Season’s streamings!

The best Christmas movies streaming on Netflix this year

Season's streamings!

By Mary Sollosi,

Mary Sollosi is the former assistant features editor at **. She left EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

Kevin Jacobsen,

and James Mercadante

December 15, 2025 7:30 a.m. ET

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Jennifer Coolidge as Aunt Sandy in 'Single All the Way'; Lindsay Lohan as Sierra Belmont in 'Falling for Christmas'; Bill Murray as himself in 'A Very Murray Christmas'. Credit:

Philippe Bosse/Netflix; Scott Everett White/Netflix; Ali Goldstein/Netflix

For as magical as the Christmas season can be, the work required to achieve that magic tends to be exhausting. After a long day of wrapping presents and cooking a feast, unwinding with some Netflix is a balm for the soul. The streamer offers a wide selection of holiday movies to help you get further into the Christmas spirit, with both adult and family-friendly options available.

There are animated films aplenty, from *A Boy Called Christmas* (2019) to the Oscar-nominated *Klaus* (2019), alongside frothy romantic comedies like *Falling for Christmas* (2022) and *Single All the Way* (2021). Ahead, we've curated the perfect Christmas movie watchlist, with every title available to watch on Netflix — warm mug of hot chocolate not included.**

A Boy Called Christmas (2018)

Henry Lawfull as Nikolas a.k.a. 'Christmas' in 'A Boy Called Christmas'.

Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

This British children's film, adapted from the Matt Haig book of the same name, is a winning fairy tale about the power of belief. The movie chronicles the story of young Nikolas, a 13-year-old living with his father in the forest, his mother having died two years prior. After his dad sets off on an expedition to find the magical land of Elfhelm, Nikolas finds a map that leads to the location, prompting him to set out on a journey of his own. What he finds there will eventually inspire a Christmas tradition.

As EW's critic notes in our list of the best Christmas movies for kids, "It's easy to see where this story is heading, but the film is enlivened by a comedian-heavy cast including Kristen Wiig, Stephen Merchant, and Jim Broadbent." —*Kevin Jacobsen***** Where to watch *A Boy Called Christmas*: Netflix

**Director:** Gil Kenan

**Cast:** Henry Lawfull, Stephen Merchant, Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig, Jim Broadbent

*The Christmas Chronicles *(2018)

Kurt Russell as Santa Claus/Saint Nick in 'The Christmas Chronicles'. Michael Gibson/Netflix

In compiling this roster of holiday entertainments, I first had *The Christmas Chronicles* listed simply as *That Kurt Russell Santa Movie*, which is probably what you call it, too. That's because *The Christmas Chronicles* pretty much means nothing — the headline of this very list could probably be *The Christmas Chronicles* and nobody would blink an eye — but the phrase "Kurt Russell Santa" conjures an entire world of roguish Yuletide possibilities.

You watch *The Christmas Chronicles* only to see Kurt Russell as Santa Claus, which is more than enough to recommend it. Watch its 2020 sequel, *The Christmas Chronicles 2*, more commonly known as *The Kurt Russell Santa Movie Plus Goldie Hawn This Time*. —*Mary Sollosi*

Where to watch *The Christmas Chronicles*: Netflix

**Director:** Clay Kaytis

**Cast:** Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Lamorne Morris

Falling for Christmas (2022)

Lindsay Lohan as Sierra Belmont and Chord Overstreet as Jake Russell in 'Falling for Christmas'. Scott Everett White/Netflix

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonder-Lohan! The definitive early-2000s teen queen, Lindsay Lohan, returned to the screen as a spoiled hotel heiress, Sierra Belmont, who is diagnosed with amnesia after a skiing accident and has to stay under the care of a handsome, rustic lodge owner — played by *Glee* star Chord Overstreet — until she regains her memory.

From its charming clichés to Lohan covering "Jingle Bell Rock" 18 years after *Mean Girls*, there's so much to fall for in this cutesy holiday rom-com. Plus, *Falling for Christmas* marks the beginning of the Lohannaisance, which has been the greatest Christmas gift of all. —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Falling for Christmas*: Netflix

**Director:** Janeen Damian

**Cast:** Lindsey Lohan, Chord Overstreet, Jack Wagner, George Young, Alejandra Flores**

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Madalen Mills as Journey and Forest Whitaker as Jeronicus in 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey'.

Gareth Gatrell/Netflix

For years, Netflix has contributed handily to the annual Christmas movie release calendar, and this entry from 2020 is worth a watch. David E. Talbert's musical fantasy envisions the festive world of a brilliant toymaker, his scheming apprentice, and the inventions of a dancing doll and adorable robot. The story zigs and zags all over a dazzling holiday wonderland, but they've already warned you right there in the title — it's a *Christmas Journey*, just step up and take it! —*M.S.*

Where to watch *Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B+

**Director:** David E. Talbert

**Cast: **Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Madalen Mills, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose

Klaus (2019)

Jesper (voice: Jason Schwartzman) and Klaus (voice: J.K. Simmons) in 'Klaus'.

Netflix/Everett

This underrated Christmas-themed animated film offers a new origin story for Santa Claus. The action takes place in 19th-century Norway, where Jesper Johansen (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) is tasked by his Postmaster General father with posting 6,000 letters in an island town by the end of the year. Struggling to do so, he turns to a toymaker, Klaus (J.K. Simmons), partnering to get the children of the town to send letters in exchange for gifts.

*Klaus* is a refreshingly original story with gorgeous hand-drawn animation, becoming the first Netflix original film to earn an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. —*K.J.*****Where to watch *Klaus*: Netflix

**Director:** Sergio Pablos

**Cast: **Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Norm Macdonald, Joan Cusack

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

Josh Whitehouse as Sir Cole Lyons of Norwich and Vanessa Hudgens as Brooke Winters in 'The Knight Before Christmas'.

Brooke Palmer/Netflix

We know what you're thinking: It is sacrilege to choose, out of the entire Vanessa Hudgens Netflix Christmas canon, anything other than 2018's iconic, unimpeachable *The Princess Switch*, or even its sparkling double and triple-switching sequels (don't worry, they're waiting below). But, hear us out: *The Knight Before Christmas* is even better.

Hudgens plays a young woman who is single until she meets an actual medieval knight who has been magically transported to her small Christmas movie town at Christmastime! She teaches him about modern life, including how to navigate *actual Netflix* on her TV. Extremely festive! —*M.S.*

Where to watch *The Knight Before Christmas*: Netflix

**Director:** Monika Mitchell

**Cast:** Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuelle Chriqui

*Let It Snow *(2019)

Odeya Rush as Addie and Liv Hewson as Dorrie in 'Let It Snow'.

Steve Wilkie/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Netflix Christmas oeuvre expanded in 2019 with this charming teen ensemble rom-com, a relatively understated entry in the streamer's catalog (compared to, say, the very sparkly musical *Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square*). When a snowstorm hits a small Midwestern town, romance sparks and secrets spill among its teenage population.

Also, Joan Cusack plays an infamous local eccentric, and a fictional pop star shows up! We did only say *relatively* understated. —*M.S.*

Where to watch *Let It Snow*: Netflix

**Director:** Luke Snellin

**Cast:** Kiernan Shipka, Shameik Moore, Joan Cusack, Isabela Merced, Odeya Rush

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Love Hard (2021)

Nina Dobrev as Natalie Bauer in 'Love Hard'. Bettina Strauss/Netflix

Combining the titles of two Christmas classics, *Love Actually* (2003) and *Die Hard* (1988),* Love Hard *is seemingly nothing like the two and yet still a solid choice. *The Vampire Diaries* alum Nina Dobrev stars as Natalie Bauer, a dating columnist who finds out she's been catfished by her long-distance boyfriend, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang), after paying him a surprise visit at his New York home.

For the holidays, the pair pretend to date around Josh's family under the condition that he helps her date his friend Tag (Darren Barnet), whose pictures Josh used to catfish Natalie. This rom-com may surprise you (in the best way), so don't judge it by its profile pic! —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Love Hard*: Netflix

**Director:** Hernán Jiménez

**Cast:** Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet, Harry Shum Jr., James Saito

The Princess Switch (2018)

Vanessa Hudgens as both Stacy De Novo and Lady Margaret Delacourt in 'The Princess Switch'.

Inspired by Mark Twain's classic tale *The Prince and the Pauper*, this Netflix rom-com original stars Vanessa Hudgens in the dual roles of Chicago baker Stacy de Novo and Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro. The pair discover their identical looks at a baking competition in the Kingdom of Belgravia, and they agree to switch places for a few days to see how the other half lives. It all takes place a week before Christmas, so there's plenty of cheer in the air alongside a good old-fashioned helping of light-hearted deception. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Princess Switch*: Netflix

**Director:** Mike Rohl

**Cast: **Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar**

Single All the Way (2021)

Michael Urie as Peter and Philemon Chambers as Nick in 'Single All the Way'. Philippe Bosse/Netflix

It's pretty egregious that it took until the 2020s for a streamer to release a cheesy, formulaic holiday rom-com that centers on an LGBTQ+ couple (2020's *Happiest Season* on Hulu was neither formulaic nor cheesy — nor, regrettably, especially romantic or comedic).

But Netflix, thankfully, came to the rescue, with Michael Mayer's cozy romance about two best friends who pretend to be a couple (works every time!), only to discover that maybe they should be more than friends after all. Plus: Kathy Najimy *and* Jennifer Coolidge are in the classic roles of wacky and/or pushy relatives! —*M.S.*

Where to watch *Single All the Way*: Netflix

**Director:** Michael Mayer

**Cast:** Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, Jennifer Coolidge, Kathy Najimy

That Christmas (2024)

Santa Claus (voice: Brian Cox) in 'That Christmas'.

Richard Curtis crafted a delicious Christmas confection with his 2003 holiday classic *Love Actually*, and his love of intertwining storylines is present throughout this spirited animated tale, which he co-wrote with Peter Souter. Set in the fictional town of Wellington-on-Sea, *That Christmas* centers on a small group of kids and adults, some of whom aren't exactly having a holly jolly holiday. Not helping matters is a snowstorm that blankets the seaside town. The film features timeless life lessons about finding gratitude in being with the ones you love. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *That Christmas*: Netflix

**Director:** Simon Otto

**Cast:** Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Bill Nighy

A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

Paul Schaffer, George Clooney, Bill Murray, and Miley Cyrus as themselves in 'A Very Murray Christmas'.

Ali Goldstein/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Sofia Coppola took a break from elegant theatrical features in 2015 for this moody, meta Netflix holiday special, in which Bill Murray (playing himself) struggles to shoot his own holiday special, which has been snowed out. Wandering through the Carlyle Hotel, he encounters a parade of celebrity guests, who join him in Yuletide duets as he realizes his lonely Christmas isn't completely lost. What, you thought Coppola and Murray would just make some cheery, cheesy Christmas drivel? Do you know who they *are*? —*M.S.*

Where to watch *A Very Murray Christmas*: Netflix

**Director:** Sofia Coppola

**Cast:** Bill Murray, Michael Cera, George Clooney, Chris Rock, Miley Cyrus

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Holiday”