The month of December brings many things, be it indulgent meals, gift-giving traditions, and the dreaded holiday traffic as people utilizePlanes, Trains, and Automobilesto visit loved ones. With so much going on, many people question if and when they could possibly find time to sit down and watch a whole movie when, in reality, there are even more opportunities to do just that! Of course, it’s always polite to offer assistance in the kitchen when you are a guest in someone else’s home, but there are many hosts who absolutelyinsistthat you “sit down and relax” while they cook up a storm. That’s movie time. Are you wrapping presents? That’s the perfect opportunity to throw a beloved classic holiday movie in the background. Hulu makes this process even easier by having a special option on their platform called “Happy Huludays” that highlights all the best holiday movies, both new and nostalgic.
However, this month doesn’t have toonlybe about traditional holiday movies. In fact, there has been an increase lately of campy holiday-themed horror movies being created that help some people cope with the stress that comes with this time of the year, includingViolent Night, featuringStranger Things’David Harbouras a rugged and ruthless Santa Claus,The Mean One, which is a twisted version ofDr. Seuss’How the Grinch Stole Christmas, orMichael Dougherty’sKrampus, which is based on German folklore about “the evil shadow of Saint Nicholas.” Additionally, some people prefer to avoid holiday movies entirely and stick with the genre that suits them best.
Regardless of if you prefer warm and fuzzy holiday movies likeLove, Actually, or if you would prefer to stick with non-holiday-themed movies, Hulu has plenty to offer this December. This handy guide will help you find the perfect selection for your next movie night!
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Available on:December 1
Director:Andrew Adamson |Runtime:143 Minutes |Genre:Adventure, Fantasy
Cast:Tilda Swinton, Georgie Henley, William Moseley, James McAvoy, Anna Popplewell, Liam Neeson
Based on the classicC. S. Lewisnovel of the same name,The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobeis a perfect movie to watch while you gear up for the coming winter months. If you’re unfamiliar with the premise, the story follows four siblings, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley) as they take up residence in a remote country estate during World War II. During a game of hide-and-seek, the youngest, Lucy, discovers a wardrobe that serves as a portal to a fantasy world filled with mythological creatures.
When she returns with her siblings in tow, they discover that the magical realm of Narnia is fraught with an ongoing conflict between the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) and the creator and protector of the land, Aslan the lion (Liam Neeson). Coming from a war-torn reality, the siblings find themselves deeply enmeshed in the politics of Narnia and join arms with Aslan and his remaining loyal subjects to free the land from the clutches of the White Witch. In addition to the first movie in the series, Hulu will also be adding the subsequent films,The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince CaspianandThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treaderon December 1 as well.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
During the World War II bombings of London, four English siblings are sent to a country house where they will be safe. One day Lucy (Georgie Henley) finds a wardrobe that transports her to a magical world called Narnia. After coming back, she soon returns to Narnia with her brothers, Peter (William Moseley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and her sister, Susan (Anna Popplewell). There they join the magical lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), in the fight against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton).
Paddington 2 (2017)
Director:Paul King |Runtime:104 minutes|Genre:Family, Adventure Comedy
Cast:Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins
Many people overlook family-friendly movies as they get older, often disregarding them as “childish.” As stated inThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Javi Gutierrez (Pedro Pascal) andNicolas Cageheartily disagree. In the movie, Pascal’s character describes the movie as his third favorite movie of all time, stating “I cried through the entire thing. It made me want to be a better man.”
Paddington 2can be watched as a standalone movie, with no need to watch the 2015Paddingtonfirst. As described inThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, the movie definitely holds up to the expectations as the loveable British bear attempts to gain employment to buy a birthday present for his Aunt Lucy’s (Imelda Staunton) 100th birthday. When the intended gift is stolen, Paddington tries to chase the thief but ultimately ends up getting blamed for the crime. If this movie can bring Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal to tears and warm their hearts, it’s worth watching on Hulu this December.
Paddington 2
The Jingle Bell Jubilee (2023)
Available on:December 3
Director:Ernie Barbarash |Runtime:N/A |Genre:Romance, Comedy
Cast:Erin Agostino, Marshall Wiliams, John B. Lowe, Samantha Kendrick, Kristian Jordan
Originally titled “The Christmas Regift,”The Jingle Bell Jubileefeatures a city manager (Marshall Williams) who recruits his childhood friend (Erin Agostino) to help him organize a Christmas charity event in their hometown. She agrees, but simultaneously works behind the scenes as a “Christmas Cupid” and attempts to set him up with her close friend. As the two of them work together on this massive project, will she end up falling for him herself?The Jingle Bell Jubileeis directed byErnie Barbarash, who served as a producer on the 2000 cult classic,American Psycho. Since then, he has directed 6 other Christmas movies, includingChristmas in Rome, andI’m Glad It’s Christmas.
Mob Land (2023)
Available on:December 4
Director:Nicholas Maggio |Runtime:111 minutes |Genre:Crime, Thriller
Cast:John Travolta, Shiloh Fernandez, Stephen Dorff, Kevin Dillon
Evil Dead’sShiloh Fernandezstars in this gritty crime drama as Shelby Connors, a desperate man with a family to provide for. Shelby and his brother Trey (Kevin Dillon) decide to rob a local pill dealer, which results in alerting the New Orleans mafia hitman, Clayton Minor (Stephen Dorff). He targets Shelby’s wife and young daughter as a way to draw the brothers out of hiding. As they attempt to evade “The Enforcer” and keep their families safe, local sheriff Bodie Davis (John Travolta) attempts to figure out what happened and how to prevent further bloodshed in his town.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Available on:December 6
Director:John M. Chu |Runtime:121 minutes |Genre:Romantic Comedy, Drama
Cast:Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan
While not a holiday movie,Crazy Rich Asiansencompasses the ups and downs ofcomplicated family dynamicsthat often come out while visiting relatives during the holiday season.Constance Wustars as an NYU professor who is swept up into a world of drama after she is invited to visit her boyfriend Nick’s family in Singapore for a wedding. Unbeknownst to her, Nick (Henry Golding) comes from an extremely affluent family who immediately disapproves of her because of her economic status. During this trip, Rachel has to decide whether she loves Nick enough to stay with him despite the less-than-warm welcome she receives from his family.
During hisAcademy Award acceptance speechfor his performance inEverything Everywhere All At Once, Vietnamese actorKe Huy QuanattributedCrazy Rich Asiansas the inspiration for his return to Hollywood after a long break due to racism within the industry regarding Asian actors.Michelle Yeoh, who also won an Oscar for her performance inEverything Everywhere All At Once, stars inCrazy Rich Asiansas the overbearing and disapproving mother that Rachel must win over.
Crazy Rich Asians
This contemporary romantic comedy based on a global bestseller follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.
The Retirement Plan (2023)
Available on:December 15
Director:Tim Brown |Runtime:103 minutes |Genre:Crime Thriller, Comedy
Cast:Nicolas Cage, Ashley Greene, Ron Perlman, Jackie Earle Haley, Ernie Hudson
After Ashley (Ashley Greene) and her young daughter find themselves caught up in the middle of a crime syndicate, she seeks out her estranged father, Matt (Nicolas Cage) for help. Matt, who is living out his retirement days in the Cayman Islands, ends up having a secret past of his own that comes into play when he is forced to protect his family from crime boss Donnie (Jackie Earle Haley) and his second-hand man, Bobo (Ron Perlman). Ashley quickly learns that her father is not the man she originally thought he was, as his tactical survival skills emerge once they are hunted by Donnie.
The Retirement Plan
When Ashley and her young daughter Sarah get caught up in a criminal enterprise that puts their lives at risk, she turns to estranged father Matt, currently living the life of a retired beach bum in the Cayman Islands.
Operation Napoleon (2023)
Available on:December 21
Director:Óskar Thór Axelsson |Runtime:112 minutes |Genre:Thriller
Cast:Vivian Ólafsdóttir, Jack Fox, Iain Glen
This Icelandic thriller focuses on Kristin (Vivian Ólafsdóttir), an attorney who finds herself swept up in an international conspiracy after her brother discovers an old Nazi aircraft on one of Iceland’s largest glaciers. Based onArnaldur Indriðason’s best-selling novel of the same name,Operation Napoleonalso starsGame of Thronesveteran actor,Iain Glen, who played Ser Jorah Mormont in the HBO series. If you’re a fan of other “Nordic-Noir” films likeThe Girl With the Dragon Tattooor the new Hulu original seriesA Murder At the End of the World, this is the movie for you this December.
Maggie Moore(s) (2023)
Available on:December 22
Director:John Slattery |Runtime:99 minutes |Genre:Dark Comedy, Thriller
Cast:Jon Hamm, Tina Fey, Nick Mohammad, Micah Stock
If you’re a fan of the1996 filmFargoor the FX original series of the same name, this crime-thriller movie should be at the top of your watchlist. While it doesn’t have the fun Midwestern accents, this movie is based on true events.Maggie Moore(s)follows Jay Moore (Micah Stock), a local business owner who gets wrapped up in criminal activities. When his wife, Maggie, threatens to report him to the police, he hires a man to scare her out of it. When the hitman ends up killing her instead of just scaring her, things get complicated. This is further exasperated by the fact that there are two women named “Maggie Moore” in the small town. New Mexico police chief Jordan Sanders (Jon Hamm), and his deputy (Nick Mohammad) have to get to the bottom of multiple homicides in their town and figure out which Maggie is the one they’re looking for.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Available on:December 25
Director:Quentin Tarantino |Runtime:161 minutes |Genre:Comedy, Drama, Action
Cast:Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Dakota Fanning
Academy Award winnerQuentin Tarantino’s most recent film,Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, isveryloosely based on the shocking murder of actressSharon Tatein the late 1960s at the hands of Charles Manson’s cult followers. The movie also featuresLeonardo DiCaprioas Rick Dalton, a washed-up actor who was most popular in the 50s, and his best friend/stunt double, Cliff (Brad Pitt). Dalton, who lives next to Sharon Tate and her director husband, hopes to revive his career by befriending them, as he and Cliff both struggle to find work. Filled to the brim with nostalgia, cameo appearances, and Tarantino movie magic,Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodis a great choice to throw on the TV after all the Christmas morning excitement has died down.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.
It Lives Inside (2023)
Available on:December 29
Director:Bishal Dutta |Runtime:99 minutes |Genre:Supernatural Horror
Cast:Megan Suri, Neeru Bajwa, Mohana Krishnan
As she tries to assimilate into Western culture, teenage Samidha “Sam” (Megan Suri) struggles with her identity as a first-generation Indian-American. Her mother disapproves of herrejection of their cultural traditions, while her father seems less concerned. In Sam’s attempts to fit in with her classmates, she isolates her childhood best friend, Tamira. When Tamira presents Sam with a glass jar she claims contains an evil entity, Sam becomes embarrassed and smashes the jar, unleashing the spirit and threatening the lives of everyone she is close to. The entity, a creature that comes from stories both Tamira and Sam’s mothers told them as children, feeds on emotions like fear and loneliness, not unlike Pennywise the Clown fromStephen King’sIT. The more Sam fights back, the more ammunition she gives the demon.
