Must-Watch Films and TV Shows in December 2023
Here are our picks for the best film and TV releases this upcoming month.
With the holiday season comes an influx of holiday films and TV show episodes. Everywhere you turn, holiday tunes blast in your ears, streaming services push their holiday content, and ribbons and bows seem to be tied everywhere. But as December approaches, movie and TV producers are only amping up their content — and it's not all holiday content.
Take your pick from soon-to-be blockbuster movies to the newest hot-topic TV series. As 2023 rounds out, film and TV producers take their last fighting chance to end up on top this year, giving us some of the best content imaginable. Media's current obsession with retelling old stories hasn't come to an end yet. With movies such as The Colour Purple and Wonka and TV shows like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, experience past stories in a new light this month. We've compiled a list of the most anticipated releases in December 2023.
Eileen
From the director of Laby MacBeth comes Eileen, a psychological thriller based on the book of the same name by Ottessa Moshfegh set in 1964. In classic Thomasin McKenzie fashion, she plays a coy young girl overtaken by desire named Eileen. When Rebecca, played by Anne Hathaway, shows up at the prison where Eileen works, Eileen is overtaken by Rebecca's undeniable glamor. But things take a dark turn as Eileen uncovers who Rebecca really is. See it for yourself in theaters on December 8.
Leave The World Behind
If you missed this thriller in select theaters last month, Leave The World Behind will be available on Netflix starting December 8. In a family vacation to Long Island gone wrong, the family and the owners of their vacation rental must navigate a state of emergency as strangers. After power outages take over the U.S. due to a cyber attack, this set of strangers try to survive without trusting the other. Starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Myha'la Herrold, engulf yourself in a drama/thriller reminiscent of the fear during Covid times.
The Crown
After seven years and six seasons, The Crown is coming to an end. The highly anticipated final part of Season 6 will be released on December 14 on Netflix. The historical fiction follows the English royal family through some of history's most influential events through a fictionalized lens. The series ends as audiences watch Prince William and Prince Harry grow up in the late 90s to early 2000s after Princess Diana's death. Netflix has yet to release a trailer for the second part of season six but has released a set of first-look photos revealing Kate Middleton's character's recreation of her iconic see-through dress.
Wonka
Director Paul King reimagines the classic Roald Dahl story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in Wonka. Morphing from book to movie after movie interpretation, this story has been told time and again. But Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of Willy Wonka might take out the creepy of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka, and redefine the original 1971 version played by Gene Wilder. This new version dives into how the young Wonka came to be the renowned magician meets chocolatier we know and love. On December 15, audiences will decide who has mastered the characterization from the original book while getting a deeper look into this famed character.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
This is a modal window.
On December 20, Disney+ will premiere the first two episodes of the new series Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Based on the young adult fantasy book series by Rick Riordan, the TV series adaptation tells the story of 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he realizes his powers as a demigod. The 14-year-old actor Walker Scobell plays Percy in his most significant role yet.
Anyone But You
Sydney Sweeny stars alongside Glen Powell in the latest installment of the "fake dating" trope in the new movie Anyone But You. This romantic comedy, directed by Will Gluck of Easy A and Friends with Benefits, set off to Australia for a destination wedding where they find themselves fake dating. But not for long. Watch in theaters on December 22.
The Iron Claw
A24 interprets the true story of the Von Erich family of wrestlers who rose to fame in the 1980s. Coached by their father, the brothers, played by Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson, became known as the greatest family in wrestling history. The story follows the brothers' dedication to each other and the sport amidst intensive training and tragedy. The film will hit theaters on December 22.
The Color Purple
This musical adaptation of the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker takes a "bold new take on the beloved classic" according to the trailer. The original novel and motion picture, released in 1982 and 1985 respectively, follow sisters Celie and Nettie through their lives as young Black girls separated from their families in the early 1900s as they navigate oppression and abuse. It tells a story of resilience, hope, and hardship. The new adaptation, produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones, explores how music can tell a beloved story in a whole new way. The film is set to be released this Christmas.
Ferrari
Buckle your seatbelt before you take your seat in theaters this Christmas day. Ferrari tells the story of the fall of Enzo Ferrari's company amid the dangerous race across Italy that could revive Ferrari. But this movie is more than just a car movie. It has heart and complexity. Adam Driver lives up to his name alongside stars like Shailene Woodley, Penélope Cruz, and Patrick Dempsey.
