The 10 best movies to watch on Netflix this December
If you think we forgot about our monthly recommendation of what to watch next on Netflix – movies edition – well, we are back and definitely not without a bang.
On the very first day of December, Netflix unleashed a bombardment of festive titles, which still has viewers reeling and sprinting with cinematic laps. But if you want to track the best of the best, we’ve got you covered this holiday break.
With Christmas just around the corner, we know you have your hands full with all things the season demands; entertainment being right at the top.
So, get your Santa socks and warm up your feet, because the 10 best movies to watch on Netflix this December are actually straight out of your holiday wishlist.
The 10 best movies to stream on Netflix this December
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Rian Johnson, 2025)
Nothing screams cosier than a good murder mystery in December, and Rian Johnson knows it all too well. Hence, for those on the lookout for movies that will leave them completely glued to the screen, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is a whodunit that might fit the bill. Serving as the third entry in the fan-favourite Knives Out franchise, the latest crime drama sees the return of Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc.
Having solved quite the uncanny crimes in the previous two films, Blanc takes a case beyond belief in Wake Up Dead Man, which leads him to a small parish in upstate New York. The reason? A seemingly impossible crime has shaken up the church community in the aftermath of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks’ cold-blooded murder, which appears to defy all possible logic. And it’s up to Blanc to uncover the culprit because without the revelation, there’s no good night’s sleep.
Goodbye June (Kate Winslet, 2025)
Christmas has always been associated with a jolly good time, but in Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, Goodbye June, we see the holiday season in a very different light. Directed from a screenplay written by her son, Joe Anders, the emotional drama revolves around the coming together of four adult siblings before Christmas, who set aside their differences to gather during the holidays when their mother, June’s, health takes a turn for the worse.
Although the premise of Goodbye June harkens to the apprehension and anxiety of a potential loss against the backdrop of a festive season mostly known for family gatherings, it dares to chuck out the time-worn concept of all things happy to shed light on what’s barely talked about. Of course, there’s June’s biting humour to cut you some emotional slack, when on Netflix’s December movie marathon, don’t miss out on this for the world.
My Secret Santa (Mike Rohl, 2025)
From The Princess Switch franchise director Mike Rohl, My Secret Santa is a recently released holiday rom-com that has become a fan favourite in no time. The cheeky movie tells the story of a single mom, Taylor, desperately in need of a job to send her daughter to a prestigious snowboarding camp at Sun Peaks ski resort. So, to make that happen, she turns to her friends, who help her design prosthetics to turn Taylor into a rosy-faced old man.
The plan in her mind is actually quite simple: to land a seasonal job as the resort’s Santa. In fact, she also lands the gig. But when she unknowingly comes across a charming stranger, who also happens to be a manager of Sun Peaks, it’s hard to guess whether her Santa-suited deception becomes the fork stuck in the road to an unexpected chance at love.
Jay Kelly (Noah Baumbach, 2025)
In case you’re craving some heartfelt laughter sans the romantic tropes, Netflix has the ultimate comedy-drama to offer this December, Jay Kelly. Starring the legendary George Clooney and Adam Sandler, the heartbreaking comedy, currently streaming on Netflix, follows the life of a famous actor, Jay Kelly, and his dedicated manager, Ron.
While Jay already has a lot on his plate with a dying mentor, an estranged friend, and his daughter’s growing independence, when he embarks on an unexpected European journey with Ron, the voyage culminates in a confrontation with the hard truths of life, including mortality, legacy, and identity.
Champagne Problems (Mark Steven Johnson, 2025)
Speaking of holiday rom-coms, Netflix has clearly left no stone unturned to bring you the best of the lot this season. So, if you’re a sucker for the genre, definitely make the holiday break count with Champagne Problems. The Christmas rom-com finds an aspiring executive, Sydney Price, headed to Paris, not in search of love, but an acquisition deal of one of France’s legacy champagne houses, which can practically turn her life around.
Upon reaching the City of Lights, Sydney slips into tourist mode for her first night in Paris. But while at it, she runs into a charming stranger, Henri, with whom she quickly hits it off, culminating in a night spent together. Although the next morning, she barely has time for any romance, what she completely doesn’t anticipate is Henri’s presence at the finalisation of the business deal. While we’ll leave it for you to find Henri’s actual identity, for teasers, it’s safe to say that he’s anything but a stranger to her business, at least.
Jingle Bell Heist (Michael Fimognari, 2025)
The December watchlist is clearly heavy on rom-coms, but if that’s what the heart wants, so be it. However, for a change of air, this time, we bring to you Jingle Bell Heist, which comes with equal parts sparks and thrills. The holiday movie from Netflix follows Sophia Martin, who relocated from Philadelphia to London to look after her sick mother following her recent cancer diagnosis.
Sophia already works two jobs to make ends meet and pay for her mother’s medical expenses. But when she discovers her mother’s life-saving surgery won’t be covered by insurance, she takes the high road, deciding to rob her horrible boss. Since she’s no expert thief, it doesn’t take long for her to get caught by Nick O’Connor, an ex-security consultant turned phone technician. But lucky for her, Nick has no interest in turning her in. All he wants is a share of the funds to take care of his daughter after his recent divorce.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Dallas Jenkins, 2024)
Christmas feels empty without some designated holiday chaos, and we leave it to Dallas Jenkins’ The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to bring that on its coattails. The Christmas comedy drama, based on Barbara Robinson’s 1972 novel, follows the Herdmans, a group of juvenile delinquent siblings, who hijack a small-town church’s Nativity play, grabbing all the starring roles.
What doesn’t help the situation is the pageant director breaking her leg. And although everyone in town is anticipating a horrible turn-around, Christmas surprises are already on the way, courtesy of the Herdmans’ unfiltered take on the story of the nativity.
Eden (Ron Howard, 2024)
Like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Eden is also not a 2025 entry. But unlike the comedy drama, Eden isn’t a Christmas title. However, since Netflix US just added the survival thriller to the library, it’s best to make its presence count on streaming. Based on a shocking true story, the historical thriller tells the story of the mysterious European settlers on the remote Floreana Island in the Galapagos.
While their settlement was in hopes of a new life, their arrival soon spiralled into chaos, causing a streak of relentless betrayal and violence. Starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, and Sydney Sweeney, Eden explores the turnaround of a utopian dream into an intense fight for survival, not just against themselves but also their environment.
A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Steve Carr, 2025)
If there’s one thing that spells trouble more than exes at your wedding, it’s probably your ex bringing their next to your holiday party, and that’s exactly what A Merry Little Ex-Mas on Netflix is all about. The holiday rom-com tells the story of recently divorced Kate, who’s going above and beyond to arrange that one picture-perfect Christmas party one last time before she sells the house.
But her dreams, unfortunately, take a backseat when her ex-husband, Everett, enters the scene, only to bring festive drama on his coattails with his new and young girlfriend. While holidays are no good without some chaos to count on, thanks to Kate, we’re clearly in for A Merry Little Ex-Mas.
Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2025)
To wrap up the December binge session, we have a rom-com blast from the past starring Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, Lost in Translation. The 2003 drama tells the story of a reclusive American film star, Bob Harris, who undergoes a severe midlife crisis on his trip to Tokyo for the promotion of a Suntory whiskey.
While there, he has a chance encounter with another disillusioned and conflicted American, Charlotte, a newlywed recent college graduate, accompanying her celebrity photographer husband. As they bond over cultural alienation and collective loneliness, the pair form a relationship that goes beyond simple textbook definitions. But with a farewell inevitable, it remains to be seen how it all ends or begins for the two.