What to Watch This December: 7 New Hollywood Releases with Standout Black Talent
- Miracle Winston Esin
- Dec 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
December is a busy month for cinephiles and TV lovers, with a line-up of holiday specials, cheesy rom-coms, and the occasional thriller to whet holiday appetites, all starring amazing Black talent. This year is no different, as across theatres and streamers, black stars are taking centre stage. We’ve got them in chilling documentaries, warm Christmas movies, reboots, and blockbuster franchises. And we want you to join in on the fun.
Whether you’re in the mood for a cosy love story or a high-octane feature, these new releases offer something for every kind of viewer, and each features a Black lead or a major Black creative force shaping the story. Read on to find out one or two for your lazy viewing!
Sean Combs: The Reckoning
Release Date: December 2, 2025 (Netflix)
A headline-making documentary that dives into one of the most consequential cultural conversations of the decade. Led by Black journalists, survivors, experts, and industry voices, the 50 Cent-produced docu sheds more light on Diddy's rise, the allegations, and the larger systems being challenged as the industry confronts accountability. It’s one that’s destined to spark discussion or even heated disagreements, as the case might be.
My Secret Santa (Holiday Romance)
Release Date: December 5, 2025 (Netflix)
Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry makes a warm impression in My Secret Santa, as a woman who returns home for Christmas only to find herself swept into an anonymous holiday romance that’s not so random. It’s prime for hot chocolate season and giddy kicks.
With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration
Release Date: December 3, 2025 (Netflix)
Meghan Markle returns to festive storytelling, blending charm and signature humanitarian themes into a swirling feel-good fest. This special on the Duchess’s favourite holiday traditions and crafts reveals delicious family recipes and is sure to be quality viewing for the family.
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
Release Date: December 26, 2025 (Theatres)
Our adorable SpongeBob SquarePants returns with another wild undersea rescue, but this time, Bikini Bottom gets a fresh wave of Black star power. Ice Spice brings playful energy, while Regina Hall delivers effortless comedy as one of the film’s standout voices. It’s packed full of the fun you need for the holidays and then some.
Anaconda (2025 Reboot)
Release Date: December 19, 2025 (Theatres)
Did somebody say Anaconda? In this wacky reimagining of the 1997 classic, Thandiwe Newton stars as a brilliant biologist who joins a research mission deep in the Amazon, where she must outthink and outrun a genetically engineered serpent. It’s pulpy, but Newton’s dramatic presence fits in just fine.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Release Date: December 17 2025 (Theatres)
Zoe Saldaña returns in Avatar: Fire and Ash, anchoring the emotional core of the franchise as her character, Neytiri, faces a devastating new threat that forces a fight for family, tribe, and the future of Pandora.
Love After Holidays
Release Date: December 4, 2025
Finally, rounding out the month is Love After the Holidays, where a talk show host struggles with alcoholism, losing everything she values. Her journey to sobriety means facing her past and finding meaning again to achieve healing.
Why These Films Matter
December closes out 2025 with a slate to remind us all that black talent is the pulse of Hollywood. From Thandiwe Newton stepping into a legendary reboot, to Tia Mowry bringing holiday warmth, and Zoe Saldaña anchoring one of the world’s biggest franchises, this month is a celebration of undeniable black star power. So queue the watchlist, warm up the hot chocolate, and enjoy December’s final cinematic gifts, Black brilliance, front and centre.
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