The 40 Best Christmas Movies on Netflix You Can Watch This Holiday Season

• Directed by: Sergio Pablos
• Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Norm Macdonald, J.K. Simmons, Sergio Pablos
• Release date: November 8, 2019
• IMDB rating: 8.2

This 2019 film follows the story of a selfish reclusive postman so unlikeable that he is considered the worst postman at the academy. After being posted to a frozen town in the north, he meets a woodsman (who may or may not be Santa) and forms an unlikely friendship along the way. Klaus is a touching story and received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Animated Feature Film.’

• Directed by: David E. Talbert
• Starring: Forest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, Anika Noni Rose, Keegan-Michael Key, Phylicia Rashad
• Release date: November 6, 2020
• IMDB rating: 6.5

With a star-studded cast featuring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Phylicia Rashad, Jingle Jangle is a musical focusing on the journey of a wary toymaker who finds joy in his life when his curious granddaughter randomly shows up on his doorstep. A feel-good movie for the entire family, the film is a perfect blend of music and drama with a strong message of perseverance.

• Directed by: Clay Kaytis
• Starring: Kurt Russell, Darbie Camp, Goldie Hawn, Judah Lewis
• Release date: November 22, 2018
• IMDB rating: 7

Instead of making a wish list like normal children, siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce decide they are going to take things a step further by kidnapping Santa on Christmas Eve. What ensues next is an absolute disaster as they somehow manage to crash Santa’s sleigh in the process of trying to capture him. Kate and Teddy are left with no other choice but to join forces with ‘Mr. Clause’ in an effort to save the holiday before it's too late. A true adventure, The Christmas Chronicles is a film that fully captures the magic of Christmas. 

• Directed by: Monika Mitchell
• Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuel Chriqui, Kat Graham, Rob Lowe, Harry Jarvis
• Release date: November 21, 2019
• IMDB rating: 5.6

If you are a hopeless romantic, The Knight Before Christmas is a sappy romantic comedy that you can enjoy this holiday season. In the film, a medieval knight gets transported into the present time, where he meets a beautiful high school teacher disgruntled with relationships after struggling to find true love. The film stars Vanessa Hudgens and provides a different take than what we usually see with a traditional rom-com.

• Directed by: Debbie Allen
• Starring: Jeanine Mason, Josh Segara, Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Mary Lane Haskell
• Release date: November 22, 2020
• IMDB rating: 5.2

Anything with Dolly Parton is sure to be wildly entertaining. Christmas on the Square follows the story of Christine Baranski (portrayed by Parton), a rich woman who has inherited her hometown with new plans to evict everyone right before Christmas. The bratty millionaire then experiences a change of heart as she gets to know everybody in this magical little town. With a cool storyline and original music, Dolly Parton is sure to bring you some additional holiday joy.

• Directed by: Damien O' Connor
• Starring: Lucy O' Connell, Caitriona, Ruth Negga, Jared Harris
• Release date: December 8, 2017
• IMDB rating: 7

After a Christmas Eve church outing with her family, little Angela just wants to make sure everyone has the best Christmas ever. A heart-tugging film complete with beautifully designed animations and excellent singing, Angela’s Christmas is a gentle reminder that sometimes it’s the simple things in life that matter the most.

• Directed by: Leslie Small
• Starring: Romany Malco, Darlene Love, Sonequa Martin-Green, Amarr M. Wooten
• Release date: November 28, 2019
• IMDB rating: 5

After being fired from his Radio DJ gig, a widowed father of four is faced with the task of making Christmas a special occasion for his spoiled children, who had previously been living a luxurious lifestyle. Things change pretty quickly, and Holiday Rush shows us that family and love are the most important gifts of all. 

• Directed by: Michael Rohl
• Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Nick Sagar, Sam Palladio, Alexa Adeosun, Suanne Braun, Mark Fleischmann
• Release date: November 16, 2018
• IMDB rating: 6.1

A nice little holiday rom-com movie that sees Vanessa Hudgens in a bit of double trouble, The Princess Switch features Hudgens starring as both a duchess and a regular Chicago baker who decide to switch places after discovering their identical looks. Adding to the drama, they also fall in love with each others significant others which presents an interesting dilemma. After you've finished watching this one, make sure to check out its sequels The Princess Switch: Switched Again and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star to complete the series.

• Directed by: Bradley Walsh
• Starring: Kat Graham, Quincy Brown, Ethan Peck, Genelle Williams, Ron Cephas Jones, Kevin Hanchard
• Release date: November 2, 2018
• IMDB rating: 5.7

Starring Kat Graham and Quincy Brown, The Holiday Calendar tells the story of a young woman (Graham) who receives an antique wooden advent calendar that promises a Christmas full of sweet treats. However, in order to get access to the treats, she and her friends/family are a required to follow a specific set of rules and directions to a T. If they don't—no goodies!

• Directed by: John Whitesell
• Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth, Nicola Peltz, Jessica Capshaw, Frances Fisher
• Release date: October 28, 2020
• IMDB rating: 6.1

2020's Holidate stars Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey as Sloane Benson and Jackson—two unique individuals who decide they are going to be each other dates to events for the whole year to stop getting pestered by family members about their respective relationship statuses. The only thing is—Sloane and Jackson actually start developing feelings for one another, which sort of changes things in their "no strings attached relationship." This is a fun film that everyone can enjoy during the holiday.

• Directed by: Roger Kumble
• Starring: Christina Milian, Adam Demos, Claire Chitham, Anna Julienne
• Release date: August 29, 2019
• IMDB rating: 5.6

2019's Falling Inn Love stars Christina Milian as a corporate executive who wins a contest called Win an Inn, which results in her staying at a rusty New Zealand inn. As a result, she enlists the services of a contractor (Demos) whom...she ends up developing feelings for. Luckily for her, the feelings are mutual as the two begin the course of a relationship.

• Directed by: Daniel Kinnane, Charles Kinnane
• Starring: Kevin James, Sean Payton, Gary Valentine, Jared Sandler, Jackie Sandler
• Release date: January 28, 2022
• IMDB rating: 6

Kevin James stars as New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton in 2022's Home Team, which sees the coach returning to his hometown after a scandal that results in him being suspended for a year. During this one year suspension, Payton starts coaching his 12-year-old son's football team, which results in the two getting closer than they've ever been before.

• Directed by: Tyler Perry
• Starring: Tyler Perry, Brendan O' Carroll, Isha Blaaker, Candace Maxwell, Geneva Gee Maccarone, Brandon Black
• Release date: February 25, 2022
• IMDB rating: 5.7

A little Madea during the holiday is sure to get everyone laughing. Directed by and starring Tyler Perry, Madea is the mediator once again as family drama arises during her great-grandson's college graduation. It's always major events that end up resulting in family foolishness, but the foolery is a funny one worth watching with loved ones in A Madea Homecoming

• Directed by: Miguel Arteta
• Starring: Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramirez, Jenny Ortega, Everly Carganilla, Julian Lerner
• Release date: March 12, 2021
• IMDB rating: 5.7

Before Jenny Ortega became the latest IT scream-queen girl, she was in films like 2021's Yes Day, which centered around the Torres family. Kids used to hearing no a ton from their parents (Garner and Ramirez), the reverse happens when one day they are granted a "yes day," where they are granted exclusive permission to make their own rules for 24 hours. Sounds like fun right?

• Directed by: Cindy Chupack
• Starring: Angela Bassett, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Arquette
• Release date: July 21, 2019
• IMDB rating: 6.1

Starring Angela Bassett, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Arquette, 2019's Otherwood is about three best friends who believe they have been forgotten about by their sons on Mother's Day. As a result, they all decide they are going to travel to New York City together in the hopes of reconnecting with their stubborn slightly selfish boys. While not specifically a Christmas movie, one can find enjoyment with the major family vibes this film has.

• Directed by: Ernie Barbarash
• Starring: Kristin Davis, Rob Lowe
• Release date: November 1, 2019
• IMDB rating: 6.2

In 2019's Holiday in the Wild, Kristin Davis is a woman who gets blindsided when her husband suddenly serves her divorce papers. As a result, she decides to embark on a solo trip to Africa where she meets a new potential prospect, Derek (Rob Lowe). Together they start caring for a baby elephant, and in the process they also begin falling in love with one another. A different plot from what you see with most X-MAS movies, but an enjoyable one.

• Directed by: Martin Wood
• Starring: Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig, Rohan Campbell, Virginia Madsen, Janet Kidder, Aliza Vellani
• Release date: November 5, 2020
• IMDB rating: 5.8

Kat Graham stars as a congressional aide that's forced to travel during the holidays in 2020's Operation Christmas Drop. However, she's not met with friendly attitudes on her assignment as she's been tasked with reasons to defund a local Air Force base. Needless to say, nobody is really in the Christmas spirit, but there is a slight chance that things can turn around for the better if everybody can start getting along.

• Directed by: Sofia Coppola
• Starring: Bill Murray
• Release date: December 4, 2015
• IMDB rating: 5.5

Who doesn't love Bill Murray? In 2015's A Very Murray Christmas (which was directed by Sofia Coppola), Murray essentially plays himself—a comedian who's very concerned that an awful blizzard is going to end with nobody coming to his show. So, he proceeds to spend a whole hour just being his good ole Bill Murray self, which is really all that's needed for an enjoyable watch.

• Directed by: Shawn Levy
• Starring: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda
• Release date: September 19, 2014
• IMDB rating: 6.6

If you want to see an absolutely hilarious ensemble cast that consists of the likes of Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Jane Fonda, and more—2014's This Is Where I Leave You is the perfect flick to pop on as everybody gets their Christmas dinner helpings. This Is Where I Leave You starts with a rather insane funeral, and the insanity only increases from there—meaning the laughter never stops.

• Directed by: Kris Pearn
• Starring: Maya Rudolph, Will Forte, Terry Crews, Kris Pearn, Alessia Cara, Jane Krakowski
• Release date: April 22, 2020
• IMDB rating: 6.4

The Willoughbys is based on the up-to-no-good Willoughby children, who up with a plan to send their parents on vacation after being convinced that they can raise themselves. A fun animated and family friendly film that gives slight Jimmy Neutron Movie vibes, The Willoughbys is something the entire family can sit down and watch together after all the presents are opened.

• Directed by: Alex Zamm
• Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Honor Kneafsey, Alice Krige, Daniel Fathers, Richard Ashton
• Release date: November 17, 2017
• IMDB rating: 5.8

In 2017's A Christmas Prince, Rose McIver stars as a young reporter who goes undercover as a tutor for a foreign princess in the hopes of finding out some dirt on her brother (who's a playboy by the way). Hoping to find a scandal of some sort, the tutor's priorities change when she starts falling for the playboy prince charming—which definitely wasn't a part of the plan to say the least.

• Directed by: Mary Lambert
• Starring: Brandy, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, Chase Ramsey
• Release date: November 16, 2023
• IMDB rating: 4.4

A new release on the Netflix platform, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Brandy and Heather Graham as two slight frenemies who have a misunderstanding of one another. You see, every Christmas, Jackie (Brandy) sends a rather cocky newsletter to Charlotte (Graham), but this year in particular, Charlotte decides to pay Jackie a visit in person to prove to her that her life isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

• Directed by: McG
• Starring: Jennifer Garner, Brady Noon, Emma Myers, Ed Helms, Rita Moreno
• Release date: November 30, 2023
• IMDB rating: 5.6

Another new movie to hit the Netflix Platform, Family Switch is about a rare planetary alignment that causes family members to switch bodies with one another. In the process, they try to work their way back to their normal selves, but not without a lot of mishap along the way. Family Switch stars Jennifer Garner, Brady Noon, Emma Myers, Ed Helms, Rita Moreno, and more.

• Directed by: Hernán Jiménez
• Starring: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, and Darren Barnet
• Release date: November 5, 2021
• IMDB rating: 6.3

In 2021's Love Hard, Nina Dobrev stars as Natalie Bauer, a young woman whose been having a bit of tough luck on the dating scene. Well, her luck gets even crappier when after meeting her perfect match on a dating app, she flies out 3,000 miles to meet her new beau, only to find out she's been catfished. You'll have to watch the entire movie to see the rest, but buddy isn't off to a good start at all.

• Directed by: Steve Bendelack
• Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Maxim Baldry, Emma de Caunes, Willem Dafoe
• Release date: August 24, 2007
• IMDB rating: 6.4

In this classic from 2007, Rowan Atkinson is the iconic Mr. Beans, a man who decides to head to the South of France for some rest and relaxation. However, because he's Mr. Beans, things don't go smoothly at all as he encounters a lot of road bumps along the way. Mix that in with the fact that he almost single-handedly ends up completely ruining a film that a director is shooting for extra measure, and Mr. Beans' vacation doesn't exactly go according to plan.

• Directed by: Janeen Damien
• Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, Aliana Lohan, George Young
• Release date: November 10, 2022
• IMDB rating: 5.2

Lindsey Lohan stars as young newly engaged heiress who has an awful accident right before Christmas that results in amnesia, in 2022's Falling for Christmas. A handsome fella (Overstreet) winds up being assigned to take care of her, and unexpectedly, the young woman starts falling for him. A rather unusual way to begin a romance, but that's the Christmas spirit right?

• Directed by: Kirk DeMicco
• Starring: Lin-Manuel, Gloria Estefan, Zoe Saldana, Alain Mesa, Lidya Jewett, Ynairaly Simo
• Release date: August 6, 2021
• IMDB rating: 6.7

2021's Vivo is another animated film that will bring all the joy for the entire family as it tells the tale of a music-loving kinkajou on the journey to deliver a love song to a loved one. If you and your family love good vibes, music, and dancing, Vivo is the perfect movie to pop on during the main holiday festivities.

• Directed by: Max McGuire
• Starring: Natalie Hall, Evan Williams
• Release date: November 5, 2020
• IMDB rating: 5.8

Faking it until you make it is the theme of 2020's Midnight At the Magnolia, which is exactly what radio hosts Maggie (Natalie Hall) and Jack (Evan Williams) have to do when they pretend to be a couple in the hopes of getting their show syndicated. They end up actually falling for each other in the process because it really shouldn't result in any other outcome...right?

• Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson
• Starring: Kat Graham, Tom Hopper
• Release date: September 1, 2022
• IMDB rating: 5.4

Picture this—you fly all the way to Italy for a dream vacation only to find out that your villa has been doubled—meaning you have to end up sharing your villa with a stranger. In real life this probably isn't the safest smartest decision, but in movie life, the mistake ends up working out for the two roommates as they end up developing a relationship. Gotta love the holidays.

• Directed by: Mike Newell
• Starring: Jessica Brown Finlay, Michiel Huisman, Lily James, Matthew Goode
• Release date: April 9, 2018
• IMDB rating: 7.3

Set in the 1940s right after World War II, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is based on a London-based writer (Finlay) who decides to visit the island of Guernsey after exchanging letters with its residents. While there, she also finds an unexpected romance which adds a deeper layer to this heart-tugging story. If you're doing a girls holiday get together this year, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a great romantic holiday film to put on.

• Directed by: Laura Murphy
• Starring: Sean Hayes, Courtney Parchman, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Lilian Bowden, Tawny Newsome
• Release date: December 15, 2022
• IMDB rating: 6.5

On the hunt for a Christmas movie that brings a little bit of mystery? Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery should do the trick as it's about a detective (who hates the holidays by the way), who's forced to solve a murder and save Christmas with the help of some very famous trainees (who you'll recognize). It's a mystery, but not too dark of a film for Christmas if you catch our drift.

• Directed by: Vanessa Caswill
• Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Ben Hardy
• Release date: September 15, 2023
• IMDB rating: 6.8

Love at First Sight stars Haley Lu Richardson and Ben Hardy as two individuals who fall for each other on a flight from NYC to London, but wound up losing each other when they get to customs. The odds of them being able to find each other again are quite low, but as fate has it, they are able to somehow reunite again. They, of course, could have exchanged numbers or gotten each others socials on or after the flight, but then we wouldn't have this good movie now would we?

• Directed by: Stephen Donnelly
• Starring: Luke Evans, Olivia Coleman, Alastair Sim, Trevor Dion Nicholas
• Release date: November 18, 2022
• IMDB rating: 6.2

Why yes—it's the legendary Ebenezer Scrooge who's so mean miserable that he literally gets paid a visit from the ghost of the Christmas past, present, and future. Time and time again these characters end up learning the hard way that you shouldn't be a douchebag during the holidays.

• Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
• Starring: Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd
• Release date: November 22, 1991
• IMDB rating: 6.9

If you've set to see the 1991 version of The Addams Family, consider putting it on this holiday season for the enjoyment of the family. here's no telling how much longer Netflix will have the title as it's obviously not a Netflix original, so might as well take advantage of it while it's on the platform don't you think?

• Directed by: John G. Avildsen
• Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Randee Helle
• Release date: June 22, 1984
• IMDB rating: 7.3

Same deal with The Karate Kid. Appropriate and entertaining for all age groups, this is a certified vintage classic that you can either rewatch for nostalgia, or introduce to the younger generation to let them know what they missed out on. An absolute gem of a movie, you can't ever go wrong with The Karate Kid.

• Directed by: Robert Smigel, David Wachentenheim, Robert Marianetti
• Starring: Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, Sunny Sandler, Rob Schneider
• Release date: November 17, 2023
• IMDB rating: 7

A new arrival to Netflix, this film is about Leo the Lizard, an oldhead who's been stuck at the same school for decades. Upon learning that he only has one year left to live, he tries to escape in the hopes of enjoying the remainder of his life to the fullest. However, as life usually seems to do, a major obstacle gets in his way of living it up. Leo has good ratings, so this is definitely a good film to put on during Christmas Eve/Christmas.

• Directed by: Kirk Jones
• Starring: Nina Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Laine Kazan
• Release date: March 15, 2016
• IMDB rating: 6

Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, and Lainie Kazan amongst others, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is automatic that's sure to be a heavy hitter during the holiday. The sequel is everything the original is, but loads crazier with the Portokalos family dynamics. Plus, there's a big secret being kept in the family that will knock your Christmas socks off.

• Directed by: Paul Weitz
• Starring: Kevin Hart, Melody Hurd, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Carrigan, Lil Rel Howery
• Release date: June 18, 2021
• IMDB rating: 6.6

Fatherhood is a movie that will make you tear up, but also one that is very much enjoyable. Released in 2021, the film stars Kevin Hart stars as the widowed father of a baby girl who loses his wife a day after she gives birth. If you can get the past the sadness of the event, Fatherhood has plenty of joy and laughter in it as well, which makes it a great watch for the whole family.

• Directed by: Jeremiah Zagar
• Starring: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah
• Release date: June 3, 2022
• IMDB rating: 7.3

Starring Adam Sandler and Queen Latifah and released in 2022, Hustle is about a basketball scout with frequent bad luck (Sandler) who discovers a phenom player abroad. The scout is so convinced he's found the next big thing that decides he's going to bring the player back to the US (which is against the rules). You'll have to watch the entire movie to see how it works out for him.

• Directed by: Tyler Spindel
• Starring: Nina Dobrev, Adam DeVine, Pierce Brosnan, Ellen Barkin
• Release date: July 7, 2023
• IMDB rating: 5.4

Starring Nina Dobrev, Ellen Barken, Adam Devine, and more, The Out-Laws is about a bank manager (Devine) who's all set to marry the love of his life (Dobrev). All appears to be well until he gets robbed by a weird entity known as the "Ghost Bandits" (whom he suspects are his future in-laws) right before his wedding. If you want to deal with another chaotic family, The Out-Laws is right up your boat.