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Taylor Swift Docuseries, New “Knives Out” Film Headline December Streaming Releases
A six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries chronicling Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour is set to premiere this week on Disney+, alongside Rian Johnson’s highly anticipated third installment in the “Knives Out” mystery series, “Wake Up Dead Man.”
The Swift docuseries, titled “Taylor Swift · The Eras Tour · The End of an Era,” will release its first two episodes Friday, offering fans an intimate look at the production of what has become the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Disney+ will simultaneously debut “Taylor Swift · The Eras Tour · The Final Show,” a concert film featuring Swift’s Vancouver performance that includes the recently added “The Tortured Poets Department” section of her show.
Netflix subscribers can look forward to Daniel Craig reprising his role as detective Benoit Blanc in “Wake Up Dead Man” starting December 12. The film centers on a religious murder mystery involving Josh Brolin’s character, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. The star-studded ensemble includes Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, and Kerry Washington, though critical reception has been mixed. AP entertainment writer Mark Kennedy described it as “a gloomy and clunky outing” that might test fans’ faith in the franchise.
Apple TV+ enters the racing genre on December 12 with “F1,” starring Brad Pitt as a washed-up driver seeking redemption on the Formula One circuit. Director Joseph Kosinski prioritized authenticity, with Pitt and co-star Damson Idris actually driving at speeds up to 180 mph in many scenes. AP film critic Jake Coyle praised the movie as “a fine-tuned machine” that “approaches a kind of high-speed splendor” in its racing sequences.
For fans of the 1984 mockumentary classic, HBO Max will stream “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” on December 12. Director Rob Reiner reunites with the original cast for this sequel, though Kennedy suggests the follow-up “leans into the old favorite bits too needily” despite featuring notable cameos, including one from Paul McCartney.
In the music realm beyond Swift, Grammy-winning producer and electronic musician Fred Again will release his 16-track collection “USB002” on Friday, featuring a collaboration with Australian punk-pop band Amyl and The Sniffers. Hip-hop enthusiasts can look forward to “Light-Years,” a new collaborative project from legendary rapper Nas and producer DJ Premier.
Television offerings include Chip and Joanna Gaines venturing beyond their usual Texas territory in “Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House,” premiering Tuesday on Magnolia Network, HGTV, HBO Max, and Discovery+. The home renovation stars tackle a 1960s mountain property in what represents a significant departure from their established format.
Fantasy fans can return to Camp Half-Blood when “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” debuts its second season Wednesday on Disney+ and Hulu. The adaptation of Rick Riordan’s “The Sea of Monsters” continues to follow Walker Scobell as the demigod protagonist.
Music mogul Simon Cowell opens up about his career while attempting to form a new boy band in the docuseries “Simon Cowell: The Next Act,” releasing Wednesday. “When you’re putting a band together, it’s like mining for diamonds,” Cowell explains in the trailer. “If this goes wrong, it will be ‘Simon Cowell has lost it.'”
For gaming enthusiasts, Sam Eng’s “Skate Story” offers a surreal skateboarding experience beginning Monday on PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC. Players control a glass skateboarder navigating the underworld, battling demons with tricks, and aiming to escape by swallowing the moon – a hallucinatory twist on traditional skating games.
With this diverse slate of entertainment options across multiple platforms, December continues to provide compelling content across genres as streaming services compete for viewer attention heading into the holiday season.
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8 Comments
Interesting to see Taylor Swift and Knives Out making waves in the streaming world this December. Looks like a diverse set of new content for viewers to check out.
Excited to see what the Taylor Swift docuseries reveals about her Eras Tour production – should give fans an inside look at the scale and creativity behind one of the biggest concert tours ever.
The new Knives Out sequel sounds intriguing, though the mixed reviews make me a bit cautious. Curious to see if it can live up to the success of the first film.
Agreed, the original Knives Out was such a hit, so the bar is high for the sequel. Hopefully it can still deliver an engaging murder mystery.
A Spinal Tap sequel – now that’s an unexpected project! The original was such a cult classic, it’ll be interesting to see if they can capture that same magic decades later.
Absolutely, the Spinal Tap reunion has a lot to live up to. Hoping they can bring the same irreverent humor and satire to the sequel.
Brad Pitt attached to a new project is always exciting. Curious to see what kind of role he’ll take on and how it fits into the overall streaming lineup this month.
Can’t say I’m too familiar with the Percy Jackson books or movies, but the franchise seems to have a dedicated fanbase. Wonder if the new Disney+ series will introduce it to a wider audience.