The end of 2024 is approaching, and with it, a cinematic program for 2025 which promises to be rich and varied. While most of the major films of the year have already been released in theaters, December offers us a great opportunity to catch up on some cinematic gems from the comfort of your own home.
This December should be particularly strong for Netflix, with the highly anticipated second season of “Squid Game” going live later this month, as well as the first two NFL games airing live on Christmas Day. However, this sporting offer should not make cinema enthusiasts forget; Netflix subscribers will finally have the opportunity to discover “Maria”, one of the most promising films for the Oscars, where Angelina Jolie could win her second Best Actor Award for her role as opera legend, Maria Callas. Many recent hits will also be rediscovered, with works by Kathryn Bigelow, Jim Jarmusch and George Miller arriving on the platform this month.
Read on to discover our selection of 7 films not to be missed on Netflix in December 2024.
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‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (Available Now)
Image Crédit : ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kathryn Bigelow followed her historic Oscar win for ‘The Hurt Locker,’ a film that explored the trauma of the Iraq War, with a thriller about the most significant US military operation in the Middle East of the 21st century. ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ painstakingly traces the quest to locate Osama bin Laden, which culminated in the historic assault by the Navy Seal team. This work, the result of a perfect alchemy between the director and the subject, remains a captivating military thriller to be rediscovered.
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‘Top Five’ (Available now)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
After proving his acting talents, Chris Rock tries his hand at directing with ‘Top Five’. In this New York romantic comedy, he plays a version of himself in a story where he questions his career. His chemistry with Rosario Dawson, who plays a reporter following him, is excellent, and this film serves as a reminder of Rock’s multifaceted side as an artist.
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‘Shiva Baby’ (Available December 7)
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This film propelled Rachel Sennott to the forefront of the independent scene. ‘Shiva Baby,’ directed by Emma Seligman, offers a clever comedy set in a single location, where the actress plays a young bisexual woman confronted with the twisting direction of her life during a shiva. For those who missed its release due to the pandemic, Netflix offers a great opportunity to rediscover it.
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‘Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…’
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Jamie Foxx’s sudden disappearance from public life, due to serious health issues, was one of the entertainment industry’s biggest mysteries of the 2020s. Now, he’s ready to share his story in a new stand-up show. ‘Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…’ will reveal the details of his health problems and his comeback, marking his return to the screen with the comedy ‘Back in Action’ alongside Cameron Diaz.
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‘Maria’ (Available December 11)
Image Credit: Netflix
Angelina Jolie aims for the Oscars with ‘Maria’, Pablo Larraín’s latest film, which explores a famous 20th century woman’s struggle between her public image and her personal reality. As in his previous films such as ‘Jackie’ and ‘Spencer’, Larraín deals with the complexity of Maria Callas’ life with empathy. The film hinges on the performance of Jolie, who meticulously studied to become an opera singer. This film is one to watch for those following awards season.
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‘The Dead Don’t Die’ (Available December 16)
Image Credit: ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
At the IndieWire Honors 2024, Selena Gomez expressed her gratitude to Jim Jarmusch, who believed in her when he cast her in ‘The Dead Don’t Die’. This film brings together an impressive cast with Adam Driver, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, while mixing Jarmusch’s dark humor with a zombie narrative. Although not on the same level as his masterpiece ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’, ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ is an entertaining work that attests to Jarmusch’s ever-present creativity.
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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (Available December 30)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
To end a chaotic year, what better way than watching ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ on New Year’s Eve? This epic George Miller reboot is considered one of the great blockbusters of the 21st century for good reason. The film, which takes place almost entirely in a fast-paced chase, manages to capture the essence of pure action. The relationship between Max, played by Tom Hardy, and Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron, tells an almost silent story of apocalypse. Whatever happens in 2025, it’s still acceptable to exclaim, ‘What a great day!’
Our point of view
In an ever-changing cinematic landscape, it is essential to remember the importance of the diversity of stories and voices. The works offered by Netflix this month reflect a wealth of styles and themes that invite us to reflect on varied human experiences. As cinema lovers, we have a responsibility to encourage these plural representations and appreciate the creative depth they bring to our contemporary culture. It is no longer enough to consume passively; let us commit to supporting a cinema that dares to question our world and broaden our vision of what it could be.
