11 Best New Movies on Netflix: December 2023’s Freshest Films to Watch

Netflix is gifting you some incredible content this December in the form of films that will do everything from take your breath away with immersive action and drama to transport you on an epic international and multi-lingual journey from the comforts of home. Whether you’re looking for something thrilling, festive, or funny, Netflix has got you covered. Keep reading for the streamer’s best new movies coming in December

Netflix is releasing two of its biggest new original films in the first half of the month as it drops star-studded psychological thriller Leave the World Behind as well as Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore-led drama May December, which are both poised to potentially land in the Netflix Top 10.

Then towards the middle of the month, Netflix will debut some titles that may not be about Christmas but are still sure to make you very merry in stop motion animated comedy Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and stand-up comedy-focused documentary Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only.

Lastly, in the back half of the December streaming slate are some more must-watch releases in epic space opera Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire and Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper-led biographical drama Maestro. These films seriously make for some great gifts to enjoy just in time for Christmas.

Want to know what other eye-grabbing movies are dropping on Netflix in the next month? Keeping scrolling to check out our full list of what movies to watch on Netflix in December.

RELATED: New On Netflix December 2023

1. Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire

   Released December 22

   Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire is a highly-anticipated premiering Netflix Original epic space opera from Zack Snyder that centers on Kora (Sofia Boutella), a stranger with a mysterious past who crash lands on an idyllic settlement called Veldt in hopes of a fresh start, only to become their last hope for survival. In other to save the moon and its people from the wrath of e tyrannical Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) and the Imperium army, Kora must create a team of warriors willing to defend the life on Veldt and stand up against the overwhelming forces of the Motherworld’s corrupt government.

   Stream Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire on netflix

2. Leave the World Behind

   Released December 8

   Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Myha’la Herrold star in this Netflix Original apocalyptic thriller that sees Amanda (Roberts), her husband Clay (Hawke), and their kids’ vacation on Long Island come to an abrupt end with strangers G.H. (Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Herrold) arrive seeking refuge. They break news of a mysterious cyberattack that grows more frightening with every minute as the two families are forced to face their current reality and come to terms with their new lives in a collapsing world.

   STREAM Leave the World Behind ON NETFLIX

3. May December

   Released December 1

   Loosely inspired by the true story of Mary Kay Letourneau, May December centers on an actress named Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) who travels to Georgia to meet and observe Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore), whom she is going to play in a movie. Gravie and her husband Joe Yoo (Charles Melton) were at the center of at intense tabloid scandal two years prior when news broke that Georgia was in a sexual relationship with her student, Joe, while he was still a minor. Now 23 years later, their bubble of domestic bliss in suburbia has been viciously burst by Elizabeth’s intrusion, threatening to change the way all of those involved view others, themselves, and their pasts.

   STREAM May December ON NETFLIX

4. Maestro

   Released December 20

   This biographical drama chronicles the life of American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper), with particular focus on his relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan). Chronicling the two over the years in both their careers, lives, and romance, Maestro is an epic depiction of art, family, and love.

   STREAM Maestro ON NETFLIX

5. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

   Released December 15

   Celebrate Christmas early with this absolute gift of a Netflix Original movie that promises fun for the whole family. Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a stop motion animated comedy that comes 23 years after the first Chicken Run and reunites us with the familiar beaks of Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and her husband Rocky (Zachary Levi) as they hatch a little girl they call Molly (Bella Ramsey) in an idyllic island bird sanctuary. Though Ginger is ready to settle into this peaceful dreamlike life far away from humans, her plans are soon disrupted by a new threat to all of chicken-kind that puts their newfound freedom at risk. Now instead of breaking out, the birds will be forced to break in.

   STREAM Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget ON NETFLIX

6. Christmas as Usual

   Released December 6

   Get into the holiday spirit with this very worldly seasonal story that meshes Indian and Norwegian cultures to culminate in a charming romantic comedy-drama. Christmas as Usual follows Thea Evjen (Ida Ursin-Holm) as she surprises her Norwegian family by bringing her new boyfriend, Jashan (Kanan Gill), home for Christmas. As Jashan introduces his own native-Indian background to the festivities, long-held Evjen family traditions will be shaken up as cultures collide in a fresh and entertaining way.

   STREAM Christmas as Usual ON NETFLIX

7. Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only

   Released December 12

   Prepare to laugh along with this unique documentary that meshes stand-up comedy and real-life storytelling while following the lives, trajectories, and friendship of comics Kevin Hart and Chris Rock. Giving viewers exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of and access to these two big-name comedians, Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only tracks these two men’s different journeys that somehow ended up crossing over in their respective pursuits of legend status in the world of comedy, culminating in four huge onstage performance together in front of sold-out crowds in New York.

   STREAM Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only ON NETFLIX

8. The Archies

   Released December 7

   The Archies is Indian Hindi-Language teen musical comedy set in 1960s India as it revolves around the exploits of the titular musical band first created by Archie Comics. This live-action reimagining follows Archie (Agastya Nanda) and the gang as they experience different facets of friendship and romance, all while navigating the future of Riverdale as land developers threaten to raze their beloved local park. Experience a whole new version of Riverdale (probably one more true to the comics than what you get in the CW’s Riverdale series) with The Archies.

   STREAM The Archies ON NETFLIX

9. NAGA

   Released December 7

   For a good scare this month, check out Netflix Original film NAGA. This Saudi Arabian thriller follows a girl named Sarah (Adwa Bader) who becomes stranded in Riyadh’s desert dunes whilst attempting to sneak out of her parents’ home for a date. Her night goes from bad to worse upon accidentally harming a newborn camel, causing its mother to viciously hunt Sarah down to get her revenge.

   STREAM NAGA ON NETFLIX

10. Familia

    Released December 15

    Familia is a family drama out of Mexico that centers on a peculiar family as they talk about the future of their lush and idyllic olive farm over a meal. What may seem like a simple family feast on the surface reveals itself to be something much deeper as the film explores the complexity of family relationships and cohabitation with conversations that spur confessions, laughs, and a reminder of the power of familial bonds.

    STREAM Familia ON NETFLIX

11. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    Released December 3

    Red and green are often symbolic of Christmastime, but they also are the trademark colors of Mario and Luigi, making this the perfect time to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie! This 2023 animated adventure comedy acts as an origin story for beloved Nintendo characters Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day), who begin this tale as two brothers who operate their own struggling Brooklyn-based plumbing business. But when their attempt to fix a major leak ends with them being transported by a mysterious pipe to a magical new world where they quickly get separated, Mario must go to great lengths in order to rescue Luigi, spurring an epic and life-changing quest.

    STREAM The Super Mario Bros. Movie ON NETFLIX