It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in December. The year is coming to a close and the festive season kicks into overdrive. When we finally get a moment to breathe, curling up for some super-fresh content from our friends at Netflix US is the perfect antidote to all the madness. So let’s see what’s in store.
In keeping with the streaming giant’s commitment to work towards a target of 50% original content, Netflix delivers a bunch of in-house productions this month. Most notable is the film Barry, a look into the early life of American President Barack "Barry" Obama. In the early 1980s, young Obama was one of the few black students at Columbia University in New York City. Not entirely sure of himself or where his bold ideas might lead him, the 20-year-old law student moves between black and white worlds and though he finds a sense of identity within both, the path is not without complications. Australian actor Devon Terrell has garnered early praise for his portrayal of Obama and Ashley Judd (Divergent) stars as his mother. As the current sitting President finishes out his last months, many may find the biographical drama bittersweet.
Music fans should take a look at documentary, Hip-Hop Evolution. If you’re not a fan, you may well be in the minority with hip-hop being the most popular musical genre worldwide according to Spotify’s 2015 analysis of listening trends across 1000 cities. It is undoubtedly a huge part of popular culture as we know it today but its origins are not necessarily well known. Director Darby Wheeler attempts to remedy this with his in-depth look at how this underground cultural movement which had its beginnings in the predominantly African American South Bronx section of New York City moved into the mainstream where white people began to embrace it in droves. Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Ice Cube and LL Cool J are just some of the iconic names who appear.
In the mood for a thriller? The Good Neighbour tells the story of two high school kids who decide to prank their aging neighbour by creating the illusion of a haunting. Recording their unsuspecting neighbour’s reactions for their own amusement, the boys witness much more than they could ever have imagined. James Caan (Blood Ties) and Logan Miller (The Walking Dead) star.
For a hit of comedy, try Gabriel Iglesias: Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry. The Hispanic actor and comedian is best known for his mixture of storytelling, parodies, characters and sound effects. Growing up as one of 6 kids raised by a single mum, Iglesias (Cristela) used humour as a coping mechanism for the many challenges life presented he and his family. This comedy special is available to stream from December 20.
Those wanting to step back in time might care to note retro classics, Beverly Hills Cop, National Lampoon’s Animal House, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids coming to Netflix on the first of the month. Whatever your holiday season requirements, there will be a title for you.
For all this and loads more, see the full list below.
Available on Netflix December 1:
Always
Angels in the Snow
Beverly Hills Cop
Beyond Bollywood
Black Snake Moan
Chill with Bob Ross
Compulsion
D2: The Mighty Ducks
David Blaine: Street Magic
Dreamland
For the Love of Spock
Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce (Season 2)
Glory Daze: The Life and Time of Michael Alig
Harry and the Hendersons
Hitler: A Career
Holiday Engagement
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
House of Wax
Hannibal
Merli (Season 1)
Merry Kissmas
National Lampoon’s Animal House
Picture Perfect
Rainbow Time
Rodeo & Juliet
Swept Under
Switchback
The Angry Birds Movie
The Crucible
The Little Rascals
The Legend of Bagger Vance
The Rock
The Spirit of Christmas
Toys
Uncle Nick
Waking Life
Way of the Dragon
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story
White Girl
Wildflower
Zero Point
December 2
Fauda (Season 1)
Hip Hop Evolution (Season 1)
Pacific Heat (Season 1)
December 3
Lost & Found Music Studios (Season 2)
December 5
Mad
The Good Neighbor
December 6
Blue Jay
Homeland (Iraq Year Zero) (Season 1)
Reggie Watts: Spatial
The Devil Dolls
The Model
December 8
The Cuba Libre Story (Season 1)
December 9
Captive (Season 1)
Cirque du Soleil Junior – Luna Petunia (Season 1)
Club de Cuervos (Season1)
Fuller House (Season 2)
Four Seasons in Havana (Season 1)
Medici: Masters of Florence (Season 1)
Spectral
White Rabbit Project (Season 1)
December 10
Lucky Number Slevin
Phantom of the Theater
December 11
Breaking a Monster
December 12
Ricardo O’Farril: Christmas Special
December 13
Colony (Season 1)
Killswitch
I Am Not a Serial Killer
Nobel (Season 1)
December 14
Versailles (Season 1)
December 16
Barry
Call Me Francis (Season 1)
Crazyhead (Season 1)
No Second Chance (Season 1)
Rats
The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Season 4)
December 19
Miss Stevens
December 20
Disorder
Gabriel Iglesias: Sorry For What I Said When I Was Hungry
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Season 6)
Ten Percent (Season 1)
The Break (Season 1)
December 23
Travelers (Season 1)
Trollhunters (Season 1)
December 25
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War
When Hari Got Married
December 27
Ajin (Season 2)
Chasing Cameron (Season 1)
December 28
Comedy Bang! Bang! (Season 5)
December 29
The Hollywood Shorties
December 30
The Eighties (Season 1)
December 31
Big in Bollywood
Leaving December 1
50 First Dates
American Beauty
Black Ops: Series 2
Camp Takota
Carmen Jones
Cats & Dogs
Curious George: Swings Into Spring
Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Event Horizon
Frequencies
McConkey
Medora
Monkey Business
Myth Hunters (Season 1)
Myth Hunters (Season 2)
Neil Young: Heart of Gold
Paycheck
Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
River of No Return
Sling Blade
Thor: Hammer of the Gods
The Great War Diary
The In-Laws
The Out-0f-Towners
Top Gun
Valley of the Dolls
World Trade Center
December 2
Legends of the Knight
The Red Baron
December 3
The Best of Me
December 5
Holes
December 14
The Da Vinci Code
December 15
High Profits (Season 1)
World War II in Colour
December 16
Beyond the Hills
December 22
Dark Skies
December 26
Just Friends
December 27
Spy Kids
December 31
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (Seasons 1-6)
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Angie Maddison is a contributor for Streambly. You can follow Angie on Twitter.
