17 Netflix Movies Dropping Before This Year Officially Ends

17 Netflix Movies Dropping Before This Year Officially Ends

Netflix is ending the year with a bang! With just a few months left, the streaming giant is unleashing an impressive lineup of original films spanning every genre imaginable. From nail-biting thrillers to heartwarming dramas and festive holiday treats, these final releases of the year promise something for everyone. Grab your popcorn and mark your calendars for these must-watch Netflix movies arriving before the year wraps up.

1. A House of Dynamite

Family ties may not be at stake here, but the survival of a nation is. In Kathryn Bigelow’s tense political thriller, the world is thrown into chaos when a nuclear missile is launched at the United States from an unknown source.

As Washington’s leaders scramble for answers, Rebecca Ferguson and Idris Elba anchor a powerhouse ensemble navigating moral dilemmas, impossible decisions, and the terrifying countdown to impact.

What makes this film explosive is Bigelow’s mastery of claustrophobic tension—balancing the spectacle of global crisis with raw, human stakes at the highest level of power.

2. Frankenstein

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein breathes new cinematic life into Mary Shelley’s classic tale of creation and consequence. Oscar Isaac stars as Victor Frankenstein, the brilliant but tormented scientist whose quest to defy death unleashes a tragic chain of events.

Jacob Elordi embodies the Creature with both monstrous physicality and heartbreaking vulnerability, while Mia Goth portrays Elizabeth with gothic grace.

Del Toro fuses rich atmosphere, striking visuals, and deep humanity, crafting a story that asks what it truly means to be alive. Equal parts horror and tragedy, this reimagining promises a definitive take on the immortal myth.

3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

The game is afoot once more in Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the highly anticipated third entry in the hit whodunit franchise.

Daniel Craig returns as the ever-charming detective Benoit Blanc, this time tackling what Johnson has teased as his “most dangerous case yet.” The ensemble cast is stacked with stars, including Glenn Close, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, and Andrew Scott.

Expect Johnson’s signature cocktail of razor-sharp dialogue, sly humor, and social bite, all wrapped in a meticulously crafted mystery that promises shocking twists and unforgettable reveals.

4. Jay Kelly

Jay Kelly follows Jay Kelly (George Clooney), a once-glamorous Hollywood star facing a midlife crisis. Alongside his unwavering manager Ron (Adam Sandler), Jay embarks on a whirlwind journey across Europe, forced to reckon with the successes and regrets that have shaped his life.

Supported by a strong ensemble including Laura Dern and Billy Crudup, the film is full of quiet introspection, bittersweet humor, and emotional weight.

Under the direction of Noah Baumbach, Jay Kelly probes questions of identity, performance, and legacy—what it means to be known to the world even as you struggle to know yourself.

5. The Woman in Cabin 10

Travel writer Lo Blacklock’s luxury press trip aboard an exclusive cruise ship turns into a nightmare when she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers are accounted for, and no one believes her story.

Based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling thriller, this adaptation cranks up the claustrophobia and paranoia as Lo fights to uncover the truth. The confined setting of the ship becomes increasingly menacing as the line between reality and imagination blurs.

Keira Knightley delivers a tour-de-force performance as a woman questioning her own sanity while racing against time to solve a mystery that might cost her life.

6. Ballad of a Small Player

Ralph Fiennes transforms into “Lord Doyle,” a British expat hiding behind gambling tables in Macau’s glittering casinos. Running from a sordid past, he finds unexpected redemption through a mysterious woman who seems to understand his demons.

The film masterfully captures the feverish atmosphere of high-stakes gambling, where fortunes change hands in seconds. Director Edward Berger brings his signature visual poetry to this tale of addiction, regret, and possible second chances.

The neon-soaked streets of Macau serve as the perfect backdrop for this meditation on fate, luck, and the ghosts that haunt us across continents.

7. In Your Dreams

A magical adventure awaits two young siblings when 12-year-old Stevie and her younger brother Elliot stumble upon a mystical picture book that promises the Sandman can make any dream a reality.

What begins as a hopeful quest to mend their parents’ marriage turns surreal as the siblings journey deep into dreamscapes filled with wonders—and nightmares.

Directed by Alex Woo and Erik Benson, In Your Dreams weaves visual fantasy with heartfelt family stakes, led by the voices of Jolie Hoang-Rappaport and Elias Janssen. The animation brims with whimsy, not horror, exploring love, longing, and the power of hope when dreams collide with reality.

8. Steve

Steve is Netflix’s haunting adaptation of Max Porter’s acclaimed novel Shy. Cillian Murphy stars as Steve, a weary head teacher fighting to hold together a last-chance reform school on the brink of closure.

While he struggles with his own unraveling mental state, the film parallels his story with that of Shy, a troubled teenager caught between past trauma and self-destructive impulses.

Through fractured narratives and raw emotion, Steve explores themes of identity, responsibility, and redemption. With its dreamlike style and Murphy’s intense performance, the movie promises a deeply human portrait of fragility and resilience.

9. Train Dreams

Journey through the American West’s transformation in this haunting adaptation of Denis Johnson’s acclaimed novella. Following the life of railroad laborer Robert Grainier across the early 20th century, the film chronicles the collision between wilderness and industrialization.

Joaquin Phoenix disappears into the role of Grainier, a man who witnesses his world change from untamed frontier to modern society. The breathtaking cinematography captures both the majesty of untouched landscapes and their gradual surrender to progress.

More than a period piece, this meditation on time and change explores how we carry personal tragedies through decades of life, like trains moving relentlessly forward.

10. Nouvelle Vague

Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague is a stylish reimagining of the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, one of cinema’s most iconic French New Wave films.

Zoey Deutch, Guillaume Marbeck, and Aubry Dullin star in a playful meta-narrative that blurs the line between homage and reinvention. Shot in crisp black and white, the film channels the kinetic energy, youthful rebellion, and cinematic daring that defined the movement.

Linklater infuses the work with both wit and warmth, creating a love letter to film history that’s as entertaining for casual viewers as it is rewarding for cinephiles.

11. Left-Handed Girl

In Left-Handed Girl, Sho-Fen struggles to rebuild a life for herself and her two daughters after leaving the countryside behind. Together, they stake their future on a modest night-market stall in the heart of Taipei, where the city’s pace and pressures quickly test their resilience.

As each daughter faces questions of identity and belonging, the youngest, I-Jing, becomes a flashpoint when her grandfather forbids her to use her left hand, calling it the “devil’s hand.”

With iPhone cinematography and intimate detail, director Shih-Ching Tsou crafts a poignant exploration of family, tradition, and autonomy.

12. Jingle Bell Heist

Jingle Bell Heist follows Sophia (Olivia Holt), a clever retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a repairman down on his luck, as both hatch plans to rob the same department store on Christmas Eve.

Forced into an uneasy partnership, they find secrets rising to the surface and feelings complicating the job. Directed by Michael Fimognari with a screenplay by Abby McDonald, the film blends festive spirit with heist comedy and romance.

With themes of trust and chance under twinkling lights and holiday pressure, Jingle Bell Heist offers something warm, fun, and sneaky for the seasonal movie-lovers, arriving November 26, 2025, on Netflix.

13. The Perfect Neighbor

Karyn Kusama returns to psychological thriller territory with The Perfect Neighbor, a Netflix original headlined by Nicole Kidman. Set against the backdrop of quiet suburban streets, the film suggests an atmosphere of safety and stability.

Beneath the surface, however, it gradually reveals the danger that lurks within. Domhnall Gleeson, Sophie Wilde, and Alexander Skarsgård round out a cast brimming with tension and ambiguity.

While plot details remain closely guarded, Kusama’s reputation for crafting slow-burn suspense promises a chilling exploration of trust, paranoia, and the facades we build. Expect a stylish, unsettling thriller that questions how well we truly know those closest to us.

14. Troll 2

Thirty-five years after the cult phenomenon, Troll 2 rises from the ashes with director Stephen Chiodo at the helm. Netflix embraces the film’s notorious legacy, promising a campy, outrageous sequel that leans into everything fans both mocked and loved about the original.

While the plot is under wraps, the film teases new victims, a fresh setting, and a tongue-in-cheek approach to horror that celebrates B-movie excess.

With modern effects paying homage to rubber-suit practical gags, and nods to the original cast, this long-awaited revival promises hilarity, horror, and a self-aware wink at cult cinema history.

15. The Twits

Roald Dahl’s most revolting couple takes center stage in Netflix’s animated adaptation of The Twits. Olivia Colman voices the vile Mrs. Twit and Ben Kingsley takes on the equally foul Mr. Twit, a pair who spend their days tormenting each other and everyone unfortunate enough to cross their path.

Faithfully inspired by Quentin Blake’s original illustrations, the film’s vibrant animation brings their grotesque world to life with giddy detail.

Directed by Phil Johnston, the movie balances Dahl’s dark, mischievous humor with heart, as two clever orphans and a family of animals band together to finally outwit the Twits.

16. A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Holiday homecomings go hilariously off-script when Kate (Alicia Silverstone), a newly separated mom, hopes for one more perfect Christmas with her kids before selling the family home.

Her plans fall apart when her ex-husband Everett (Oliver Hudson) shows up—along with his younger, successful new girlfriend. Expect awkward encounters, mistaken intentions, and festive chaos as these holiday plans unravel.

With a cast including Jameela Jamil and Melissa Joan Hart, A Merry Little Ex-Mas mixes romantic comedy tropes with the warm (and messy) feelings of starting over in time for Christmas. Streaming November 12, 2025.

17. The Great Flood

The Great Flood, directed by J.A. Bayona, is a sweeping disaster epic told through interconnected stories of survival. When torrential rains trigger catastrophic flooding, entire communities are forced to confront both nature’s fury and the fragility of human systems.

As lives intersect in desperate attempts to escape the rising waters, the film captures moments of sacrifice, resilience, and raw humanity amid chaos.

Bayona, known for blending spectacle with intimate character drama, once again balances breathtaking large-scale destruction with deeply personal stakes. With striking visual effects and a powerhouse ensemble cast, The Great Flood delivers a visceral and emotional portrait of survival.