December is a great time to go out and see something in theaters, mainly because this is when all the good movies come out—like Paul Thomas Anderson’s stoner odyssey Inherent Vice (Dec 12) and Mike Leigh’s extraordinary Mr. Turner (Dec 19). But sometimes, you just want to plant it at home on the couch. Fortunately, Netflix comes to the rescue with an especially strong slate of new titles fresh to the platform. And with holiday spending on the horizon (check out our gift guide), we don’t blame you for opting for a flat rental fee rather than shelling out precious dollars that could be better spent on presents (for us!). Our top five new movies on Netflix:
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) It’s all true, apparently: the dwarf-tossing competitions, the sex sprees on transatlantic flights, even the reckless sinking of a multimillion-dollar yacht, all re-created with no-holds-barred exorbitance by Martin Scorsese.
The Trip to Italy (2013) Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s dueling Michael Caine impressions are back in this riotous follow-up to 2010’s The Trip. This time, the chatty duo is headed to Italy’s glorious Amalfi Coast and several droolworthy plates of pasta.
I Am Ali (2013) Made with the participation of several members of the iconic heavyweight boxer’s family, Clare Lewins’s documentary gives some behind-the-scenes insight into the champ’s persona, while still burnishing the righteous myth.
Almost Famous (2000) Youth expert Cameron Crowe (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) turns his insightful eye to his own meteoric rise as a teenage journalist for Rolling Stone. The resulting movie, a charmer, speaks to something bedrock about dreaming big.
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997) The oh-so-’90s pairing of Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino—as the eponymous high school reunionating duo—is the main reason to see this cult-hit comedy, on that earns its vibe of friends-forever solidarity.
And here’s the full list of what’s coming to Netflix streaming in December, by date:
Available December 1
A Knight’s Tale
Almost Famous
American Beauty
Bewitched
Jewtopia
Knights of Badassdom
Madison
Out of the Clear Blue Sky
Out of Time
The Out-of-Towners
Troop Beverly Hills
Available December 3
Oculus
Son of God
Available December 5
Bill Burr: I’m Sorry You Feel That Way
Available December 6
American Horror Story: Coven
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (Super-Sized Version)
Ava & Lala
Sharknado 2: The Second One
Available December 8
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 3
Available December 9
I Am Ali
Drive Hard
Available December 10
A Haunted House 2
Available December 11
The Village
The Wolf of Wall Street
Available December 12
Broadchurch: Season 1
Marco Polo
Nick Offerman: American Ham
Available December 13
Don’t Blink
Available December 15
Jake Squared
Available December 18
Ragnarok
The Honourable Woman: Season 1
Available December 19
All Hail King Julien
Available December 20
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Available December 22
Dark Skies
Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Available December 23
The Trip to Italy
Available December 24
Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return
Available December 25
Good People
Available December 27
Child of God
Labor Day
Available December 28
Behaving Badly
Comedy Bang! Bang!: Season 3
I, Frankenstein
Maron: Season 2
Jessie: Season 3
Available December 30
Last Weekend