What’s coming soon to Netflix UK in December 2015?
David Farnor | On 27, Nov 2015
Christmas is coming – and Netflix is getting busy. December 2015 is one of the most crowded months in the site’s history with a veritable avalanche of films and TV shows snowballing onto the streaming service’s catalogue, a lot of them originals.
From Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut to Adam Sandler’s first film with Netflix, not to mention at least three original animated series (one of them not suitable for kids), those long winter nights are about to get filled up pretty quickly. There are even some festive favourites in there, including Aardman and – yes – The Muppets.
Here’s a full list of what’s coming soon to Netflix UK in December 2015.
Head this way for our full list of Christmas films on Netflix UK.
Real Rob: Season 1 – 1st December
This eight-episode Netflix original series stars Schneider as, well, Rob Schneider, as the comedian and his family play themselves in a scripted comedy that follows his journey through the ups and downs of Hollywood.
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story – 1st December
This endearing documentary takes us behind the yellow feathers to look at the man who brought Jim Henson’s much-loved Big Bird to life. From operating the puppet without being able to see to the isolation of also voicing Oscar the Grouch, this is full of cute, touching details.
Lost River – 1st December
Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut stars a cast almost as impressive as his promising talent behind the camera, from Christina Hendricks and Saoirse Ronan to Iain de Caestecker, Ben Mendelsohn and Matt Smith.
Wild Card – 1st December
“I’ve been knocked down, lied to, blown up and shot at…” Jason Statham stars in this trashy, but entertainingly gruff thriller about a bodyguard-for-hire in Las Vegas.
Good Kill – 1st December
Ethan Hawke stars in Andrew Niccol’s provocative, topical drama about a drone pilot, which hones right in on the uncomfortable truth of modern war.
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – 1st December
Let’s do the hob tub again…
How I Met Your Mother: Seasons 1 to 8 – 3rd December
The first eight seasons of CBS’ comedy infamy arrive on Netflix, giving everyone a chance to relive how Ted (Josh Radnor) eventually met the mother of his kids. From Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders to Alyson Hannigan, the amusing cast are only topped by Neil Patrick Harris as Barney, a suit-wearing, womanising playboy, whose pick-up skills are even more legendary than Lorenzo von Mattehorn.
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium – 4th December
Dustin Hoffman stars in this family drama about the owner of a magical toy store. Come prepared for whimsy.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire – 4th December
The performances by Gabriel Sidibe (as Precious) and the wonderfully malicious Mo’Nique are undeniably affecting in Lee Daniels’ drama. Put-upon and pushed right down, Precious’ story is powerful, moving stuff. Exactly what Oprah Winfrey would have wanted.
The Passion of the Christ – 4th December
What better way to warm up for Christmas then Mel Gibson’s violent, graphic account of Jesus’ crucifixion?
We Were Soldiers – 4th December
The Mel Gibson fest continues with Randall “Braveheart” Wallace’s war film about the first major battle between the US and North Vietnam.
What Women Want – 4th December
Mel Gibson Day concludes with Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedy about a guy who electrocutes himself in the bath – only to give himself the power to hear what women are thinking.
A Very Murray Christmas – 4th December
Netflix’s big original series for the season stars Bill Murray as Bill Murray, as the actor attempts to host a variety show full of festive cameos from his celebrity pals.
Still Alice – 4th December
Julianne Moore delivers a powerhouse performance in this powerful drama about a woman diagnosed early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – and her fight to not let her condition define her.
Men in Black 3 – 5th December
Sony’s second sequel sees Josh Brolin play a young Tommy Lee Jones, a casting decision so good it earns the film a place on this list.
Oldboy – 7th December
The high-profile remake in which Josh Brolin takes on the role of a man released after being help captive for years.
Aloha – 10th December
Cameron Crowe’s latest drama didn’t get a theatrical release, instead heading straight to VOD in the UK. Now, it heads to Netflix, carrying with it a cast that includes Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone and Bill Murray.
The Adventures of Puss in Boots: Season 2 – 11th December
Netflix continues its run of DreamWorks Animation original kids’ series with another season of its Puss in Boots spin-off. Read our review Season 1 here.
The Ridiculous 6 – 11th December
The first film in Netflix’s four-movie deal with Adam Sandler, this spoof Western is produced by Adam Sandler and Allen Covert, directed by Frank Coraci (The Wedding Singer) and written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, his co-writer on Pixels. It stars Adam as “White Knife”, who discovers he has an unexpected biological connection to five strangers. The cast includes Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Nick Nolte, Steve Buscemi, Rob Schneider, Dan Aykroyd, Will Forte, Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Danny Trejo, Taylor Lautner and Terry Crews.
X + Y – 15th December
How do you define love mathematically? It’s a challenge that’s almost as impossible as discovering the formula for a brilliant film. X+Y, an absolutely charming British drama, manages to do both. Start with a young teenage boy on the autism spectrum (Asa Butterfield), take away his dad so only he and his mum (Sally Hawkins) remain, then plus the International Mathematical Olympiad, a globe-trotting competition Nathan would be very good at, and an equally anti-social teacher (Rafe Spall), who has a habit of getting high. The result is an indie gem that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Limmy’s Show!: Season 1 – 15th December
Scottish comedian Limmy stars in this TV series from 2011, which stars Limmy as himself and a variety of other characters in a string of sketches.
Big Fish – 16th December
Tim Burton has always had a knack for telling tall tales. Here, he tells more than a few as we follow the life story of Ed Bloom (Ewan McGregor), as he recounts his young adventures to his son on his death bed. The ensuing fantasy features everyone from Marion Cotillard and Billy Crudup to Helena Bonham Carter and Jessica Lange.
F is for Family: Season 1 – 18th December
Another Netflix original in a month full of them, this half-hour animated series based on the comedy of Bill Burr follows the Murphy family in the 1970’s, a time when you could smack your kid, smoke inside and bring a gun to the airport. Burr voices Frank Murphy, the family’s extreme patriarch; Laura Dern voices Frank’s wife, Sue; and Justin Long voices the family’s oldest son, Kevin. There are six episodes.
Glitter Force: Season 1 – 18th December
What were saying about original Netflix shows? The streaming site continues to prepare for the school holidays with this new childrens’ series. When the magical kingdom of Jubiland is invaded by an evil emperor and his band of fairytale villains, a tiny pixie named Candy recruits five pre-teen girls to form Glitter Force and help defend Earth from becoming their next target.
Making A Murderer – 18th December
Netflix takes on Serial with this true crime documentary series – only Netflix’s second non-fiction show, following Chef’s Table – set in Americas Heartland and following the harrowing story of Steven Avery, an outsider from the wrong side of the tracks, convicted and later exonerated of a brutal assault. His release triggered major criminal justice reform legislation, and he filed a lawsuit that threatened to expose corruption in local law enforcement and award him millions of dollars. But in the midst of his very public civil case, he found himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime. Inspired by a newspaper article from 2005, directors Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos have spent the last decade documenting the tale that spans more than 30 years, examining allegations of police and prosecutorial misconduct, evidence tampering and witness coercion.
Arthur Christmas – 19th December
A much-needed decent Christmas film joins Netflix’s festive line-up, as Aardman’s seasonal animation sees Arthur struggling to save Christmas with a range of high-tech gadgets.
The Canyons – 20th December
This infamous film from Paul Schrader and Brett Easton Ellis and starring Lindsay Lohan is a fascinating, flawed movie, one that’s seldom enjoyable to watch but interesting to talk about simply because of the circumstances surrounding its existence – the backstory behind The Canyons would probably make a better film than the film itself.
Haywire – 21st December
Gina Carano stars in this seriously ass-kicking martial arts thriller from Steven Soderbergh.
Mommy – 21st December
“We still love each other, right?” Xavier Dolan’s tale of a troubled, hyperactive son and his devoted mother is nothing less than a masterpiece. Read our full review.
Dawn of the Croods: Season 1 – 24th December
Eep, Grug, Thunk, Ugga, Sandy and Gran are back in this new sitcom set before DreamWorks Animations’ Dawn of the Croods. Follow the family as they meet new friends, outrun new creatures and encounter “firsts” the world has never seen – such as school, sleepovers, hiccups and elections.
The Muppet Christmas Carol – Christmas Day
Ghosts. Singing frogs. Boomerang fish. Is there a better way to celebrate Christmas than the return of Kermit and his fuzzy friends in not only the best adaptation of this classic story, but the greatest Christmas movie of all time? A blue furry Charles Dickens who hangs out with a rat? Absolutely.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Boxing Day
Chris Pine stars as Tom Clancy’s CIA Agent in this underrated, and refreshingly old-school, spy thriller.
The Last of Robin Hood – 28th December
Kevin Kline as Errol Flynn? Sign us up for this 2013 biopic, which was never released in UK cinemas.
All Is Lost – 28th December
The story of a man fighting to stay alive at sea, 70-year-old Robert Redford throws himself into it like a masochistic pensioner. The result is a brutal 90 minute display of resilience that amazes as much as it hurts.
Danger Mouse: Seasons 4 – 10 – 31st December
Everyone’s favourite animated secret-agent rodent returns for more of his classic adventures.
A Little Chaos – 31st December
Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman star in this light period drama about a woman who does some gardening for King Louis XIV.
A Royal Night Out – 31st December
VE Day. 1945. As peace extends across Europe, the two young princesses – Elizabeth and Margaret – are allowed out of the palace to join in the celebrations.
Moomins on the Riviera – 31st December
Does exactly what it says on the tin.
Slow West – 31st December
Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender and Ben Mendelsohn are superb in this traditional tale of outlaws and settlers, of men on horseback and gunfights and Injuns and posters declaring “Wanted: Dead or Alive”. But beneath the surface is a thoughtful remix of the Western, set in an America where there are no Americans.
Dear White People – 31st December
Justin Simien’s prickly satire is a stunning reminder of how many minorities are still viewed in the eyes of the majority.
Other releases coming soon to Netflix UK
1st December
I’m Brent Morin
Enemies Closer
A Royal Christmas
Ella the Elephant: Season 1
Grojband: Season 1
Max Steel: Season 1
Atelier: Season 1
A Woman Like Me
Christmas Wedding Baby
The Chosen
Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered
Men at Work
No Way Out
Pocketful of Miracles
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Particle Fever
Crescendo! The Power of Music
On Angel Wings
The Watchmaker’s Apprentice
Walk of Shame
The Vampire Diaries: Season 6
Big Ballet: Season 1
Gary: Tank Commander: Season 2 and 3
2nd December
Meet Dave
What Happens in Vegas
Firehouse Dog
4th December
Outpost: Black Sun
Push
The Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect 2
The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations
Transporter 3
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Snow Dogs
9th December
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery
11th December
National Treasure
12th December
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
14th December
Addicted
Moshi Monsters: The Movie
15th December
Californication: Season 6 and 7
Josie and the Pussycats
Khartoum
Rab C. Nesbitt: Season 6 – 8
16th December
Santa Claws
18th December
Mike Epps: Don’t Take It Personal
Snow Buddies
19th December
One Direction: This Is Us
21st December
The Pink Panther (2006)
The Pink Panther 2 (2009)
23rd December
Jennifer 8
Sleuth
The Fighting Seabees
29th December
Mr. Selfridge: Season 3
31st December
Bolts and Blip
Good People
Ride
She’s Funny That Way
Survivor
The Bag Man
Vendetta
Accidental
After the Ball
Boychoir
La French
Monsters: Dark Continent
Queen and Country
Note: Release dates subject to change. This list will be updated as new titles are confirmed or delayed.