Though it's hard to believe, we're down to the last month of 2021. December is a significant month for many reasons, and one of them is that the final batch of content being added to streaming giant Netflix this year will drop over the next few weeks. From highly anticipated new originals to fresh seasons of favorite TV series, as well as some old favorites that haven't been on the streamer in some time, Netflix has plenty to keep you entertained while wrapping presents, cozying up by a fire, or waiting for your pie to finish baking in the oven.
And it's a good thing, too, because a lot of us spend more time at home during the month of December thanks to holiday breaks, vacation days, and family staycations. December is the prime month for binge-watching while you catch up on some much-needed R&R. No matter what types of movies and shows you like, there'll be something new on Netflix to fit your fancy.
Here, we're sharing some of the best content coming to Netflix in December 2021 so our readers can know exactly what to look out for. We should also note that we're only going to be sharing non-holiday content in this list — but if you want to find out which new holiday movies you can watch on Netflix (and other streaming sites), be sure to check out our roundup of Christmas movies.
'Closer'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
The 2004 drama Closer — which features an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, and Jude Law — is about how the lives of two couples become intertwined when new possibilities present themselves and everyone begins to question the relationship they're in. Oh, the complicated webs we weave …
'Fool's Gold'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
If you love a silly rom-com, Fool's Gold, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, is the perfect watch, especially if you're already yearning for warmer weather. It's about a married couple who goes on a treasure hunt together that ends up rekindling some of the feelings they've lost for each other.
'Looper'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, and Bruce Willis, Looper is a 2012 action flick that takes place in the year 2074, but sees characters transported back in time to be offed by the mob. Sounds pretty out there, but it's actually an intriguing film with a great plot twist.
'The Legend of Zorro'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
If you're into classics, 2005's The Legend of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Rufus Sewell, is a great adaptation of the original Zorro novels by Johnston McCulley. It's action-packed and yet romantic all at once, and marks one of the best performances of Antonio's acting career.
'The Power of the Dog'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog is a brand-new Netflix original film (and the second original Western for the streamer this year after October's The Harder They Fall). It's set on a ranch and tells the story of a man who believes he's destined to never know true love.
'Think Like a Man'
Coming to Netflix: December 1
Think Like a Man is a 2012 romantic comedy featuring an ensemble cast that includes Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, and Kevin Hart. It's about four men who plot against their ladies when they discover they've all been secretly using advice from a well-known relationship "expert."
'The Whole Truth'
Coming to Netflix: December 2
Keanu Reeves puts on his lawyer hat once again in 2016's The Whole Truth, which is about an attorney, used to working with the downtrodden, who takes on the case of a privileged teen accused of murdering his father. As the case unfolds, secrets are revealed, and things are actually much darker than anyone imagined.
'Money Heist' (Season 5)
Coming to Netflix: December 3
The surprise hit series from Spain will roll out its fifth and final season this December. The show's about a group of amateur thieves determined to carry out the biggest heist ever in their country by stealing more than 2 billion euros from the Royal Mint of Spain. If you haven't seen it yet, now is a good time for a binge sesh. Trust us, you won't be able to stop watching.
'Mixtape'
Coming to Netflix: December 3
Starring Julie Bowen, Mixtape is a new Netflix original rom-com about a tween who accidentally destroys a mixtape that holds special meaning to her because it belonged to her biological mom, who she's never actually known. She then decides to find each and every one of the songs on her own, which sends her down a path she wasn't expecting.
'The Great British Baking Show: Holidays' (Season 4)
Coming to Netflix: December 3
Listen, even if the charm is wearing off for some, we're still absolutely obsessed with The Great British Baking Show and all of the incredible confections that come out of the tent. The holiday version is even better, because somehow everything about the winter holidays in the UK seems even cozier and more quaint than at home. And it's a great way to find inspiration for our own holiday baking.
'The Shack'
Coming to Netflix: December 10
Starring Octavia Spencer and Sam Worthington, 2017's The Shack is a moving film about a man struggling with grief after losing his youngest daughter. He randomly receives a mysterious letter that he believes is from God himself, which leads him on a journey to "the shack," where he suspects his daughter may have been killed.
'The Unforgivable'
Coming to Netflix: December 10
The Unforgivable is a much-anticipated new Netflix original film starring Sandra Bullock, who we last saw on the streamer in the riveting film Bird Box. It's about a woman who is released from prison after serving a sentence related to a violent crime, and soon realizes that the outside world doesn't have much empathy or grace to offer.
'The Witcher' (Season 2)
Coming to Netflix: December 17
Starring English actor Henry Cavill, Netflix's The Witcher returns for its second season in mid-December. The fantasy series — based on the book series of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski — is about a monster hunter who struggles with his identity in a world full of evil.
'Emily in Paris' (Season 2)
Coming to Netflix: December 22
Emily in Paris is another hit Netflix original series returning for its sophomore season. Starring Lily Collins, it's the story of young woman from the Midwest who takes a job with a marketing firm in Paris. The show follows her as she adjusts to her new job and a foreign city, all while navigating various relationships (including romantic ones). It's also full of fabulous fashion moments for style lovers.
'Don't Look Up'
Coming to Netflix: December 24
Netflix saved one of its biggest releases for Christmas Eve, when lots of people are likely to be home relaxing with family. Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in their first Netflix original, Don't Look Up is about two astronomers on a mission to warn the world that a comet with the potential to destroy the planet is approaching.
'Cobra Kai' (Season 4)
Coming to Netflix: December 31
Finally — the release that every '80s baby and '90s kid has been waiting for! The fourth season of Cobra Kai comes out on Netflix on New Year's Eve. We'll once again get to see what lifelong (fr)enemies Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence (along with their kids and rival dojos) are up to. It's the perfect show to binge watch while you wait for the ball to drop at midnight.
'Stay Close'
Coming to Netflix: December 31
Another option to check out over the New Year's holiday is the new limited series Stay Close. It's based on a Harlan Coben book series about three seemingly unrelated individuals who are connected by disturbing secrets from their past that now threaten to destroy each of their lives.
'The Lost Daughter'
Coming to Netflix: December 31
Starring Peter Sarsgaard, Dakota Johnson, and The Crown's Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter is a new movie based on the book of the same name by Elena Ferrante. About a woman whose dark past begins to haunt her while she's on a beach vacation, the film is also actor Maggie Gyllenhaal's film directorial debut.
