A plethora of new television shows, movies, and music are making their way to streaming platforms, promising to entertain and captivate audiences. The Associated Press' entertainment journalists have handpicked some of the most promising offerings, including a heartwarming CBS holiday special, a thrilling sci-fi epic, the return of Marvel's animated series "What If...," and a new Percy Jackson series.

One highly anticipated film hitting Netflix is "Maestro," which serves as Bradley Cooper's follow-up to his critically acclaimed "A Star Is Born." The movie delves into the life of Leonard Bernstein, the legendary composer and conductor, and his wife Felicia Montealegre. Cooper, who co-writes, directs, and stars alongside Carey Mulligan, presents a portrait that explores both the public and private sides of Bernstein. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle describes it as a "high wire act of a biopic," with the black-and-white beginning capturing the essence of 1950s New York modernism.

For fans of sci-fi, “The Creator” is a visually stunning film directed by Gareth Edwards that is set to stream on Hulu. The story revolves around artificial intelligence and follows John David Washington, a retired special forces operative tasked with finding the creator of advanced AIs after a nuclear bomb devastates downtown Los Angeles. In a review, it was noted that while the film may be convoluted and filled with familiar tropes, it manages to evoke a sense of freshness and excitement that is often lacking in big-budget movies.

Netflix also offers a treat for “Star Wars” enthusiasts with "Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire." Directed by Zack Snyder, the film presents a space opera set in a small colony that must rise against a tyrannical threat to the galaxy. Sofia Boutella leads an impressive cast, including Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, and the voice of Anthony Hopkins. The first part of the film is set to stream on December 22nd, with the second part following in April.

Music lovers can look forward to CBS' annual holiday special, "A Home for the Holidays," airing on December 22nd. The special, now in its 25th year, aims to draw attention to adoption through the foster care system. The lineup includes performances by Lauren Daigle, Gavin DeGraw, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Pentatonix, and CeCe Winans. Hosted by McPhee, the event will be broadcast live on CBS and available on demand for Paramount+ and Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers.

PBS celebrates its 25-year partnership with Lidia Bastianich, a James Beard-winning chef and cookbook author, with a special titled "25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee." The program, premiering on Monday, reflects on Bastianich's extensive career in public television and features her family and friends discussing the dishes she has prepared over the years. Viewers can catch the special on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app.

Marvel fans can rejoice as the animated anthology series "What If...?" returns to Disney+. The show explores alternate timelines and storylines featuring beloved MCU characters. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher, the first season delved into intriguing possibilities such as "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" and "What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?" The second season, debuting on December 22nd, poses the question, "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?"

Lastly, fans of the bestselling Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan can now indulge in a new Disney+ series. "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" follows the adventures of a 12-year-old boy who discovers that Greek myths are not just stories but a part of his own heritage. Walker Scobell takes on the lead role as Percy Jackson, who goes from battling school bullies to facing off against monsters while unraveling his true identity as a demigod. The first two episodes of the series will be available on Disney+ starting Wednesday.

With an array of exciting content hitting streaming platforms, there is something for everyone to enjoy.