December on HBO Max will see its fair share of holiday content, but as far as new shows and movies are concerned, we’re venturing deep into documentary territory with a plethora of music stories about Paul Anka, Wizkid, Jeff Buckley, and Counting Crows. We’ll also see the debut of three highly anticipated, long-awaited movie sequels, along with the first comedy special from SNL star Sarah Sherman, and a new Hard Knocks series focused on the NFC East.
These are the 11 new shows and movies to watch on HBO Max in December, in order of release date.
11
Paul Anka: His Way
Don’t miss this HBO documentary tracing the career of Paul Anka, who is—after seven decades—one of the world’s most prolific musicians. He is most known for writing Frank Sinatra’s signature song, My Way, which he also recorded.
An all-encompassing tribute, Paul Anka: His Way is part living biography, part road movie brimming with archival footage and candid moments as Anka offers a vivid glimpse into his remarkable life and undying legacy. The documentary chronicles the iconic Canadian’s journey from teen idol to chart-topping songwriter, through stardom and ongoing transformation in a fast-paced, ever-changing industry.
Paul Anka: His Way is available now.
Paul Anka: His Way
- Release Date
-
September 8, 2024
Cast
10
Hard Knocks: In Season With The NFC East
A new HBO Original series, Hard Knocks: In Season With The NFC East gives us all kinds of access to the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders with the reigning Super Bowl LIX champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, as they gear up for the final stretch of the 2025 NFL season and into the playoffs.
As one of professional football’s most historic divisions, the NFC East is showcased through a series of wins and losses that include injuries and adversities in an unprecedented inside look. The series is narrated by Live Schreiber.
Hard Knocks: In Season With The NFC East is available now.
9
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley was an enigmatic singer-songwriter with a powerful voice to match his eclectic blend of musical styles, which included rock, soul, jazz, and grunge. It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley is an HBO Original “Music Box” documentary presenting a captivating portrait of a generation-defining singer.
Buckley was a rising musician who had released only one album when he died suddenly in 1997. Through never-before-seen footage, exclusive voice messages, and accounts from his inner circle, the documentary explores the singer’s extraordinary talent and life, as well as his untimely death. His album Grace left an indestructible mark on music history.
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley debuts December 4.
8
Architecton
Here’s an interesting documentary for you, and this one will have you thinking about the exciting world of—wait for it—concrete. A24’s Architecton (2024) is an intimate, poetic meditation on architecture—specifically, about the ways that stone and concrete architecture express the values of different societies.
Writer and director Viktor Kossakovsky explores ancient buildings, constructions, and world perspectives on the stones graved into the earth to reveal our destruction of it, while offering hope for survival and a way forward. He reflects on the rise and fall of civilizations while focusing on a landscape project by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, using imagery from the temple ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon from AD 60 to the recent destruction of cities in Turkey following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2023. He poses the question, “How do we inhabit the world of tomorrow?”
Architecton debuts December 4.
Architecton
- Release Date
-
August 1, 2024
Cast
7
The Family McMullen
I cannot emphasize this enough, but finally, after three decades of waiting, the follow-up to 1995’s award-winning The Brothers McMullen is here. The Family McMullen is yet another total package from actor Edward Burns.
The sequel film brings us back into the lives and struggles of three Irish-American brothers from Long Island, New York. As the family returns, so do the romantic entanglements of a now 50-something-year-old Barry (Burns) and his kids, who are all in their 20s, as well as brother Patrick (Michael McGlone, of She’s the One) and widowed sister-in-law Molly (Connie Brittton, of Friday Night Lights).
The Family McMullen debuts December 5.
6
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos
If you’ve been seeking a raw look into the life of award-winning Nigerian musician Wizkid, look no further. Long Live Lagos is just for you.
The HBO Original Music Box documentary is an intimate, heart-thumping film about the life of a boundary-pushing musician and the power of international music and art to shift perception and reclaim a sense of identity for its people. It also outlines Wizkid’s rise to stardom and how that reshaped the way Africa is seen and heard. It also follows the sound’s evolution to a global, mainstream stage, where it’s recognized for the many genres it encompasses.
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos debuts December 11.
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos
- Release Date
-
June 6, 2025
- Runtime
-
83 minutes
- Director
-
Karam Gill
5
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues
Another long-awaited sequel is hitting HBO Max this month, and it is, perhaps, the most anticipated music movie spoof on the planet. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues takes us back into the hilariously absurd universe of one of England’s loudest 80s bands, Spinal Tap.
In this musical mockumentary sequel from director Rob Reiner, the band plans to reunite for a concert down in New Orleans, Louisiana. Documentarian Marty DiBergi follows the estranged bandmates as they search for a drummer and begin to prepare for their show. If you’re a fan of mockumentary-style content, mark your calendar for this gem. Also, if you haven’t seen its predecessor, This Is Spinal Tap, watch that first. It was Rob Reiner’s feature directorial debut, and it taught us all how to turn the volume properly up to 11.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues debuts December 12.
4
Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh
Saturday Night Live star Sarah Sherman is hitting HBO Max with her unholy alter ego, Sarah Squirm, in their debut comedy special Live + In the Flesh. In a raw, one-hour performance, the comic strips off the straitjacket and unleashes a hilariously personal experience involving open-wound confessionals, bodily fluids, and more than enough jokes to leave a lasting imprint on your comedic soul.
Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh debuts December 12.
Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh
- Release Date
-
December 12, 2025
- Writers
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Sarah Sherman
3
Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?
Counting Crows’ lead singer Adam Duritz was one of a kind—he still is, just as much as he remains one of the only white men capable of pulling off dreadlocks, at least in the 90s. Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? is a revealing portrait of the leading frontman.
The Music Box documentary traces the emotional and creative toll that a band’s meteoric rise can have on a singular artist. Specifically, it explores how Duritz dealt with and navigated early fame while at the same time working to create a raw, defiant follow-up to his band’s iconic debut album, August and Everything After, which is divine if you haven’t heard it. The Crows’ music was emotional and full of introspective lyrics and rich storytelling presented through themes of love, heartache, and longing. Their soulful, intricate tunes range from melancholic to euphoric, allowing them to imprint on listeners’ minds. Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? debuts December 18.
Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?
- Release Date
-
December 18, 2025
- Runtime
-
90 minutes
- Director
-
Amy Scott
2
Ne Zha II
A sequel to 2019’s must-see international animated film Ne Zha, Ne Zha II returns to the visually stunning story of the Chinese mythological character and his buddy Ao Bing. Born to mortal parents with powerful, untamed powers and feared by the gods, Ne Zha is a rebellious young deity. When he’s faced with confronting an ancient force hellbent on destroying humanity, Ne Zha must quickly grow up and take control. Will he become the hero the world needs?
Ne Zha II debuts December 20.
Ne Zha 2
- Release Date
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January 29, 2025
- Runtime
-
144 minutes
- Director
-
Yang Yu
