The best films will leave the streaming services at the end of December

Greetings, Polygon readers!

December is almost behind us and the new year is almost here, which means there's a plethora of exciting new releases in films, games and television to look forward to. But before we jump too far ahead, there are plenty of excellent movies to watch on streaming before they leave their respective platforms at the end of the month. We've got an understated classic from Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning historical epic starring Russell Crowe, a hilarious comedy starring the late great Robin Williams, and much more.

Here's what to watch this weekend before these titles leave their streaming services.

To enjoy!

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Editor's choice

The age of innocence

Director: Martin Scorsese
Form: Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder
Exit criterion channel: December 31

With the recent release of Killers of the Flower MoonMartin Scorsese's Western crime drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone, has revived the discourse over which of the director's films are among his best. The age of innocencebased on Edith Wharton's 1920 novel, is often conspicuously absent from most of these discussions, which is a shame because the film is incredible.

Set in late 19th-century New York, the film follows the story of an illicit love affair between Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis), a wealthy lawyer engaged to a fellow member of New York high society, and Countess Ellen Olenska. Michelle Pfeiffer), the cousin of Newland's fiancée who fled to America after her disastrous marriage to a Polish count. Newland and Ellen are immediately attracted to each other, but the unspoken protocols of the New York aristocracy and the social rigidity of the time forbid them to follow their hearts.

A sumptuous portrait of Gilded Age excess, frustrated desire and barely suppressed emotions. The age of innocence is a truly heartbreaking film in the truest sense of the word. The chemistry between Day-Lewis and Pfeiffer is electrifying, as is the lush production design, evocative lighting and pitch-perfect narration by Joanne Woodward. Fans of Scorsese's works or early 20th century American literature will have a wonderful time. —Toussaint Egan

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Movies to watch on Netflix

Gladiator

Director: Ridley Scott
Form: Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
Leave Netflix: December 31

Ridley Scott will release the highly anticipated sequel to his Oscar-winning epic Gladiator next November, with Paul Mescal (Nazon) will star as an adult version of Lucius, the nephew of the evil patricidal Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the original film. If somehow you haven't looked Gladiator Still, this is the perfect time to catch up before the sequel hits theaters next year.

The film, starring Russell Crowe, follows the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who is betrayed and sentenced to death as a slave by the aforementioned Commodus. Forced to fight for his life as a gladiator, Maximus rises through the ranks and inadvertently becomes a symbol of hope among Rome's underclass, who long to throw off the yoke of patrician rule. A historical 'sword-and-sandal' epic along the lines of Ben Hur And Spartacus, Gladiator is widely considered one of the defining films of the 2000s for its breathtaking cinematography, brutal fight scenes and captivating performances. -AT

Movies to watch on Hulu

Alita: Battle Angel

Director: Robert Rodríguez
Form: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly
Leaving Hulu: December 31

This live-action adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's cyberpunk action manga has built a significant cult following since its 2019 premiere. According to executive producer James Cameron, a sequel to the film is currently available. is being developed. In the meantime, why not see what all the fuss is about and watch a cyborg girl with big eyes and an even bigger heart beat up some evil robots?

Rosa Salazar stars as Alita, an amnesiac cyborg rescued from a landfill in the year 2536 by a kind scientist named Ido (Christoph Waltz). After receiving a new body, Alita embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to reclaim her life. her lost memory, meeting new friends and opponents, and awakening her latent martial arts skills. Alita: Battle Angel is a science fiction action film bursting at the seams with big ideas: centuries-old interstellar wars and floating cities loom over questions about identity, love and destiny, realized through spectacular action scenes and enormous set pieces. If you're looking for a fun and exciting action drama with a great lead, Alita: Battle Angel is a must watch. -AT

Movies to watch on Max

So I married an ax murderer

Director: Thomas Schlamme
Form: Mike Myers, Nancy Travis, Anthony LaPaglia
Maximum exit: December 31

This dark romantic comedy may have one of the most aggressively '90s locations ever: a San Francisco beat poet named Charlie (Mike Myers) falls head over heels in love with Harriet (Nancy Travis), a kind local butcher, after a series of demoralizing breakups . Everything seems fine, right? Wrong: Charlie's parents (played by Brenda Fricker and Myers themselves) suspect that Harriet is a deadly serial killer known for murdering her husbands, a suspicion that only fuels Charlie's self-sabotaging fear of commitment. Can these two lovebirds find a way to make their relationship work? And what exactly is the deal where all of Harriet's exes are killed? Hmmm. You'll have to watch this hilarious, underrated comedy to see for yourself! -AT

Movies to watch on Prime Video

The Birdcage

Director: Mike Nichols
Form: Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane
To leave Prime Video: December 31

Mike Nichols' classic adaptation of La Cage aux Folles is a hilarious subversion of the typical 'two completely different families must get along when their children fall in love' romantic comedy. Nathan Lane, Robin Williams, Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest are all hilarious in this series of culture clashes and the moral panic of American conservatism.

As Polygon's Maddy Myers put it in our list of the best LGBTQ comedies to watch at home:

It's hard to imagine Nathan Lane even being insecure about anything in his life, especially when it comes to his melodramatic, hilarious portrayal of drag queen Starina (and her alter ego, the not-so-gentle Albert) in The Birdcage – but Lane was is still in the cupboard at the time. All the more impressive is the fact that the central joke of the 1996 film is Albert's failure to pass as straight, even for the benefit of the extremely conservative family of his son's fiancée. The Birdcage shows all the ways in which gender is a performance through its quick wit and absurd situations, eschewing the preachiness you'd expect from a comedy about conservatives forced to face their fears of all things strange. The best part of The Birdcage It's not the drag performances, though they remain delightful; instead, it portrays the everyday living conditions of two gay fathers in the 1990s. They are normal, and at the time that felt radical.

To quote a bird (although not typically found in a cage): it's an absolute hoot. —Piet Volk