39 Movies Leave Netflix This December — Wonka and More Vanish by Year’s End

By the time the clock strikes midnight on December 30, 2025, a wave of cinematic classics will vanish from Netflix’s U.S. library — not because they’re outdated, but because their licenses ran out. Netflix, the streaming giant founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997, is set to remove 39 films from its platform this month, according to NetflixLife.com. The departures, spanning from December 1 to December 30, mark one of the most significant monthly culls in recent memory. And while the streaming service’s original content stays forever, these licensed titles? Gone for good — unless you’ve already downloaded them.

What’s Leaving — And When

The purge kicks off on December 1, 2025, with the whimsical musical Wonka, a dazzling, imaginative look at the early life of Willy Wonka, the eccentric chocolatier whose creativity has captivated audiences for generations. Rather than retelling the story we already know from Roald Dahl’s books or previous film adaptations, this movie explores the events and challenges that shaped Wonka, revealing how his quirks, passions, and inspirations came together to create the iconic candy maker we all recognize today. It’s one of two titles NetflixLife.com calls "can’t miss" — though the second remains unspoken. You’ll want to watch it before it disappears.

Also on December 1: the entire Back to the Future trilogy — a cultural touchstone since 1985. Alongside it, the Austin Powers trilogy, including International Man of Mystery, The Spy Who Shagged Me, and Goldmember. The comedy trio, starring Mike Myers, has been a staple of Netflix’s comedy rotation for years. Their departure feels like the end of an era.

December 5 brings the chilling psychological thriller Compliance. On the 7th, Gods of Egypt — a visually spectacular but critically panned fantasy epic — exits. The Daddy’s Home films, both the original and its sequel, leave on the 9th. And then, on December 17, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles duo — the 2014 reboot and its 2016 follow-up — disappear.

The biggest blow? Transformers. All four Michael Bay-directed films — Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen, Dark of the Moon, and Age of Extinction — will vanish on December 25. That’s right: the robot battles, the explosions, the awkward human romance subplots — all gone by Christmas Eve. Fans who’ve streamed them during summer binges will have to find another way to relive the chaos.

December 29 brings two cult favorites: Idiocracy, the satirical dystopian comedy that somehow feels more relevant every year, and Sweet Home Alabama, the romantic dramedy that defined early-2000s Netflix comfort viewing. And finally, on December 30, Ready Player One departs — Steven Spielberg’s 2018 VR-filled nostalgia fest, packed with pop-culture Easter eggs. After that, the library resets.

Why This Keeps Happening

Netflix doesn’t own most of these films. It rents them. That’s the industry norm. Studios like Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount license their catalogs to streaming services for fixed windows — typically 12 to 18 months. When the contract expires, the rights revert. Netflix may have paid millions for the privilege, but once the clock runs out, it’s back to the drawing board.

This isn’t unique to December 2025. Every month, dozens of titles leave. But this batch stands out because of its cultural weight. Back to the Future isn’t just a movie — it’s a generational experience. Transformers was a box office juggernaut that shaped summer blockbusters for a decade. These aren’t obscure indies. They’re the kinds of films people rewatch during holidays, family gatherings, or late-night boredom.

Meanwhile, How-To Geek and Men’s Journal report slightly different numbers — 45 total departures, including TV shows. That discrepancy likely stems from inclusion of series like 30 Rock or Arrested Development (though neither is mentioned in the movie-focused NetflixLife.com list). The key takeaway? Licensing is messy. And Netflix’s library is a house of cards built on contracts.

Who’s Affected — And What They Can Do

With 260 million global subscribers as of Q3 2025, this isn’t a niche issue. Millions of U.S. viewers — and many more abroad — will wake up on December 1 and find their favorite films gone. International libraries vary by region, so someone in Canada or Germany might still have access longer. But for Americans? The clock is ticking.

There’s still time to watch. Download these titles before they disappear — Netflix allows offline viewing for licensed content until its license expires. Once it’s gone from the platform, even downloaded copies vanish. No backup. No recovery.

And here’s the twist: Netflix won’t bring them back. Not this time. Unlike earlier years, when the company occasionally re-licensed titles (like Friends or The Office before they moved to Peacock), there’s no indication these films will return. Studios are shifting toward their own platforms. Warner Bros. is pushing Max. Universal leans into Peacock. Even Paramount+ is hoarding its classics. Netflix’s window is closing.

What Comes Next?

Netflix is doubling down on originals — Stranger Things, The Crown, Squid Game. But that strategy has a cost. The library feels thinner. New subscribers might not even know what they’re missing. Older viewers? They’re the ones scrambling to watch Ready Player One one last time before it vanishes into the digital ether.

Some fans are turning to physical media. DVD and Blu-ray sales of Back to the Future spiked 22% in October 2025, according to Nielsen data. Others are using free ad-supported services like Tubi or Pluto TV — where some of these films still linger, often with commercials.

But here’s the real question: if your favorite movie disappears from Netflix, where do you go? The answer is getting harder to find.