The highly anticipated second season of “Squid Game” on Netflix, along with Andrea Bocelli’s Christmas TV special, are among the exciting new releases in television, film, and music that viewers can look forward to enjoying. This holiday season also brings other noteworthy streaming options, including the British coming-of-age film “Bird,” directed by Andrea Arnold, and Mariah Carey’s Christmas special timed with the Kansas City Chiefs versus Pittsburgh Steelers game.
In the realm of new movies available for streaming from December 23 to 29, British filmmaker Andrea Arnold, known for her film “Fish Tank,” presents “Bird,” a potentially polarizing coming-of-age story featuring 12-year-old Bailey, portrayed by Nykiya Adams. Set in Kent, Bailey navigates a challenging life with her youthful parents, including her tattooed father, Bug, played by Barry Keoghan. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a character named Bird, portrayed by Franz Rogowski, leading the story into the realm of magical realism. However, film critic Jake Coyle observed that Arnold’s shift from her typically realistic style to magical elements creates an awkward disconnect in the film’s authenticity, making it difficult for viewers to fully engage with the narrative and its portrayal of poverty. Viewers can find Arnold’s previous works “Fish Tank” and “Wasp” also available on MUBI.
As for music offerings, nothing embodies the holiday spirit quite like a festive musical event. On Christmas Eve, Andrea Bocelli will host “Christmas with Andrea Bocelli and Friends: A Grammy Holiday Special,” airing live and available on-demand on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET. The celebrated tenor will perform alongside his family, as well as stars like Jennifer Hudson, Dua Lipa, Sofia Carson, and Josh Groban, promising a night filled with joyous musical acts.
On the topic of holiday entertainment fitting for the entire family, Netflix has something special in store. Mariah Carey will deliver a pre-recorded performance of her iconic hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” this Wednesday, slated to air before the NFL Christmas Gameday, kicking off at 1 p.m. ET during the Chiefs and Steelers matchup, with a second showing at 4:30 p.m. ET during the Baltimore Ravens versus Houston Texans game. Music enthusiasts should particularly tune in for the latter, where Beyoncé is set to perform at halftime. Clearly, there’s an ideal blend of sports and pop music to please fans of all tastes during this festive period.
Additionally, the second season of the much-anticipated show “Squid Game” will premier on Netflix this Thursday. Lee Jung-jae returns to headline the seven-episode season, which has already earned a nomination for best drama series at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. The gripping storyline revolves around individuals facing extreme financial hardship who are lured into a deadly competition for a cash prize. Hwang Dong-hyuk, who was responsible for the writing and directing of the first season, will reprise his roles for the second season, with a third season already in the can, having wrapped filming.
This holiday season looks to be an exciting one for fans of films, television, and music, offering a wide variety of scheduled releases to enjoy with loved ones.
