The Films and Shows You Should Be Streaming in December 2025

The holiday season is here, which means there’s lots of time on the horizon to do the best thing ever: absolutely nothing. Why not hop on the couch with our monthly column, the Nerd’s Watch?  It’s the place to find out all the best genre titles coming to the biggest streaming services. Plus, it’s not a complete list. It’s just the titles we think you’d care about.

What follows is a list of the best stuff streaming on all the big streaming services. We look at all those long, annoying lists and whittle them down to a few dozen titles that we think are noteworthy this month. Some are new, some are old, but either way, we’ll tell you why you should care. Or at least joke about it.

So sit back, grab your remote, and get ready for the updated and streamlined Nerd’s Watch, highlighting the best movies and shows coming to streamers this month.

The Northman (December 3 on Netflix)

While everyone was freaking out about Robert Eggers’ most recent film, Nosferatu, we’re still freaking out about this epic, action-packed epic starring Alexander Skarsgård and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Stranger Things 5 (on Netflix)

December is the month it all comes to an end. Volume one is out now, but volume two arrives on December 25, followed by the big finale on December 31.

The Life of Chuck (December 26 on Hulu)

One of the best films of the year is this lovely, heartbreaking Stephen King adaptation from director Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston. Truly unforgettable.

Together (December 31 on Hulu)

One of the weirdest, grossest films of 2025 is this body horror film starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple who find their bodies forced to stick together.

Fallout Season 2 (December 17 on Prime Video)

It’s time to go back to the Wasteland in the second season of Amazon’s surprise hit adaptation, Fallout. What gross encounters are in store for our favorite Vault dweller, Lucy (Ella Purnell), and her new companion, the Ghoul (Walton Goggins)? We’ll find out soon.

Hackers (December 1 on Prime)

“Hack the Planet!†This very ahead of its time, 1995 cyberpunk movie starring Angelina Jolie and Matthew Lillard is a must-watch either for the nostalgia, if you’re old, or for the wild window into the past, if you aren’t.

The Creator (December 30 on Prime)

Gareth Edwards had one of this year’s biggest hits with Jurassic World Rebirth, but we don’t think that even touches his wonderful 2023 sci-fi film starring John David Washington.

Shin Godzilla (December 1 on HBO Max)

It’s not quite Godzilla Minus One, but this other recent film starring everyone’s favorite Kaiju is still a hell of a ride.

Summer Wars (December 1 on HBO Max)

This 2009 anime about students fighting against a dangerous AI is a stunningly beautiful work. One that only gets more fun and relevant with age.

X-Men: First Class (December 1 on HBO Max)

As the world waits for Marvel Studios to reboot the X-Men, we tend to forget that in the middle of a wildly successful run at Fox, Fox actually rebooted the X-Men, too. The result was this Matthew Vaughn stunner, easily one of the best in the franchise.

Ne Zha II (December 24 on HBO Max)

What was the biggest film of the year? Lilo & Stitch? Wicked: For Good? Zootopia 2? Nope, it was Ne Zha II, a Chinese anime that grossed over $2 billion worldwide. And this month, you can check it out yourself.

The Addams Family and Addams Family Values (December 1 on Paramount+ and Peacock)

It’s a little late since Family Values is considered a Thanksgiving movie, but at least this holiday season, you’ll be able to spend time with the Addams in both of their 1990s iterations.

Annihilation (December 1 on Paramount+)

Alex Garland’s star-studded adaptation about a group of scientists who enter a mysterious, dangerous, alien place on Earth is one of those sci-fi movies that never leaves you once you’ve seen it.

Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin (December 1 on Paramount+)

This is the original holy quadrilogy of superhero films from directors Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher: a master class in doing it right, doing it differently, and at least having fun even when it’s not working.

From Dusk Till Dawn (December 1 on Paramount+)

George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino star in this super fun, off-the-rails vampire movie from director Robert Rodriguez. I feel like this one has slipped a bit in terms of cultural adoration, so maybe it’s time for a revisit.

Interstellar (December 1 on Paramount+)

As we patiently await Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, The Odyssey, we can go back and watch one of his previous epics: this Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, and, yes, Timothée Chalamet sci-fi adventure.

Miracle on 34th Street (December 1 on Paramount+ and Peacock)

“Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus.†And he’s coming to streaming in both the old-school 1947 version as well as the 1994 remake.

Shutter Island (December 1 on Paramount+)

Did you see the Martin Scorsese documentary on Apple TV+ yet? Well, if you did, you’re probably itching to go back through his filmography. And, if you didn’t, this Leonardo DiCaprio psychological thriller is still a creepy, fascinating one to revisit.

10 Cloverfield Lane (December 1 on Peacock)

Before he took over the Predator world with Prey, Killer of Killers, and Badlands, director Dan Trachtenberg breathed life into another franchise, Cloverfield. This mysterious, exciting film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead is a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered.

The Bill and Ted Trilogy (December 1 on Peacock)

With the pair currently back together on Broadway, there’s no better time to relive the adventures of Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves’ Bill and Ted, with Excellent Adventure, Bogus Journey, and Face the Music on streaming. Also, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey by itself will be available December 1 on Prime Video.

Die Hard (December 1 on Peacock)

One of the best Christmas movies of all time (yes, it’s a Christmas movie) also happens to be one of the best action movies of all time. And, lucky you, Peacock has got it for this holiday season.

The Martian (December 1 on Peacock)

The new Andy Weir adaptation, Project Hail Mary, is right around the corner. But as we wait, why not give this big-screen take on one of the author’s other best-selling books another spin? It’s this Ridley Scott-directed, Matt Damon film that sets the bar very high for everything to come after it.

Pacific Rim and Pacific Rim: Uprising (December 1 on Peacock)

Human beings create giant robots to fight the giant monsters that terrorize our world. Guillermo del Toro’s original Pacific Rim is a masterclass in sci-fi action delight, and while its sequel doesn’t come close, at least you can continue the story.

Troy (December 1 on Peacock)

Brad Pitt stars in this sword and sandal epic that’s loosely based on Homer’s The Iliad. That means it’s, sort of, a prequel to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Time for a rewatch.

The Saw Films (December 19 on Peacock)

Saw, Saw 2, Saw 3, Saw 4, Saw 5, Saw 6, Saw: The Final Chapter, Saw X, Spiral, and Jigsaw are all coming to Peacock, making for a diabolical anti-holiday binge fest, if you’re so inclined.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.