The holidays are my favorite time of year for cozying up on the couch and watching some feel-good entertainment. As an avid movie lover, I especially look forward to the new Christmas movies and specials that start popping up on streaming services every December.
This year, there seem to be even more new options than usual across platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and more. I'll walk you through 10 of the best and brightest that I heartily recommend cueing up this season, plus some extra alternatives if you already powered through those and want to keep spreading holiday cheer.
So grab a mug of hot cocoa, snuggle under your coziest blanket, and let's dive into the list!
The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday
If you saw the animated hit The Bad Guys earlier this year, then you'll definitely want to check out this festive new prequel over on Netflix. It takes us back to when the reformed animal outlaws were still very much in their bad phase, when a Christmas heist targeting a Santa balloon accidentally ruins the holiday. As you can imagine, hijinks ensue as the rapscallions try to save Christmas so they can get back to their original scheme.
While the voice cast is different than the film, the madcap energy and ultimately heartwarming message are still there in this delightful 25-minute romp. It captures that classic "criminals with hearts of gold" vibe perfectly.
Candy Cane Lane
I'm always thrilled when the legendary Eddie Murphy lends his comedic talents to a new holiday flick, and Candy Cane Lane over on Prime Video is just the ticket this season. He stars as a down-on-his-luck Christmas decorator competing in a local contest, opposite Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Trevante Rhodes, and more.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin of Marshall fame, it promises all the festive family hijinks and slapstick you could ask for from Murphy. And the supporting cast seems top-notch too for spreading holiday cheer through hearty laughs.
Dashing Through the Snow
For another humorous holiday romp, check out Dashing Through the Snow on Hulu and Disney+. It's an original movie for the streamers directed by Tim Story of Barbershop and produced by Walt Disney Pictures itself.
The always affable Lil Rel Howery takes an intriguing turn as Old Saint Nick himself, while Chris "Ludacris" Bridges plays a disillusioned family man who crosses paths with the real Kris Kringle via odd circumstances. With that delightful premise and comedic pedigree, this one looks poised to bring merry mishaps and chuckles to the whole family.
Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road
My Whovian heart flutters with excitement over this special Christmas episode of Doctor Who airing on Disney+ and BBC on December 25th itself. After the wonderful trio of 60th-anniversary specials, we got this fall, it will introduce viewers to Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor in an episode penned by returning showrunner Russell T. Davies.
For longtime fans like myself, it's the perfect present to unwrap on Christmas morning. And I believe it will usher in an exciting new era for the beloved sci-fi series. So gather the family and be sure to catch it together on the big day!
Family Switch
If a holiday-themed body swap premise captures your fancy, check out Family Switch on Netflix for a family-friendly Freaky Friday twist. Directed by McG, it stars comedy veterans Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms as stressed parents who swap bodies with their too-cool teenagers after a supernatural planetary alignment on Christmas Eve.
Critics haven't been too keen, but reviews hardly matter when it comes to easy, lighthearted holiday entertainment. You know exactly what you’re getting here, and I bet the hijinks will still hit the sweet spot if you just want to turn off your brain and have some silly yuletide fun.
Genie
For a festive film with more of a romantic spirit, look no further than the star-studded Genie over on Peacock. Screenwriter Richard Curtis of Love Actually fame puts a fresh spin on his earlier project Bernard and the Genie from 1991.
The always wonderful Paapa Essiedu plays a down-on-his-luck man who discovers a wish-granting genie, played to diva perfection by Melissa McCarthy. With unbeatable talent like that behind it, this looks to be a charming, lively romp for anyone seeking holiday magic with a romantic twist.
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas
If you're hungry for some musical merriment, be sure to catch rising star Hannah Waddingham and her delightful Apple TV+ special filmed in London. Whether or not you're familiar with her Emmy-winning turn on Ted Lasso, her powerhouse pipes will blow you away as she performs beloved Christmas classics backed by a full orchestra and choir at the iconic Coliseum Theater.
Several of her Ted Lasso co-stars even stop by for spirited holiday singalongs. It captures all the most magical, melody-packed elements of the season performed by one of the most talented women in showbiz today. What more could you ask for?
The Holdovers
One undiscovered holiday gem in theaters and on VOD that I believe is destined to be a classic is The Holdovers. Paul Giamatti is simply masterful as a professor forced to watch over students stuck at an elite boarding school over Christmas. He develops a truly touching bond with young actor Dominic Sessa that reminds us of humanity’s capacity for connection during a season often devoted to it.
This tender, life-affirming film feels like a gift meant to be treasured for holidays to come. Sensitively directed by Alexander Payne, don’t miss your chance to be among the first to fall in love with its earnest reflections on loneliness and understanding.
It’s a Wonderful Knife
If you’re craving a darkly comedic twist on Yuletide, look no further than Shudder’s delightfully devious original It’s a Wonderful Knife. It applies the It’s a Wonderful Life concept to a wild tale of a woman discovering all the deaths she’s prevented in a town stalked by a holiday killer.
With Joel McHale and Justin Long lending their talents alongside rising scream queen Jane Widdop, it promises wicked meta laughs for folks who like their holiday spirits on the spooky side. Don’t assume this naughty package is just a lump of coal!
Merry Little Batman
Lastly in my top 10 is one I think will capture the imagination of every Batman fan this season, Merry Little Batman over on Prime Video. Focused on young Damian Wayne’s adventures one Christmas Eve defending Wayne Manor from villainous intruders, it taps into the boundless potential of the Bat Family concept.
Vibrant, clever, and undeniably cute, I believe this could launch an endless parade of festive Batman adventures for years to come. It reminded me how delightful it is to see filmmakers having fun with iconic characters many often take too seriously. So deck those halls with batarangs this year!
5 More Holiday Alternatives to Queue Up
Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new Christmas content this year. Here are 5 more I’m hearing good buzz around that you can add to your endless holiday watch list too:
The Velveteen Rabbit: A lovely part-animated, part live-action adaptation of the poignant children’s Christmas fable over on Apple.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Yet another film for Disney+ adapting the popular children’s book series, this one based on 2011’s Cabin Fever.
Frog and Toad: Christmas Eve: A sweet-natured animated Apple TV+ special bringing the beloved literary characters in fuzzy holiday sweaters.
The Naughty Nine: A Disney+ original about a kid-led heist to save themselves from the naughty list.
Best. Christmas. Ever!: A comedy on Netflix starring Heather Graham and Jason Biggs about the dubious holiday newsletter of an old college friend.
Also read: The Best East Asian Movies of 2023
Well, there's certainly a stocking stuffed with new holiday viewing to keep your home feeling merry and bright. I’d love to hear what festive flicks you plan to watch. Let me know in the comments which movies on my list caught your eye!
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