Weekend Watch: The Oscar-worthy movie you need to see this weekend.

Well, that's the festive season done and dusted for another year! And after a day of Christmas cheer, the gift you can truly give yourself is one of solitude. Combined with some great content. 

The days between Christmas and New Year's Eve are some of the weirdest, most vortex-like days of your life. Fortunately, Boxing Day is one of the best days of the calendar year when it comes to fresh new movies and TV shows. Especially new cinematic releases.

On December 26 every single year, our favourite streaming services and cinemas deliver some of the best content you've ever seen. Like a little treat for everyone while they're coming down from the overwhelming joy of Christmas.

From an Oscar-worthy new film, to the second volume of Netflix's biggest hit, here's everything you can watch for some much-needed down-time. 

All the best new releases to watch on Boxing Day in Australia.

Stranger Things Season 5: Part Two, Netflix

Image: Netflix

After four anxious weeks of waiting, fans are finally getting three more action-packed episodes of the final season of Stranger Things (with the epic final conclusion airing on January 1).

Following the events of Part One, which saw jaw-dropping reveals (no spoilers from me, just in case you haven't watched yet), the gang will pick back up in Hawkins where they're attempting to uncover the true motives of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), save their beloved town and the people in it, and destroy him once and for all.

We can't spoil the show, but we can say this: It's time to lock in.

The Housemaid, In Cinemas

Image: Lionsgate.

Adapted from the novel by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid is a psychological thriller that explores power, privilege, and some truly sinister secrets lurking inside the home of a "perfect" family.

Needing to escape from the troubles of her own life, Millie (Sydney Sweeney) scores a new job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Winchester family. She moves in with Nina (Amanda Seyfried), her husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and their daughter Cecelia, who live in a luxurious estate on Long Island.

As Millie becomes intertwined with their family life, Nina's erratic behaviour escalates and disturbing truths come to light. This one became a bestselling novel for a reason, and it's an equally thrilling ride on screen.

Sentimental Value, In Cinemas

Image: Madman.

The latest offering from acclaimed director Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World), Sentimental Value premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where it won the prestigious Grand Prix Award.

The film follows sisters Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), who are forced to confront their estranged father Gustav (Stellan John Skarsgård), a once-famous film director who abandoned the family when the girls were still young, following the death of their mother.

Gustav's working on a new film that tells the story of his mother, who took her own life in the family home in Norway after enduring Nazi torture during WWII and living with the memories.

Gustav casts an American actress, Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), to play the role. As he works on the film, he also works to mend the relationship he shares with his two daughters.

This one is sure to score some nominations at the Oscars in 2026 (we hope!).

Heated Rivalry, HBO MAX

Image: HBO Max

Gay Christmas is here! The finale of the smash hit Heated Rivalry drops on Christmas in Canada (Boxing Day in Australia) and fans are freaking out.

If you don't know, the new global sensation tells the story of two professional Hockey Players: Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).

The series, based on the book by Rachel Reid, follows Hollander and Rozanov as they face-off as rivals (and sometimes, teammates) while maintaining a hidden romantic relationship over the course of several years.

It's spicy, it's heartfelt, and it's about to wrap its first season with an episode dropping on HBO Max that is sure to shut down the internet. Enjoy!

Sunny Nights, Stan

Image: Stan.

US comedians D'Arcy Carden and Will Forte have travelled down under for the Stan Original Series Sunny Nights.

They play siblings: straight-laced Martin, who teams up with his loose cannon sister, Vicki, who move to Australia to set up a spray tan business in Sydney. Australia also happens to be home to Martin's estranged wife, who he's determined to win back.

But as the siblings attempt to turn their company from a start-up operating out of the back of a van into a multi-million-dollar empire, they accidentally become entangled in Sydney's criminal underworld. When a ruthless gangster begins to catch up with them, the two must figure out how to stay alive, out of prison, and in the black.

The series also stars a host of local talent, including Willie Mason, Jessica De Gouw, Ra Chapman, George Mason and NZ icon Rachel House.

Anaconda, In Cinemas

Image: Instagram.

Jack Black and Paul Rudd have joined forces for a comedic spin on the giant snake franchise that made everyone scared to wade into dark water: Anaconda. While the original attempted a more serious tone, this new instalment promises to be an absurd hoot.

The film has taken a meta approach, with the opening line of the trailer being "let's reboot Anaconda."

The horror-comedy follows buddies Doug (Jack Black) and Griff (Paul Rudd), who want to fulfill their childhood dream and make a movie. So, they travel to the Amazon to film an amateur remake of the 1997 film Anaconda. Of course, the plan unravels when a killer anaconda actually appears and turns the light-hearted film shoot into a perilous fight to stay alive. Yikes!

The cast is rounded out by Thandie Newton and Steve Zahn, who add their comedic chops to this ridiculous plot.

Rental Family, In Cinemas

Image: Searchlight Pictures.

My boy! Brendan Fraser stars in the new indie comedy Rental Family, by Hikari (the woman who brought us the Netflix series Beef).

Fraser plays Phillip Vandarploeug, an American actor living in Japan whose chasing success in the industry following one singular toothpaste commercial. Premiering at TIFF, it was heralded as a "phenomenal" performance from Fraser.

Then, he's hired by 'Rental Family' — a company that lends actors as stand-in family members and friends for strangers. He's the 'token white guy' of the business, his boss informs him.

"We sell emotion," his boss says in the trailer. "We help them connect to what's missing."

Grab the tissues! You'll need 'em.

Urchin, In Cinemas

Image: Supplied.

The directorial debut from British actor Harris Dickinson, Urchin follows Mike (Frank Dillane) — a young, homeless Londoner struggling with addiction and poverty after spending time in prison.

Urchin was praised for its raw portrayal of addiction when the film premiered at Cannes earlier this year, with Dillane's performance labelled a knockout as he landed the Best Actor Award in the Un Certain Regard section.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants, In Cinemas

Image: Paramount Pictures.

If you thought the cartoon about a little yellow sponge had run out of stories to tell, you'd be mistaken.

In the fourth theatrical film about SpongeBob SquarePants, we're setting off on a new kid-friendly adventure.

Hoping to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob follows a mysterious, swashbuckling ghost pirate known as the Flying Dutchman on a seafaring adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the ocean.

Given the success of the franchise to date, we're sure the kids will love this one.

Feature Image: Netflix