Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that’s before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!
Don’t be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We’ve got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you’re seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we’ve got you covered there, too.
Mashable’s entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you’re looking for holly jolly fun, sexy dramas, madcap comedy, or one of the best Netflix movies of the year, we’re here for you.
17. Netflix yule logs
Tis the season for festive viewing, be that holiday movies, seasonal TV shows, or a good ol’ yule log. Yes, for those of us who don’t have the cozy luxury of a crackling fire, there’s a wide array of options to get the fiery comfort without actual brick and flame.
This year, Netflix has added three new yule logs to their original collection: one for Strangers Things, one for KPop Demon Hunters, and one for Wednesday. So pick the background crackle and pop that best suits your Yuletide vibe. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: Stranger Things‘ yule log is streaming on Netflix.
How to watch: KPop Demon Hunters‘ yule log is streaming on Netflix.
How to watch: Wednesday‘s yule log is full of woe and streaming on Netflix.
16. With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration
If you’re the type of Netflix viewer who just wants that holiday cheer simmering away like a personal vat of mulled wine, you’re probably already making your way through the streamer’s Christmas movies — Champagne Problems, give yourself some. While you’re there, stop by With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, the festive edition of the Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix bougie home DIY series. This time, the special guests include Naomi Osaka, Tom Colicchio, and Will Guidara, and if you’re here to deliver more hate to this woman who just wants to show you how to deck the bloody halls, respectfully, beat it. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor.
Starring: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
How to watch: With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration is now streaming on Netflix.
15. Tron: Ares
The Tron franchise speeds along with this Jared Leto-fronted action-adventure that’s a mix of nostalgia, high-tech thrills, and slamming Nine Inch Nails songs.
The plotline for this one is broadstrokes corporate espionage, finer details: Leto plays Ares, a virtual warrior brought into the real world to capture his master’s business rival (Greta Lee). But when he falls for her — and the real world — he begins to reject his programing to seek freedom.
Critics weren’t charmed by Tron: Ares. In fact, mine was one of the more positive reviews, and it still concluded, “Tron: Ares is heavy-handed, dunderheaded, and over earnest, but also occasionally funny, charming, sexy, and thrilling.” — K.P.
How to watch: Tron: Ares is now available to rent or buy on Fandango at Home.
14. The First Snow of Fraggle Rock
Craving some song, dance, and Muppet fun? You’ll want to watch The First Snow of Fraggle Rock.
Readying for the holidays in Fraggle Rock, everyone has something to contribute. Red is working on a top-notch sled ride. The Doozers are hard at work building contraptions while the Fraggles hunt for snow. But Gobo is on an adventure to “outer space” (aka above ground where the humans are), seeking inspiration for a new song. There he’ll reconnect with his Uncle Traveling Matt, and meet Sprocket and some new human friends. What more could you wish for? — K.P.
How to watch: The First Snow of Fraggle Rock debuts on Apple TV on Dec. 5.
13. Guns Up
Kevin James has a lot going on this season! Just a couple of weeks back he dropped Playdate, an action-comedy where he was the comic relief to a butt-kicking Alan Ritchson. Before that he got into TikTok in a way no one would have predicted. And now he’s the one kicking butt in Guns Up.
To his wife and kids, Ray Hayes (James) is a loving family man. But to “the family” (meaning the Mafia), he’s a henchman dying to get out of organized crime. Christina Ricci stars as his wife, who dreams of them surviving a very violent night so they can live the dream: opening a diner. Seeking something goofy and popcorn-munching worthy? Guns Out has got you covered. — K.P.
Starring: Kevin James, Christina Ricci, Maximilian Osinski, Luis Guzmán, and Melissa Leo
How to watch: Guns Up is now streaming on Paramount+.
12. Spartacus: House of Ashur
The historical drama series created by Steven S. DeKnight has been resurrected for a sequel show, Spartacus: House of Ashur. And 10 new episodes are coming soon, promising all the sword-and-sand action and drama that Spartacus fans have come to expect.
As the title suggests, this series will center on Ashur, a former gladiator, who — yes — died in the original series. But hey, Spartacus: House of Ashur offers, what if he didn’t? What if instead he headed the gladiator school where he once fought, training new warriors? According to Starz, “With Achillia, a gladiatrix, he sparks spectacles that defy Roman elite.” — K.P.
How to watch: Spartacus: House of Ashur debuts its first two episodes on Starz on Dec. 5.
11. The Family McMullen
30 years ago, Ed Burns broke through with the charming family dramedy The Brothers McMullen, which followed three Long Island siblings as they grappled with love, marriage, and infidelity. Now, The Family McMullen is a sequel that brings back a bunch of Burns’ original cast while growing the onscreen family.
Now in his fifties, Barry McMullen (Burns) is trying to be the best parent he can to his twentysomething kids, who’ve both come back home. Meanwhile, his brother, Patrick (Michael McGlone), and widowed sister-in-law, Molly (Connie Britton), have troubles of their own. But what is family for if not to get you through the tough times with lots of laughs? — K.P.
Starring: Connie Britton, Edward Burns, Michael McGlone, Tracee Ellis Ross, Halston Sage, Juliana Canfield, Pico Alexander, and Brian d’Arcy James
How to watch: The Family McMullen debuts on HBO Max on Dec. 5.
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10. It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley was an American singer-songwriter who made beautiful music and died too young. After his death, his influence and fandom continued to grow. In documentarian Amy Berg’s latest film, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, she looks back at the man, his music, and his legacy.
Archival footage from the ’90s, home movies from his youth, and interviews with his friends, family, and peers will give you a better understanding of all the sides of Buckley. It’s sure to be a story tragic and wondrous, like his music. So, have tissues handy. — K.P.
How to watch: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley debuts on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET on Dec. 4.
9. Reflection in a Dead Diamond
A glittering, bizarro French Riveria-set caper from Belgian filmmakers Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, Reflection in a Dead Diamond is made for folks looking for a little something off-kilter and rambunctious this week. The film revolves around 70-year-old former spy John Diman (Fabio Testi), who spends his retirement luxuriating in a hotel on the Côte d’Azur. There, he meets an enigmatic guest (Maria de Medeiros) who reminds him of an old enemy from his espionage days in the ’60s. But it couldn’t be, right? Considering the giallo horror and Western-noir vibes of the filmmaking duo’s Amer and Let the Corpses Tan, the cinematic stylings of the ’60s shine bright in Reflection in a Dead Diamond. — S.C.
Starring: Fabio Testi, Yannick Renier, Koen De Bouw, Maria de Medeiros, and Thi Mai Nguyen
How to watch: Reflection in a Dead Diamond debuts on Shudder on Dec. 5.
8. Troll 2
Horror nerds, be aware: We’re not talking about the 1990s cult classic Troll 2, beloved for how incredibly bad it was. This is the 2025 Troll 2, a much-anticipated sequel to Norwegian director Roar Uthaug’s Troll, which crushed on Netflix.
Brought from lore to life with spectacular visual effects, trolls are towering beasts in Norway that make men look like mice under their mighty feet. In Troll 2, things go into kaiju terrain as a pair of trolls face off. As you can see from the trailer, these beasts bring a new meaning to “raise the roof.” And we can’t wait to see what they get up to this time. — K.P.
Starring: Ine Marie Wilmann, Kim S. Falck-Jørgensen, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Sara Khorami, Jon Ketil Johnsen, Gard B. Eidsvold, Aksel Almaas, and Trond Magnum
How to watch: Troll 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
7. Very Important People, Season 3
If you love cringe comedy, you must see Very Important People.
Improvisational comedian Vic Michaelis plays a goofy version of themself (think Stephen Colbert circa The Colbert Report), which is a socially awkward interviewer, determined to make the most out of their weird array of guests. Now who are these guests? A cast of comedians, actors, and drag queen Katya undergo physical transformations from a crack team of make-up, hair, and wardrobe artists, then have to come up with a character for Vic to interview on the spot. The results are always weird, sometimes slyly satirical and — as someone who does interviews as part of my job — often anxiety inducing!
Watching an interview get derailed can be stressful, but on Very Important People, that’s when things just begin to heat up. — K.P.
Starring: Vic Michaelis, Rekha Shankar, Jeremy Culhane, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jacob Wysocki, Angela Giarratana, Eugene Cordero, Demi Adejuyigbe, Lisa Gilroy, Frankie Quinones, Caitlin Reilly, Laci Mosley, Zac Oyama, Katya, Rachel Pegram, Chelsea Peretti, and Anna Garcia
How to watch: Very Important People, Season 3 premieres on Dropout on Dec. 4.
6. The Abandons
Do you want to watch Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey face off? Who am I kidding, of course you do. Then check out Netflix’s The Abandons, which pits these two TV legends against one another in 1850s Washington.
Headey plays Irish rancher Fiona Nolan, who’s adopted four children and formed a tight-knit family. However, when the wealthy Van Ness family — led by matriarch Constance (Anderson) — encroach on Fiona’s land and everything she’s worked to build, the stage is set for a Western showdown, one between the haves and the have-nots. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
Starring: Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson, Lucas Till, Aisling Franciosi, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, and Natalia del Riego
How to watch: The Abandons is now streaming on Netflix.
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5. My Secret Santa
Imagine Tootsie but as a gender-flipped holiday rom-com. Hear me out.
In Tootsie, Dustin Hoffman is an actor who feels there’s no good roles for men. So he dresses in drag to get a role as a woman on a TV show. Now, in My Secret Santa, it’s that — except a single mom wants to get her daughter discounted snowboarding lessons, so applies for a job as a ski resort Santa by taking on the look and persona of an old man who happens to look like Santa (if he was made of plastic).
There’s just one problem. Out of her holly jolly drag, she catches the eye of a handsome man (Ryan Eggold) who has ties to the resort. If they fall for each other, could her Santa secret get out? What would that mean for her daughter’s snowboarding lessons? And can love win when it’s based on a beard-faced lie?! —K.P.
Starring: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, and Tia Mowry
How to watch: My Secret Santa is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Heated Rivalry
Hockey romance Heated Rivalry is driving the internet wild, and you, too, can get in on the action as new episodes hit HBO Max this week.
Based on the romance novel by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry introduces two hockey phenoms: Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Hockey fans drum up a narrative of bitter rivalry between them, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Off the ice, the pair are secretly hooking up — and maybe even catching feelings for one another. Tune in for enemies-to-lovers angst and sex scenes so steamy, they could melt the very ice Shane and Ilya skate on. — B.E.
Starring: Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, Sophie Nélisse, and Callan Potter
How to watch: Heated Rivalry is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes Friday at 12 a.m.
3. Mad Men
Maybe you’ve watched Mad Men a ludicrous amount of times. Maybe you watched it religiously when it was on TV from 2007 to 2015, savoring every episode. Maybe you’ve never seen it, instead watching it roll out over your feed through memes and GIF reactions through the years. Maybe you don’t think about it at all. Wherever you’re at, Matthew Weiner’s iconic, Emmy-winning period drama is back streaming on HBO Max, with the doors of Manhattan ad agency Sterling Cooper flung open once more to the triumphantly triggering sounds of “Zou Bisou Bisou.”
A quintessential consideration of the American Dream at a pivotal moment in the ’50s and ’60s for conservatism, capitalism, and counterculture, Mad Men introduced us to now-legendary and still-flawed characters like Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks), Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser), Betty Draper (January Jones), Roger Sterling (John Slattery) and more, clad in Janie Bryant’s sublime costumes. Could be time for a rewatch or a first foray; either way make sure you’ve got the stiff martinis and oysters ready (not you, Roger). — S.C.
Starring: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, Bryan Batt, Michael Gladis, Aaron Staton, Rich Sommer, Maggie Siff, John Slattery, Robert Morse, Jared Harris, Kiernan Shipka, Jessica Paré, Christopher Stanley, Jay R. Ferguson, Kevin Rahm, Ben Feldman, and Mason Vale Cotton
How to watch: Mad Men is now streaming on HBO Max.
2. Oh. What. Fun.
When it comes to the holidays, moms do most of the work in making everything merry and bright. And yet, there aren’t a lot of holiday movies about moms. Well, Oh. What. Fun is here to change that.
Mom and grandmother Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) gives all she’s got to getting the house decorated, the holiday treats prepped, the gifts bought and wrapped, and even planning a special family outing for the whole bunch. But do they appreciate her? Nope. They Home Alone her. Fed up, she takes off on a roadtrip to gift herself a little peace and seasonal vengeance.
Directed by Michael Showalter, Oh. What. Fun. is a comedy that begins with a seasonal meltdown and goes into festive shenanigans you won’t see coming. It may also make you want to call your mom (and apologize). — K.P.
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, and Joan Chen
How to watch: Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.
1. Jay Kelly
“George Clooney delivers one of the best comedic performances of his career in Jay Kelly,” I wrote in my NYFF review of Noah Baumbach’s latest.
In a bit of masterful casting, Baumbach has Clooney play a world-famous movie star who is unflappably charming and a bit of a buffoon. Thus, when Jay Kelly (Clooney) is faced with a mid-life crisis, he orders his entourage to follow him on an impromptu European tour, where he hopes to find solace in his cinematic legacy while reconnecting with his daughters. This makes for an ensemble comedy that’s as hilarious and smart as it is star-stuffed. As I concluded in my review, “In the end, Jay Kelly is a clever crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to amuse and make you think.” — K.P.
Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Grace Edwards, Stacy Keach, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Wilson, Eve Hewson, and Greta Gerwig
How to watch: Jay Kelly is now streaming on Netflix.
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