HBO Max doesn’t really care if you can’t keep up with your watchlist. There are so many premieres scheduled for December 2025 that it covers everything from prestige films to weird comedy, anime classics, documentaries, and great sports content. The sort of lineup it is, that just “one episode” is an absolute lie. Whether you are homefeeding the holidays or hiding from them, here are the 10 best new arrivals on HBO Max this December. The list is from good to best.
10. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Jaws was one of the movies that changed Hollywood forever, and this National Geographic documentary is a fitting celebration of its 50-year legacy. The film delves into the disorder, innovation, and unintentional brilliance of the original blockbuster by including the insights of Steven Spielberg and other notable people like James Cameron, Jordan Peele, and composer John Williams. It is a pretty interesting take on how the history of movies was made that is equally enjoyable to film geeks and beach goers, with a sense of caution.
9. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Maybe you want to watch something that is daring and out of the ordinary? Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is that exact thing. This very dark but at the same time humorously and sharply socially commenting drama of A24 has been receiving a lot of buzz, and it will premiere on HBO Max soon. This is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits, and therefore, only those who are willing to view something different will be rewarded.
8. Happy and You Know It
This HBO original series is the perfect solution for kids who are stuck inside during the winter vacation; however, grown-ups might be more than just a little surprised by how much they could also like it. Filled with music, movement, and fun, Happy and You Know It is the complete learning and laughter experience turned into a sing-along. It is a very positive, somewhat disorderly, and definite family-friendly viewing success.
7. Summer Wars, Perfect Blue, and Wolf Children
The lovers of anime will be having a great time this month. HBO Max brings in three of the most loved animated films that are different in nature and evoke different feelings: Summer Wars is a story about digital chaos and love, Perfect Blue is a psychological horror story, and Wolf Children is a touching family story told beautifully. Whether you are rewatching the old or discovering them for the first time, these three are absolute musts.
6. Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh
Sarah Sherman, who is more popularly known as Sarah Squirm, takes no prisoners in her first stand-up special, and it is definitely not a show for people with weak stomachs. One can expect to see here the most extreme visuals, hear the most vile humor, and be delighted with the fact that the jokes will cross every imaginable border, without exception, with great joy. If you like your comedy weird, messy, and memorable, then this hour here is an absolute hit with you. Just a little warning: snacks may turn out to be a not-so-good idea.
5. Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East
The Hard Knocks series is back with a look deep inside one of the most fiercely competitive divisions of football. This season, the cameras are on the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, and the Super Bowl champion Eagles, capturing not only the pressure, the rivalries, and the raw emotion of the NFL grind but also the fans’ anticipation. The only way to the hardcore football fans’ must-watch list is through Liev Schreiber’s iconic narration. If all they want is game highlights, then this is not for them.
4. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
One moment, if you want badly, and against all of your better judgment, Spinal Tap is there. Rob Reiner brings back Nigel, David, and Derek for what looks like their last tour, fueled by supreme ridiculousness and minimal self-awareness. Spinal Tap II is loud, out of this world, and ‘thank you or no’ kind of fun; it shows that going to eleven is really what is done by some bands in the end… eternally.
3. Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is one of the most talked-about films that have come out this year in a very short time. It is a historical drama turned vampire horror, unfolding in the Jim Crow South, where Michael B. Jordan plays the role of twin brothers in a tough fight for survival. The film is very stylish, a bit disturbing, filled with meanings, and therefore it is a piece of horror that has a certain weight, and it hits hard.
2. It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
This very long-awaited documentary is what Jeff Buckley’s story has always deserved. Directed by Amy Berg, the film tells of his rapid rise, his only album Grace, and the very unfortunate incident that made him immortal. It is very touching without being heavy-handed and therefore a must-see for music lovers and people who are fascinated by artistic legacy.
1. One Battle After Another
Leading the pack is Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” a darkly funny thriller that is already the talk around the awards season. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a character who was once radical and is now pulled back to chaos because of the disappearance of his daughter, and as a result, he has to face his old enemy, a character played by Sean Penn. It is a very sharp, very weird, and very deep film that, in fact, commands the viewer’s full attention, and then it gives it back.
HBO Max is not just killing time this December; it is playing a full and hard game. There is something for every kind of viewer in the platform’s end-of-year lineup, from prestige cinema to cult favorites and everything in between. Make your schedule free, get your snacks ready, and let the fun begin.