Netflix is adding an impressive 53 new shows and movies to the streaming service this week. That’s a lot, but despite the plethora of options, there’s a clear must-watch movie leading the pack. “Jay Kelly” is a new comedy-drama from acclaimed director Noah Baumbach (also Greta Gerwig’s husband) that stars George Clooney as an actor entering his golden years, wondering if he did everything right. With a cast that also stars Adam Sandler and Laura Dern, this Oscar-hopeful movie is one you won’t want to miss.
But “Jay Kelly” isn’t the only thing to check out this week. “The Abandons” is a new Western series starring “Game of Thrones” icon Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan, an Irish woman fending off the aristocratic Constance Van Ness’s (Gillian Anderson) attempts to claim Fiona’s property. Think Hatfields and McCoys, but set in the Pacific Northwest.
Malcolm McMillan
Malcolm has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. Every week, he hunts down the top shows and movies to watch on Netflix.
New on Netflix this week: Top picks
‘Jay Kelly’
“Jay Kelly” stars George Clooney as the titular Jay Kelly, a beloved actor, not unlike Mr. Clooney himself. Things seem to be on track for a Hollywood ending for Jay as he enters his golden years, but a few dramatic moments in his personal life knock him backwards (in one instance literally).
The event that kicks off this miniature downward spiral is when his daughter (Grace Edwards) declines to spend a few days with him before she leaves for college. So once he hits bottom and dusts himself off, he drops out of his upcoming move and heads to Europe to catch up with his daughter.
This doesn’t sit well with his manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), but he convinces Ron that he will make a couple of public appearances on the way. With that settled, the two of them and Jay’s publicist, Liz (Laura Dern), head to Paris. Based on the trailer, I expect director/co-writer Noah Baumbach to deliver some lighthearted humor and end on a bittersweet note. I can’t wait to watch.
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 5
‘The Abandons’
“The Abandons” feels like Hatfields and McCoys meets “Yellowstone,” set in 1850s Oregon. It stars Lena Headey as Fiona Nolan, an Irish woman who has built a family for herself despite being unable to conceive a child of her own. She’s adopted Elias (Nick Robinson) and Dahlia Teller (Diana Silvers), Albert Mason (Lamar Johnson) and Lilla Belle (Natalia del Riego) and acquired a home in the Pacific Northwest to settle down in.
But Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson) wants Fiona’s land to expand the growing town of Angel’s Ridge, and to strengthen her hold on the area as well. But Fiona has no intention of bowing to a tyrant, and her, her family, and perhaps some of the local townspeople are more than willing to use violent means to ensure that her land stays hers.
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 4
‘My Secret Santa’
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Netflix pumping out another Christmas rom-com. In “My Secret Santa,” Alexandra Breckenridge plays a single mother (who appears to not have a name?) hoping to give her daughter something special this Christmas: discount snowboarding lessons at a luxury ski resort. There’s just one problem … she just lost her job.
So this mischievous mother crafts a conniving concept. To get some cheap snowboarding lessons for her daughter, she decides to disguise herself as a man, so that the hotel at the resort will hire her to be the holiday season Santa Claus.
Of course, things go about as well as you’d expect. She has a wardrobe malfunction or two, drops some quite feminine Chapstick in the locker room of the resort while dressed as jolly ol’ Saint Nick, and (shockingly) starts to fall in love with the hotel manager, Matthew (Ryan Eggold), Further complicating things is that one of the resort staff (Tia Mowry) has started to become suspicious, and could threaten to expose the entire plot.
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 3
‘Matt Rife: Unwrapped – A Christmas Crowd Work Special’
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Matt Rife is one of the more successful stand-up comedians at the moment. Using the power of social media and self-produced comedy specials, Rife has built up a grassroots fan base that he’s parlayed into a global tour and multiple Netflix comedy specials.
Now, that journey hasn’t come without some bumps in the road, particularly with some of his more traditional specials drawing controversy and middling reviews. But his crowdwork remains a strong suit, and it’s that well he’ll be returning to in “Matt Rife: Unwrapped – A Christmas Crowd Work Special.” There’s no trailer yet, but Netflix says to expect Rife to explore themes such as “gifts, traditions and who’s made it on the naughty or nice list this year.”
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 2
‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’
Despite not renewing “With Love, Meghan” for additional seasons, it seems like Netflix isn’t totally out of the Meghan Markle business just yet. In “With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration,” the Duchess of Sussex invites viewers into her Montecito, California home, as she covers holiday how-tos such as creating holiday feasts, crafting heartfelt gifts, and more, all while sharing the fun with some special guests.
In this holiday special, the roster of celebrity surprises includes Naomi Osaka, Tom Colicchio, Will Guidara, Kelly Zajfen and Lindsay Roth. So make sure to tune in for some wintertime fun in the California sun.
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 3
‘Owning Manhattan’ season 2
In “Owning Manhattan,” New York real estate mogul Ryan Serhant takes viewers inside his brokerage, SERHANT, as he tries to build it into the top brokerage in the world. And with plenty of incredible Manhattan real estate to work with, some major wins in the world’s biggest market will go a long way towards achieving that goal.
In season 2, Netflix promises a reality TV program that it describes as “an emotional and physical roller coaster,” with record-breaking sales of over $50 million. There are significantly more new faces this season as well; Serhant says the company has grown from around 300 agents in the first season to over 1,000. But just because there are 1,000 agents now doesn’t mean they’ll all be there at the end of the season. As Serhant told Netflix, “If you don’t sell, you can’t be here.”
Watch on Netflix starting Dec. 5
‘Troll 2’
Don’t get this confused with “Troll 2” from 1990, a pretty much universally reviled film. No, this Norwegian flick is the follow-up to 2022’s epic monster movie “Troll,” which critics loved, but admittedly, audiences were a bit mixed on.
In that first film, a group led by Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann) had to stop an ancient giant troll from wreaking havoc after it was awakened in a Norwegian mountain. Now, in “Troll 2,” Nora and fellow “Troll” alumni Andreas Isaksen (Kim S. Falck-Jørgensen) and Major Kristoffer “Kris” Holm (Mads Sjøgård Pettersen) have to stop yet another troll from destroying Norway. This time, though, they have an unexpected ally in a second giant troll ready to help them fight the first.
Watch on Netflix now
Everything new on Netflix: Dec. 1-7
DECEMBER 1
“All The Empty Rooms” (Netflix documentary)
In this moving short documentary, a journalist and a photographer set out to memorialize the bedrooms left behind by children killed in school shootings.
“CoComelon Lane” season 6 (Netflix family)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Dive into the holidays as the residents of CoComelon Lane sing along with Santa, celebrate Hanukkah and more.
“Love is Blind: Italy” (IT) (Netflix series)
Divided into pods, Italian singles meet, date and get engaged — sight unseen — in their quest to find and marry their one true love.
“My Next Guest with David Letterman and Adam Sandler” (Netflix series)
Adam Sandler invites Dave backstage on his comedy tour, then they sit down at NYU to chat about standup, famous roles and his beloved Stratocaster.
“Playing Gracie Darling” (AU) (Netflix series)
Decades after her childhood best friend vanished at a séance gone wrong, a psychologist must face her haunted past when another young girl goes missing.
“Troll 2” (NO) (Netflix film)
When a dangerous new troll unleashes devastation across their homeland, Nora, Andreas and Major Kris embark on their most perilous mission yet.
- “A League of Their Own”
- “As Good as It Gets”
- “Bad Teacher”
- “Big Momma’s House”
- “Big Momma’s House 2”
- “Brightburn”
- “Burlesque”
- “Cheaper by the Dozen”
- “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”
- “Christmas Break-In”
- “Godzilla”
- “Hollow Man”
- “Joy for Christmas”
- “Kung Fu Panda”
- “Kung Fu Panda 2”
- “Kung Fu Panda 3”
- “Little Women”
- “Pulp Fiction”
- “Stripes”
- “The Ugly Truth”
- “Victoria” seasons 1-3
- “What Lies Beneath”
- “The Wolf of Wall Street”
- “Zero Dark Thirty”
DECEMBER 2
“Matt Rife: Unwrapped – A Christmas Crowd Work Special” (Netflix comedy special)
Matt Rife: Unwrapped – A Christmas Crowd Work Special arrives just in time for the holidays. In the special, he explores gifts, traditions, and who’s made it on the naughty or nice list this year.
- “Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches” season 2
DECEMBER 3
“My Secret Santa” (Netflix film)
A single mom needs a job. A ski resort needs a Santa. Disguised as a St. Nick lookalike, can Taylor fool a charming hotel heir into ho-ho-hiring her?
“Stranded with my Mother-in-Law” season 3 (BR) (Netflix series)
Tensions rise as six new couples arrive on paradise island with extra baggage — their mothers-in-law — and compete for a huge cash prize.
“With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration” (Netflix series)
‘Tis the season! Meghan shares her favorite holiday traditions, seasonal crafts and family recipes with friends old and new in this festive special.
DECEMBER 4
“The Abandons” (Netflix series)
In 1850s Washington, two families led by powerful matriarchs — one wealthy, one poor but deeply loyal — battle for supremacy on the unforgiving frontier.
“The Believers” season 2 (TH) (Netflix series)
To save their families, Win and Game raise the cash and the stakes for a sinister politician’s dreams. Meanwhile, Dear sets out on her own to start over.
“Fugue State 1986” (CO) (Netflix series)
An army veteran lures a young student into a dark, twisted friendship in this chilling drama about a massacre in ’80s Bogotá, inspired by real events.
“I Wish You Had Told Me” (PH) (Netflix series)
When a young missionary uncovers his late father’s long-held secret, he travels from the Philippines to Spain in search of his dad’s forbidden love.
“Lali: Time to Step Up” (AR) (Netflix documentary)
Pop star Lali pulls back the curtain in this intimate documentary, tracking her artistic evolution and self-discovery while on her first stadium tour.
- “A Lot Like Christmas”
- “Forrest Gump”
- “Mean Girls” (2004)
- “Mean Girls” (2024)
DECEMBER 5
“Jay Kelly” (GB) (Netflix film)
Movie star Jay Kelly confronts his past and present on a journey through Europe with his devoted manager in this film from Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach.
“Love and Wine” (ZA) (Netflix film)
A prestigious wine farm heir trades lives with his down-to-earth childhood friend to prove that his luck with the ladies is more than wallet deep.
“The Making of Jay Kelly” (GB) (Netflix documentary)
From the immersive opening shot to the emotional final line, go behind the scenes with director Noah Baumbach, George Clooney, Adam Sandler and more.
“The New Yorker at 100” (Netflix documentary)
For the first time, The New Yorker opens up its offices to Academy Award-winning director Marshall Curry, allowing unprecedented access to its newsroom at a pivotal moment for all media, offering a rare look at what it took to publish a century of intrepid journalism, generation-defining fiction, and unforgettable cartoons.
“The Night My Dad Saved Christmas 2” (ES) (Netflix film)
When the sneaky director of a toy company kidnaps Santa, it’s up to a father and son to rescue him and save Christmas from disaster.
“The Price of Confession” (KR) (Netflix series)
Accused of killing her husband, a woman is offered a way out by a mysterious stranger: in exchange for a confession in her place, she must commit murder.
“Owning Manhattan” season 2 (Netflix series)
Ryan Serhant aims to break into the posh uptown housing market, but will team rivalries, egos, gossip and betrayals stand in the way of success?
DECEMBER 7
Leaving Netflix This Week
Leaving 12/1/25
“Austin Powers in Goldmember”
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”
“Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”
“Back to the Future”
“Back to the Future Part II”
“Back to the Future Part III”
“Beverly Hills Cop”
“Beverly Hills Cop II”
“Beverly Hills Cop III”
“Billy Madison”
“Clueless”
“Cold Pursuit”
“The Dark Tower”
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
“Edge of Tomorrow”
“Escape Room”
“Game Night”
“The Goonies”
“The Happytime Murders”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Kicking and Screaming”
“The Nutty Professor”
“The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps”
“Paddington”
“Wonka”
Leaving 12/3/25
“How I Met Your Mother” seasons 1-9
Leaving 12/5/25
“Compliance”
Leaving 12/7/25
“Gods of Egypt”
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