December 4 (Saturday)
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse 58Add to Netflix Queue
The highest-grossing film in the ongoing sparkly vampire series is also the best reviewed of all the Twilight films, though that's not saying much. This third chapter finds Bella Swan forced to choose between vampire Edward and werewolf Jacob, while Seattle is plagued by a string of mysterious killings.
December 7
Inception 74 Add to Netflix Queue
The year's fifth-highest-grossing movie to date, Christopher Nolan's highly original, mind-bending action film about corporate spies who can invade dreams is also one of the best-reviewed major releases this year. Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star.
Restrepo 85Add to Netflix Queue
Co-directed by author and journalist Sebastian Junger (best known for his book The Perfect Storm) and British photographer Tim Hetherington, this lauded documentary chronicles a year in the life of U.S. soldiers stationed in a remote outpost in Afghanistan.
Shrek Forever After 58Add to Netflix Queue
Anyone hoping for a rebound in quality after the mediocre third Shrek film will be disappointed by this final installment in the series, which finds a complacent Shrek signing a magical contract to spend one last day as an ordinary scary ogre, only to find out that he was tricked into an alternate universe where he was never born.
| Title | Netflix | Metascore |
|---|---|---|
| Cronos Criterion Collection | 70 | |
| Law & Order The Eighth Year | Add to Queue | n/a |
December 14
The A-Team 47 Add to Netflix Queue
This somewhat incoherent but energetic action film about a team of soldiers-turned-mercenaries is based on the popular 1980s television series of the same name. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Sharlto Copley star.
Cyrus 74Add to Netflix Queue
The third film from writer-director brothers Jay and Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair) is a quirky comedy about a divorced man who meets a seemingly perfect woman at a party, only to discover that he must compete for her attention with her grown son. John C. Reilly just picked up an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his starring role; he's joined in the cast by Jonah Hill, Catherine Keener, and Marisa Tomei.
Despicable Me 72Add to Netflix Queue
A computer-animated comedy from Universal's new animation brand Illumination Entertainment, Despicable Me follows the evil Gru (Steve Carell) in his attempt to steal the moon and become the world's top-ranked supervillain. Will Arnett, Jason Segel, and Kristen Wiig round out the vocal cast.
Exit Through the Gift Shop 85Add to Netflix Queue
One of the year's best-reviewed documentaries, Gift Shop focuses on the world of guerrilla street art, and secretive UK artist Banksy in particular. At least, that was the intention; as the documentary progresses, it becomes a portrait of the filmmaker (Thierry "Mr. Brainwash" Guetta) instead, as he starts creating his own street art. Although there's a question about whether the whole film is a hoax constructed by Banksy himself, there's no doubt that it's entertaining either way.
The Other Guys 64Add to Netflix Queue
Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg play a pair of desk-bound NYPD cops who seize upon a rare opportunity to get out in the field to work a major case in this summer buddy comedy. It's certainly not Ferrell's best or funniest movie, but it's far from his worst.
[Dec. 17] The Town 74Add to Netflix Queue
One of this fall's best reviewed films, this bank heist thriller marks the second directorial effort for Ben Affleck. He also stars, along with Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, and Rebecca Hall.
| Title | Netflix | Metascore |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Season 8 | Add to Queue | 67 |
| Army Wives The Complete 4th Season | Add to Queue | n/a |
| GasLand Documentary about the perils of natural gas drilling | Add to Queue | n/a |
| The IT Crowd Complete Fourth Season | Add to Queue | n/a |
| Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work Documentary about the comedienne | Add to Queue | 79 |
| [12/17] Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'hoole Based on the books | Add to Queue | 53 |
| Micmacs French comedy from Amelie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Add to Queue | 62 |
| Mother and Child Annette Bening, Kerry Washington, Naomi Watts | Add to Queue | 64 |
| Nanny McPhee Returns Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes | Add to Queue | 52 |
December 21
Caprica: Season 1.5 n/aAdd to Netflix Queue
Yes, this Battlestar Galactica prequel series has been canceled. But if you were one of the few people still watching before Syfy pulled the plug on this soapy story of Cylons and virtual worlds, you can catch the final five unaired episodes -- supposedly among the series' best -- when this DVD set arrives. (Those episodes will also air back-to-back on Syfy on January 4, 2011.)
Easy A 72 Add to Netflix Queue
This fall teen comedy starring Emma Stone as a high schooler who uses The Scarlet Letter as an inspiration to boost her social status by lying about losing her virginity scored surprisingly strong reviews from critics.
Salt 65 Add to Netflix Queue
Angelina Jolie plays a CIA officer who goes on the run to evade capture when she is outed as a Russian spy on a mission to assassinate the President in this Bourne-esque summer actioner directed by Phillip Noyce.
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps 59 Add to Netflix Queue
Sometimes, greed isn't good. Oliver Stone's belated sequel to 1980s classic Wall Street failed to impress critics or moviegoers with a storyline that taps into the current economic crisis. Returning star Michael Douglas is joined by Carey Mulligan, Josh Brolin, and Shia LaBeouf.
| Title | Netflix | Metascore |
|---|---|---|
| Devil Thriller based on M. Night Shyamalan story | Add to Queue | 44 |
| Family Guy It's a Trap [single episode] | Add to Queue | n/a |
| Futurama Volume 5 | Add to Queue | 80 |
| The Guild Season 4 | n/a | |
| Soul Kitchen German comedy | Add to Queue | 76 |
| Step Up 3 | Add to Queue | 45 |
December 28
The American 61Add to Netflix Queue
If you like your thrillers slow and atmospheric, then you might like George Clooney as an assassin in Italy in this second feature film from photographer-turned-director Anton Corbijn.
Archer: Season 1 78 Add to Netflix Queue
FX's animated spy comedy from the creators of Sealab 2021 earned a cult following (and will return for a second season early next year) thanks in part to a stellar vocal cast that features H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, and Judy Greer.
Resident Evil: Afterlife 37Add to Netflix Queue
Like any videogame adaptation or movie directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (or worse yet, both), Afterlife was slammed by critics, though it did become the highest-grossing film in the Resident Evil series.
| Title | Netflix | Metascore |
|---|---|---|
| And Soon the Darkness Karl Urban, Amber Heard | Add to Queue | n/a |
| Jersey Shore Season 2 [Uncensored] | Add to Queue | 55 |
| Legendary Danny Glover, John Cena, Patricia Clarkson | Add to Queue | 39 |
| Twelve Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin | Add to Queue | 24 |
| United States of Tara The Second Season | Add to Queue | 79 |
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