The festive season is a customary time for people all over the world to watch happy, silly, and funny Christmas movies. Since you get together to spend time with your loved ones, it only makes sense to pick the best Christmas movies to enjoy your holiday time to the fullest. Netflix has become the one-stop destination for all holiday movies lately. So to save you the trouble of scrolling through Netflix, we have compiled a list of the best Christmas movies available on the platform. So grab your sleigh and let us begin!
Netflix hosts some evergreen Christmas movies for holiday occasions. Besides, it keeps adding new movies every year for you to enjoy. Skim through this list to pick out the movies best suited for you this Christmas.
1. Klaus (2019)
- IMDB: 8.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 95%/96%
- Director: Sergio Pablos Carlos & Martínez López
- Cast: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes
One of the best recent Christmas films is unquestionably, Klaus, which tells the story of a toymaker named Klaus who makes friends with a postman named Jesper. It showcases how the two of them work together to bring back the long-lost happiness of their town. It is the ultimate best Christmas movie for kids made by Netflix
With stunning hand-drawn animations, a heartfelt tale full of clever jokes and touching moments, and a unique take on the origins of the Christmas holiday, Klaus masterfully resurrects the magic of Christmas. I heartily recommend you check out this Netflix original if you are in dire need of an animated movie to watch with your family.
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2. Love, Actually (2003)
- IMDB: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%/89%
- Director: Richard Curtis
- Cast: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Laura Linney, Kiera Knightley, etc
- Runtime: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Love Actually by Richard Curtis is the perfect rom-com drama to stream this Christmas season. It chronicles the romantic lives of 8 disparate couples across London which are performed by a star-studded crew of Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and even the Walking Dead fame, Andrew Lincoln.
It is a heartwarming movie with wonderful performances and cute little funny scenes that deserve to be seen during every Christmas season. Therefore, if you are looking for the best rom-com to watch on Netflix for this Christmas, go ahead with this one!
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3. The Christmas Chronicles Duology (2018-2020)
- IMDB: 7.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%/89%
- Director: Clay Kaytis
- Cast: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
This movie explores the adventures of two siblings, Kate and Teddy Pierce, who try to capture Santa on camera. However, they accidentally become a part of something bigger and end up saving the holidays. It is one of the best holiday movies on Netflix, with great acting, script, and cinematic quality. A mixture of classic Christmas movies with modern storytelling has made this movie one of a kind.
Adding Kurt Russell’s fantastic portrayal of a cool Santa in the movie completes it and leaves you wanting more. Luckily, the success of The Christmas Chronicles encouraged the directors to come up with a sequel, The Christmas Chronicles 2, in 2020 which is as good as its predecessor. So, grab your hot cocoa and binge-watch the Christmas Chronicles series this holiday season.
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4. White Christmas (1954)
- IMDB: 7.6
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77%/88%
- Director: Michael Curtiz
- Cast: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, etc
- Runtime: 2 hours
White Christmas is one of the best classic romantic Christmas movies of all time you can stream it on Netflix. This movie from 1954 is about two military men, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who decide to become the best song and dance act after World War 2. Davis plays a matchmaker to introduce Wallace to two sisters, Betty and Judy, who also come for a song and dance act.
The men follow the ladies to Vermont Lodge to perform a show. Here, they realize the lodge owner is their former commander, General Waverly. As the men try to help General out of his problems, a series of romantic mix-ups ensures they all grow close to each other.
The movie stands out from other Christmas movies because there is no magic or fairytale. Four people trying to help one person send off the perfect festive vibes to all the families watching it on Christmas.
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5. Robin Robin (2021)
- IMDB: 7.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%/89%
- Director: Daniel Ojari, Michael
- Cast: Bronte Carmichael, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson, etc
- Runtime: 32 minutes
Sometimes all we ever need is a short Christmas animated movie to rejoice along with the kids. Robin Robin is a stop-motion short musical film with the theme of discovering oneself. The story starts with a bird egg coming down and rolling in a rubbish dump. Then, a family of mice decides to raise a bird named Robin. Her differences with the mice become apparent as she grows up.
To prove to her family that she can be a great mouse, she discovers being a bird is far better. This movie is all about self-discovery and encourages kids to embrace their uniqueness. It’s great to watch with the family on Netflix this Christmas season.
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6. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
- IMDB: 6.8
- Rotten Tomatoes: 84%/60%
- Director: Gil Kenan
- Cast: Maggie Smith, Isabella O’Sullivan, Joel Fry, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 46 minutes
If you are seeking an adventurous Christmas movie, this might be your stop! A boy called Nicholas is set on an adventure in the misty snow of the north, following his father on the quest to find the magical land of Elfhelm. He is accompanied by a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and his loyal pet mouse.
The journey he sets out on changes Nicholas and his life forever and he embraces a new life now. The story revisits the origin of Santa Claus and resembles a Nordic fairy tale with snowy and sparkly backgrounds, which is just perfect to watch with your kids on Netflix on Christmas day.
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7. The Holiday (2006)
- IMDB: 6.9
- Rotten Tomatoes: 50%/80%
- Director: Nancy Meyers
- Cast: Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, etc
- Runtime: 2 hours, 18 minutes
The Holiday is about finding hope and happiness after being in the darkest phases of life. The movie begins with two female leads, Amanda and Iris, swapping their house for two weeks around the holidays after getting frustrated with their life. They try to overcome their struggles and seek help throughout their path.
As a result, this experiment introduces them to some new characters who become an important part of their story instantly. Overall, the movie is so romantic and charming. The comedy scenes are also well-timed, making it a great Christmas rom-com movie.
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8. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
- IMDB: 6.5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 90%/70%
- Director: David E. Talbert
- Cast: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, etc
- Runtime: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Jingle Jangle is set in a fantasy world of magic and mystery which is set to revive your Christmas spirit. In this movie, a legendary toymaker from the town of Cobbleton is famous for his whimsically fancy inventions. But the story takes a turn when his trusted apprentice steals one of his most prized creations. It came down to his granddaughter and a long-forgotten invention to make things right.
Since it is set in a fantasy world, the creators’ liberty is considerable. However, a lack of explanation of what’s happening and more focus on the world than the story weakens the plot which you can overlook easily. Overall, it’s undoubtedly a joyful movie with festive vibes you can enjoy on Netflix during the Christmas holidays.
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9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- IMDB: 6.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 49%/58%
- Director: Ron Howard
- Cast: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski, Jeffrey Tambor, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
This movie is a live-action adaptation of an earlier successful animated film from the 60s by the same name. Grinch, played by Jim Carrey, is a disliked green creature who lives in a cave near Mount Crumpit. The citizens of Whoville hate him for his mean spirit and arrogant behavior. However, little Cindy thinks Christmas is about spreading love, and they should give the Grinch a chance to be friendly.
Grinch accepts this opportunity, but the events do not go as planned, and he pledges to ruin Christmas for everyone. However, Whos’ holiday spirit changes his heart, and he finally understands the meaning of holidays. Although this movie isn’t as good as its original, you can definitely check out this for one-man Jim Carrey.
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10. Single All the Way (2021)
- IMDB: 6.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 68%/67%
- Director: Michael Mayer
- Cast: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Peter is a forever single guy coming home for Christmas. However, to avoid any name-calling and shame from the family, he convinces his friend Nick to come along. He then tells his family that they are in a relationship. But his mother sets him up with her handsome trainer, James, and things go south.
Peter feels torn between spending time with James and Nick and acknowledges his new feelings. This Netflix movie is all about embracing one’s relationship, starring cute characters and a lovely story. Although the plot is predictable, the movie will surely give you the Christmas feel.
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11. The Princess Switch (2018)
- IMDB: 6.1
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%/51%
- Director: Mike Rohl
- Cast: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes
As the name suggests, this Netflix Christmas movie is about switching roles for someone’s benefit. The story begins with Stacy, a type-A planner fond of schedules and controlled environments. However, she takes a spontaneous trip to Belgravia at the suggestion of her chef and best friend, Kevin. While in the middle of preparing for the Royal Christmas Baking Contest, an identical stranger approaches her.
The stranger happens to be the princess, Duchess Margaret Delacourt, and she comes bearing a strange request. She wants to enjoy a normal life one last time by switching roles with Stace before marrying the Crown Prince of Belgravia. The overall plot is predictable and cheesy, to say the least. Still, it never fails to give us a royal Christmas vibe.
The notable success of the movie also opened doors for two sequels, namely The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020) and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021), making the franchise an enjoyable watch for a movie marathon.
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12. The Noel Diary (2022)
- IMDB: 6.1
- Rotten Tomatoes:69%/64%
- Director: Charles Shyer
- Cast: Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Bonnie Bedelia, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Two strangers Sloane and Jackson, are fed up with nightmare dates and a meddling family asking relationship questions. They met at a store’s return counter and got talking. Once they realize they both share a similar problem, an idea for an arrangement comes up. They agree to meet each other only for the Holidays and cover for their family.
Throughout the year, the conversation goes normal, and they act according to the agreement. However, they soon realize they have started to develop feelings for each other, and something deeper than fake love knocks in their life — a lovely feel-good movie for those who believe in love.
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13. Lovehard (2021)
- IMDB: 6.3
- Rotten Tomatoes: 53%/90%
- Director: Hernan Jimenez
- Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Love Hard is a movie for those who find it hard to find love. Natalie is a journalist from LA who is a hopeless romantic but has bad luck in love. She finally feels a spark when she right-swipes a handsome East Coast guy, Tag, on a dating app. Then, she takes a leap of faith and chooses to surprise her crush on the holidays.
However, she discovers that she was catfished in the relationship by Tag’s friend Josh, who is also unlucky in love like Natalie. This lighthearted romantic comedy revolves around her chronicles of reeling in love. Apart from a weak plot, the overall movie is lovely and heartwarming.
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14. Alien Xmas (2019)
- IMDB: 6.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%/65%
- Director: Stephen Chiodo
- Cast: Keythe Farley, Dee Bradley Baker, Kaliayh Rhambo, etc
- Runtime: 42 minutes
The joy of giving is the most wonderful feeling in the world, isn’t it? Alien Xmas talks about an alien species, which has lost its joy by greedily exhausting its planet of resources. The aliens then approach Earth to steal everything from the planet. They send Alien X to Earth to set up a device to execute their plan.
Now, Alien X lands in a Christmas town and encounters the elves and their family. While on the mission, he has a change of heart due to the warmth of love among the elves, and it leads the alien species to learn about the joy of giving. It is a cheerful Netflix short movie explaining the soul of Christmas and that sometimes all a person ever needs is love from people around them.
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15. Holiday in The Wild (2019)
- IMDB: 6.2
- Rotten Tomatoes: 38%/49%
- Director: Ernie Barbarash
- Cast: Rob Lowe, Kristin Davis, John Owen Lowe, Fezile Mpela, etc
- Runtime: 1 hour, 26 minutes
You will love this movie if you are an animal lover. It’s the story of Kate, a heartbroken woman whose husband ends the marriage when their son goes to college. Frustrated, she decides to go on a vacation in Zambia by herself. She rediscovers her love for the animals on her journey after seeing a hurt baby elephant. She and her new friend Derek take care of the elephant and other animals while she decides to restart her career as a veterinarian.
However, after feeling dissatisfied with her new job, she goes back to Zambia to be with Derek at the sanctuary. Kate has emotional events, twists, and heartbreaking moments, and we see how she overcomes them. It is an inspirational Christmas movie with love sprinkled like fairy dust all over the movie.
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All Christmas Movie Secret Codes for Netflix
Apart from the movies you see listed above, you can always use secret Netflix codes to quickly access hidden categories and find more movies in your browser. Watching Christmas movies has become a tradition over the years. Therefore, Netflix has made a separate category for the holiday season.
All you have to do is include one of the following codes at the end of the Netflix URL (without the parenthesis) in the following format. Or, directly follow the links below.
https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/[Netflix Code]- British Christmas Children & Family films: 1527064
- Canadian Christmas Children & Family films: 1721544
- Christmas Children & Family films: 1474017
- European Christmas Children & Family films: 1527063
- Family-friendly Christmas films: 1394522
- Feel-good Christmas Children & Family films: 1475066
- Goofy Christmas Children & Family films: 1475071
- Romantic Christmas Films: 1394527
- Christmas for kids: 1726277
I hope you liked our curated selection of Christmas movies for this year; you can watch all of these movies on Netflix or select other movies from the secret category list for your own Christmas movie marathon.
Let us know which Christmas movie is your favorite also if you have any other recommendations for movies that should be on this list, please let us know in the comments section below.
