Despite recently removing some notable DC movies last month, as part of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s plan to gain some extra money by lending signature films and shows to other streamers, Max still has some surprises in store for subscribers in December 2023. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is finally hitting its streaming debut on Max this month, just in time to gather friends and family for a fun holiday group watch. Barbie is the latest of the studio’s 2023 theatrical slate to make its way onto the streaming service, coming after Evil Dead Rise, The Flash, Blue Beetle, Meg 2: The Trench, and The Nun II being added earlier in the year. Warner Bros. still has three major theatrical releases set for this month; Wonka, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and The Color Purple, all of which will hit streaming on Max sometime next year.
Those specifically looking forward to seeing director Blitz Bazawule’s reimagining of The Color Purple (hitting theaters on December 25) can now dive into the original 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg, which just got added to Max in December 2023. Additionally, the streamer and producer Oprah Winfrey, who starred in the original film, will be premiering a new documentary later in the month titled Oprah and The Color Purple Journey. The doc will take viewers behind the scenes of the bold new cinematic adaptation and will explore how novelist Alice Walker‘s seminal novel of the same name has stood the test of time through multiple artistic mediums. The Color Purple (2023) features a dazzling powerhouse ensemble cast, including Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Ciara, Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Batiste, Deon Cole, and David Alan Grier.
Max subscribers in the mood for more documentaries can enjoy HBO’s Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning and Time Bomb Y2K. The former is a three-part true crime docu-series that follows the case of Charles “Chuck” Stuart who murdered his wife Carol Stuart and ignited racial tensions when he blamed the crime on a Black assailant. The latter, as the title suggests, follows the mass hysteria surrounding the Y2k rumors of a bug that was said to cause computers worldwide to reset in the year 2000. Moving on, Max subscribers can enjoy Gen Z comedian Leo Reich’s first HBO stand-up special, Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!, which is also an A24 production.
In terms of Max’s revolving streaming library, new arrivals for December 2023 include the first five Paranormal Activity movies, an entire collection of James Bond 007 classics – from The Spy Who Loved Me to License to Kill to Skyfall – and Mad Max: Fury Road. There couldn’t be a better time to rewatch Fury Road, in particular, seeing as its highly-anticipated prequel from master writer-director George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga starring Anya Taylor-Joy, is about to release next year. Discover more on our monthly recs below and then check out the full list of everything coming to HBO & Max in December 2023. You can also find this month’s newest additions to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ right here on Discussingfilm.
Our Monthly Recs:
Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning
Directed by Jason Hehir
Produced by HBO Documentary Films, The Boston Globe, & Little Room Films
The three-part documentary series explores the 1989 Boston murder of Carol Stuart, which led to a media firestorm when her husband Charles Stuart, the actual killer, created a racially charged manhunt on a Black assailant in an attempt to get away with the crime.
Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning premiered on Max on December 4, 2023!
Barbie
Directed by Greta Gerwig
Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
Cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Mackey, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Hari Nef, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Will Ferrell, Helen Mirren, Emerald Fennell, & more.
Music by Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt
Barbie debuts on Max on December 15, 2023!
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!
Directed by Thomas Hardiman
Produced by HBO & A24
Comedian Leo Reich’s first HBO stand-up comedy special in which he takes a jab at answering the major questions surrounding today’s society, such as “Is this helping?”, “Am I hot?”, and “No offense, guys, but literally, what is going on?” The comedian blends quirky humor, songs, and non-sequiturs in a hilarious yet heartfelt attempt to raise political and social awareness.
Music by Toby Marlow
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! premieres on Max on December 16, 2023!
Everything New on HBO & Max in December 2023
Coming December 1
9 (2009)
Anna and the King (1999)
Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
The Biggest Little Farm (2019)
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991)
Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
The Box (2009)
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
The Color Purple (1985)
Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)
Cut Bank (2015)
Denial (2016)
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
Die Another Day (2002)
Doomsday (2008)
Elektra (2005)
Eye in the Sky (2016)
Flipped (2010)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
From Russia with Love (1964)
Goldfinger (1965)
Hereafter (2010)
Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)
How To Eat Fried Worms (2006)
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
I Am
The Informant! (2009)
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013)
Jurassic World (2015)
License to Kill (1989)
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Longest Ride (2015)
Love in the Time of Cholera (2007)
The Lovers (2017)
Low Tide (2019)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
Meet the Batwheels, Season 1D (Cartoon Network)
Naked Lunch (1991)
Necessary Roughness (1991)
Notes on a Scandal (2007)
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Over Her Dead Body (2008)
Paranormal Activity (2009)
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
Patriot Games (1992)
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
The Pink Panther (1964)
Prancer: A Christmas Tale (2022)
Ramona and Beezus (2010)
Red Dawn (1984)
Return of the Pink Panther (1975)
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
Semi-Pro (2008)
Sergio Leone: The Italian Who Invented America (2022)
A Shot In The Dark (1964)
Skyfall (2012)
Son of the Pink Panther (1993)
The Souvenir (2019)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Timeline (2003)
Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)
Trainwreck (2015)
A View To Kill (1985)
Villeneuve Pironi: Racing’s Untold Tragedy (2022)
The Women (2008)
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Coming December 2
The Wonder List (CNN)
Coming December 3
Holiday Party with Andrew and Zoe (Magnolia Network)
Lincoln: Divided We Stand (CNN)
Maori Kuhawa And The Floating Worlds Time Forgot
OWN Holiday Movie: A Christmas Serenade (OWN) (2023)
Pets and Pickers, Season 2 (Animal Planet)
Teen Titans Go!: Great Holiday Escape & Christmas Magic (Cartoon Network)
Coming December 4
Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning (HBO Original)
Coming December 5
Great Photo, Lovely Life (HBO Original) (2023)
Real Time Crime, Season 2 (ID)
Coming December 6
Street Outlaws vs. The World: After Hours (Discovery Channel)
Coming December 7
Boom Boom Bruno (Max Original)
Elmo & Tango Holiday Helpers (Max Original)
Vlad & Niki, Season 2C
Coming December 9
The Story of Late Night (CNN)
Coming December 10
OWN Holiday Movie: A Christmas of Yes (OWN) (2023)
White House Christmas (2023) (HGTV)
Coming December 11
Peltz Beckham vs The Wedding Planners (discovery+ Original)
Coming December 12
1000-lb Sisters, Season 4B (TLC)
sMothered, Season 5 (TLC)
Trees and Other Entanglements (HBO Original) (2023)
Coming December 15
Barbie (2023)
The Giver (2014)
On the Tee, Season 1B
Coming December 16
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! (HBO Original)
Mysteries of the Abandoned, Season 8B (Discovery Channel)
Coming December 17
OWN Holiday Movie: The Christmas Detective (OWN) (2023)
Coming December 18
Good Cop Bad Cop (ID)
Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial (discovery+ Original)
World’s First Battlefield (Science Channel)
Yellowstone Wardens, Season 3 (Animal Planet)
Coming December 19
90 Day Pillow Talk: The Other Way, Season 5 (TLC)
Border Control: Sweden
Contraband: Seized at the Border, Season 2 (Discovery Channel)
Coming December 20
American Masters: Leonard Bernstein: Reaching for the Note (1998)
Daniel (HBO Original) (2023)
Coming December 21
Engineering Catastrophes, Season 5B (Science Channel)
Gary Gulman: Born on 3rd Base (Max Original)
Coming December 23
Bering Sea Gold, Season 12 (Discovery Channel)
Soundtracks (CNN)
Coming December 24
Finding Jesus (CNN)
OWN Holiday Movie: Christmas Revisited (OWN) (2023)
Spirited Away: Live On Stage (2023)
The Radical Story of Patty Hearst (CNN)
Coming December 25
90 Day Fiance: Holiday Special 2023, #1 (TLC)
The Redemption Project (CNN)
Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too! (2023)
Coming December 26
90 Day Fiance: Holiday Special 2023, #2 (TLC)
Building Outside the Lines (Magnolia Network)
Superchef Grudge Match, Season 2 (Food Network)
Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?, Season 2 (HGTV)
Coming December 28
Married to Real Estate, Season 3 (HGTV)
Oprah and The Color Purple Journey (Max Original) (2023)
Coming December 29
In With the Old, Seasons 5 (Magnolia Network)
Restoring Galveston: The Inn (Magnolia Network)
The Established Home, Season 3 (Magnolia Network)
Coming December 30
Amina’s Way (OWN)
Time Bomb Y2K (HBO Original) (2023)
Bleacher Report Live Sports in December 2023
Coming December 2
Soccer: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China, 3 p.m.
Coming December 4
NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals
Game 1: Teams TBA, 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Teams TBA, 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m.
Coming December 5
NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals
Game 1: Teams TBA, 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Teams TBA, 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m.
Soccer: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. China, 8 p.m.
Coming December 6
NHL: Dallas Stars at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
NHL: Carolina Hurricanes at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m.
Coming December 7
NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals
Teams TBA, 9 p.m.
Coming December 12
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m.
NBA: Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m.
Coming December 13
NHL: Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils*, 7:30 p.m.
NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Colorado Avalanche*, 10 p.m.
Coming December 19
NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans, 7:30 p.m.
NBA: Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m.
Coming December 20
NHL: New York Islanders at Washington Capitals*, 7:30 p.m.
NHL: Seattle Kraken at Los Angeles Kings*, 10 p.m.
Coming December 27
NHL: Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m.
