Christmas films have the power to immediately inject a much-needed dose of festive cheer in the hearts of even the Grinchiest ‘bah-humbug!’-type folk. Some of the best Christmases we’ve had have been peppered with festive romcoms and tearjerkers that are set around Christmastime and highlight the importance of family, love, friends and the occasional mince pie. While some Christmas films remain classics – Love Actually, The Holiday, and Klaus – some unexpected ones have captured our hearts thanks to their stellar cast and cheesy plots, such as Jack Frost and Holidate.And while the festive season might seem too far in the future to even begin contemplating compiling a must-watch Christmas film list, it’ll come around sooner than expected, and we can’t wait to sit down with a mulled wine in hand to binge our favourite festive flicks. These are a few of our favourites, all of which now appear on Netflix. Here’s our round-up of the best Christmas films on Netflix in 2024:
1. Our Little Secret
Still nursing wounds from their breakup, two exes find themselves reluctantly spending Christmas together after realizing their current partners are siblings. As old tensions resurface, they’re forced to endure uncomfortable moments, family chaos, and the awkwardness of shared memories. With holiday cheer in the air and unresolved feelings between them, the situation becomes more complicated than anyone could have expected.
2. Meet Me At Christmas
In this holiday rom-com, Layla dashes through the streets of New York, determined to score a last-minute ticket to the sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert. With dreams of a fairytale romance with her dream guy, she’s racing against time— but will she make it before the clock runs out?
3. The Merry Gentlemen
To save her parents’ struggling small-town venue, a former big-city dancer organises a Christmas-themed all-male revue (think Magic Mike). As the show takes shape, she learns that the holiday magic often arrives in the most surprising ways.
4. The Claus Family 3
Belgian Christmas-themed drama, The Claus Family, made its Netflix debut in 2020 with a sequel promptly following a year later in 2021. Two years later a third instalment is finally here, with yet another outing for the Claus family from director Ruben Vandenborre. Per the official logline from Netflix, ‘When the delivery of presents goes wrong and Grandpa Noël gets in trouble, siblings Jules and Noor must work together to save Christmas. Can they do it?
5. Best. Christmas. Ever!
In a twist of fate, two long-time frenemies, Jackie, played by Brandy Norwood, and Charlotte, played by Heather Graham, are brought together on a frosty, snowing pre-Christmas evening. Every Christmas, Jackie sends a holiday newsletter filled with subtle boasting, which makes Charlotte feel inadequate. But with the two now thrust together just days before Christmas, Charlotte becomes hell-bent on trying to prove that her old friend’s life can’t possibly be that perfect. Can the two and their respective families find joy in the holidays after all?
6. Little Women
Providing a fresh take on Louisa May Alcott’s classic, Greta Gerwig’s reimagining of Little Women is Christmas personified. The Barbie director wrote and directed the 2019 adaptation, which doesn’t stray far from the original storyline of the book, which follows the lives of the four March sisters as they come of age. If that hasn’t sold you enough, the film also stars Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Saoirse Ronan, who plays the titular Jo March. Curl up and allow yourself to be transported back in time in the most delicious of ways.
7. Falling for Christmas
Lindsay Lohan stars in this Christmas flick as a newly engaged heiress who gets in a nasty skiing accident a few days before Christmas. When she awakes with memory loss, she finds herself in a lodge with a handsome widower and his daughter. Can you guess what happens next?
8. The Noel Diary
Justin Hartley (This is Us), this film follows the story of an author who travels home one Christmas to sort out his estranged mother’s estate. He finds a diary filled with secrets about his past, and a beautiful woman’s journey becomes entwined with his own.
9. Holiday Rush
A classic riches-to-rags story to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. Widower Rush loses his job as a radio DJ and is forced to move back into his aunt’s house with his four spoilt children where they once lived before they’d gotten used to luxury. The children find it hard to adjust to their new life, especially when Rush finds love for the first time since their mother passed away.
10. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
It wouldn’t be Christmas without watching Jim Carey painted green and covered in fur. This classic Dr. Seuss story will make your heart grow three sizes, too. Snuggle in and let yourself be transported to Whoville from your sofa.
11. Single All The Way
Starring Legally Blonde’s Jennifer Coolidge and Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie, this film is the perfect romcom if you’re all about kissing under the mistletoe. The film sees Peter (Urie) convincing his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to join him for Christmas and pretend they’re in a relationship to please his parents. Unsurprisingly, the ruse doesn’t exactly go as planned.
12. Love Hard
Nina Dobrev takes the lead in this festive film. A modern-day love story, the plot sees Dobrev’s character Natalie Bauer match with a love interest on a dating app and fly across the country to meet him for Christmas, only to realise that she’s been duped.
13. A Christmas Prince
If only this film was real life. A Christmas Prince sees journalist Amber head overseas to research into Prince Richard who is set to be king. You can probably guess what happens next, but let’s just say there’s a big ol’ romantic storyline involved. A heart-warming film that’s a must-watch. After watching this film you can then watch the second and third follow-up films on Netflix to find out what happens next.
14. Klaus
This is an English-language Spanish animated Christmas film which features the voices of J.K Simmons, Rashida Jones and Jason Schwarzman. The plot centres on a postman located in an island town in the Far North who finds friendship with a reclusive toymaker, known as Klaus. It’s a truly beautiful film and won the award for Best Animated Film at the 73rd BAFTAS.
15. Let It Snow
Starring Mad Men’s Kiernan Shipka, Let It Snow is a Christmas comedy which involves a group of high school students in town being brought together on Christmas Eve during a snowstorm. Think of it as a modern The Breakfast Club.
16. Deck The Halls
A Christmas classic for a reason, Matthew Broderick stars as Steve, a man who loves Christmas but quickly becomes perturbed by the arrival of his neighbour Danny (Danny Devito). The pair soon embark on a festive competition to see who can cover their houses with the most lights and be the King of Christmas.
17. Holidate
We must admit we had our doubts about this Christmas film, but it’s actually turned out to be one of our favourite festive romcoms on Netflix. The film sees Sloane (Emma Roberts) pretending to date Jackson (Luke Bracey) for a year in order to appease their parents, only to find themselves getting ‘the feels’, naturally. It’s funny, it’s festive and it’s blummin’ good.
18. Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square
Nothing screams ‘Christmas’ like Dolly Parton (okay, other than Michael Bublé, perhaps). The film sees a mean woman (Christine Baranski) plan to sell her hometown despite the wishes of the townspeople. Fortunately, a sprinkle of music, magic and Parton stop her in her tracks.
19. The Princess Switched
Parent Trap plot for the modern day, Vanessa Hudgens stars as both Stacey De Novo and Lady Margaret in this film, which involves a duchess swapping places with a woman from Chicago given their similar appearances and falling in love with each other’s partners. Fortunately, there’s a sequel and third film on Netflix too once you’re done with the original.
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Read the original article in ELLE UK.
