A new month means a whole new set of television shows and movies for entertainment lovers to indulge in! As we make our way into the primetime of the holiday season, there’s obviously going to be a few Christmas-inspired debuts coming our way for the month of December. It’s the perfect time for you to snuggle up on the couch with your loved ones, consuming new and classic TV shows and movies. I’m always looking forward to watching new content on my at-home screen while shopping around for the perfect gifts for my family and friends come December. If you’re in search of some new forms of entertainment to watch like me, then hold tight, you’re definitely in the right place.
However, if you’re getting a little sick of the oversaturated holiday marketplace, trust me: There’s still an abundance of non-holiday themed TV shows and movies making their premiere this month. From crime TV series streaming on some of our favorite platforms to show stopping, heartfelt biopics hitting the theaters, there’s something fresh and engaging for everyone to watch heading into this December. Let’s take a look at the new and hottest TV shows and movies coming out during the month of December 2022.
Netflix
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (Dec. 2)
An adaptation of Charles Dickens’ iconic story A Christmas Carol, Netflix is refurbishing the story with an animated twist this holiday season. The movie will follow Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly man who just really hates Christmas, as he’s visited from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future to help him realign his life.
Too Hot To Handle Season 4 (Dec. 7)
Another reality television dating show is hitting Netflix, and I think that everyone remembers when this one first debuted. Too Hot To Handle first debuted in 2020, and the series aims to bring together a group of singles from around the world… with a mission to stay celibate for their time on the show. If they accomplish this mission, they have a chance at winning $100,000.
The Recruit Season 1 (Dec. 16)
If you’re into spy shows, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for The Recruit. The new Netflix series stars Noah Centineo (you know, from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) as a young lawyer, aka Owen Hendricks. When he’s hired by the CIA, Hendricks has to do everything in his power to keep the secrecy of the agency.
Emily in Paris Season 3 (Dec. 21)
Lily Collins is back to star as Emily in the third season of Emily in Paris. The show follows the fictional life of, well, Emily, who is an American woman heading out to take on her dream job in Paris, France. She also navigates dating in Paris, and in Season 3, she’s going to be met with a few tough decisions. After Season 2, Emily had to decide between moving back to Chicago where her old job was, or sticking it out in Paris to create her own marketing business.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Dec. 23)
If you’ve been keeping up with this film, you’ll know that it’s the sequel to Rian Jonhson’s Knives Out. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery actually debuted in theaters during November, but is making its way to Netflix on Dec. 23 for all crime junkies.
HBO Max
Gossip Girl Season 2 (Dec. 1)
Get ready, Upper East Siders: The second season of the Gossip Girl reboot is premiering on Dec. 1. The drama is set to be juicier than ever, but many OG fans are really excited to see a familiar face make a reappearance during the upcoming season. Georgina Sparks, played by Michelle Trachtenberg, is set to be featured in Season 2 of the HBO Max show! After Georgina’s son, Milo, was a part of the reboot’s first season, many viewers were interested to see if she would potentially show up in the show in the future. Alas, their wishes were granted, and I’ll be looking forward to watching Georgina’s villainous return to Gossip Girl.
Lizzo: Live in Concert (Dec. 31)
If you couldn’t get enough of Lizzo’s debut documentary, Love, Lizzo, then you’ll be happy to know that we’re getting more docu-style content from the mega-artist. The doc will showcase Lizzo’s performance during “The Special Tour,” when she performed in Inglewood, California and had a few special guests join her. Cardi B, SZA, and Missy Elliott were all in attendance at the concert, so we’ll be able to catch a glimpse of them during Lizzo: Live in Concert.
Hulu
Darby and the Dead (Dec. 2)
Darby and the Dead is a new movie that follows the story of Darby, a high school girl who can actually see ghosts. When head cheerleader Capri suddenly dies, she comes back to haunt Darby, insisting that she gets her help to throw her final “Sweet 17” party. In exchange for Darby’s assistance, Capri vows to turn her “popular” and make everyone in their school fall in love with her.
Back in the Groove Season 1 (Dec. 5)
This new reality TV dating show has a wild concept, but it’s one that I’m interested in seeing. Back in the Groove follows the stories of three single women, who all happen to be in their 40s. Throughout the dating show, we’ll be able to watch as they date many men, who are half their age. As they always say, “Age is just a number,” so I guess we’ll be able to watch that play out in full effect during Season 1 of Back in the Groove.
Disney+
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Dec. 2)
For those of us Gen Zers who binge-read all of the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid books, this new movie hitting Disney+ is going to take us back to our childhood. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a brand new animated movie that follows the storyline of Jeff Kinney’s novel of the same name. Though there are live action movie reiterations of the books, this new animated version replicates the original drawn out, cartoon characters from the OG Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book series.
Theaters
Avatar: The Way of Water (Dec. 16)
After 13 years of waiting, we’re finally getting Avatar 2! Well, it’s actually called Avatar: The Way of Water. The second movie will highlight the lives of Jake and Neytiri Sully with their children as they leave their original home and move around on their planet, Pandora. They embark on new and different adventures, in addition to battles that they face from the brunt of humans.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Dec. 23)
I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a highly anticipated biopic that will showcase the life of the one and only Whitney Houston. Renowned as one of the most iconic artists in American history, the upcoming film promises to introduce audiences to “discover the Whitney Houston you never knew.” I’m pretty sure all eyes will be on this movie when it drops, as it takes a lot to live up to and to properly honor the life and legacy of Houston.