Things season five. But it is Christmas and New Year’s Eve that await the real show. Following the opening of the Rifts in the fourth season, the fifth and final season will open in the fall of 1987, when Hawkins is petrified to its core after Vecna’s carnage.
The gang has gathered one last time to track Vecna down and finish him once and for all. However, Vecna has vanished into thin air, leaving the town to strap in for the unknown. To complicate the already deadly situation, Hawkins is entirely under military quarantine, and an active search to hunt Eleven is ongoing, raising the stakes of what’s believed to be the final ride.
Stranger Things is returning to Netflix on November 26th with four episodes, followed by three on December 25th. Lastly, the finale is scheduled for December 31st.