Top 10 Movies and TV Shows Coming to Streaming in December 2020

Netflix: December 4th, 2020
Post South Park, you wouldn’t think there was much an animated series could do to shock us. But in 2017, “Big Mouth” debuted and proved us wrong. Not only does this show push the envelope in raunchy, jaw-dropping directions, but it manages to do it with a whole lot of heart—teaching worthy lessons along the way. In season 4 of this animated coming-of-age comedy, we’re going to even more uncomfortable places…including summer camp! The newly introduced “anxiety mosquito” seems poised to play a pretty big role alongside the returning hormone monsters. It also looks as if we’ll be taking a peek into the future and some sort of apocalypse scenario. Then again, when you’re a teen, doesn’t everything feel like the end of the world?

Prime Video: December 16th, 2020
After three seasons, Syfy chose to pull the plug on this big budget series. Thankfully, fans spoke and Amazon listened, giving the impressive show a new lease on life by renewing it for a fourth season. The series clearly did well on Prime Video, because it’s been renewed for a fifth and sixth season. At the end of season 4, humanity seemed to be headed for interplanetary war. At the same time, the opening of the alien gates will see humankind traveling further from Earth than ever before to colonize new worlds. It’s safe to say that the stakes have never been higher. And given the massive themes and storylines that “The Expanse” has previously covered, that’s saying a lot!

Prime Video: December 4th, 2020
Sorry Julie Andrews fans, this is not a weirdly-titled sequel to 1965’s “The Sound of Music”. That being said, “Sound of Metal” has the makings of a modern classic. The film centers on Ruben Stone, a drummer who begins experiencing severe hearing loss. As any musician will tell you, for someone whose life revolves around music and performing, that’s pretty much your worst nightmare; hearing loss is also a very real risk in this profession. With the hugely talented Riz Ahmed in the lead role, this promises to be a poignant and personal film—as well as an interesting exploration of the deaf experience. With 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Sound of Metal” already looks to be a hit.

HBO Max: December 10th, 2020
Steven Soderbergh and Meryl Streep? Sign us up! “Let Them All Talk” is a comedy-drama that follows author Alice Hughes (played by Meryl Streep) on a journey of self-discovery. Accompanied by friends and her nephew (played by Lucas Hedges), Hughes takes a trip to inject some fun into her life and help her to finish her manuscript. Along the way, however, she’ll also have to reckon with her past. With Dianne Wiest and Candice Bergen in tow, this promises to be a thoughtful and insightful film further elevated by its cast of strong performers. Now if only HBO Max would hurry up and expand to international markets!

Netflix: December 23th, 2020
2020 has been a rough year. As such, a post-apocalyptic film set in the near future might not be what you’re looking for in the lead up to the holidays. But when you see the cast, we think you’ll be singing a different tune. Directed by George Clooney, “The Midnight Sky” centers on a scientist (also played by Clooney) who’s attempting to warn a crew of astronauts about the dangers of returning to Earth. Aboard the spacecraft is a group that includes such familiar faces as Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo and Kyle Chandler. From the looks of the trailer, we’re in for a tense, emotionally charged sci-fi drama that’s timely, beautifully-shot and maybe... even a little hopeful.

Netflix: December 18th, 2020
This one is going to be hard to watch. At the same, it feels like a true gift. Directed by George C. Wolfe, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is the final performance of the late, great Chadwick Boseman. And it would seem that the “Black Panther” actor turned in yet another performance fit for a king. The film currently boasts a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on dozens of reviews. Pretty much every critic praises the performances of both Boseman, and Viola Davis as Ma Rainey. A period piece based on the play of the same name, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is an appropriate tribute to the eponymous jazz legend—and a more than worthy sendoff for one of the greatest acting talents of our time.

Disney+: December 18th, 2020
“The Mandalorian” might not be the series any of us expected from Disney, but it’s the show that the Star Wars franchise deserves. In season 2, Jon Favreau and company have continued to expand the Star Wars universe by exploring the outer reaches of the galaxy. We’ve made new friends, reunited with familiar allies, encountered old enemies and, of course, watched with glee as the bond between Din Djarin and the Child has continued to grow. The plot is speeding up heading into the second half of season 2 and fans are expecting big things from the season finale, as well as some major reveals. Many questions remain, but the one thing we know for sure? December 18th is marked off in our calendars!

Disney+: December 25th, 2020
As far as non-holiday movies go, we can’t think of a much better Christmas gift that Disney could give us than a new Pixar movie. And unlike “Mulan,”which came with a premium rental fee, “Soul” is being made available to Disney+ subscribers with no strings attached. The movie follows the life and death of Joe Gardner, a jazz pianist and music teacher whose time on Earth is cut short. After traveling to the Great Beyond, he finds himself working alongside the souls preparing to join the living. A beautifully-animated exploration of universal themes, “Soul” is already being deemed another triumph for Pixar. It also boasts an impressive cast including Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Questlove, Daveed Diggs, Angela Bassett and more.

Netflix: December 4th, 2020
There are few films more influential, or that have inspired more analysis, than “Citizen Kane”. It’s widely considered to be among the greatest films ever made—if not THE greatest. As movie buffs will tell you, the behind-the-scenes story of its production is filmworthy in its own right. Orson Welles served as director, producer, star and co-screenwriter for the film. As such, screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz’ role often gets overshadowed. In this biographical drama, however, Mankiewicz finally gets his turn in the spotlight. “Mank” is directed by David Fincher from a screenplay written by his late father, Jack Fincher, in the 1990s. It’s a project that the director has wanted to make for over twenty years; based on the reviews, it seems it was well worth the wait!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (2018-20) season 4
Netflix: December 31st, 2020

“Letterkenny” (2016-) season 9
Hulu: December 26th, 2020

“The Prom” (2020)
Netflix: December 11th, 2020

“Sylvie’s Love” (2020)
Prime Video: December 25th, 2020

“Wolfwalkers” (2020)
Apple TV+: December 11th, 2020

HBO Max: December 25th, 2020
After the massive success of 2017’s “Wonder Woman”, cinemagoers around the world have anxiously awaited the return of Diana Prince to the big screen. What no one could have predicted, however, was that this massive sequel would also be distributed on the small screen. After nearly two years of delays, “Wonder Woman 1984” will soar into theaters internationally and land on HBO Max in the United States. As the title suggests, we’re catching up with the DC icon in the mid-1980s, and the film’s aesthetic seems to have really leaned into the time period. The trailer promises another epic, big budget adventure that, once again, is held together by the massive heart of its heroine. For movie lovers who’ve missed blockbusters in 2020, this is the perfect gift.