As of August 10, 2026, the confirmed U.S. December streaming calendar is still short. The clearest dates currently announced are The Man With the Bag on Prime Video on December 2, Ghostsmas on Paramount+ on December 10, Netflix’s animated films In Waves on December 11 and Ray Gunn on December 18, and the first season of HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on HBO Max on December 25.
This is therefore an upcoming December 2026 guide, not a completed monthly schedule. Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV and Peacock have announced 2026 programming but have not yet published a complete, date-specific December lineup in the official material reviewed. Dates below are U.S. dates unless noted otherwise, and the guide separates confirmed releases from titles listed only for 2026.
Last updated: August 10, 2026. Streaming services typically publish their detailed December calendars closer to the month. Release dates, episode plans, regional availability and subscription requirements can change, so this page should be checked again in late November and during December.
December 2026 streaming: the five confirmed scripted picks
The following five entries are the strongest confirmed movies, series and specials currently identifiable from first-party announcements. A separate section covers Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL programming, which is a live sports event rather than a movie or show.
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| Date | Title | Service | Format and release pattern | Why it matters | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2 | The Man With the Bag | Prime Video | Holiday movie; available as a film rather than an episodic release | Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in a Christmas comedy about Santa’s stolen magic bag and the naughty list used to track down the thief. | Prime Video availability is confirmed by Amazon. Verify the title’s current subscription status in the U.S. app before subscribing or canceling; Amazon also carries separate add-on channels and rent-or-buy titles. |
| December 10 | Ghostsmas | Paramount+ | Two-episode holiday special; not a full-season drop | The CBS comedy gets a dedicated Christmas event, making it the clearest confirmed choice for viewers who want a holiday special with returning characters. | CBS says its programming will be available live and on demand through Paramount+. The cited announcement does not specify plan-level restrictions or every market’s live-streaming details. |
| December 11 | In Waves | Netflix | Animated movie; one-time feature release | A shy teenager falls in love with a surfer before a sudden illness changes their future. It is the more emotionally oriented of Netflix’s two confirmed December animated films. | Netflix says the film will be released globally except France, which includes the U.S. No separate rental or add-on channel is identified in the announcement. |
| December 18 | Ray Gunn | Netflix | Animated movie; one-time feature release | Brad Bird’s alternate-future detective story follows Raymond Gunn through aliens, murder and a multimedia star. Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits are among the announced cast. | Netflix says the film will release globally. The announcement does not provide a separate U.S. rental option or plan-specific information. |
| December 25 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | HBO Max | First season of a television adaptation; eight episodes, with the episode cadence not yet specified in the cited listing | This is the first season of HBO’s new adaptation of the books, not a re-release of the 2001 film. It is likely to be December’s biggest franchise-driven series launch. | HBO Max subscription; the cited announcement does not state which plan tiers will carry it or whether episodes will arrive all at once. |
Important: A scheduled date is not a guarantee that the date cannot move. None of the cited announcements supplies a release time, so do not assume a midnight launch or a particular time zone.
What counts as new in this guide?
Monthly streaming roundups often combine very different kinds of availability. This guide labels them separately so a new original is not confused with an older movie entering a library or a title that requires another subscription.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| New streaming original | A film, series or special being presented by a service as a new original release. |
| New season | A returning series with a new season. The premiere date does not necessarily mean the whole season is available. |
| Subscription-streaming debut | A film becoming available as part of a subscription after a theatrical, digital or other release. A theatrical date alone does not establish this date. |
| Library addition | An older movie or show newly added to a service. It may leave again later in the month. |
| Holiday special | A one-off event or short seasonal installment, such as Ghostsmas. |
| Live event | Sports or live entertainment that may have a start time, location or plan restriction different from an on-demand title. |
| Add-on, rental or purchase | A title visible inside an aggregator such as Prime Video but not included in the basic service subscription. It must be labeled separately. |
The December 2026 release calendar
This calendar contains only dates currently supported by the cited official announcements. An empty date range does not mean no service will release anything then; it means a complete official calendar is not public yet.
December 1–7
- December 2 — The Man With the Bag, Prime Video: Arnold Schwarzenegger holiday comedy. It is a movie, so there is no weekly episode schedule.
December 8–14
- December 10 — Ghostsmas, Paramount+: CBS’s two-episode holiday special. The announcement confirms the special and Paramount+ availability, but readers should check the service for the precise live and on-demand access arrangement.
- December 11 — In Waves, Netflix: Animated feature released globally except France, including the U.S.
December 15–21
- December 18 — Ray Gunn, Netflix: Brad Bird’s animated private-detective story. It is a feature film, not a weekly series.
December 22–31
- December 25 — Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, HBO Max: The scheduled debut of the first season of HBO’s new eight-episode adaptation. HBO has not yet specified in the cited listing whether the season will be released in full or weekly.
- December 25 — Christmas Gameday, Netflix: Netflix’s 2026 television guide lists two NFL matchups for Christmas Day. This belongs in the live-events category, not alongside scripted movies and shows. The cited listing does not provide the exact matchups, start times or all access details.
What to watch by mood
These recommendations are based on the confirmed slate’s format, premise, seasonal relevance and practical usefulness—not on review scores that are not yet available.
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The HBO Max adaptation is the month’s largest franchise event in the confirmed schedule. Warner Bros. Discovery describes it as a faithful television adaptation with an eight-episode first season, while the classic films remain separate titles in the franchise library. That distinction matters: viewers are choosing a new series interpretation of the books, not another December showing of the original film.
Best holiday movie: The Man With the Bag
For a traditional Christmas viewing slot, Amazon’s Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy is the obvious early pick. The stolen magic bag and naughty-list premise make it more immediately seasonal than the other confirmed films. Its usefulness is practical as well as thematic: it is a single movie rather than a multi-week commitment.
Best holiday special: Ghostsmas
Ghostsmas is the choice for viewers who want familiar characters and a short seasonal event. Because it consists of two episodes, it offers more story than a conventional one-off special without requiring a full-season binge. It should not be described as a new season of Ghosts.
Best family-oriented early pick: The Man With the Bag
The holiday premise and comedy format make The Man With the Bag the strongest family-viewing candidate in the currently confirmed list. A suitable age rating and the movie’s final content profile had not been supplied in the cited announcement, so parents should check the Prime Video listing before planning a younger-child screening.
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In Waves appears to be the better choice for an emotional coming-of-age story, while Ray Gunn is the stronger option for viewers drawn to science-fiction, detective fiction and noir-style action. Both are notable because Netflix has supplied exact December dates rather than merely listing them among its 2026 animation projects.
Best new series: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
It is the only clearly confirmed new scripted series in this snapshot. The major unanswered practical question is release cadence: an announced premiere date is not evidence that all eight episodes will be available on December 25.
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Best returning-series event: Ghostsmas, with a qualification
There is no confirmed full returning-season release in the current December list. Ghostsmas is the closest fit, but it is a two-episode holiday special. That wording is important for anyone deciding whether the month offers a new season worth keeping Paramount+ for.
Best action or thriller pick: Ray Gunn
The alternate-future city, private detective, aliens and murder give Ray Gunn the clearest action-noir or thriller hook. The film’s animated format also makes it distinct from the live-action franchise and holiday offerings arriving elsewhere.
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Best prestige drama: no confirmed pick yet
The currently verified December slate does not include a specifically announced prestige or awards-season drama. That may change when the remaining services publish their monthly schedules; it would be misleading to fill this category with a title that has only a broad 2026 designation.
Best documentary: no confirmed December date yet
For DocumentaryTube readers, this is the most important limitation of the current research snapshot: no documentary film or documentary series has a verified December 2026 U.S. release date in the official material reviewed. Do not treat Netflix’s undated 2026 movie list, a platform’s broad slate, or a theatrical release as confirmation of a documentary streaming date. This section should be updated when a service publishes a documentary title and an exact December date.
Best live event: Netflix’s Christmas Gameday
Netflix lists two NFL matchups on December 25. It is the only clearly identified live event in the current source set, but it should be kept separate from the movie-and-series calendar because live broadcasts can have different start times, regional rights and on-demand rules.
Best one-month subscription candidate: Netflix, based on the confirmed slate
Netflix currently offers the most concentrated confirmed December schedule: In Waves on December 11, Ray Gunn on December 18 and the Christmas Day NFL listing. That makes it the strongest candidate for someone choosing one service for December alone. This is not a price comparison, and the decision may change when Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, Peacock and Prime Video publish their complete schedules.
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Confirmed December releases
- In Waves — December 11: Netflix’s animation announcement describes a shy teenager’s romance with a surfer and the life-changing illness that follows. The film is global except France, so the date applies to U.S. viewers.
- Ray Gunn — December 18: Brad Bird’s animated detective film is set in an alternate future and includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Waits in its announced cast. Netflix says it will release globally.
Both are feature films, not series, so neither has a weekly release schedule. The cited Netflix announcement gives dates but not a U.S. release time or plan-tier breakdown.
Netflix movies listed for 2026 but without confirmed December dates
Netflix’s official 2026 movie guide includes the following titles without a specific December day. Several have Christmas themes, but a Christmas subject or a year-only listing is not the same as a confirmed December streaming date:
- A Dog’s Perfect Christmas
- The Gospel of Christmas
- Guarding Stars
- In a Holidaze
- Here Comes the Flood
- Animals
- Best of the Best
These belong in a “coming later” list until Netflix supplies a month and day. They should not be inserted into the daily calendar.
Live event: Christmas Gameday
Netflix’s 2026 television guide lists two NFL games for December 25. They may be useful to readers planning a Christmas viewing day, but they are live sports rather than new movies or scripted shows. Exact teams, start times and any local distribution details should be checked when Netflix publishes them.
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New on Prime Video
The Man With the Bag — December 2
Amazon’s confirmed December entry is The Man With the Bag, a holiday comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa. In Amazon’s description, Santa’s magic bag is stolen, forcing him to use the naughty list to find the culprit.
Amazon identifies the film for Prime Video, but readers should distinguish the included Prime Video catalog from the service’s other storefront options. Amazon also offers separate subscriptions to channels such as HBO Max, Apple TV, Peacock, MGM+ and Crunchyroll, along with movies and shows available to rent or buy. A title appearing in the Prime Video interface does not automatically mean it is included with a standard Prime membership.
Amazon’s separate 2026 announcement places The Rings of Power Season 3 on November 11 and The Terminal List Season 2 on October 21. Those are not December releases and should not be moved into this calendar unless Amazon changes their dates. The detailed Prime Video December 2025 guide shows the level of daily detail readers can expect when Amazon publishes the 2026 version: originals, new episodes, library additions, live sports and separate access types.
New on Disney+
December 2026 schedule coming later
No specific December 2026 Disney+ movie or series date was verified in the official material reviewed for this update. Disney’s press site is publishing monthly Next on Disney+ packages for 2026, but the index currently surfaces releases through July; the clearly identified December package in the archive is for December 2025.
This is a publication-status note, not a claim that Disney+ will have no December releases. Do not infer a Disney+ streaming date from a theatrical release, a broad 2026 announcement or an expected post-theatrical window. Disney’s monthly guides also warn that library availability varies by region and can change.
New on HBO Max
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — December 25
Warner Bros. Discovery lists the first season of HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation for December 25 on HBO Max. The first season is described as eight episodes and as a faithful adaptation of the books.
Use the title carefully: in this context, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the name of the first season of a television adaptation, not the 2001 feature film. The original movies remain separate entries in the broader franchise library. The cited announcement does not yet state whether HBO Max will release all eight episodes together, begin with a multi-episode premiere, or release them weekly.
Use HBO Max for this 2026 U.S. guide rather than the older “Max” label. Plan-level availability and the release time were not specified in the cited listing.
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New on Paramount+
Ghostsmas — December 10
CBS’s 2026–27 schedule lists Ghostsmas as a two-episode holiday special on December 10. The same announcement says CBS programs are available to stream live and on demand through Paramount+.
The announcement confirms Paramount+ availability generally, but it does not answer every access question. Check whether the special streams simultaneously with the CBS broadcast, when the on-demand version appears, which Paramount+ plans carry it and whether the live feed is available in every U.S. market. Do not describe it as included identically with every Paramount+ subscription without that plan information.
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New on Hulu
December schedule coming later
Hulu’s official schedule currently shows August 2026 additions, but no complete December 2026 schedule was verified in the reviewed material. Hulu may still publish December originals, FX programming, licensed films and next-day network episodes.
When that schedule arrives, each title should be labeled precisely. “Hulu exclusive,” “FX on Hulu,” “Disney+ and Hulu,” “Disney+ only” and “available through a bundle” are not interchangeable descriptions. Disney and Hulu content may be presented together in some U.S. product experiences, but a Hulu title is not automatically available in the Disney+ app, and a bundle does not necessarily mean identical access in both standalone services.
New on Apple TV
No December dates confirmed in the current official preview
Apple’s official 2026 preview announces a substantial slate but does not yet provide a December calendar. The preview lists Way of the Warrior Kid for November 20 and says additional titles will be announced. A 2026 title or a “coming soon” description should not be converted into a December date.
Apple TV should remain in the guide, but its December section should be expanded only after Apple supplies a specific U.S. date and confirms whether the title is an Apple TV subscription release or another form of availability.
New on Peacock
December schedule coming later
NBCUniversal’s 2026–27 Peacock announcement confirms fall programming, including Crystal Lake on October 15, The Good Daughter on November 12 and Dig in November. It also names 2026 films from Universal, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation and Illumination, but it does not provide a complete December streaming calendar.
Once dates are published, Peacock’s list should separate Peacock Originals from Universal theatrical films, NBC and Bravo programming, live sports and movies included with the Peacock subscription. A Universal movie’s 2026 theatrical release or broad Peacock window is not a confirmed December premiere.
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Other services
MGM+, Starz, AMC+, BritBox, Shudder, MUBI, Criterion Channel, Tubi and Kanopy may also publish December additions. No specific December 2026 dates for those services were verified in the source set used for this snapshot, so they should not be presented as confirmed entries here. Their business models also differ: some are paid standalone services, some are free with ads, some are library-focused and some may be accessed through an add-on channel.
December 2026 dates that are not confirmed yet
This section is as important as the release calendar. The following facts describe what has not been announced in the official material reviewed as of August 10:
- Disney+: No specific December 2026 title and date were verified. The current official index surfaces 2026 monthly packages through July, while its identified December guide is for 2025.
- Hulu: The official schedule currently reaches August 2026, not a complete December calendar.
- Apple TV: Apple’s 2026 preview reaches the November 20 release of Way of the Warrior Kid and says more titles will be announced; it does not establish a December date.
- Peacock: NBCUniversal’s announcement gives fall dates and a broad 2026 film slate, but not a complete December streaming schedule.
- Netflix’s undated 2026 films: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, The Gospel of Christmas, Guarding Stars, In a Holidaze, Here Comes the Flood, Animals and Best of the Best have not been given confirmed December days in the cited guide.
- Documentaries: No documentary movie or series has a verified December 2026 U.S. date in the official sources reviewed for this article.
“Listed for 2026,” “fall 2026,” “coming soon” and “expected to arrive after theaters” are useful clues, but none is a confirmed December streaming date. Rumors and dates copied from databases should not be added to the calendar without a newer first-party announcement.
How to choose which subscriptions are worth keeping
The current schedule supports different decisions depending on what you watch:
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- Choose Netflix for the densest confirmed December slate: two animated films arrive one week apart, followed by the Christmas Day NFL listing. This is the strongest one-month option based on confirmed programming alone, though it should be reconsidered once other services publish their schedules.
- Choose Prime Video for a single holiday movie: The Man With the Bag is a straightforward one-night seasonal pick. Do not assume every title in the Prime Video interface is included; add-on subscriptions, rentals and purchases are separate.
- Choose Paramount+ for a short holiday comedy event: Ghostsmas is currently the service’s clearest confirmed December draw, especially for existing Ghosts viewers. Confirm the plan and live/on-demand details.
- Choose HBO Max for the franchise event: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the reason to watch HBO Max’s December schedule, but its episode cadence is still unresolved.
- Wait before making a Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV or Peacock decision: their official December calendars are not complete in the current snapshot. A decision made now could miss the titles that determine the month’s value.
Subscription value is not just a count of titles. A full-season binge, a weekly series, a two-episode special and a single movie create different viewing commitments. Likewise, a title that requires a premium add-on may cost more than a service’s headline subscription price suggests.
How to read release dates and availability correctly
A date may identify a premiere, not a full season
Movies generally become available as one feature on their announced date. Series are different. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is an eight-episode first season, but the cited announcement does not specify whether HBO Max will drop all episodes or release them on a schedule. Until HBO confirms the cadence, do not promise a binge.
Do not assume a midnight release
Services use different release practices, and a dated announcement does not necessarily include a time zone. Unless a service confirms the hour, treat the date as the applicable U.S. release day rather than promising availability at midnight Pacific, midnight Eastern or any other specific time.
Streaming, digital rental and theatrical dates are separate
A movie can have a theatrical date, a digital rent-or-buy date and a later subscription-streaming date. One cannot be calculated reliably from another. This is especially important for Disney+, Peacock and other services whose broad film slates may refer to eventual streaming rather than a confirmed December debut.
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When the full December calendars arrive, an older film should be labeled “added December 1” or “new to the service,” not simply “new movie.” Licensed library titles can be removed or replaced later in the month.
Check the territory
This article is U.S.-specific. Netflix says In Waves will be global except France, while Disney’s official monthly material warns that library availability varies by region and can change. A title available in the U.S. may have a different date, service or rights holder elsewhere.
Update plan
Streaming schedules change quickly, so future updates to this guide should record:
- the initial publication and every major update date;
- new titles added when services publish their December calendars;
- dates moved by the distributor;
- titles delayed or removed from the schedule;
- episode cadence and release-time information when confirmed;
- territory, plan and add-on-channel restrictions;
- documentary releases that receive a verified U.S. December date.
The confirmed list will probably grow. Until it does, the responsible answer is not to manufacture a full calendar—it is to show what is genuinely scheduled, identify what remains pending and make the uncertainty visible.
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Is this the complete December 2026 streaming schedule?
No. It is the confirmed U.S. schedule available from the cited first-party announcements as of August 10, 2026. Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV and Peacock had not yet published complete date-specific December calendars in the material reviewed, and more titles should be added when the services announce them.
Are these titles included with the standard subscription?
The services confirm platform availability, but plan details are not identical across every title. Prime Video also contains separate add-on channels and rent-or-buy listings, so a title appearing in the Prime Video app is not automatically included with Prime. Check the individual title page and your plan before paying for access.
Is HBO’s Harry Potter title a new movie?
No. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the title of the first season of HBO’s new television adaptation. Warner Bros. Discovery describes that season as eight episodes; it is separate from the earlier feature film.
Are any documentaries confirmed for December 2026?
No documentary movie or documentary series had a verified December 2026 U.S. streaming date in the official material reviewed for this update. That may change when services publish their full monthly schedules.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The confirmed December 2026 highlights are The Man With the Bag on December 2, Ghostsmas on December 10, Netflix’s In Waves and Ray Gunn on December 11 and 18, and HBO Max’s eight-episode Harry Potter adaptation on December 25. Netflix currently offers the strongest concentrated month, but the overall calendar remains incomplete—especially for documentaries—so revisit the guide when the services publish their late-November schedules.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
