Top 20 Best Netflix Christmas Movies

In the past few years, Netflix has obviously realized what a strong market there is for Hallmark-style cheesy Christmas movies as saccharine as they come. Maybe our troubled and jaded generation just wants something fluffy every now and then, okay? One of the first they created was this one, which is essentially “Sweet Home Alabama” but make it Christmas. The smaltz-athon is no award winner, but it’s got a cute and sappy plot that’s perfect to watch while you sip hot chocolate and stuff yourself with Christmas cookies.

Lindsay Lohan’s long-awaited return to movies does not disappoint. Netflix brought the “Parent Trap” star back with this twist on an old romcom formula reminiscent of movies like “Overboard.” Wealthy and spoiled heiress Sierra Belmont loses her memory in a skiing accident. “Glee” star Chord Overstreet plays the hunky lodge owner who takes pity on her, and the two end up falling in love while trying to save his business. If a slow dance in front of a wall of Christmas lights doesn’t do it for you, watching Lindsay Lohan try and fail to do normal things definitely will.

Mixing small town charm and full-out musical numbers, this one is as joyous and warm as its star. Christine Baranski plays a heartless real estate developer looking to sell her hometown and evict all its citizens. And, of course, she does this during Christmas. Dolly Parton, Jenifer Lewis, and Josh Segarra are on hand to set her straight… through song, of course. Unsurprisingly, it’s a sheer delight. It’s also campy, buoyant, and as deeply heartfelt as any good holiday movie should be. “Christmas on the Square” won the Emmy for Outstanding TV Movie and Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming. It’s a must for any fan of Dolly, musicals, and old-fashioned fare.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Netflix’s holiday originals, but one of the most underrated has to be “The Holiday Calendar”. The movie is about an advent calendar that predicts the future, but bear with us because it’s actually pretty good, even if it may be in a “so bad it’s good” kind of way. Despite the far-out premise, the rest of the film is pretty well grounded in reality, featuring a believable lead and a diverse cast of characters who offer representation that was rarely historically seen in holiday films.

Vanessa Hudghens and Josh Whitehouse star in this fish-out-of-water romcom that’s totally absurd, and everyone involved seems to know it. A medieval knight is magically transported to the 21st century and immediately gets taken down by a car. His claim that he’s a time traveling knight lands about as well as you’d expect. He’s taken in by the driver who accidentally struck him with her car, a high school teacher disenchanted with romance, and the sparks soon fly. Probably the biggest highlight of this film, besides all the holiday magic, is the time-traveling character’s earnest wonder at modern technology. Hysterical.

Singer and actress Christina Milian stars in this 2024 romcom about a woman searching high and low for a ticket to a sold out Christmas Eve concert. Upping the stakes is the fact that a date with the man of her dreams hinges on whether or not she can get this ticket. Layla partners up with a concierge, Teddy, to help her out on this odyssey and, suddenly, we’re not sure which guy to root for. “Meet Me Next Christmas” has everything: a snow-covered New York, bestselling a cappella group Pentatonix, and a classic love triangle that pulls us in every direction.

If you want your Christmas spirit with a heaping dose of nostalgia, look no further than “Christmas with You,” which features ‘90s heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. in a starring role. He plays a high school music teacher who crosses paths with a singer trying to hang onto fame. The two are thrown together and then torn apart by the demands of her career, but the holidays wait for no one. Yes, it’s predictable, but that’s what makes these kinds of movies so comforting. Plus, it helps when you’ve got two leads who are so dang charming.

This one’s for all the people who have ever felt awkward about never bringing someone home to meet their family on Christmas. When Peter, played by Michael Urie, invites his best friend to his family’s annual celebration, he soon finds himself caught in a love triangle with his friend and the local guy his mom has set him up with. If that weren’t enticing enough, the movie also features iconic character actresses Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy as a pair of well-meaning relatives. “Single All the Way” is a new, modern, inclusive twist on an old formula.

After his mother’s death, a writer returns to the town where he grew up, and meets a woman searching for her birth mother. While both undergo some painful reckoning with their past, they inevitably fall for each other. It’s an unexpectedly heartbreaking movie, injecting a rather novel twist into the standard small town romance. Even if Christmas movies aren’t your thing, there’s enough here for the viewer who wants something more. If you’re browsing for a movie that’ll give you a generous portion of real human drama mixed in with a holiday setting, “The Noel Diary” is a great choice.

Since its 2020 release, this stop-motion short has become something of a cult hit. The story is a Yule tale with a science fiction bent. In it, an alien named X arrives on Earth to begin an extraterrestrial plot to steal the planet’s gravity. Instead, he befriends a young elf and learns the true meaning of Christmas. X is a charming character, and his childlike confusion at the elves’ way of life is hilarious to watch. Recalling “The Grinch” and the old Rankin/Bass cartoons, it finds a fun and fresh way to explore an old theme: the generosity of the season.

Scottish castles are already stunning enough, never mind seeing one decked out in garlands and strings of Christmas lights. That alone is enough to recommend “A Castle for Christmas”. Brooke Shields and “The Princess Bride” star Cary Elwes star in a love story set in the Scottish highlands. Shields plays an author reconnecting with her father’s heritage. Through a series of events that only makes sense in a romantic comedy, she is forced to share a castle with Elwes’ curmudgeonly Duke. Things thaw from there, and we’re treated to a yuletide romance in a fairly unique and picturesque setting.

A young adult novel co-written by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson serves as the basis for this 2019 Netflix original. “Let It Snow” follows a sprawling group of teens living in a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve. The characters struggle with figuring out their future and the stress of parental expectations. But their stories all deal with the same thing: love. With shades of “Love Actually,” it’s often funny, but also has surprising depth. A charming young cast and some genuinely heartstring-pulling turns makes this ensemble piece an unexpected and underrated addition to the holiday canon.

This musical extravaganza is certainly a star-studded affair, featuring the likes of George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman and, of course, Bill Murray. Still, we have to admit, it’s not for everyone. “A Very Murray Christmas” tells the story of the Ghostbusters star - playing himself - on a night when his live performance has basically been snowed out. The tone of the movie may be a little bit gloomy for some, but if you’re a big Murray fan, you’ll love it just the same.

One of Netflix’s main holiday releases for 2018 was “The Christmas Chronicles”, which defies expectations and offers up a movie that’s totally outside the box. Though the promos make this seem like a classic family movie, the end result is actually quite a bit darker than one would expect. Kurt Russell’s version of Santa Claus may charm you or may just make you a little bit uncomfortable – it’s kind of a toss up. Regardless, you’d be remiss to not add this to your holiday viewing schedule.

While it was released in theaters in the UK and other countries, this British fantasy film premiered on Netflix in North America. Enchantingly whimsical and wickedly funny to boot, “A Boy Called Christmas” follows a young boy who travels far and wide to bring hope back to his kingdom. He comes across talking mice, fairies, and trolls along the way. Starring luminaries like Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig, and Jim Broadbent, this is an origin story and period piece that boasts exceptional wit and incredible visual design. Full of fantasy and far-flung adventure, this is a Christmas movie for fans of “Harry Potter” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

Dustin Milligan, who first won hearts as the handsome, good-natured veterinarian on “Schitt’s Creek,” stars in this story of a muscle-bound snowman who comes to life. When he does, he sweeps a widow, played by “Mean Girls’s” Lacey Chabert, right off her feet. “Hot Frosty” more than delivers on its title. Can they find lasting love before he melts? This one’s for the Netflix subscribers who want a side of eye candy with their Christmas cheer. Milligan’s talent for playing sweet guys continues here. His Jack is an innocent, wide-eyed goofball who’s hard not to love.

Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Ricky Martin, and Phylicia Rashad headline this musical about a toymaker and his granddaughter’s attempts to bond over their shared love of invention. Originally conceived as a stage musical, it’s a madcap adventure story full of high energy songs, spirited performances, and festive scenes. At the heart of it all is a man trying to win back his daughter’s love. This makes for some pretty emotional Christmas viewing. “Jingle Jangle” captured hearts and won critics and fans alike with its exuberant cheer and heartwarming portrait of a family finding its way back together.

It feels like a lot of different ideas all rolled into one - including a bake-off finale - but when it works, it works! “The Princess Switch” takes a time-honored formula honed by films like “It Takes Two” and “The Lizzie Mcguire Movie” and gives it a Christmas spin, offering up audiences everything they could possibly want from a festive viewing experience. Vanessa Hudgens plays both the princess desperate to pull a Roman Holiday, and the commoner living it up in luxury. While this movie probably won’t be taking home any awards, we love it either way.

Leave it to Netflix to reinvent the story of Santa Claus. Set in Norway, “Klaus” follows a postman named Jesper who is sent to a faraway town, where he is tasked with posting at least 6,000 letters before the year ends, lest he be cut off financially. Jesper meets an old, reclusive toymaker and hatches a scheme that sees him delivering children’s letters to the old man, and receiving a toy in return. An alternate origin story for the Kris Kringle we know and love, it’s a sweeping and epic narrative that feels genuinely innovative for the genre. “Klaus”, aside from being a hit with viewers, even scored an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, a category it won at the Annie Awards.

Unless you were living under a rock during the holiday season of 2017, you’ve definitely heard of “A Christmas Prince”. The premise is that an up-and-coming journalist is sent to cover the royal family of a fictional country and ends up becoming more involved with the prince than she ever could have imagined. It’s hard to say whether Netflix was trying to make an intentionally bad holiday romance movie, but it almost doesn’t matter, because this movie is plenty of fun whether you’re watching it ironically or not. The sequels, “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding” and “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby” are just as delightful too.


Did your favorite festive Netflix original make the list? Let us know in the comments.