As 2025 drew to a dramatic close, Netflix found itself firmly at the center of the entertainment universe. The streaming giant not only unleashed a new mystery thriller that quickly shot to the top of its most-watched list, but also brought one of its most beloved series to an emotional, action-packed conclusion. For viewers and fans, the final hours of the year were a whirlwind of suspense, nostalgia, and communal excitement, setting social media ablaze and confirming Netflix’s singular influence in shaping pop culture narratives.
Leading the charge was Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, director Rian Johnson’s third installment in the acclaimed Benoit Blanc series. Released on December 12, 2025, the film had, by New Year’s Eve, become the undisputed heavyweight of Netflix’s trending charts. According to Netflix’s official platform data, it was the number one movie as December 31 approached, dominating viewership and sparking intense online discussion. The film’s gripping locked-room murder mystery unfolds at the fictional Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude in upstate New York, where Daniel Craig’s Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc teams up with a young, earnest priest, played by Josh O’Connor, to unravel a case shrouded in faith, secrets, and moral ambiguity.
The star-studded cast—featuring Josh Brolin as the controversial Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, Glenn Close as the indomitable Martha Delacroix, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, and Cailee Spaeny—delivers performances that critics and fans alike have called “career-defining.” Glenn Close, in particular, steals scenes in a role that lingers long after the credits roll. The movie’s two-hour and twenty-six-minute runtime is a masterclass in tension, with Johnson’s signature blend of intricate puzzle-solving and profound character study pushing the Knives Out franchise into its darkest, most introspective chapter yet.
But Wake Up Dead Man was far from the only reason Netflix viewers found themselves glued to their screens as the year ended. The platform’s December catalog was a carefully curated blend of new releases and beloved classics, reflecting a strategy that, according to Decider’s real-time trending analysis, successfully married nostalgia with innovation. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), starring Leonardo DiCaprio at his manic best, continued to draw massive audiences. Pulp Fiction (1994)—a perennial favorite—remained essential viewing, while Train Dreams (2025), a recent addition boasting a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, stood out as a critical darling. Other highlights included Frankenstein (2025), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), and crowd-pleasers like As Good as It Gets, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Mean Girls. For those seeking something lighter, holiday romances like My Secret Santa and A Cowboy Christmas Romance rounded out the list.
Netflix’s recommendation to start the evening with Wake Up Dead Man was not just marketing spin. The film’s gripping story, anchored by Josh O’Connor’s emotionally charged portrayal of a priest in crisis, offered viewers a fresh take on the whodunnit genre. The confined church setting, coupled with the ensemble’s chemistry, heightened the suspense, while the movie’s exploration of faith and redemption gave it a weighty, introspective edge. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, facing what many critics have called his “most complex case yet,” navigates a world where every character’s motives are shadowed by doubt and desperation.
Meanwhile, as fans scrambled to fit in one last movie marathon before the clock struck midnight, Netflix’s app made it easy to stream across devices—smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers. The platform’s standard subscription allowed simultaneous viewing on multiple screens, making group watch parties a breeze. For those worried about spotty holiday internet, Netflix’s download feature provided a reliable backup, ensuring no one missed out on the year’s biggest releases.
Yet, even as Wake Up Dead Man dominated the movie conversation, another Netflix phenomenon was about to break the internet. On December 31, 2025, at 8 pm, the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5 dropped, sending fans into a frenzy and propelling “Netflix” to the top of Google Trends on January 1, 2026. The episode, aptly titled “The Rightside Up,” delivered a climactic showdown that had been nearly a decade in the making. According to the series’ co-creator Matt Duffer, “Everyone contributes in some meaningful way … In that sense, it feels very much like the climax of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, where each character’s unique skills are crucial to the final fight.”
The finale saw Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), and Max (Sadie Sink) confronting the series’ ultimate villain, Henry—better known as Vecna—in a mind-bending battle. Simultaneously, Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray (Brett Gelman) worked to trigger a bomb that would destroy the Upside Down, while the rest of the group ventured into the Abyss to rescue kidnapped children. The emotional intensity of the episode left fans reeling, with reactions flooding social media platforms like X and Instagram. Some viewers expressed satisfaction and closure, others were overcome with emotion, and a vocal contingent was outright angry, struggling to process the ending of a series that had become a cultural touchstone since its 2016 debut.
The immediate aftermath was a digital outpouring of nostalgia and debate. Fans reminisced about the series’ best moments, analyzed the finale’s twists, and speculated about the characters’ futures. The sense of community—so central to Stranger Things—was palpable, as viewers from around the world shared their reactions and memories. The show’s conclusion marked not just the end of a television era, but also a moment of collective reflection for a generation that had grown up with the Hawkins gang.
Netflix’s dual triumph—releasing a high-profile original film and concluding a flagship series within the same 24-hour window—underscored the platform’s ability to command global attention. According to Rotten Tomatoes and Netflix’s own rankings, the blend of original programming and licensed classics resonated with audiences, who flocked to both new releases and time-tested favorites as the year drew to a close. The December 31st catalog, as reported by Decider, was the culmination of a content strategy that prioritized accessibility, prestige, and variety, ensuring there was something for everyone during the holiday downtime.
For entertainment writer Jessica Morrison, whose decade-long career has spanned both film and television analysis, the events of December 31, 2025, were a testament to the enduring power of shared stories. As viewers bid farewell to old favorites and embraced new mysteries, Netflix’s role as a cultural curator was more evident than ever—reminding us that, sometimes, the best way to end a year is with a great story and a community to share it with.
