9 of the best non-Christmassy TV shows and films to binge on Netflix-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

Netflix has a number of hit TV shows and films to tune into this Christmas (Picture: Netflix)

Christmas is a time for melting into the sofa and catching up with some much-needed relaxation – so what better way to do it than with the help of Netflix?

While Christmas films are fun (for a bit) more than one a year can get a bit much.

Luckily, there are plenty of nail-biting series and films on Netflix without a Father Christmas in sight, which mean you can save the festivities for the real world.

From Black Doves – okay, it’s a tiny, tiny bit Christmassy but we will allow – to La Palma, Subservience and Pig, here are some of the best TV moments from the streamer to getstuck into over the coming weeks.

La Palma

Tense disaster series La Palma has soared into the Netflix Top 10 list since landing on the streaming service earlier this month.

The four-part show tells the story of a Norwegian family holidaying on a Spanish island who, along with a team of geological researchers, discover concerning evidence of potential volcanic activity.

Black Doves

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw star in gripping spy drama Black Doves which has had Netflix viewers in a chokehold.

The six-parter stars Knightley as spy Helen who is out for blood to avenge her lover MI5 agent Jason’s (Andrew Koji) death after he’s found slumped on a bench in London’s Southbank.

She is joined by best friend and hitman Sam (Whishaw) as she defies her boss Reed’s (Sarah Lancashire) direct orders, stumbling upon corruption far bigger than what she imagines.

Subservience

This year has seen us inundated with films and TV shows tackling the terrifying pitfalls of AI as the technology continues to rise.

Among this year’s chilling offerings is Subservience, starring Megan Fox as Alice, a lifelike robot who is purchased by Nick (Michele Morrone) after his wife becomes ill and he struggles with solo parenting his two young children.

Things begin to go awry in the household when Alice becomes sentient and develops feelings towards Nick.

Pig

Can’t get enough of Nicolas Cage after he dazzled in 2024 films Longlegs and Arcadian? Dive into his back catalogue this holiday season, including this 2021 classic.

Pig begins with introverted woodsman Rob (Cage) and his prized pig as they hunt for truffles.

When the pig is kidnapped, Rob is forced to leave his secluded Oregon forest and journey to Portland to track them down by all means necessary.

The Batman

If you love Batman Returns, but need a film following the caped crusader that’s less festive, look no further than 2022 blockbuster The Batman.

Robert Pattinson stars as the titular superhero as he ventures into the dark streets of Gotham City to track down a sadistic killer.

In doing so, he uncovers corruption that runs deep into the heart of the metropolis, with Batman vowing to bring down the abusive, power-hungry system once and for all.

No Good Deed

No Good Deed has been dubbed Lisa Kudrow’s best role since Friends, and you can binge all eight episodes right now.

The series follows three very different families who all rush to buy the same 1920s Spanish-style villa that holds many secrets that could turn their dream property into a nightmare.

Kudrow stars as Lydia Morgan, the current owner of the house alongside her husband Paul, played by Ray Romano.

Marcel The Shell With Shoes On

Perfect for the whole family to sit around the TV and enjoy, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On will have you belly laughing and sobbing in equal measure.

Co-written and directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the live-action and stop-motion film follows a tiny talking shell living his day-to-day life with his grandma Connie and his pet lint ball, Alan.

After documentarian Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp) moves into the Air BnB where Marcel lives and uploads his film about him online, Marcel becomes an internet sensation and the duo uses his newfound popularity to track down Marcel’s missing family.

Scream VI

Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t dive into a classic horror franchise – in fact, it may act as the perfect cathartic release for some of those holiday tensions.

The latest film in the Scream franchise, released in 2023, has arrived on Netflix and follows the four survivors of Ghostface from the previous film.

Determined to start a new life in New York, Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) soon find themselves fighting for their lives again when a familiar masked murderer begins stalking their every move.

Virgin River

The latest series of one of Netflix’s longest-running dramas is available to stream just in time for Christmas.

Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, it follows midwife Melinda ‘Mel’ Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) who moves to the remote Northern Californian town of Virgin River to ‘start fresh and leave painful memories behind’.

However, she quickly discovers it’s not as easy as she thought it would be, and instead comes up against the challenges of small-town life.

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