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3 action movies on Netflix you need to watch in December

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What’s on tap the rest of the year for Netflix? At the end of December, Zack Snyder returns with his first live-action film in two years, Rebel Moon, an epic space opera that’s his version of Star Wars. The action blockbuster will be the first of a pair of movies, with the sequel arriving in April 2024.

Action fans looking for more adventure and thrills need to check out our list of three movies on Netflix to watch this December. Our selections include a zombie heist flick from Snyder, the most recent live-action Batman, and a classic buddy cop film from the 1980s.

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The Batman (2022)

Catwoman and Batman stare into each other's eyes in The Batman.
Warner Bros. Pictures

If you see The Batman and a string of other DC hits on Netflix, there’s no need to adjust your glasses. Even though the DC films live on Max, Warner Bros. recently agreed to a deal to put some of their top superhero films on Netflix, including The Batman, Man of Steel, and Wonder Woman. It’s a win for audiences who missed Matt Reeves’ The Batman in theaters last year.

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The Batman picks up two years after Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattison) started fighting crime as the caped crusader. Batman now faces his toughest challenge yet in the form of The Riddler (Paul Dano), a psychotic killer who leaves puzzles and cryptic messages at the scene of each crime. The Riddler is looking to put an end to the city’s elite by targeting corrupt officials in Gotham City. With the help of Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) and James Gordan (Jeffrey Wright), Batman works to end the Riddler’s reign of terror and save the innocent people of Gotham.

Stream The Batman on Netflix.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Eddie Murphy signals that all is okay in Beverly Hills Cop.
Paramount Pictures

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger star in the 1980s than Eddie Murphy. The comedian was at the top of Hollywood in both television and movies. Murphy was the crown jewel on Saturday Night Live and became a box-office sensation thanks to 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming to America. One of those films – Beverly Hills Cops – can be streamed on Netflix.

Axel Foley (Murphy) is a fast-talking Detroit cop who travels to California to track down the man who killed his best friend. Axel’s investigation leads him to Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff), a powerful drug kingpin. Due to his reckless behavior, Axel butts heads with the head Beverly Hills lieutenant. However, Axel’s unconventional methods win over Detectives John Taggart (John Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), and the trio team up to bring down Maitland. Murphy will return as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4, set to arrive in 2024 on Netflix.

Stream Beverly Hills Cops on Netflix.

Army of the Dead (2021)

A group of soldiers stand next to each other while holding guns.
Netflix

Snyder has one of the most loyal and dedicated followings on the Internet. Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released because of his passionate followers and their crusade to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut. Snyder has moved on from the DC Universe in favor of Netflix, where he has been given the freedom to create blockbuster action films. Snyder’s first film with Netflix was 2021’s Army of the Dead.

After a zombie outbreak occurs in Las Vegas, the government quarantines the city and closes it off to the public. However, casino owner Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) escaped the city without taking the $200 million stored inside his vault. With the military planning to nuke the city, Bly approaches former mercenary Scott Ward (Dave Bautista) with an offer. If Scott retrieves the $200 million fortune inside the casino, Bly will pay him $50 million. Desperate for money, Ward accepts and assembles a team to infiltrate Vegas and extract the money. On the surface, it’s a suicide mission, but Ward and his team will not go down without a fight.

Stream Army of the Dead on Netflix.

Dan Girolamo
Dan Girolamo
Entertainment Writer
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
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3 underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in March 2025
Several workers with bags standing in a remote location looking scared in Severance.

What makes a movie underrated? It might be that critics have panned the film even though it has earned massive box office success and positive reception from audiences. Perhaps it’s the other way around, and critics love it, but audiences fail to see what’s so special. Some underrated movies are fantastic but simply didn’t get the attention they deserved and have slipped into the deep depths of streaming services, only to be unearthed by those who dare to find them.
The three underrated movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in March 2025 fall into varying categories that qualify the movies as underrated. One broke records, yet critics refuse to give it two thumbs up. Another shares its name with one of the hottest shows streaming right now.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie | Official Trailer

Even before it premiered, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was getting a lot of flak for the choice of Chris Pratt as the voice of the titular character. Following the debut of this adventure comedy film in theaters, critics still weren’t convinced that it was a hit. But The Super Mario Bros. Movie delighted fans and proved naysayers wrong.
The film explored an interesting dynamic whereby Bowser (Jack Black) was a softie with a deep love for Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy). Of course, this brought us that lovely gem of a Peaches song that kids sang for weeks after. The movie's mixed reviews are no match for its tremendous box office success, not to mention the fact that it broke a Guinness World Record to become the highest-grossing movie based on a video game and became the first movie based on a video game to gross more than $1 billion. It’s incredible to learn that with all these huge numbers, The Super Mario Bros. Movie only has a 59% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.
Watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Amazon Prime Video. 
Severance (2006)
Severance (2006) Trailer | Danny Dyer | Laura Harris

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3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (February 28-March 2)
Suzume holding a chair in front of a door in the movie.

Sometimes, the best movies aren't the ones trending on your Netflix homepage — they’re the hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Big-budget blockbusters and buzzy originals from the streamer may be the natural first option, but some movie nights call for lesser-known flicks that can pleasantly surprise and captivate any cinephile.
Several great movies are streaming on Netflix that have flown under the radar. Whether you're in the mood for a whimsical anime offering, a cyberpunk story, or a chilling found-footage film, there's something on Netflix's catalog for you. So why not skip the usual picks and dive into something different this weekend? With so many hidden gems on the streamer, you're bound to find a new favorite you'll be recommending to your friends come Monday.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Suzume (2022)

Suzume is a great anime movie worth streaming from director Makoto Shinkai. It follows the titular 17-year-old protagonist (voiced by Nanoka Hara) as she stumbles upon a mysterious door that stands alone in an abandoned house. She discovers that the door is a gateway to another realm, unwittingly setting off a chain of supernatural events in the process. As the door begins unleashing calamities across Japan, Suzume joins forces with a young stranger, Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura), a "Closer" tasked with sealing these portals. But when Sōta is transformed into a three-legged chair — yes, a literal wooden chair — their journey takes a surreal turn.
Despite its stunning animation and unique storytelling, Suzume remains criminally underrated compared to its predecessors from Shinkai, Your Name and Weathering with You. Perhaps it's because the 2022 film leans more into Japan's historical wounds — referencing the 2011 earthquake and tsunami — making it feel deeply personal for domestic audiences but less immediate for international viewers. Suzume also subverts expectations with its romantic storyline that defies traditional tropes. Those who appreciate its appeal understand that its moving narrative reflects trauma, growth, and all the messiness that comes with it.
Suzume is streaming on Netflix.
Upgrade (2018)

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5 movies leaving Netflix in February 2025 you have to watch now
Mark Wahlberg pulling Will Ferrell's tie in a scene from The Other Guys

Rom-coms aren't the only movies on Netflix in February. Action and thrillers are currently dominating the top 10. To Catch a Killer, Aftermath, Don't Let Go, and Rambo: Last Blood are all in the top eight. If you like romance, Notting Hill, La Dolce Vita, and Miss Congeniality are ready to go.
Movies will be heading out the door with the month winding down. Unfortunately, many of these movies will land on other streaming services you do not have. With the little time you have left in February, carve out some time to watch one or all of these five movies leaving Netflix. Our picks include a Nolan thriller, an underrated comedy, and a Cruise sci-fi adventure.
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Sea of Love (1989)

Al Pacino has a knack for playing a hardened detective. New York City homicide detective Frank Keller (Al Pacino) spends most of his days glued to a bottle of booze to get over his depression. Frank's latest case is to investigate a murder where a man was left in a room with a want ad by his side and the song Sea of Love playing in the background.
As more victims die with the same clues left behind, Frank begins placing ads in the paper to lure the killer into a meeting. Frank gets a hit from Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin), and the two begin a passionate relationship. The romance turns complicated when Frank considers Helen a suspect. Is Frank willing to look past the evidence in the name of love?

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