December ushers in a new set of potential Nollywood blockbusters that could set new records in cinemas, as filmmakers push to enjoy their slice of the holiday pie. Ayo Makun’s 2022 December offering is The Standup, Funke Akindele cooks in Battle on Buka Street, Toyin Abraham seeks vengeance in Ijakumo and Niyi Akinmolayan directs family comedy-drama Palava for Inkblot Studios.
On the streaming front, 2021 Christmas in Miami makes its way to Amazon Prime Video, young adult series Far From Home premieres on Netflix, Crime and Justice Lagos lands on Showmax…and possibly Amazon Prime Video has a surprise release or two for us as usual.
Foreign titles available to watch this month are equally plentiful from films to your favourite returning TV shows. In cinemas are Avatar: The Way of Water and the animated film Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Streaming on Netflix over the festive period are Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a third season of How to Ruin Christmas, same as with Emily in Paris.
See the full highlight of movies and TV shows available to watch in Nigeria in December below.
Highlight of New Films in Nigeria in December
VIOLENT NIGHT; an action-comedy starring David Harbour as a violent Santa Claus who has to fight mercenaries who have taken a wealthy family hostage in their home. In cinemas on December 2. 
THE STAND UP; a comedy drama starring Ayo Makun, RMD and Jide Kosoko about the life of a budding comedian. In cinemas on December 2. 
RISING CITY OF DREAMS; Zubby Michael, Femi Branch, Reminisce and Jide Kosoko star in a ghetto action thriller that sees rivals fight for the ultimate seat. In cinemas on December 9. 
PALAVA; RMD, Jemima Osunde, Bisola Aiyeola, Beverly Naya, Gideon Okeke, Iyabo Ojo and Mercy Aigbe star in this family drama directed by Niyi Akinmolayan that tells the story of a high-life musician in the middle of a resurgence, whose life and family is turned upside down when a scandal is revealed on the eve of his 60th birthday. In cinemas on December 9. 
GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S PINOCCHIO; a stop-motion animated musical based on the retelling of the famous Pinocchio story. Release date: December 9, on Netflix. 
EMANCIPATION; Will Smith is a slave on the run in this historical action film directed by Antoine Fuqua. Release date: December 9, on Apple TV+. 
WHO KILLED SANTA? A MURDERVILLE MURDER MYSTERY; a christmas special episode of the Murderville series starring Will Arnett from earlier this year. Release date: December 15, on Netflix. 
CATFISH CHRISTMAS; When a young woman returns home for the holidays, her meddling sister sets her up with a handsome football player online, but things might not be as they appear. In cinemas on December 16. 
BATTLE ON BUKA STREET; Funke Akindele returns as a co-director and actress in this family comedy that pits two rival canteen owner against each other. Also starring are Sola Sobowale, Mercy Johnson, Bimbo Ademoye, Femi Jacobs, Nkem Owoh, Tina Mba and Kelvin Ikeduba. In cinemas on December 16. 
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER; James Cameron long-awaited sequel of Avatar (2009) finally arrives on December 16. 
NANNY; Starring Anna Diop and Michelle Monaghan, a horror film written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu. Release date: December 16, on Amazon Prime Video. 
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS; A Mexican black comedy drama film co-written and directed by Alejandro Iñárritu. Mexico’s submission for the Oscar Best International Feature Film. Streaming on Netflix on December 16. 
CHRISTMAS IN MIAMI; Ayo Makun returns as Akpos in this 2021 film debuting on Amazon Prime Video on December 16. 
IJAKUMO: THE BORN AGAIN STRIPPER; a revenge drama starring Toyin Abraham, Kunle Remi, and Bimbo Akintola. In cinemas on December 23. 
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH; Set after the events of Shrek Forever After, an animated comedy that follows Puss in Boots on a new adventure after he realises that he has used up 8 out of his 9 lives. In cinemas on December 23. 
GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY: A sequel to the 2019 Rian Johnson crime mystery. Streaming on Netflix on December 23. 
ROALD DAHL’S MATILDA THE MUSICAL; a musical fantasy comedy film based on the 2011 stage musical of the same name. Release date: December 25. 
WHITE NOISE; an apocalyptic black comedy film written and directed by Noah Baumbach, adapted from the 1985 novel of the same name. Release date: December 30, on Netflix. 
WILDCAT; a documentary that follows the emotional and inspiring story of a young veteran on his journey into the Amazon. Release date: December 30, on Amazon Prime Video.
Highlight of New TV Shows Coming to Nigeria in December
RICHES S1; Release date: December 2, on Amazon Prime Video. 
FIREFLY LANE S2; Release date: December 2, on Netflix. 
THREE PINES S1; Release date: December 2, on Amazon Prime Video. 
CRIME AND JUSTICE LAGOS S1; Folu Storms and Jammal Ibrahim star as two detectives in this police procedural drama series streaming weekly on Showmax from December 8. 
MONEY HEIST: KOREA-JOINT ECONOMIC AREA PART 2; the second part of the first season of South Korean version of the popular Spanish heist series. Release date: December 9, on Netflix. 
HOW TO RUIN CHRISTMAS S3; South African How to Ruin Christmas series adds a new born to the mix in Baby Showers. Release date: December 9, on Netflix. 
ALCHEMY OF SOULS S2; Release date: December 10, on Netflix. 
FAR FROM HOME S1; a Nigerian young adult series premiering on Netflix on December 16. 
THE RECRUIT S1; Noah Centineo stars as a fledgling CIA lawyer who gets caught up in a dangerous game of international politics. Release date: December 16, on Netflix. 
I AM A KILLER S4; Release date: December 21, on Netflix. 
EMILY IN PARIS S3; Release date: December 21, on Netflix. 
TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN S3; Release date: December 21, on Netflix. 
ALICE IN BORDERLAND S2; Release date: December 22, on Netflix. 
THE WITCHER: BLOOD ORIGIN S1; Set 1,200 years before the time of Geralt, this prequel series premieres on Netflix on December 25.
Which of the film(s) and TV show(s) are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.
You can read the reviews to a number of the mentioned films and TV series during the month. Keep an eye out. You can subscribe to email notifications and follow us on our social media pages. Track your favourite movies and TV shows using your Google calendar.
