May December

Hollywood marketing does not need to work hard to sell me on a tantalizing Todd Haynes (Carol) drama starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. So, no, the eager anticipation around May December—about an actress (Portman) shadowing a woman (Moore) and her much younger husband whose relationship created a tabloid frenzy as research for a role—isn’t surprising. Something that kind of is? Early buzz indicates that the film’s third star, Charles Melton of Riverdale fame, runs away with the whole thing. December 1

Sweet Home (Season 2)

I think it’s still too soon for stories about viruses wiping out the majority of humankind, but that didn’t stop South Korean series Sweet Home from hitting when it debuted back in December 2020. At least the premise feels a bit further from reality: in this world, infected people turn into monsters while the remaining humans must hold onto their humanity. Now that the show is finally back for a second season, the survivors are still fighting, even as monster-human hybrids start to emerge. December 1

The F Word

No, The F Word isn’t actually a new release, but I will jump at any opportunity—such as its return to Netflix Canada—to sing its praises until everyone around me either agrees to watch the 2013 romcom (also known as What If) or gets annoyed with me. Arguably one of the genre’s most underrated entries in the last decade, and maybe ever, the film follows a man who is ready to give up on love until he meets who he strongly believes is “the one.” The catch? She already has a boyfriend and they decide to be friends instead. The movie boasts an amazing cast that includes Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Mackenzie Davis and a pre-Star Wars Adam Driver, and also accomplishes the impossible: It makes Toronto, where it is filmed and set, look romantic. December 5

Leave the World Behind

Even if you haven’t read the acclaimed Rumaan Alam novel that Leave the World Behind is adapted from, all you have to know is that Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot, Homecoming) directed the film to figure out something very unsettling is about to happen. The psychological thriller follows a family who rent a gorgeous Long Island home for a vacation, which then gets interrupted when two strangers show up at their door in the middle of an ominous blackout. When said blackout turns out to be a massive cyber attack that renders all their devices useless, they must figure out how to navigate the crisis together. Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la and Kevin Bacon star. December 8

Single’s Inferno (Season 3)

Good news for reality dating show fans: your month fix is here in the form of the third season of Single’s Inferno. The format of the Korean series remains the same—singles arrive on an island looking for love, and their only way off to enjoy a luxurious hotel experience is to pair up—but expect new rules and twists to shake things up a bit. Also new this year? Season two contestant Dex is joining the emcee panel. December 12

The Crown (Season 6, Part 2)

If I’m being totally honest with myself, I can say that the first part of The Crown’s sixth and final season of the show, which premiered last month, was a bit torturous. While it was meticulously constructed and beautifully acted, the royal drama’s (fictionalized) chronicling of Princess Diana’s death felt way too drawn out—it’s hard to sink into the show’s lush world when you’re well familiar with the tragedy that the narrative is barrelling towards. While I expect the devastating aftermath will still be felt in the series’ final episodes, I’m optimistic that there will be much more frothy fun to be had as it dives into Prince William’s adolescence and courtship with his future wife, Kate Middleton. December 14

Maestro

With the near masterpiece that is A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper found a forever fan in Lady Gaga and also me. His second directorial effort is Maestro, a loving portrait of the legendary American conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein (whom Cooper also portrays on screen, to some controversy). To me, what’s most intriguing about this film is that (at least in the marketing) it seems to be placing just as much—if not more—emphasis on Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), an actress, activist and Bernstein’s wife—and her relationship with the conductor, which seems to promise that this is more than your typical biopic about a Great Man. December 20

Gyeongseong Creature (Season 1, Part 1)

Prepare to be transported with Gyeongseong Creature, a South Korean historic mystery-thriller starring Park Seo-joon (Itaewon Class, The Marvels), Han So-hee (Nevertheless, My Name) and Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game). Set in 1945, while Korea was still being occupied and colonized by Japan, the series follows a group of people who encounter a monster born out of human greed and must fight for survival. December 22

Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire

One one hand, I kind of hate when movies get a “part one” label—especially when said movie is promising (threatening?) to be the start of a mega franchise—because I know that, in all likelihood, an unsatisfying, incomplete ending is heading my way. (Hi, Dune and Mockingjay.) On the other hand, the second part of this new Star Wars-inspired Zack Snyder extravaganza is expected to debut in April, so fans won’t have to wait long for resolution if they end up loving this initial movie, which is called Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. The sci-fi space opera is set in a universe where a rebel force is rising against the corrupt, oppressive government, and one woman—a former government agent turned rebel—sets out to recruit more warriors to the cause and make up for her past wrongs. Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher and Jena Malone star. December 22

Berlin

It’s 2023 and things are never allowed to end—including popular Spanish thriller Money Heist. Berlin serves as a prequel to the hit series and tells the origin story of the titular fan-favourite OG character (Pedro Alonso), finding him in Paris as he plans his most ambitious (to that point) robberies ever. December 29

Everything Else Coming to Netflix Canada in December 2023

Available December 1
May December (Netflix Film)
Sweet Home: Season 2 (Netflix Series)
Bad Boys II
Chronicle
Confess, Fletch
The Craft
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Office Christmas Party
Pride & Prejudice
Shrek
Transplant: Seasons 1-3

Available December 3
Welcome to Samdal-ri (Netflix Series)

Available December 4
Dew Drop Diaries: Season 2 (Netflix Family)

Available December 5
The F Word
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal (Netflix Comedy)
Top Chef: Seasons 6 and 12

Available December 6
Blood Coast (Netflix Series)
Christmas as Usual (Netflix Film)

Available December 7
Analog Squad (Netflix Series)
The Archies (Netflix Film)
Hilda: Season 3 (Netflix Family)
I Hate Christmas: Season 2 (Netflix Series)
High Tides (Netflix Series)
My Life With the Walter Boys (Netflix Series)
NAGA (Netflix Film)
World War II: From the Frontlines (Netflix Documentary)

Available December 8
Blood Vessel (Netflix Film)
Leave the World Behind (Netflix Film)
Women on the Edge (Netflix Film)

Available December 11
21 Jump Street

Available December 12
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (Netflix Documentary)
Single’s Inferno: Season 3 (Netflix Series)
Talk to Me
Under Pressure: The U.S. Women’s World Cup Team (Netflix Documentary)

Available December 13
1670 (Netflix Series)
Car Masters: Rust to Riches: Season 5 (Netflix Series)
Holiday in the Vineyards
The Influencer (Netflix Series)
Se Eu Fosse: Luísa Sonza (Netflix Documentary)

Available December 14
As the Crow Flies: Season 2 (Netflix Series)
The Crown: Season 6 Part 2 (Netflix Series)
The Devil’s Advocate
Yu Yu Hakusho (Netflix Series)

Available December 15
Archer: Season 14
​Carol & The End of The World (Netflix Series)
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Netflix Film)
Face to Face with ETA: Conversations with a Terrorist (Netflix Documentary)
Familia (Netflix Film)
Get Santa
PAW Patrol: Season 10
Yoh’ Christmas (Netflix Series)

Available December 19
Children Ruin Everything: Seasons 1-2
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: Seasons 1-2
Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix Comedy)

Available December 20
Cindy la Regia: The High School Years (Netflix Series)
Inception
Love is Blind Brazil: After the Altar (Netflix Series)
Maestro (Netflix Film)
Taming of the Shrewd 2 (Netflix Film)

Available December 21
Flipping Out: Seasons 4-5
Like Flowers in Sand (Netflix Series)
Supa Team 4: Season 2 (Netflix Film)

Available December 22
Gyeongseong Creature: Season 1 Part 1 (Netflix Series)
Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire (Netflix Film)
Sing 2

Available December 23
Pretty Woman

Available December 24
A Vampire in the Family (Netflix Film)
The Manny (Netflix Series)

Available December 25
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon (Netflix Comedy)

Available December 26
Thank You, I’m Sorry (Netflix Film)

Available December 27
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare (Netflix Documentary)

Available December 28
Pokémon Concierge (Netflix Family)

Available December 29
Berlin (Netflix Series)

Available December 31
Blanche: Season 1
Blippi Wonders: Season 3
The Millionaire Matchmaker: Seasons 3-4