HBO Max is looking to leave a major impression in December 2021. The holiday season means that every streamer will be releasing some of their most sought out originals, and HBO Max is of course following suit, but above all, December 2021 will see the last of Warner Bros.’ day and date streaming releases with The Matrix Resurrections. Having such big titles quickly available at home was fun while it lasted, yet one can’t argue that another Matrix movie isn’t a sure-fire way to close out the program in style. Seeing as the theatrical landscape is always evolving, it wouldn’t be all too surprising to see more day and date releases on HBO Max in the distant future, although it does seem to be done for now.
Going back to new originals for this month, HBO Max will see the debut of the promising Station Eleven and the remaining, long-awaited episodes of Young Justice season 4. The revival of the landmark HBO series Sex and the City, now titled after main character Carrie Bradshaw’s recognizable saying, And Just Like That…, will also be premiering. The new show gained attention when it was revealed that staple cast member Kim Cattrall wouldn’t be returning, and given the original’s mass popularity, it should be interesting to see how this continuation resonates with fans.
Previous day and date releases like Space Jam: A New Legacy and The Suicide Squad will be making their way back onto the service. Plenty of HBO and HBO Max originals will be closing off their current seasons as well, including Succession, Insecure, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Gossip Girl, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. See the full list of everything coming to and leaving from HBO Max in December 2021 below. This month’s latest arrivals and departures from Disney+ and Netflix can also be found right here on DiscussingFilm.
Our Recs:
Station Eleven
Adapted from the 2014 book of the same name, the journey of bringing Station Eleven to life is quite peculiar. Following a group of nomad survivors 20 years after a flu pandemic wiped out most of civilization, one girl finds herself mysteriously connected to a dangerous cult looking to form a new kind of society. It should be noted that the show was put into production way before the current real-life pandemic. In fact, it actually started filming shortly before many productions were forced to shut down. Now, could the timely release of Station Eleven work to its benefit? That remains to be seen, however, its cast featuring Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, and Gael García Bernal sure does boast some promise.
Station Eleven premieres on HBO Max December 16!
The Matrix Resurrections
“After all these years, to be going back to where it all started… back to the Matrix.” With 18 years since The Matrix Revolutions, the hit franchise is back with Lana Wachowski assuming the sole directorial chair in this latest installment. Reuniting Keanu Reeves’s Neo and Carrie Anne Moss’s Trinity on the big screen, The Matrix Resurrections will also feature Yahya Abdul-Mateen II playing a new sort of iteration of fan-favorite character Morpheus along with appearances from Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Henwick, and more during what is sure to be a high-stakes action-packed romp. Judging from the little footage that’s been released so far, this sequel will be anything but predictable.
The Matrix Revolutions hits theaters and HBO Max (through the 14.99/month Ad-Free Plan) December 22!
The Suicide Squad
A little over 4 months since its release, The Suicide Squad returns to HBO Max just in time for Christmas! The film established a new precedent for creative freedom in the comic-book movie field when it was evidently clear that Warner Bros. let James Gunn completely loose with the DC title, possibly more than any previous filmmaker in the DCEU. Revisit the film before its spin-off Peacemaker hits HBO Max in January. The future of the franchise is a lot brighter thanks to films like this; fans interested to read more on what makes The Suicide Squad standout high from the other comic-book films this year can do so here!
The Suicide Squad storms its way back onto HBO Max December 23!
Young Justice: Season 4 (Part A)
Miss Martian, Superboy, Beast Boy, Martian Manhunter, and the rest of the team are back in Young Justice: Phantoms. As expected, this season will feature more of the whole team and draw new stories and conflicts from their lives as super-powered adolescents.
While this is the first season to be produced exclusively for HBO Max, it is the fourth venture with these heroes who have previously found homes at Cartoon Network and DC Universe. Animated by the well-known Studio Mir, audiences have already seen the first two episodes of Phantoms, but the next eleven (of the 26 total episodes) are en route.
Part A of Young Justice: Phantoms debuts on HBO Max December 30!
HBO Max’s Arrivals for December 2021
Coming December 1
12 Strong, 2018 (HBO)
20 Feet from Stardom, 2013 (HBO)
Adrienne, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
A Perfect Murder, 1998 (HBO)
All I See Is You, 2016 (HBO)
All Rise, Seasons 1 and 2
The Answer Man, 2009 (HBO)
Blade II, 2002
Bolero, 1984 (HBO)
Breakdown, 1997 (HBO)
Changing Lanes, 2002 (HBO)
Chicago, 2002
Cloud Atlas, 2012
Control Room, 2004 (HBO)
Crazy, Stupid, Love., 2011
Days Of Thunder, 1990 (HBO)
Dragged Across Concrete, 2018 (HBO)
Enough Said, 2013 (HBO)
Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery, 2015
Frontera, 2014 (HBO)
The Good Doctor, 2011 (HBO)
The Haunting In Connecticut, 2009 (HBO)
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, 2012 (HBO)
Interview with the Vampire, 1994
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, 2013 (HBO)
The Italian Job, 2003 (HBO)
Jack The Giant Slayer, 2013 (HBO)
Jackie Brown, 1997 (HBO)
Jupiter Ascending, 2015
The Lawnmower Man, 1992 (HBO)
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace, 1996 (HBO)
Limbo, 2020 (HBO)
Little Monsters, 1989 (HBO)
The Mask, 1994
Max Steel, 2016 (HBO)
Miss Congeniality, 2000
Mortal Kombat, 1995
Mortal Kombat: Battle of the Realms, 2021
The Muppets Take Manhattan, 1984
No Country For Old Men, 2007 (HBO)
Percy Jackson Sea Of Monsters, 2013 (HBO)
Pope: The Most Powerful Man In History, 2018
Pulse, 2006 (HBO)
R.I.P.D., 2013 (HBO)
Rubber, 2010 (HBO)
Runner Runner, 2013 (HBO)
Se7en, 1995
Shark Night 3D, 2011 (HBO)
Surrogates, 2009 (HBO)
Troll Hunter, 2010 (HBO)
The Truman Show, 1998 (HBO)
Two For The Money, 2005 (HBO)
Two Lovers, 2008 (HBO)
Viva, 2015 (HBO)
War On Everyone, 2016 (HBO)
The Wedding Singer, 1998
The Wolfpack, 2015 (HBO)
World’s Greatest Dad, 2009 (HBO)
The Wrecking Crew!, 2008 (HBO)
XXX, 2002
Coming December 2
Music Box: Listening to Kenny G, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Odo, Cartoonito Season 1 Premiere
Perfect Life (Vida Perfecta), Max Original Season 2 Premiere
Santa Inc., Max Original Animated Series Premiere
Space Jam: A New Legacy, 2021 (HBO in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in English)
Coming December 3
Breathe the Night
Craig of the Creek, Season 3
Hood River, 2021
Mike & Molly
Stath Lets Flats, Season 3
Yerba Buena (HBO), 2020
Coming December 4
The Last O.G., Seasons 1-3
At the Ready, 2021
Drew Michael: Red Blue Green., Stand-Up Comedy Special Premiere (HBO)
Coming December 5
Kamikaze, Max Original Season Finale
Coming December 6
The Forever Prisoner, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Landscapers, Limited Series Premiere (HBO)
Coming December 7
The Slow Hustle, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Coming December 9
A Thousand Fangs (aka Mil Colmillos), Season 1
And Just Like That…, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Gossip Girl Season 1, Finale
Music Box: Mr. Saturday Night, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
The Sex Lives of College Girls, Max Original Season 1 Finale
Summer Camp Island, Max Original Season 5 Premiere
Coming December 10
Dafne and the Rest (aka Todo lo Otro) , Max Original Season 1 Premiere
DC’s Stargirl, Season 2
Coming December 12
Succession, Season 3 Finale (HBO)
Coming December 14
The Murders at Starved Rock, Documentary Series Premiere (HBO)
Coming December 15
What’s New Scooby-Doo?, 2002
Coming December 16
2nd Annual HA Festival: The Art of Comedy, Max Original Comedy Special
Diego, The Last Goodbye (Diego, el último adiós), Max Original Documentary
The Cut (aka O Grande Look) , Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Finding Magic Mike, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
The Fungies, Max Original Season 3 Premiere
Music Box: Juice Wrld: Into the Abyss, Documentary Premiere (HBO)
Station Eleven, Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Coming December 17
A Forbidden Orange , Max Original Premiere
Coming December 20
You Keep the Kids (Mama o Papa)
Coming December 21
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Season Finale (HBO)
Coming December 22
After the Sunset, 2004
The Matrix Resurrections, Warner Bros. Film Premiere, 2021 (Only available on the $14.99/month Ad-Free plan. Streaming in the US only for a limited time. Available in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in English only on supported devices.)
Coming December 23
40 Means Nothing (aka 40 No es Nada), Max Original Season 1 Premiere
Beforeigners S2, Max Original Season 2 Premiere
The Suicide Squad, 2021 (HBO) (Available in 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in English only on supported devices.)
Coming December 24
Black Jesus, 2014
Coming December 26
Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 11 Finale (HBO)
Insecure, Season 5 Finale (HBO)
Coming December 30
Young Justice, Max Original Season 4 Part A
Coming December 31
How to With John Wilson, Season 2 Finale (HBO)
Leaving HBO Max in December 2021
There are plenty of notable films leaving HBO Max in December 2021. Those wanting to watch Will Smith’s highly touted performance as the father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams in King Richard will have by the 19th to do so. Subscribers will also not want to miss The Invisible Man, Kill Bill, Shakespeare In Love, and Twelve Monkeys – all must-sees in their own right There are more popular films to add to the last-chance list, so without further ado, check out the whole list of everything leaving HBO Max in December 2021 below.
Leaving December 16
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, 2020
Leaving December 18
The Invisible Man, 2020 (HBO)
Leaving December 19
King Richard, 2021
Leaving December 24
Fifty Shades Of Black, 2016 (HBO)
Leaving December 31
Abuelos (Aka Grandpas), 2019 (HBO)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr., 2009
Alpha And Omega 2: A Howl-Iday Adventure, 2013
American Graffiti, 1973 (HBO)
Assault On Precinct 13, 1976 (HBO)
Bangkok Dangerous, 2008 (HBO)
Beautiful Girls, 1996 (HBO)
Black Christmas, 2019 (HBO)
Blackhat, 2015 (HBO)
Bratz: The Movie, 2007
Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, 2004 (HBO)
The Cable Guy, 1996
Casi Famoso (Aka Almost Famous), 2019 (HBO)
Cats, 2019 (HBO)
The Collection, 2012 (HBO)
Cousins, 1989 (HBO)
Curse Of The Pink Panther, 1983 (HBO)
Dante’s Peak, 1997 (HBO)
Dear Christmas, 2020
Dim Sum Funeral, 2009 (HBO)
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, 1991 (HBO)
The Doors, 1991 (HBO)
Downhill, 2020 (HBO)
Dr. Strangelove, 1964
Emma. (2020), 2020 (HBO)
Employee Of The Month, 2006 (HBO)
The English Patient, 1996 (HBO)
Eve’s Bayou, 1997
Flashpoint, 1984 (HBO)
Friends With Money, 2006
Gandhi, 1982
God’s Not Dead, 2014 (HBO)
Gods And Monsters, 1998 (HBO)
He Said She Said, 1991 (HBO)
Heaven Help Us, 1985 (HBO)
Hitch, 2005
Ira & Abby, 2007 (HBO)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1, 2003 (HBO)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2, 2004 (HBO)
Kramer Vs. Kramer, 1979
Leapfrog: Math Adventure To The Moon, 2010
Leapfrog: Numbers Ahoy, 2011
Leapfrog: The Letter Factory, 2003
Like Mike, 2002 (HBO)
Like Mike 2: Streetball, 2007 (HBO)
Los Futbolisimos (Aka The Footballest), 2018 (HBO)
Lucky, 2017 (HBO)
Machine Gun Preacher, 2011 (HBO)
The Manhattan Project, 1986 (HBO)
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, 1939
My Left Foot, 1989
Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always, 2020 (HBO)
The Pallbearer, 1996 (HBO)
Perpetual Planet: Heroes Of The Oceans, 2021
The Pink Panther 2, 2009 (HBO)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1976 (HBO)
The Pink Panther, 2006 (HBO)
The Pink Panther, 1964 (HBO)
Pups United, 2015
The Raven, 2012 (HBO)
Reasonable Doubt, 2014 (HBO)
Reds, 1981 (HBO)
Return Of The Living Dead III, 1993 (Alternate Version) (HBO)
Return Of The Pink Panther, 1975 (HBO)
Revenge Of The Pink Panther, 1978 (HBO)
The Sessions, 2012 (HBO)
Shakespeare In Love, 1998
A Shot In The Dark, 1964 (HBO)
Snake Eyes, 1998 (HBO)
Son Of The Pink Panther, 1993 (HBO)
Trail Of The Pink Panther, 1982 (HBO)
Twelve Monkeys, 1995 (HBO)
Vaca, 2018 (HBO)
Volunteers, 1985 (HBO)
Won’t Back Down, 2012 (HBO)
xXx, 2002
xXx: State Of The Union, 2005
