To close out 2022, here are 45 new series, films, and specials from countries in North and South America, Asia, and Africa for you to enjoy in December.
Below is a curated list of 45 programs from countries in Africa, Asia, North America, and South America that are premiering in the US in December 2022. Additional programs are listed on our “viewing guide” page.
(For details about the premieres of programs from the UK, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and subtitled original-language programs from countries in Europe, visit The British TV Place, The Down Under TV Place, and The Euro TV Place.)
Programs and dates for the programs below are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
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Hush (US)
In this new drama series, marriage and sex therapist Dr. Draya Logan (Joyful Drake, P-Valley) becomes the prime suspect when a body is found in her penthouse. During a recap of the events that led to the deadly incident, the lives of three high-profile wives are put on display: Gina Rodriquez (Erica Mena, Love & Hip Hop), a calculating, aspiring reality TV star-turned-housewife to a professional baseball player; Syleena Gibson (Candiace Dillard Bassett, The Real Housewives of Potomac), a former corner girl-turned-housewife of a high-powered attorney; and Jordan Vincent (Caryn Ward Ross, Monogamy), a desperate housewife whose husband is serving time for a crime he claims he didn’t commit. One of the four women is guilty, but which one is a secret they are willing to bury to keep their lives intact.
Costars include TS Madison (Zola), Rob Gordon (The Christmas Lottery), Kevin Savage (Insecure), Javier Villamil (Jumanji: Next Level), and Lanre Idewu (Sherman’s Showcase).
Hush, an ALLBLK Original series, premieres in the US on Thursday, December 1, exclusively on ALLBLK and its digital channels, including ALLBLK on Amazon.
Qala (India)
Set in 1940s Kolkata, this music-filled period drama follows a talented young singer who, haunted by her past, must cope with the pressures of success, her mother’s disdain, and the voices of doubt within herself as her career begins to take off.
Starring:Triptii Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, and Babil Khan, Qala, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Thursday, December 1, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Warriors of Future (Hong Kong)
In this sci-fi action flick set in 2055, a meteor strikes the Earth in what had been Hong Kong, and a giant alien plant begins growing out of the rubble. While this thing wreaks havoc, powerful alien creatures are threatening humanity. So a suicide squad is given mere hours to save the post-apocalyptic city from total collapse. But as Commander Sing Lee’s (Nick Cheung, Beast Stalker) elite forces are almost wiped out, the surviving soldier, Tai Loi (Louis Koo, S Storm), discovers an even bigger conspiracy…
Costarring Sean Lau (Life without Principle) and Carina Lau (Dynasty Warriors), Warriors of Future, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Friday, December 2, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie (India)
This eight-episode crime thriller follows Vivek (S.J. Suryah, Mersal), a troubled but determined cop in a small town who leads the investigation into the murder of Velonie (newcomer Sanjana), a beautiful young girl whose story is riddled with rumors. As media coverage of Velonie’s demise becomes sensationalized and threatens to damage her image, Vivek finds himself caught in a web of lies. Hell-bent on finding the truth, he must slog through a morass of half-truths and confusing leads to solve the case.
Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie, an Amazon Original series, premieres globally on Friday, December 2, exclusively on Prime Video. (You can add it to your watchlist now.)
George & Tammy (US)
Oscar® winner Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Oscar® nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road) star in this biopic-historical drama as the legendary George Jones and Tammy Wynette, the country music power couple whose complicated but enduring relationship inspired some of the most iconic tunes of all time, including Wynette’s most successful song, “Stand by Your Man,” and Jones’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” still widely considered the greatest country song of all time.
George & Tammy premieres in the US on Sunday, December 4, at 9 PM ET/PT, on Showtime and its digital channels, including Showtime on Amazon. The first episode will air simultaneously on the Paramount Network.
Burning Patience (Ardiente Paciencia) (Colombia)
Based on the novel Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skármeta, this period drama sees Mario (Andrew Bargsted, Invisible Heroes), a young fisherman, getting a job as the postman to legendary writer Pablo Neruda (Claudio Arredondo, Neruda). This entry into a world of words fuels Mario’s desire to be a poet so that he can woo Beatriz (Vivianne Dietz, Yo Soy Lorenzo), the woman of his dreams.
Burning Patience, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Connect (South Korea)
This sci-fi drama stars Jung Hae-in (One Spring Night) as Ha Dong-soo, a new type of immortal human being known as “Connect.” A gang of organ harvesters kidnaps him for his eyes, but part way through the surgery he wakes up and escapes with one eye remaining. Dong-soo later discovers that he can still see out of his missing eye — which is now being used by a serial killer who has been terrorizing the residents of Seoul. Determined to get back what was taken, Dong-soo pursues the killer, taking whatever steps are necessary to make himself whole again.
Connect, a Hulu Original, premieres in the US on Wednesday, December 7, exclusively on Hulu.
The Marriage App (Matrimillas) (Argentina)
Luisana Lopilato (Pipa) and Juan Minujín (El marginal) star in this romantic comedy as a frustrated couple in a troubled marriage, who find hope in a watch-based app that rewards good deeds — until the unhealthy obsession to win points takes over.
The Marriage App, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Most Beautiful Flower (La flor más bella) (Mexico)
Inspired by comedian and series creator Michelle Rodríguez’s own experiences in high school, this comedy stars Esmeralda Soto (Las Bravas F.C.) as Mich, a curvy, curly, and confident teen who knows she’s fabulous. Now she just has to convince everyone else at her Xochimilco high school to know it too.
The Most Beautiful Flower, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 7, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Elephant Whisperers (India)
This documentary short follows Bomman and Bellie, a couple in south India who devote their lives to caring for Raghu, an orphaned baby elephant put into their care, and forge a family like no other. The Elephant Whisperers, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Thursday, December 8, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
In Broad Daylight: The Narvarte Case (A plena luz: El caso Narvarte) (Mexico)
This true-crime documentary reveals evidence of corruption and cover-up in the investigation into the murders of five people in the Narvarte neighborhood of Mexico City in 2015.
In Broad Daylight: The Narvarte Case, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Thursday, December 8, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Solo Amor Y Mil Canciones (Argentina)
On the 10th anniversary of the launch of the hit family and music drama Violetta, series star Tini Stoessel gets together with her former cast mates, including Jorge Blanco, Candelaria Molfese and Mercedes Lambre, to celebrate — giving fans an intimate and unforgettable show and a night to remember with new versions of five of the show’s songs. Solo Amor Y Mil Canciones premieres in the US on Thursday, December 8, exclusively on Disney+.
CAT (India)
Randeep Hooda (Extraction) stars in this crime thriller as a former police informant who, while living under an alias, is summoned to infiltrate a major drug empire. Forced to become an informant again, he uncovers a dangerous connection to his dark past.
CAT, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Emancipation (US)
This drama tells the triumphant story of Peter (Will Smith, King Richard), a man who escapes from slavery — relying on his wits, unwavering faith, and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom.
Emancipation, an Apple Original Film, has its global streaming premiere on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Apple TV+. (The film debuts in cinemas on December 2.)
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (US-Mexico-France)
From double Oscar® winner Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) comes this darker version of the classic children’s fairy tale about a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy. This reimagined musical, stop-motion-animated tale stars the voice talents of Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), David Bradley (“Harry Potter” films), Gregory Mann (Victoria), Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), and Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton).
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, a Netflix Film, has its global streaming premiere on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower (Season 3) (South Africa)
In the new season of this multilingual comedy-drama series, free-spirited Tumi (the late Busi Lurayi) always manages to make a mess of things, so after two chaotic Christmases, will she be able to make it through this holiday family reunion without ruining it completely? And will the Sello and Twala families be able to put their differences aside to welcome Beauty and Sbu’s first baby?
How to Ruin Christmas: The Baby Shower, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, Part 2 (South Korea)
Picking up where Part 1 of this action-crime thriller left off, the thieves overtake the mint of a unified Korea. With hostages trapped inside, the police must stop them — as well as the shadowy mastermind behind it all.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, Part 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 9, exclusively on Netflix.
Alchemy of Souls: Season 1, Part 2 (South Korea)
In the return of this fantasy-action drama, Jang Uk (Lee Jae-wook, Memories of the Alhambra) becomes a hunter of the soul-swapped when a young woman, a prisoner in her own home, seeks his help to reclaim her freedom.
Alchemy of Souls: Season 1, Part 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Saturday, December 10, exclusively on Netflix.
Berko (Berko: El Arte de Callar) (Chile)
Based on the novel Berko: El Arte de Callar by Roberto Brodsky, this four-part drama set in 1990 Santiago, Chile, centers on Boris Berkowitz (Benjamín Vicuña, Locked Up), a journalist investigating a sordid crime, who becomes passionately involved with Divina Day (Daniela Ramírez, Isabel: The Intimate Story of Isabel Allende), a mysterious young escort. Their relationship soon involves him in a dangerous network of international arms trafficking, prostitution, and drug smuggling.
Berko premieres in the US and Canada on Tuesday, December 13, exclusively on MHz Choice and its digital channels, including MHz Choice on Amazon.
Kindred (US)
Adapted from Hugo Award winner Octavia E. Butler‘s celebrated novel Kindred, this fantasy drama centers on Dana James (Mallori Johnson, WeCrashed), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has uprooted her life of familial obligation and relocated to Los Angeles, ready to claim a future that, for once, feels all her own. But before she can settle into her new home, she finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time, emerging at a nineteenth-century plantation intimately linked with her family, and confronting secrets she never knew ran through her blood.
Kindred, an FX Original, premieres in its eight-episode entirety on Tuesday, December 13, exclusively on Hulu. (You can add it to your watchlist now.)
Single’s Inferno: Season 2 (South Korea)
In the new season of this dating reality series, a new cast of singles comes together on a remote island seeking love. Who will find that special someone and make their escape to a luxurious getaway?
Single’s Inferno: Season 2, a Netflix Series, premieres Tuesday, December 13, exclusively on Netflix.
The Big 4 (Indonesia)
In this action-comedy film, four retired assassins spring back into action when they cross paths with a straight-arrow cop who’s determined to track down an elusive murderer.
The Big 4, a Netflix Film, premieres Thursday, December 15, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Jugada Peligrosa (Colombia)
Translated literally as “Dangerous Play,” this sports documentary is about the rough road to victory for Atlético Nacional, which set its sights on becoming the first Colombian team to win the most important tournament in South America, the Copa Libertadores, in 1989. They faced obstacles on and off the field, including pressure exerted by the Medellín cartel on the referees, and the major security issues the country was experiencing at that time. After all these years, many people still wonder if the team won the cup with goals or with bullets.
Jugada Peligrosa, a Max Original, premieres in the US on Thursday, December 15, exclusively on HBO Max.
Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades) (Mexico)
From five-time Academy Award® winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu (The Revenant, Birdman) comes this dark comedy-drama that follows the intimate and moving journey of Silverio Gama (Daniel Giménez Cacho, Club de Cuervos), a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker living in Los Angeles. After being named the recipient of a prestigious international award, Silverio is compelled to return to his native country, unaware that this simple trip will push him to an existential limit. The folly of his memories and fears have decided to pierce through the present, filling his everyday life with a sense of bewilderment and wonder.
Costarring Griselda Siciliani (The Last Elvis) and Ximena Lamadrid (Who Killed Sara), Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, a Netflix Film, has its global streaming premiere on Friday, December 16, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Far from Home (Nigeria)
This new drama series, the first Netflix Nigerian show for young adults, follows the story of Ishaya (Mike Afolarin, Soólè), a charismatic teenager and talented artist from a poor family. His dreams suddenly appear within reach when a prestigious scholarship to the most exclusive school in the country catapults him into the affluent world of Nigeria’s elite — all while a huge secret threatens Ishaya’s newfound status and, ultimately, his family’s safety.
Far From Home, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 16, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
LOL: Last One Laughing: Mexico: Season 5 (Mexico)
This popular series returns with more of Mexiso’s best comedians participating in a competition in which the objective is to eliminate the others by making them laugh. The last comedian standing and not laughing wins the grand prize.
LOL: Last One Laughing: Mexico: Season 5, an Amazon Original, premieres in the US on Friday, December 16, exclusively on Prime Video.
1923 (US)
Academy Award® winner Helen Mirren (The Queen) and Academy Award® nominee Harrison Ford (“Indiana Jones” films) star in this western drama — a prequel to Yellowstone and a sequel to 1883 — as matriarch Cara and patriarch Jacob Dutton in a new installment of the Dutton family origin story. The series will explore the early twentieth century, when pandemics, historic drought, the end of Prohibition, and the Great Depression all plague the mountain west, and the Duttons who call it home.
1923, a Paramount+ Original, premieres in the US and Canada on Sunday, December 18, exclusively on Paramount+ and its digital channels, including Paramount+ on Amazon. (It debuts in the UK and Australia on December 19.)
Trolley (South Korea)
In this K-drama, a sudden tragedy brings the wife of a congressman out of her private life and forces her to confront family secrets and her own troubling past. Trolley, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Monday, December 19, exclusively on Netflix.
A Not So Merry Christmas (Reviviendo la Navidad) (Mexico)
Mauricio Ochmann (Las Bravas F.C.) stars in this comedy as Chuy, a grinchy guy who, after being cursed by a fairy, wakes up to find he’s lived a full year, but is doomed to remember only Christmas Day. Every year. From now on.
A Not So Merry Christmas, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Tuesday, December 20, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Big Bet (South Korea)
The legendary Choi Min-sik (Old Boy) makes his first appearance in a drama series in over 26 years in this crime drama. It tells the story of Cha Moo-sik, who, after a hard time in life, builds himself up from nothing to become a casino mogul in the Philippines. But he finds himself back at rock bottom when he is investigated as part of a murder case. Determined not to let life beat him down yet again, Cha will risk everything he has, including his life, to get himself back in the game.
Big Bet, a Hulu Original, premieres in the US on Wednesday, December 21, exclusively on Hulu.
Disconnect: The Wedding Planner (Kenya)
After falling victim to a scam, a desperate man races against the clock as he attempts to plan a luxurious destination wedding for an important investor. Disconnect: The Wedding Planner, a Netflix Film, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 21, exclusively on Netflix.
Alice in Borderland: Season 2 (Japan)
Following on from Season 1’s cliffhanger ending, the new season of this manga-inspired sci-fi action drama finds the parallel-dimension Tokyo is even more wild and cruel and the survival games even deadlier. Will Arisu (Kento Yamazaki, The Door into Summer) ever make it back to the real world — and will it be worth everything he’s lost?
Alice in Borderland: Season 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Thursday, December 22, exclusively on Netflix.
Mathieu Dufour at Bell Centre (Canada)
In his first Netflix original stand-up comedy special, acclaimed Quebecois comedian Mathieu Dufour shares stories about paintball mishaps, McDonald’s misdeeds, and more. Mathieu Dufour at Bell Centre, a Netflix Comedy special, premieres globally on Thursday, December 22, exclusively on Netflix.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (US)
In this follow-up to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, world-famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, “James Bond” films) travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends (now suspects).
Costarring Edward Norton (Fight Club), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Janelle Monáe (Moonlight), amongst others, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a Netflix Film, has its global streaming premiere on Friday, December 23, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Piñata Masters! (Mexico)
This new competition series sees seven teams vying to make their piñatas as colorful and creative as they can, as they must impress the picky judges: a group of kids! Piñata Masters!, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 23, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Daughter from Another Mother: Season 3 (Madre Solo hay Dos) (Mexico)
In the new season of this comedy-drama series, Ana (Ludwika Paleta, Run Coyote Run) and Mariana (Paulina Goto, La Leyenda Del Diamante) must deal with a lawsuit and new business while maintaining the facade of their relationship — but chaos arises when true feelings blossom…
Daughter from Another Mother: Season 3, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Sunday, December 25, exclusively on Netflix.
Time Hustler (O Cangaceiro do Futuro) (Brazil)
In this comedy series, Virguley (Edmilson Filho, Cine Holliúdy) is a jack-of-all-trades who always gets into trouble while trying to make ends meet in São Paulo and dreaming of returning home to the Northeast as a rich man. Between jobs, he takes advantage of his resemblance to the bandit Lampião by putting on shows. One day, another sticky situation gets Virguley smacked so hard, he ends up back in 1927, where the locals mistake him for the actual Lampião. Taking advantage of the confusion, Virguley gathers a gang like none other, falls in love with Mariá (Chandelly Braz, Under Pressure), and becomes a powerful man in the town. Then the real bandit shows up…
Time Hustler, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Sunday, December 25, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
Vir Das: Landing (India)
In his fourth Netflix stand-up special, Vir Das dives deep into his childhood in India, the perils of outrage, and finding his feet in the world. Vir Das: Landing, a Netflix Comedy special, premieres globally on Sunday, December 25, exclusively on Netflix. (You can set a reminder for it now.)
The Wall: Season 3 (La faille) (Canada)
In the new season of this French Canadian mystery thriller, Detective Sergeant Celine Trudeau (Isabel Richer, Ruptures) returns to her childhood home in a village near an abbey, but the beauty of the Indian summer is disrupted by a old trauma: Thirty years ago, her cousin and best friend, Veronique, was murdered here. Now, Cecile and Alex (Alexandre Landry, True North) set out to track down her killer, who was never found. The suspects are old friends and neighbors, an ex-boyfriend — and even members of Veronique’s family. In this small, tightly woven village, protected by the silence of the monks, Celine’s quest shakes the power of those who call the shots in the region — and soon her own life is in danger.
The Wall: Season 3 premieres in the US and Canada on Monday, December 26, exclusively on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel and the Walter Presents digital channels.
José Andrés and Family in Spain (US)
This six-part docuseries follows larger-than-life chef and celebrated humanitarian José Andrés on a gastronomic adventure across his homeland — from Barcelona and Madrid, to Andalusia and Valencia — with his three American-raised daughters, Carlota, Inés and Lucia Andrés. Their journey is a celebration of Spanish food and culture, guided by José’s passion for food and his personal history in Spain.
Along with mouth-watering food, there are adventures, from paragliding across the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to milking goats, to learning how specialty cheese is made in Asturias. At each stop along the way, they meet local experts, celebrated chefs and old friends, who reveal insider secrets and traditions and cook exquisite dishes.
José Andrés and Family in Spain premieres in the US on Tuesday, December 27, on Discovery+ and its digital channels, including Discovery+ on Amazon.
Ramona (Chile)
Set in the late 1960s, this drama follows two sisters, Ramona (Giannina Fruttero, Los Espookys) and Helga (Belén Herrera, Enigma), who leave their home in the countryside and make their way to Santiago after their mother dies and their father’s abuse becomes unbearable. Their introduction to the big city isn’t a welcoming one, but they do meet Carmen (Paola Lattus, Invisible Heroes), a prostitute with whom they end up living in a camp on the outskirts of the capital. It is Carmen who teaches Ramona and Helga how to survive in this marginal world. Slowly the three women become like a family — pulling together, committing to lifting themselves out of poverty, and getting involved in a political movement that culminates in the 1970 election of Salvador Allende as president of Chile.
Ramona premieres in the US and Canada on Tuesday, December 27, exclusively on MHz Choice and its digital channels, including MHz Choice on Amazon.
Love Is Blind: Brazil: Season 2 (Brazil)
In the second season of this popular reality competition series, a new group of singles looking for love participate in the experiment of getting to know potential partners through their voice and personality alone — not meeting the one they want to spend their life with until the acceptance of the marriage proposal.
Love Is Blind: Brazil: Season 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Wednesday, December 28, exclusively on Netlix.
Secrets of Summer: Season 2 (Cielo Grande) (Argentina)
In the new season of this teen drama, Steffi (Pilar Pascual, Go! Live Your Way), Luz (Abril Di Yorio, Los Protectores), and their family and friends fight for Cielo Grande’s future after new owners take over the resort in a power play. (Video is from Season 1)
Secrets of Summer: Season 2, a Netflix Series, premieres globally on Friday, December 30, exclusively on Netflix.
The Glory (South Korea)
Song Hye-Kyo (That Winter, the Wind Blows) stars in this drama as Moon Dong-Eun, an elementary school homeroom teacher whose childhood was marked by pain and violence. Her dream in high school was to become an architect, but after being brutally attacked by bullies, she dropped out of school. Years later, the main bully has a child who attends the school where Moon Dong-Eun works. Now, after years of plotting, Moon Dong-Eun finally has the opportunity to put her plan in motion and get revenge against the bullies who tormented her and the students who stood by and let it happen.
Costarring Lee Do-hyun (Hotel Del Luna) and Lim Ji-yeon (High Society), The Glory, a Netflix Series, premieres globally exclusively on Netflix (date tba). (You can set a reminder for it now.) UPDATE: The series premieres January 30, 2023.
The Interest of Love (South Korea)
This K-drama centers on four men and women working at the same bank, who get entangled in a complicated romance as they discover how far they’re willing to go for love. The Interest of Love, a Netflix Series, premieres globally exclusively on Netflix (date tba)
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For details about the premieres of programs from the UK, Ireland, English-speaking Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and original-language programs from countries in Europe, please visit The British TV Place, The Down Under TV Place, and The Euro TV Place.
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