Streaming Queer: December 2023

December's streaming offering is an entertaining mix of high-stakes drama and holiday magic. We've got movies and series set in Thailand, South Africa, Paris, London, and in court for Gwyneth Paltrow's unforgettable skiing collision trial.

Also this month, we follow queer families living throughout the midwest, and join misfit crews as they embark on the heist of a lifetime. We've got a Women's World Cup documentary, Demi Lovato's holiday special, sexy queer murder mysteries, and a father-son roadtrip that ends with a drag performance. With a perfect mix of family-friendly fun and thrilling drama, December's got it all. Happy holidays, and happy streaming!

"Killer Vacation" Season 1

This murder mystery follows a group of friends celebrating the end of their sports teams' season with a final vacation at an isolated beach house. It's clear that nothing's going as planned, even before they leave for vacation. The teenagers happily soak up with the sun and lots of alcohol. Unfortunately, other shocking surprises lead to one of their deaths. Between flashbacks to the vacation and scenes in the aftermath as the murder investigation begins, "Killer Vacation" exposes secrets and desires. If you're a fan of the early seasons of "Elite" – for horny queer drama, messy relationships exposing class differences, and the lengths ambitious people will go to cover up the truth – "Killer Vacation" is for you.

"Killer Vacation" is now streaming on Hulu.

"Runs in the Family"

"Runs in the Family" is a joyous, chaotic, heart-filled roadtrip film about a reformed con artist who asks his trans son, River (Gabe Gabriel), to join him on a drive across South Africa to break his ex-girlfriend (and his son's estranged mother) out of rehab. They must return in time for River to take part in a drag competition that could win him his gender-affirming surgery. The film was made by real-life father-son duo Ian Gabriel ("Ludik") and Gabe Gabriel ("No Hiding Here"). Ian directed and Gabe wrote and stars in his first role since coming out as trans in 2019.

"Runs in the Family" is now streaming on Netflix.

"Doi Boy"

In this Thai drama, the lives of three young men "living on the outskirts of society" intersect where each of them journey towards achieving justice. Sorn is an undocumented immigrant who begins doing sex work as a means to build a future with a new identity in Chiang Mai. The film follows his struggles as he is drawn to a complicated relationship with a male client, who says he can help Sorn gain official citizenship – if he helps him with a risky investigation into a political activist. "Doi Boy" has romance, betrayal, and the fascinating emotional portrayal of the real struggle that so many people face today.

"Doi Boy" is now streaming on Netflix.

"May December"

Out director Todd Haynes' new film sees Natalie Portman playing actress Elizabeth, who spends time with a family in preparation to portray the mother, Gracie (Julianne Moore), in a project that details the family's notorious tabloid beginnings. Charles Melton ("Riverdale") plays Joe, who Gracie hired to work at her pet store when he was in seventh grade, before beginning an affair with him that sent her to prison. 20 years later, Gracie and Joe are married with children who are about to graduate from high school. At first, their marriage looks more predictable than Elizabeth expected. But the deeper Elizabeth looks, the more she "brings long-dormant feelings to the surface, and the decades-old scandal reveals deeper and deeper layers."

"May December" premieres December 1 on Netflix.

"We Live Here: The Midwest"

This heartfelt documentary introduces us to queer families who have established deep roots in the Midwest – a part of the country they love and hope to stay in. "We Live Here: The Midwest" captures this crucial time in our culture "where anti-queer legislation and sentiment is rapidly multiplying across the country, and the values of all midwestern families are put to the ultimate test." These stories include a couple in Minnesota struggling to rebuild their families following both of their transitions; a gay Black couple with a young daughter in Nebraska; a lesbian couple homeschooling their bullied son on a farm in Kansas; and a gay teacher in Ohio who creates a safe space for queer students.

"We Live Here: The Midwest" premieres December 6 on Hulu.

"A Very Demi Holiday Special"

Demi Lovato invites us to celebrate the holidays with their chosen family in this holiday special which will have "good music, good food, and good vibes." The special includes musical performances of Lovato's hits and holiday favorites (a duet of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" performed with JoJo among them), as well as cake decorating and Christmas sweater crafts. The stars who will be joining Lovato to ring in the holidays include Paris Hilton, Trixie Mattel, and Hailey Bieber.

"A Very Demi Holiday Special" premieres December 8 on the Roku Channel.

"Culprits" Season 1

"Culprits" is an action-packed high-stakes crime drama that starts where most heist stories end: after the thieves have taken off and gone their separate ways to enjoy their loot. Years after a London job went wrong, the thieves are reluctantly reunited because they notice their team is being killed off one by one. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (you may recognize him as the guidance counselor from "Genera+ion") plays a family man living a quiet life with his partner (Kevin Vidal) and children. This deadly twist threatens to unravel his happily-ever-after, so of course he must complete one last job to ensure their safety.

"Culprits" Season 1 premieres December 8 on Hulu.

"Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team" Season 1

This docu-series follows the US Women's World Cup team on their journey to the 2023 FIFA World Cup, "from enduring injury to upholding legacy" as the most decorated team in international soccer history. The series follows both the team's struggles and explores some of the players' personal circumstances (from veteran champions to rising stars). We look forward to a showcase of some of the country's greatest athletes – with the added bonus that many of them are openly queer.

"Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team" premieres December 12 on Netflix.

"Blue Jean"

The BAFTA-nominated film set in England during the Margaret Thatcher years tells the story of a queer teacher navigating life amid anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. At school, Jean (Rosy McEwen) is reserved and closeted, lying to her coworkers to avoid socializing with them after work. In her personal life, she regularly visits a gay bar with her friends and girlfriend. Things get complicated when a new student (Lucy Halliday) arrives at Jean's school, because the student and Jean later recognise each other at the gay bar. Turbulence hits Jean's work and personal life as secrets are exposed, and questions about the kind of life she and the student deserves are raised.

"Blue Jean" premieres December 14 on Hulu.

"Chicken Run 2: Dawn of the Nugget"

It's a "Chicken Run" sequel! Having found their hard-earned peaceful paradise far away from humans after defying death to escape Tweedy's farm, Ginger (Thandiwe Newton) and Rocky (Zachary Levi) hatch a kid named Molly. Queer actor Bella Ramsey voices the delightful, adventurous young chicken who turns their worlds upside down in the best way. Back on the mainland, all of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat – Nugget land! The family can't leave other chickens in the danger they've escaped, so they're breaking in for a rescue mission.

"Chicken Run 2: Dawn of the Nugget" premieres December 15 on Netflix.

"Such Brave Girls" Season 1

A charming, hilarious comedy series from the U.K. "exploring life and love in all its ugly chaos," "Such Brave Girls" follows a single mother and her two daughters, Josie and Billie, as they try to piece their lives back together after their father and husband "finally leaves them." Written, created by, and starring "two queers with mental health issues," this show is filled with sparkling dark humor about everything from abortion to suicide, as we follow their efforts towards stability while being terribly selfish, in debt, and desperate for affection. For queer daughter Josie, this means being vaguely normal around her crush.

"Such Brave Girls" premieres December 15 on Hulu.

"Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!"

After rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an Off-Broadway run, "Literally Who Cares?!" is a comedy special from queer Gen-Z comedian and self-diagnosed "important young mind" Leo Reich, who goes up on stage to ask important questions like "Is this helping?", "Am I hot?" and "No offense guys but literally what is going on?" Said to combine stand-up comedy with humorless performance art, Reich's special has musical elements and "anxious non-sequiturs in a valiant attempt to raise awareness about important social and political causes... or something."

"Literally Who Cares?!" premieres December 16 on Max.

"Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial"

We cannot wait to dive back into the deliciously low-stakes theatrics of the lawsuit against Gwyneth Paltrow for a skiing collision involving retired optometrist Terry Sanderson. The glorious audacity of Sanderson suing Paltrow for $300,000 ultimately and iconically resulted in her being awarded "a symbolic $1." It will be worth tuning in to see more of Paltrow's chic outfits and relive her quotable statements ("Well, I lost half a day of skiing") on the stand alone. We will be living for the drama.

"Gwyneth vs Terry: The Ski Crash Trial" premieres December 18 on Max.

"Maestro"

Bradley Cooper directs and stars in this film as queer composer Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro" – a cinematic love letter to art, music, and family. The film's focus is on the lifelong relationship between Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (Carey Mulligan), a 26-year-long marriage which endured his many affairs with both men and women. Matt Bomer plays one of Bernstein's lovers, clarinetist David Oppenheim.

"Maestro" premieres December 20 on Netflix.

"Berlin"

Berlin (of Netflix hit series "Money Heist," the character for whom this is a prequel) was portrayed as brilliant, inventive, hopelessly romantic, and casually bisexual in the popular heist show where we first met him. This spinoff series is set in the golden era of his "glory days," where Berlin (Pedro Alonso) assembles a team in Paris (Begoña Vargas, star of sapphic cult thriller "Welcome to Eden" among them) for what he believes is one of his greatest plans ever: stealing 44 million euros' worth of jewels in one night.

"Berlin" premieres December 29 on Netflix.