The final month of 2020 is almost upon us, and it looks like most of us will be hunkering down at home, so it's a good thing Netflix will be adding a bunch of new movies to its library. The streaming service adds and removes content each month, but interestingly this month, there are actually a lot of movies landing on Netflix that many people haven't already seen. New film releases will be available in December, as well as a bunch of interesting foreign films — and, of course, we'll see some new holiday movies as well.
Perhaps surprisingly, a lot of the films we'll see drop on Netflix in December never made it to theaters, so most people will be watching them for the first time on Netflix. We're also excited for some films starring big-name actors — including the likes of Jennifer Garner, Jessica Chastain, and Woody Harrelson — that have been out for a while, but never available on the streaming service.
Oh, and we mustn't forget the Netflix Original films that are debuting this month. There are a bunch of highly anticipated new titles in the lineup —including the late Chadwick Boseman's last film — which shouldn't be missed. Everyone will surely be talking about them over the holiday break, so check them out and avoid being out-of-the-know during those Zoom get-togethers.
'Angela's Christmas Wish'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
The sequel to 2018's Angela's Christmas, Angela's Christmas Wish is an animated short film out of Ireland. It's about a young girl determined to reunite her family for the holidays despite the fact that her father is away working in Australia and not expected to return home in time for Christmas.
'U Turn'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
A new horror film from the Philippines, U-Turn is the story of a young investigative reporter and a cop working to figure out a string of gory suicides occurring on the same stretch of road that's believed to be cursed. It turns out, though, that there may just be a much more sinister explanation.
'Effie Gray'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
Effie Gray is a 2014 film, starring Dakota Fanning, based on the story of Victorian-era art critic John Ruskin. The movie details the story of the love triangle that developed between the critic, his teenaged bride, and the painter, John Everett Millais. Frustrated with her husband's unwillingness to consummate their marriage, the young bride turns to the friendship of others to motivate her to change her life.
'Peppermint'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
Back in 2018, Jennifer Garner made her return to the action genre with her starring role in Peppermint. The film is about a woman who seeks revenge after her husband and daughter are killed in a violent crime that was the result of a misunderstanding involving a drug lord. It's so much fun watching sweet Jen play a total baddie.
'Just Another Christmas'
Coming to Netflix: December 3
This new Christmas movie out of Brazil is a new take on the Groundhog Day theme. It's about a man who hates Christmas, because it's also his birthday, and he feels a lot of pressure around the holiday. One year, after falling from the roof while playing Santa, he blacks out and wakes up to discover that it's once again Christmas Eve — and that he's somehow doomed to relive the day again and again.
'Leyla Everlasting'
Coming to Netflix: December 4
Leyla Everlasting is a quirky Turkish film about a married couple who've grown apart. They begin seeing a marriage counselor, but before long, the husband falls for their young therapist … and the trio ends up in an unusual love triangle. All the while, they are also on the hunt for an antique manuscript.
'Christmas Crossfire'
Coming to Netflix: December 4
Christmas Crossfire is a German action film and holiday flick about a man who interferes with an attempted murder and must flee from the killers — alongside their target — in order to protect his own life. While he's on the run, a woman he just met is on her own hunt to track him down.
'Mank'
Coming to Netflix: December 4
This long-anticipated Netflix Original from director David Fincher, Mank — starring Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, and Lily Collins — tells the story of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he worked to develop the iconic film Citizen Kane from director Orson Welles. Shot in black-and-white, this biographical drama is expected to be one of the best of the year.
'Ava'
Coming to Netflix: December 7
Starring Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, and Geena Davis, Ava is a new action film about a brilliant and beautiful female assassin working for a black ops organization. After kicking an addiction to alcohol and drugs, the stone-cold killer starts to grow a conscience, putting her own life in danger.
'Triple 9'
Coming to Netflix: December 8
Triple 9 is a 2016 crime thriller with an ensemble cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Woody Harrelson, Gal Gadot, and Kate Winslet. It's about a group of dirty cops and criminals who conspire to kill a police officer who they think will get in the way of the biggest heist of their careers.
'Rose Island'
Coming to Netflix: December 9
Rose Island is a new movie out of Italy (yes, it has subtitles) based on the true story of Giorgio Rosa, an innovative engineer who built an island off Italy's Rimini Coast and founded his own tiny country on it back in the late 1960s. The world takes notice, but eventually, Giorgio ended up an enemy of his country of origin.
'Giving Voice'
Coming to Netflix: December 11
The upcoming documentary Giving Voice is about six driven acting students competing in the August Wilson Monologue Competition. The film features commentary from the likes of Viola Davis, Aaron Guy, and Denzel Washington, and culminates with an intense face-off among the young actors on a Broadway stage.
'The Prom'
Coming to Netflix: December 11
Directed by Ryan Murphy, The Prom — starring Meryl Streep, James Cordon, Keegan-Michael Key, and Nicole Kidman — will premiere on Netflix. It's about a troupe of over-the-top, egocentric theater actors who travel to a small town in Indiana in support of a teenager who dreams of taking her girlfriend to the prom.
'A California Christmas'
Coming to Netflix: December 14
Produced by and starring married couple Lauren and Josh Swickard, A California Christmas is about a charming businessman with an agenda who shows up at a struggling farm to convince the owner to sell the land that's been in her family's name her entire life. Of course, he doesn't realize how easy it is to fall for the hard-working small-town girl.
'The Professor and the Madman'
Coming to Netflix: December 15
Starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, The Professor and the Madman is a 2019 film that tells the story of Professor James Murray who worked to compile the first Oxford English Dictionary. During his research, he receives thousands of entries from a patient at the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum.
'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
Coming to Netflix: December 18
Most notably, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom has already gotten some press for being the last movie the late Chadwick Boseman filmed before he died. But beyond that, the film — which also stars Viola Davis — looks to be quite good. It's based on August Wilson's play about the famous blues singer, Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player, and their controlling white managers.
'The Midnight Sky'
Coming to Netflix: December 23
Starring George Clooney, The Midnight Sky is a brand-new Netflix Original film about a scientist named Augustine who is doing his best to survive alone in a post-apocalyptic arctic. Now, he must figure out how to warn a group of astronauts headed back to earth, about the disaster they will encounter.
