December’s second weekend arrives with a rare burst of momentum for both streamers and theatres. Traditionally, a quiet period before the Christmas rush, this year’s mid-month window is unusually crowded and unusually ambitious. OTT platforms are frontloading prestige titles, franchise continuations, and regional dramas, while cinemas are banking on a blend of nostalgia and festive-ready comedy to draw audiences back in. 

OTT releases this week

This week, it makes sense to start online before heading to the theatres. 

Netflix leads the conversation with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, landing on December 12. Rian Johnson’s third chapter in the franchise has Daniel Craig returning as Benoit Blanc, now drawn into a chilling church murder set in upstate New York. With a heavyweight ensemble featuring Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, and Mila Kunis, the film is poised to be Netflix’s global marquee release of the month. The storytelling shifts from the bright palette of Glass Onion (2022) to a darker, Gothic energy, making this instalment particularly gripping.

For audiences seeking something lighter, Netflix also drops Man vs Baby on December 11. Rowan Atkinson steps back into the shoes of Trevor Bingley, whose best intentions inevitably trigger comic catastrophe. This time, an abandoned infant turns his quiet Christmas caretaking job into a runaway spiral of slapstick chaos. It’s designed as a family-friendly, festive watch.

Closer home, Netflix’s Single Papa, streaming from December 12, offers a gentler, warm-hearted narrative. Led by Kunal Kemmu, the series follows a newly divorced man who shocks his family by adopting a baby, only to discover that responsibility reshapes him. It’s a show that blends humour with sincerity — the kind of Indian storytelling that tends to find longevity on OTT.

SonyLIV, meanwhile, brings one of the week’s most grounded releases: Real Kashmir Football Club. Streaming now, the series draws on the true story of Kashmir’s first professional football team, capturing the grit, hope, and social complexity behind its creation. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Manav Kaul anchor the drama with performances that feel lived-in and earnest. It is the rare sports narrative that keeps its focus on people and purpose over glamour.

Across global platforms, Apple TV+ and Prime Video jointly spotlight F1, arriving on December 12. Brad Pitt plays a veteran driver pulled back onto the racetrack for one last shot at redemption. Directed with high-velocity precision, the film is structured around real-track racing footage, making it a compelling technical showcase for home-viewing systems.

JioHotstar adds its own major draw with Superman, premiering on December 11. This new interpretation, starring David Corenswet as the Man of Steel and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, leans into introspection and political scrutiny rather than overblown spectacle. As DC recalibrates its cinematic universe, this film represents an important tonal shift.

Netflix’s international catalogue rounds out the week with a diverse bouquet: the 1950s Madras-set crime drama Kaantha, streaming on December 12 and starring Dulquer Salmaan; animated fantasy battles in Record of Ragnarok Season 3, which arrives on December 12; the slow-burn emotional complexity of The Accident Season 2, releasing on December 11; and the social-experiment reality format Badly in Love, premiering on December 12, where reformed delinquents confront vulnerability in a secluded academy. There is no shortage of options for viewers who prefer mood-driven or genre-specific content.

In theatres this week

Next comes cinemas offering two sharply different but equally noteworthy releases. The headline event is Sholay: The Final Cut, returning to theatres on December 12 in a 4K restoration with Dolby 5.1 sound. Timed for its Golden Jubilee year, this edition includes the film’s original uncut ending—a version long spoken about but seldom seen by the broader public. Five decades after its initial release, Sholay remains a touchstone of Indian storytelling, performance, and craft. Watching it on the big screen is less a movie outing and more a cultural experience.

Sharing the date is Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, a sequel to Kapil Sharma’s 2015 comedy hit. Directed and written by Anukalp Goswami, the film brings Sharma back into a maze of relationships, misunderstandings, and slapstick humour. With a new ensemble, including Manjot Singh, Parul Gulati, Warina Hussain, Ayesha Khan, and Tridha Choudhury, the film aims squarely at audiences seeking light, uncomplicated entertainment during the festive period. It is the counter-programming to Sholay’s gravitas—easy to watch, cheerful, and aimed at drawing families to theatres.

Whether you stay in for a streaming marathon or head out for a big-screen revival, this weekend encapsulates the best of December viewing—a mix of nostalgia, reinvention, and pure entertainment, closing the year on a confidently upbeat note.