24 Christmas Movies To Stream On Netflix In 2023

There's something about Christmas films that just makes you want to binge-watch. If you're one of those people particularly inclined to celebrate the season from your couch, it's important to have a good game plan to maximize your holiday viewing options — even if Christmas is still months away and you just want to be reminded of that yuletide feeling. That's where streaming services come in, particularly the ubiquitous behemoth that is Netflix and its massive library of films. 

Even in the summer months, when Christmas feels far away amid all the heat, the streaming giant still packs its fair share of holiday films into the lineup, and the closer you get to December, the more frequently they start popping up. So Netflix is always a Christmas viewing option, but where to begin? Right here, with this list of Christmas films currently available on the service. Ranging from funny to festive, these holiday favorites are just waiting for you to watch at your leisure — and whenever you get started, it'll be the most wonderful time of the year.

In the years since "Love Actually" was released, it's spawned the kind of Christmas movie debate that's made it a film new viewers seek out simply because we want to see which side of the conflict we fall on. It did well financially and received mixed reviews upon its initial release, but when it hit home video, and more importantly streaming video, the film — dubbed "the ultimate romantic comedy" — was embraced as a holiday essential by many, while dismissed as an overwrought mess by others. Then there are those who fall somewhere in between, who can't decide if the film is good, so bad it's good, or just plain bad. 

It's a debate we still have every Christmas in the form of family arguments, online quizzes, and think pieces. After all that dust settles, though, we still watch "Love Actually," because it hasn't lost many of its charms, from a truly amazing ensemble cast to an assemblage of storylines so varied that everyone can agree that at least one is worth rewatching.

Some viewers may dismiss "A Christmas Prince" as another generic royal romantic comedy that the filmmakers just slapped some Christmas decorations on. Others may shrug it off as a completely unrealistic movie, and not just because it takes place in the fictional European nation of Aldovia. If you actually sit down and watch it, though, you'll find charm, heart, and a film that wrings every little bit of joy out of what it's given to work with. Rose McIver ("iZombie") stars as a young reporter eager to catch the eye of her boss by infiltrating the Aldovian monarchy and learning what's keeping the mysterious prince (Ben Lamb) from claiming his rightful place on the throne. 

Posing as a tutor to the Prince's young sister (Honor Kneafsey), she quickly finds there's more to him than just tabloid fodder, and they develop a bond. Of course, because we're dealing with royalty here, greedy forces are at work to stop the prince's coronation, which just happens to be scheduled for Christmas Eve. It's not the most lavish production you'll ever see, but there's a reason "A Christmas Prince" quickly earned a sequel, "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding," which made its Netflix arrival on Nov. 30, 2018, and a third film, "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby," the following year.

Like "A Christmas Prince," "Christmas Inheritance" is another Netflix-distributed romantic holiday comedy that follows a clear formula from the very beginning. This time, the plot is about a wealthy heiress (Eliza Taylor) traveling to the town where her father's thriving business began to perform a Christmas tradition on his behalf. She has to achieve this task if she's ever going to inherit his company, but there's a catch: She must go under a fake name, with only $100 in her pocket. What starts as a fish-out-of-water comedy about a rich girl in a small town quickly gives way to a rom-com sensibility when she meets the local cab driver/innkeeper (Jake Lacy) and begins to discover that there's more to life than just money, especially at Christmas. 

You can, of course, see where this is going from the moment the film's premise is established, but that's really only a problem if you're concerned about predictably happy endings, which is what you're going to get with most Christmas films in the first place. If you just relax and let the film play out, you'll find a lot to love.

If you're after an enduring holiday classic full of musical numbers, gorgeous Technicolor imagery, and the exquisite comic timing of Danny Kaye, then "White Christmas" is for you. Like many holiday films of its time, it doesn't entirely revolve around Christmas, but rather builds to it by telling the story of four entertainers who find themselves at an inn in Vermont only to find that December hasn't brought any snow with it yet. Like the characters, the audience waits virtually the entire film for anything wintry or Christmasy to show up, but when it finally does, it proves to be absolutely worth it. 

In addition to Kaye's comedic mastery, the film also features Bing Crosby in one of his most famous roles, Rosemary Clooney showing both her acting and singing chops, Vera-Ellen's incredible dancing, and some of the most memorable musical numbers you'll ever see. This film has lived on in the hearts of Christmas movie fans for more than 60 years, and a single viewing is all it takes to understand why.

Building on the hit they had with "A Christmas Prince," Netflix continued its devotion to royal holiday romcoms in 2018 with this new original movie set in another fictional European country about another ordinary woman who falls into some extraordinary circumstances. This time around, the woman is a baker from Chicago (Vanessa Hudgens) who travels halfway around the world to compete in a Christmas baking competition, where she finds that a duchess (also Vanessa Hudgens) betrothed to the prince looks exactly like her. 

The duchess, who hates the spotlight and craves an ordinary life, makes her an offer: Switch places — and lives — for two days. It's a twist on "The Parent Trap" with a lot of rom-com sweetness and plenty of Christmas baked right in. It might not be your cup of tea if you prefer your holiday fare to be a little more realistic, but if you loved "A Christmas Prince" and you want to watch something unapologetically joyous this Christmas, look no further.

Netflix isn't just excelling in the fairy tale princess Christmas rom-com department. They've also branched out into more humble, even somewhat quirky, offerings aimed at everyone who enjoys cozy, low-stakes Christmas fare. Enter "The Holiday Calendar," the story of a small-town photographer named Abby (Kat Graham) stuck in a rut both personally and professionally. Her life seems to be going nowhere, until her grandfather (the great Ron Cephas Jones) gives her an antique advent calendar that once belonged to her late grandmother. 

The calendar will only open its doors on its own, magically, at midnight each night in December, revealing a unique charmed item that will prove to have some meaning in her life the following day. Through the calendar's magic, Abby thinks she has found love, then realizes there are bigger lessons to be learned from this strange little family artifact. "The Holiday Calendar" is, like so many Christmas romantic comedies, ultimately predictable, but its charm is such that you won't really care if you see the ending coming.

Netflix's devotion to original programming led to an even bigger holiday movie boom in 2018 than we'd seen in previous years, reaching its peak with "The Christmas Chronicles," a film that blends a little bit of "The Santa Clause," a little bit of found footage, and a lot of Kurt Russell into a very enjoyable package. The film follows a pair of children whose family has been devastated by loss, as they try to get along together on Christmas Eve. When Kate (Darby Camp) believes she spotted Santa in an old family home movie, she persuades her brother Teddy (Judah Lewis) to stay up with her for a Santa stakeout. 

One thing leads to another, and the siblings find themselves face to face with the real Santa Claus (Kurt Russell), who's very different from what decades of marketing have made him out to be. With little time and a lot of frustration, the trio has no choice but to team up, find Santa's lost belongings, and save Christmas. Russell as Ol' Saint Nick is worth the runtime alone. 

Sometimes the most casually enjoyable Christmas movies arrive when you take a tried and true romantic comedy formula and just sprinkle a little holly and mistletoe through it all, and that's the case with "Christmas Wedding Planner." The film follows wedding planner Kelsey (Jocelyn Hudon) as she attempts to plan and execute the perfect holiday wedding. Her biggest problem isn't the venue, or the bride, but a private investigator (Stephen Huszar) who's threatening to expose the truth about the couple at the heart of the ceremony and wreck the whole wedding. 

In an effort to keep the P.I. happy while still delivering the dream wedding she was hired for, Kelsey agrees to join his case and help him get to the bottom of it. Of course, if you know romantic comedies at all, you can probably guess what happens next. It's exactly the kind of light, crowd-pleasing holiday fare you want after a long day of shopping, or to have on while you're wrapping gifts. 

Over the years there have been countless adaptations of "A Christmas Carol," with the Charles Dickens novel proving to be a classic holiday story that can be enjoyed by everyone. Whether it's a fun take like "The Muppet Christmas Carol" or a more serious version, the story has a timeless appeal that keeps it relevant even for modern audiences. In that sense, it shouldn't be a huge shock that Netflix released a new adaptation at the end of 2022 in the form of "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol."

An animated musical adaptation that is partly inspired by the 1970 film "Scrooge," this film combines catchy songs with the more traditional story elements of the source material in what is a rather faithful recreation of Dickens' work. Luke Evans, Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and Jonathan Pryce all lend their vocal talents to a cast of familiar characters as Scrooge comes to understand the error of his cruel and miserly ways. Although it is far from the best adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," this version is worth checking out, if only for the impressive cast and the spectacle of the flashy animation.

While "The Christmas Chronicles" wasn't exactly a huge hit with critics, its enormous success with viewers seemingly accelerated Netflix's original Christmas programming, making it almost certain that a sequel would be made. Thus, just two years after the original movie's release, fans were treated to "The Christmas Chronicles 2." What's more, Netflix managed to convince Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, and most of the cast from the first film to come along for the ride.

In the sequel, Santa Claus and his wife again team up with Kate (Darby Camp) — this time without her younger brother — to save Christmas. Here, though, it is the villainous Christmas elf Belsnickel (Julian Dennison) who poses a threat to the holiday season as he intends to destroy the Claus village where the rest of the elves live. Like its predecessor, "The Christmas Chronicles 2" was met with a mixed reception but proved popular with Netflix subscribers, even if it didn't quite manage to live up to the first film.

Lindsay Lohan hasn't exactly been a dominant force in Hollywood recently. After making it big as a child star, she has had a difficult career as an adult and has largely been absent from major productions. "Falling For Christmas" served as something of a revival for the actor, with Lohan receiving praise for her performance. The film went on to be named in the top 100 Christmas movies of all time by Rotten Tomatoes.

"Falling For Christmas" focuses on a young hotel heiress, played by Lohan, who suffers a skiing accident just before Christmas that leaves her with amnesia. With no one else around to look after her, bed and breakfast owner Jake Russell (Chord Overstreet) cares for Sierra and nurses her back to health. Predictably, the two develop feelings for each other, but even with this formulaic storyline, the movie stands out thanks to its hilarious comedy moments and heartfelt scenes. There's even a "Mean Girls" reference fans won't want to miss.

Those in the mood for a Christmas musical could do a lot worse than "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey." Helmed by David E. Talbert, the film sees Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Anika Noni Rose team up for an award-winning experience that is sure to make even the most Scrooge-like viewer smile. It isn't just one of the best Netflix Christmas films, it also stands out as one of the most enjoyable holiday films released on any streaming service in recent years.

In the film, the titular inventor ends up financially ruined when his apprentice steals his prized creation and sets up his own workshop. However, when his granddaughter is sent to live with him, Jangle soon finds his creative spark as the pair set about resurrecting his fortunes. Colorful, whimsical, and joyful, "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" is a perfect holiday film for the entire family. It has something for everyone and is full of songs that you won't be able to stop singing along.

As you might have guessed from its name, "The Knight Before Christmas" is a rather silly movie that follows a medieval knight (Josh Whitehouse) who finds himself magically transported to the modern day on an unknown quest at the behest of an old crone he meets. Soon after appearing in 2019, Sir Cole encounters high school science teacher Brooke Winters (Vanessa Hudgens). Brooke offers to care for Cole after she accidentally hits him with her car, slowly realizing that she hasn't given up on love as much as she had been telling herself.

For those looking for a realistic Christmas movie that they can relate to, "The Knight Before Christmas" isn't the best choice. It contains the kind of absurd narrative that you normally find in an animated Disney film rather than a romantic comedy. Yet despite not making all that much sense, it is a good addition to Netflix's growing holiday output and certainly worth a watch, as it can warm the heart of even the most cynical viewer.

Emma Roberts of "Unfabulous" and "We're the Millers" fame teams up with "Hacksaw Ridge" star Luke Bracey in the 2020 romantic comedy "Holidate." If you can get past the cheesy name, you'll find yourself following two singletons who have been desperately unlucky in their search for love. After a chance encounter at a department store, the pair decide to act as girlfriend and boyfriend in a platonic relationship to combat the disapproval they receive from their families around the holidays.

Shockingly, Sloane and Jackson start to develop genuine feelings for each other, although neither wants to admit it until the situation comes to a head, and they finally admit that they love each other. As lead actors, Roberts and Bracey share tremendous chemistry, making their relationship in the movie feel believable. With some adult jokes and a generally sweet sensibility, it's suitable to watch either with kids or as a date night treat.

If there is one Christmas film you watch on Netflix this holiday season, make sure it is "Klaus," the animated adventure comedy that acts as an origin story for the myth of Santa Claus. Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), an underperforming postman, is sent to a remote northern town where he befriends the reclusive Klaus (J.K. Simmons). The two form a partnership to deliver toys to the children of the area, temporarily ending a long-running feud between the two largest families as happiness surrounding their gifts brings all of the kids together.

"Klaus" has rightfully attracted a good deal of positivity from both critics and audiences, winning praise for its beautiful animation, touching plot, and heart-warming message about love and loss. Among the many Christmas films to be released over the last decade, it is one of the few that can count itself as a true classic, earning the right to become a regular fixture in any family's yearly tradition.

Christmas films generally fall into two categories: They are either romantic comedies where two people fall in love against all the odds or feature a miserable figure without any Christmas spirit who is eventually redeemed à la "A Christmas Carol." "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" comfortably fits into this second category, with the film featuring Christine Baranski as a property owner who plans to sell off a local town to a developer, evicting all of the residents in the process.

Winning multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie, "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" is also a musical filled with catchy songs and stylish dance numbers. The over-the-top choreography, colorful imagery, and uplifting message make it an ideal Christmas movie when you need cheering up or just want to have a good time. This isn't a movie that requires too much thinking on your part and doesn't demand 100% of your attention to understand the plot, but is self-aware enough for its jokes to pack some punch.

Many of Netflix's most recent Christmas romcoms have been adaptations of previously released novels. "Let It Snow" takes the same approach, with the Luke Snellin-directed movie based on Maureen Johnson's book of the same name. As you'd expect from a young adult novel, "Let It Snow" is aimed toward a more youthful audience, with the main characters being high school students portrayed by Isabela Merced, Kiernan Shipka, and Jacob Batalon, with a few older actors such as Joan Cusack rounding out the cast.

Brought together by a severe snowstorm, "Let It Snow" follows a group of youngsters who find their Christmas Eve to be a very different experience from what they had initially expected. The film received a lot of praise for its inclusive characters and fresh take on the standard holiday movie formula while retaining the charm and genuine comedy that allow these types of films to excel. Besides, there are so many characters here that you are sure to find someone to connect with as you watch.

There's a reason that romantic comedies tend to dominate the Christmas season. They are an easy watch, often coming with the guarantee of a familiar happy ending, while also being able to trigger a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality about the good old days. It's a formula that works — just look at the Hallmark Channel and its output for evidence of that. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that "Single All the Way" takes a similar approach, even if it does throw in a few modern twists to keep things from feeling dated.

The film sees Michael Urie star as Peter, a down-on-his-luck singleton who convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pose as his boyfriend over Christmas to try and deflect attention about his dating life from his family. However, Peter's family seems to think that the pair are perfect for each other and do their best to get them to admit how much they care for each other. Sure, it comes jam-packed with all the tropes you'd expect from a Christmas romcom, but doesn't shy away from including elements of gay culture in its depiction of the lead couple.

An adaptation of Matt Haig's novel, "A Boy Called Christmas" is a 2021 fantasy film centered around Christmas that was released exclusively through Netflix. A British production, it features a "Harry Potter"-esque cast that includes Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Merchant, and Toby Jones. It effectively acts as an origin for Santa Claus, taking a unique approach to explaining how he came into being and why he chose to deliver presents around the world.

The story of "A Boy Called Christmas" is told by an elderly aunt who is looking after a group of children following the death of their mother. She introduces her audience to Nikolas, a young boy who is suffering a similarly devastating loss, who heads off to find a mythical land known as Elfhelm in search of his father. Released to positive reviews, the reception largely focused on the surprising amount of warmth in the movie and its positive message about always being kind without belaboring the point too much.

Another Netflix exclusive, "Alien Xmas" is a 2020 stop-motion animation based on an earlier children's book by Stephen Chiodo and Jim Strain. The work of the Chiodo brothers, who are probably best known for providing stop-motion scenes for films such as "Elf," and filmmaker Jon Favreau, "Alien Xmas" follows a strange extraterrestrial sent to Earth to enact a plan for his race to steal all of humanity's belongings as part of their never-ending thievery quest across the galaxy.

After arriving on the planet, X (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) quickly sets about with his scheme to disable Earth's gravity to allow his fellow aliens to capture Christmas presents more easily. However, when he is mistaken for a toy by an elf and given to his young daughter, X has something of a change of heart, seeing the kindness and charitable nature of the elves. "Alien Xmas" ultimately avoids being too sentimental and tries to address consumerism surrounding the holidays in an honest way.

When Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) returns back to his hometown for the first time in decades following the death of his estranged mother, he gets drawn into Rachel Campbell's (Barrett Doss) quest to find her own birth mother. The two discover a long-lost diary among the belongings of Jake's mother and use it to learn more about Rachel's life and her mother Noel. Along the way, Jake and Rachel begin to develop feelings for each other as their stories continue to be intertwined.

"The Noel Diary" is a charming and sincere film that doesn't fall into the traps of traditional Christmas romantic comedies. That may well be because it is based on Richard Paul Evans' novel of the same name rather than being a wholly original narrative, with the characters having charisma and depth that you might not expect. There are some genuinely emotional moments as the pair piece together their past and learn more about themselves in the process, as well as how they are going to approach the future.

DreamWorks Animation's "Trolls" franchise has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with the second sequel "Trolls Band Together" reuniting the team once again in 2023. Like many other animated series, executives took advantage of the success of the franchise following the launch of the first movie in 2016 to create a 2017 Christmas-themed special. "Trolls Holiday" was the end result, a made-for-television movie that originally aired on NBC before making its way to Netflix.

Don't be fooled into thinking that "Trolls Holidays" is a low-effort attempt to cash in its popularity, though. The movie actually has a lot going for it, from its charming story where the Trolls try to teach the Bergens how to celebrate over the holidays to its star-studded cast that sees Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, and Zooey Deschanel reprise their roles. "Trolls Holiday" is an excellent choice for a family with young kids who want a quick distraction but don't want to commit to a feature-length movie.

An homage to the classic Christmas variety shows of old, "A Very Murray Christmas" stars Bill Murray as himself as he tries to put on a television special in the middle of a snowstorm. The bad weather leads to many of his guests canceling, but the comedian and actor has to carry on or risk being financially responsible for the show. First shown on Netflix in 2015, Sofia Coppola led the project as co-writer and director, with a host of celebrity stars such as Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, and Michael Cera all having roles as well.

As you'd expect from a Christmas film featuring Murray, "A Very Murray Christmas" is filled with plenty of funny moments. Meanwhile, the constant musical numbers that include some of the most memorable and catchy songs from the holiday season — with "Fairytale of New York," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" among them — give it a festive atmosphere. There's little not to like in what turns out to be a unique Christmas film that doesn't follow the same tired formula you usually expect.

Netflix has continued its tradition of releasing exclusive Christmas content every year well into the 2020s. With many new movies coming out in the last few years, "A Castle for Christmas" easily stands out as one of the better releases. Starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, in many ways it is your standard romcom, with the two lead characters clashing due to differing personalities but eventually ending up falling for each other against all the odds.

The story follows author Sophie Brown who flees from her home in the U.S. following a backlash from fans after she killed off a popular character in her latest novel. She chooses to escape to Scotland, the ancestral home of her father, and soon meets Myles. He is the Duke of Dunbar and the owner of a beautiful castle that Sophie quickly falls in love with. Despite being a somewhat strange project for director Mary Lambert — who is best known for her work on horror films such as "Pet Sematary" and "The Attic" — it remains one of the better-received Netflix Christmas movies and is easy viewing for the holiday season.