The Best Classic Independent Films on Streaming This December: ‘Morvern Callar,’ ‘The Souvenir,’ and More

‘Tis the season to be streaming. And if you’re going to be streaming, consider streaming some independent films.

With the holidays approaching, streamers are predictably focusing their energy on stocking their libraries with Christmas and family films. As a result, there’s less great non-seasonal indies coming to Netflix, Hulu, Max, and the other major platforms this month than usual. That’s not to say there aren’t a few classics from yesteryear coming our way; Netflix is complimenting its new original “May December” with “Black Swan,” another film that sees Natalie Portman at her scariest. Paramount+ offers up two late ’90s and early ’00s gems with Sofia Coppola’s debut “The Virgin Suicides” and scrappy football charmer “Bend It Like Beckham.” On Prime Video, you can enjoy one of the 2010s best comedies, Andrew Bujalski’s “Support the Girls.” And on Max, you can check out “The Souvenir,” Joanna Hog’s critically acclaimed and semi-autobiographical portrait of a toxic relationship. Altogether, if you want a break from reindeers and Santa this holiday season, you have some options.

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The real goods can be found on more specialty services, particularly the Criterion Collection, which offers an embarrassment of riches in terms of old, great indie films this December. This month you can throw a party with Parker Posey and her beloved ’90s comedy film “Party Girl.” Or, you can prep for Jeffrey Wright in “American Fiction” by checking out an early lead role from the great actor in “Basquiat.” And you’ll find a 2000s classic in Lynne Ramsey’s strange and unnerving road trip odyssey film, “Morvern Callar.” Heading over to Metrograph, another option is Australian director James Vaughan’s “Friends and Strangers,” which went underseen during its 2021 release.

As with every month, IndieWire has rounded up the best independent films to hit streamers this December, ignoring new releases from this year. Films selected are compiled from Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Prime Video, Showtime, and Peacock, as well as specialty services like Metrograph, Criterion Channel, and Shudder. Read on for our list of 10 must see classic independent films on streaming this month. Entries are listed in no particular order.

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