Netflix is looking to end 2021 with a bang this December, providing a slew of new original releases that cater to a wide variety of audiences. Coming off a packed month of awards season hopefuls in November, subscribers can look forward to even more potential Oscar frontrunners in the coming weeks. And these aren’t just any potential candidates, films like Jane Campion’s The Power of The Dog and Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up are not to be underestimated as they’ve already gained significant awards traction in their own right. Another exciting contender to note is The Lost Daughter, which marks the feature directorial debut of Maggie Gyllenhaal.
In terms of Netflix original shows, December 2021 won’t disappoint by any means. Two of the streamer’s largest programs are premiering new seasons, The Witcher and Cobra Kai. The return of Emily in Paris should also not go unnoticed, as that series quickly grew its own niche following last year. In the mood for some holiday family fun? Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas should get the job done. Additionally, exciting classics of all kinds will be joining the platform this month as well, including the Final Destination series, The Legend of Zorro, and Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report.
Dive into our recs below and see the full list of everything coming to Netflix in December 2021. This month’s new arrivals and departures from HBO Max and Disney+ can also be found right here on DiscussingFilm!
Our Recs:
The Power of The Dog
From esteemed filmmaker Jane Campion (The Piano, In the Cut), this highly promising awards contender is an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name. A western drama that focuses on the wretched familial affairs between two wealthy ranch owner brothers and the unlikely woman that comes between them, The Power of The Dog proves to be a harrowing character study not to be missed. The main trio, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, and Jesse Plemons, all turn in next-level performances. This is a film that will surely be represented in many major awards categories, with many even predicting a Best Actor nomination for Cumberbatch.
The Power of The Dog will be available on Netflix December 1!
The Hand of God
Italy’s 2022 Oscar entry for Best International feature is an exciting one to say the least. Famed filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino (La Grande Bellezza) tells a story inspired by his own youth and upbringing in 1980s Naples, Italy. A coming-of-age tale of sorts, The Hand of God follows a young man as he goes through a flurry of life’s obstacles after unexpectedly crossing paths with Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona. Though named after Maradona’s iconic 1986 World Cup goal against England, this is far from a sports story. The film won the Grand Jury prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival.
The Hand of God releases on Netflix December 15!
The Witcher: Season 2
Almost two years after its premiere, The Witcher is finally back with a timely holiday release. Season 2 continues the story of Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia – the mutated, beast-slaying hero that fans have come to know and love. The show’s multiple, often hazy timelines now seem to be aligned, putting Geralt face to face with other leading characters, such as princess Ciri, at last. Every streamer has given their shot at hosting the next “Game of Thrones” level fantasy series, with Prime Video just releasing their take on The Wheel of Time. Could the 8 episode long new season of The Witcher solidify Netflix’s spot at the top of this race?
Season 2 of The Witcher debuts on Netflix December 17!
Don’t Look Up
Adam McKay boasts quite the infamous filmography, and Don’t Look Up fits right into it. His latest political exploration is far more satirical than his previous two, Vice and The Big Short, but looks to be just as timely. The film follows two ragtag scientists who risk it all when exposing the truth about an apocalyptic meteor heading for Earth after the U.S. government comically fails to believe them. It’s not hard to see what McKay is going for here with themes of political leadership ignoring the fair warnings of basic science (like the ongoing pandemic among other things). Yet, McKay here is upping the ante to the highest he can with an all-star cast of epic proportions, making this a must-see.
Don’t Look Up hits Netflix December 24!
Cobra Kai: Season 4
Season 4 of Cobra Kai is going to lead Netflix into the new year in style. There are very few other Netflix originals that can compete with the popularity of this show, and these latest episodes will only widen that divide. Season 4 sees former lead rivals Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso train their freshly combined dojo, which utilizes both Miyagi-do and Eagle Fang karate, in an effort to take down the villainous John Kreese’s Cobra Kai. Things get even more heated when Karate Kid Part III villain Terry Silver enters the fold. More corners of Karate Kid lore have been explored in each season, and there’s no telling where the story could go next for Cobra Kai has already been ordered for season 5.
Season 4 of Cobra Kai lands on Netflix December 31!
Netflix’s Arrivals for November 2021
Coming December 1
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: STONE OCEAN – Netflix Anime
Kayko and Kokosh – Netflix Family
Kayko and Kokosh: Season 2 – Netflix Family
Lost in Space: Season 3 – Netflix Series
The Power of the Dog – Netflix Film
Are You The One: Season 3
Blood and Bone
Body of Lies
Bordertown: Mural Murders
Chloe
Chocolat
Closer
Death at a Funeral
Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat
The Final Destination
Final Destination 3
Final Destination 5
Fool’s Gold
The Fourth Kind
Ink Master: Season 3
Ink Master: Season 4
Knight Rider 2000
Knight Rider: Seasons 1-4
Law Abiding Citizen
The Legend of Zorro
Life
Looper
The Mask of Zorro
Minority Report
Pet Sematary (1989)
Premonition
Sabrina (1995)
Soul Surfer
Stepmom
Stuart Little 2
Sucker Punch
Think Like a Man
Tremors
We Were Soldiers
Wild Things
Wyatt Earp
Coming December 2
The Alpinist
Coyotes – Netflix Series
Escalona: Season 1
Single All the Way – Netflix Film
The Whole Truth – Netflix Film
Coming December 3
Cobalt Blue – Netflix Film
Coming Out Colton – Netflix Series
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Season 4 – Netflix Family
Money Heist: Part 5 Vol 2 – Netflix Series
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 4 – Netflix Series
Mixtape – Netflix Film
Money Heist: From Tokyo to Berlin: Volume 2 – Netflix Documentary
Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas – Netflix Family
Coming December 5
JAPAN SINKS: People of Hope: Season 1 (episode 8)
Coming December 6
David and the Elves – Netflix Film
Voir – Netflix Documentary
Coming December 7
Centaurworld: Season 2 – Netflix Family
Go Dog Go: Season 2 – Netflix Family
Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) – Netflix Comedy
Coming December 8
Carolin Kebekus: The Last Christmas Special – Netflix Comedy
Coming December 9
Asakusa Kid – Netflix Film
Bathtubs Over Broadway
Bonus Family: Season 4 – Netflix Series
The Family That Sings Together: The Camargos – Netflix Documentary
Coming December 10
Anonymously Yours – Netflix Film
Aranyak – Netflix Series
Back to the Outback – Netflix Film
How To Ruin Christmas: The Funeral – Netflix Series
Twentysomethings: Austin (formerly Roaring Twenties) – Netflix Series
Saturday Morning All Star Hits! – Netflix Series
The Shack
Still Out of My League – Netflix Film
Two – Netflix Film
The Unforgivable – Netflix Film
Coming December 11
Fast Color
The Hungry and the Hairy – Netflix Series
Coming December 12
JAPAN SINKS: People of Hope: Season 1 (episode 9)
Coming December 13
Eye in the Sky
Coming December 14
The Future Diary – Netflix Series
Russell Howard: Lubricant – Netflix Family
StarBeam: Beaming in the New Year – Netflix Family
Coming December 15
Black Ink Crew New York: Seasons 3-4
The Challenge: Season 12
The Challenge: Season 25
Elite Short Stories: Phillipe Caye Felipe – Netflix Series
The Giver
The Hand of God – Netflix Film
Masha and the Bear: Nursery Rhymes: Season 1 Part 2
Masha and the Bear: Season 5
Selling Tampa – Netflix Series
Teen Mom 2: Seasons 3-4
Coming December 16
A California Christmas: City Lights – Netflix Film
A Naija Christmas – Netflix Film
Aggretsuko: Season 4 – Netflix Anime
Darkest Hour
Puff: Wonders of the Reef – Netflix Documentary
Coming December 17
Fast & Furious Spy Racers Season 6: Homecoming – Netflix Family
The Witcher: Season 2 – Netflix Series
Coming December 18
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls – Netflix Series
Oldboy
Coming December 19
What Happened in Oslo – Netflix Series
Coming December 20
Elite Short Stories: Samuel Omar – Netflix Series
Coming December 21
Jim Gaffigan: Comedy Monster – Netflix Comedy
Grumpy Christmas – Netflix Film
Coming December 22
Emily in Paris: Season 2 – Netflix Series
Coming December 23
Elite Short Stories: Patrick – Netflix Series
Coming December 24
1000 Miles from Christmas – Netflix Film
Don’t Look Up – Netflix Film
Minnal Murali – Netflix Film
The Silent Sea – Netflix Series
STAND BY ME Doraemon 2 – Netflix Film
Vicky and Her Mystery – Netflix Film
Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous
Coming December 25
Single’s Inferno – Netflix Series
Jimmy Carr: His Dark Material – Netflix Comedy
Stories of a Generation with Pope Francis – Netflix Documentary
Coming December 26
Lulli – Netflix Film
Coming December 28
Word Party Presents: Math! – Netflix Family
Coming December 29
Anxious People – Netflix Series
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer – Netflix Documentary
Coming December 30
Kitz – NETFLIX SERIES
Hilda and the Mountain King – Netflix Film
Coming December 31
Cobra Kai: Season 4 – Netflix Series
The Lost Daughter – Netflix Film
Queer Eye: Season 6 – Netflix Series
Stay Close – Netflix Series
Seal Team – Netflix Film
Leaving Netflix in December 2021
Unfortunately, the streamer is losing as many great titles as it is gaining them this time around. Some of the films leaving Netflix in December 2021 are somewhat timely in one way or another. Catch Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia before they expire, just in time for their new films releasing this month, Nightmare Alley and Licorice Pizza respectively. Subscribers should take note that the Spy Kids and Underworld films are leaving too. Other fan-favorite titles departing include Titanic, Zodiac, and Do the Right Thing. The list of movies leaving Netflix in December 2021 is packed with some hard blows, check it out below.
Leaving December 3
The Last O.G.: Seasons 1-2
Leaving December 4
The Guest
Leaving December 7
Before I Fall
Leaving December 8
It Comes at Night
Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas
Leaving December 13
Halt and Catch Fire: Seasons 1-4
Fifty: The Series: Seasons 1-2
Saint Seiya: Seasons 1-6
Leaving December 15
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Maps to the Stars
The Theory of Everything
Leaving December 21
Jacob’s Ladder
Private Practice: Seasons 1-6
Leaving December 25
Captain Fantastic
Leaving December 30
Winchester
Leaving December 31
A Cinderella Story
American Gangster
Beethoven
Beethoven’s 2nd
Charlie’s Angels
Cold Mountain
Defiance
The Devil Inside
Do the Right Thing
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Double Jeopardy
Forensic Files: Collections 1-9
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood: Parts 1-5
Fullmetal Alchemist: Season 1
Ghost
Gladiator
The Great British Baking Show: The Beginnings: Season 1
House Party
House Party 2
House Party 3
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
The Last Airbender
Like Crazy
Love Don’t Cost a Thing
Love Jones
The Lovely Bones
The Machinist
Magnolia
Memoirs of a Geisha
My Fair Lady
Mystic Pizza
Pan’s Labyrinth
Puss in Boots
Rumor Has It…
Serendipity
Spy Kids
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
Spy Kids 3: Game Over
Stuart Little
The Strangers
Titanic
Tommy Boy
Underworld
Underworld: Awakening
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
What a Girl Wants
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
Zodiac
