This year-end holiday season is heating up like never before on streaming platforms, as a slew of “blockbusters”, highly anticipated throughout 2025, land simultaneously right on Boxing Day (Dec 26). If you are looking for a reason to curl up under a warm blanket post-Christmas, Netflix and HBO are holding undeniable ace cards, turning this weekend into the fiercest battle among streaming services.
(Photos: Apple TV, NETFLIX, Peacock)
The center of attention this week undoubtedly belongs to Netflix with the debut of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Following the resounding success of Glass Onion, director Rian Johnson continues to place detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig) into a more complex and darker case. Gone are the vibrant tropical islands; the third installment transports the audience to the gloomy and suspicion-filled atmosphere of London. With an all-star cast and trademark “plot twists,” this is predicted to be the title dominating social media discussions throughout the New Year holiday.
Meanwhile, HBO (via the Max platform) is not far behind, officially airing the first episode of The White Lotus Season 3. Leaving behind poetic Sicily, the satire series about the super-rich this time takes viewers to Thailand to explore hidden corners of death, religion, and Eastern spirituality. The return of Natasha Rothwell as Belinda, combined with a lavish resort setting rife with underlying intrigues, promises to deliver the biting humor and signature suspense that fans have been waiting for over the past two years.
For devotees of action and science fiction, Hulu and Disney+ offer a special gift with the premiere of Alien: Earth. Crafted by Noah Hawley, the classic space monster franchise sets foot on Earth for the first time in a near-future setting. The series is hailed as a perfect blend of survival horror elements and philosophical questions regarding artificial intelligence, creating a powerful and haunting visual experience for the weekend.
Finally, Amazon Prime Video continues to please thrill-seeking audiences with the latest season of Reacher. Alan Ritchson returns as Jack Reacher in a more brutal and direct journey of revenge. Foregoing deep philosophy, Reacher maintains its form as a pure, no-nonsense, and satisfying action series, perfect for those seeking simple yet high-quality entertainment to close out a turbulent 2025.