With Halloween firmly behind us and Thanksgiving around the corner, one can’t help but notice another holiday’s presence making itself more and more apparent. Whether it’s a certain Mariah Carey song making its way onto radio playlists, the redecoration of shop windows or the erection of fir trees and fairy lights around town centers, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. As it draws nearer, you’ll notice, too, that your favorite streaming services will become inundated with festive holiday viewing options — and what better way to spend those cold winter nights than to make some hot chocolate, curl up on the couch, ditch your favorite book and watch Netflix, right?
With all that’s on offer across the multiple streaming platforms, as well as new movies hitting theaters, it can all seem a little overwhelming. Thankfully, we’ve taken the time to sift through what’s available and compiled a list of recommended Christmas viewing. This time around, to narrow it down, we’re looking only at movies on Netflix.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Netflix
A brand-new Christmas movie for 2022, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is Netflix’s take on the classic Charles Dickens story. Judging from the recent trailer, this latest adaptation will feature beautiful animation from Netflix studios and a slew of catchy musical numbers. If that’s not enough to entice you, it also features an incredible voice cast including the talents of Luke Evans as Ebenezer Scrooge, Olivia Colman as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Jonathan Pryce as Jacob Marley. Scrooge: A Christmas Carol will hit Netflix on December 2 this year, and is set to put an interesting new spin on the holiday classic.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 The Noel Diary
Directed by Charles Shyer of Father of the Bride 1 & 2 and Parent Trap fame, The Noel Diary is a new romantic comedy drama hitting Netflix on November 24. Justin Hartley plays Jake Turner, a popular author, who returns home over Christmas to settle his estranged mother’s estate. On his arrival, he encounters numerous unanswered questions, which he sets out to solve with the help of a new friend with whom he might share some kind of past (and possible future) with. Judging from Shyer’s previous works, audiences can expect plenty of laughs and possibly a few tears from The Noel Diary.
7 White Christmas
Paramount Pictures
The Godfather of Christmas movies, White Christmas was released way back in 1954, but remains just as enjoyable a watch to this day. The film is about a group of entertainers putting on a musical extravaganza in order to raise money to help out a veteran and his failing inn. If you don’t know the movie, you almost certainly know the song made famous by Bing Crosby, who stars in the film alongside Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.
6 The Christmas Chronicles
Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles actually hit the streaming service back in 2018, but has already become a Christmas classic in many eyes. The movie sees legendary actor Kurt Russell donning the red suit and white beard in what might be the best iteration of Santa Claus since Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street. This hilarious holiday offering follows the exploits of two children as they join Santa Claus, after causing his sleigh to crash, and save Christmas by helping him deliver the rest of the presents. Full of humor and heart, this yuletide offering went down a storm on Netflix, which resulted in its sequel being released in 2020, uniting Russell with his real-life wife Goldie Hawn, who, naturally, plays his on-screen wife Mrs. Claus.
5 Jack Frost
Warner Bros.
Not to be confused with the holiday horror flick of the same name released the year before, 1999’s Jack Frost is still a little darker than your average Christmas family affair. It follows the story of a devoted father and musician named Jack Frost, played by Michael Keaton, who is killed in a tragic car accident only to be reincarnated later as a snowman. If the premise sounds a little odd to you, you’re not alone. The movie divided critics’ opinions at the time of its release and failed to ignite the box office as hoped. In hindsight, despite a fairly dodgy looking snowman created by Jim Henson’s Creature shop, the story is compelling enough to keep viewers suitably engaged throughout its emotional 100-minute runtime this holiday season.
4 Krampus
Legendary Pictures
For those who prefer their Christmas movies a little more sinister, Krampus might be just the ticket. Based on ancient folk lore around the eponymous horned beast, whose role is to torment the children who’ve misbehaved over Christmastime, Krampus is gory good fun. Originally released in 2015, it combines B-movie horror sensibilities with a sprinkle of black humor and stars the likes of Adam Scott, Toni Collette and David Koechner. The movie hit Netflix in late-October this year. Aside from the intriguing premise and impressive cast, it’s worth watching the movie for its impressive creature effects courtesy of Weta Workshop, who have had a hand in the effects for movies ranging from Meet The Feebles and Braindead to Blade Runner 2049 and the upcoming Avatar sequel.
3 Christmas With You
Another brand new Netflix production hitting the streaming service this winter, Christmas With You is about a pop star played by Aimee Garcia, who has hit a plateau in her career and is suffering from writer’s block. After a career burnout, she leaves big city life to visit a fan in a small town, where she becomes stranded over the holidays. It’s here that she rediscovers her lust for life and becomes inspired once again. Starring Freddie Prinze Jr, Aimee Garcia (known for her roles on Lucifer, Dexter), and rising star Grace Dumdaw, this light-hearted Christmas comedy seems as if it will be the perfect way to pass a couple of hours on a cold winter’s night.
2 Klaus
Released in 2019, Klaus was somewhat of a revelation for Netflix Animation. This beautiful traditionally animated movie reimagines the origins of Santa Claus in a fictional 19th Century setting, revolving around a postman who befriends a reclusive toy-maker whilst stationed in a remote Far North island town. Regarded as one of the greatest animated movies of recent years, it became Netflix’s first animated movie to be nominated for an Oscar. It received universal acclaim, earning an impressive 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with particular praise aimed at its animation, original story, and impressive voice performances from the likes of Joan Cusack, Jason Schwartzman, J. K. Simmons and Norm Macdonald (in his final film role released in his lifetime).
1 Falling For Christmas
After a series of well publicized troubles, it’s fantastic to see Lindsay Lohan starring in a lead role in a major production for the first time in over a decade. Falling for Christmas is a new Netflix-produced movie that sees Lohan playing a rich heiress who, after a skiing accident, finds herself in a fish out of water scenario with a blue-collar lodge owner while suffering from total amnesia. As she tries to work out who she is, she also discovers what it is that truly makes Christmastime special. This infectious good-hearted rom-com is available to stream now.
