December might be looking pretty busy right now thanks to all the exciting things going on around Glasgow, but nothing’s better than cosying up with a Christmas film after a busy day of getting into the festive spirit. From classics to hidden gems, we’ve rounded up the best Christmas films on Netflix to help you get into the merry mood this Christmastime.
1. The Christmas Chronicles (1 and 2)
An instant hit with Netflix users, Kurt Russell stars as Santa Claus in The Christmas Chronicles – a heart-warming film that follows young girl Kate and her brother Teddy as they hatch a plan to catch Santa on camera. Naturally, the plan goes awry, and they end up on quite the journey as Santa travels the globe to deliver all of his presents. Streaming now.
2. The Princess Switch (1, 2 and 3)
One of a few fantastic Christmas films starring Vanessa Hudgens (which we’ll get onto a bit later…), The Princess Switch not only features one Hudgens, but two, in a double-act comedy full of festive vibes. The film follows a normal girl from Chicago who travels to another country for a baking competition, where she meets a Duchess who looks exactly like her. Available to stream now.
3. Falling For Christmas
Lindsay Lohan returns to our screens bringing with her a festive flick to curl up on the sofa with a blanket to enjoy. A newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress (Lindsay Lohan) gets into a skiing accident, suffers from total amnesia and finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner (Chord Overstreet) and his precocious daughter in the days leading up to Christmas. Watch it now.
4. Klaus
Oscar-nominated Klaus follows the heart-warming tale of a failing postman who’s been sent on an impossible mission to work in an unaccepting, frozen town in the North – but everything changes when he discovers toymaker Klaus hiding out on the outskirts of the town. A truly magical film that will spark that childhood wonder in both adults and little ones alike. Watch it now.
5. Jingle Jangle
New to Netflix’s Original roster for 2020, Jingle Jangle has been dubbed the Christmas version of The Greatest Showman thanks to its family-friendly vibe and many a musical number. Providing all the fuzzy warm feels, the film follows toymaker Jeronicus Jangle, whose apprentice betrays him to become the richest toymaker in the world. After years of taking a step back, Jangle receives new hope when his long-lost granddaughter turns up on his doorstep with a talent. Stream it now.
6. Single All The Way
Desperate to avoid his family’s judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to join him for the holidays and pretend that they’re now in a relationship. But when Peter’s mother (Kathy Najimy) sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer James (Luke Macfarlane)— the plan goes awry. Available to watch now.
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
It’s not Christmas without an absolute classic like How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The green, revenge-seeking Grinch, who lives on the outskirts of Whoville and voiced by Jim Carrey, is back on our screens via Netflix to plot to ruin Christmas for all of the town. Bringing plenty of laughs, the Christmas-hating creature also happens to have quite a few of funny one liners that are more noticeable thanks to social media and aging. On Netflix now.
8. The Knight Before Christmas
The second in our mini love letter to Vanessa Hudgen’s Christmas films, The Knight Before Christmas is as cheesy and fantastic as it sounds. Providing laughs, an easy-to-follow rom-com plotline and a medieval edge, the film has it all. The Knight Before Christmas sees a medieval knight magically transported to the present day, where he meets an unlucky-in-love high school science teacher who guides him through modern life. Available to watch now.
9. Christmas With You
Alongside The Knight Before Christmas and The Princess Switch, Netflix is providing us with plenty of festive romantic films to add a little sparkle this Christmas with Christmas With You. Feeling career burn out (can you relate?), pop star Angelina escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in small town New York, where she not only finds the inspiration to revitalize her career but also a shot at true love. Stream it now.
10. A Christmas Prince (1, 2 and 3)
Another easy watch for rom-com lovers, A Christmas Prince tells the story of journalist Rose, who’s sent on a mission to get the scoop on the young prince of Aldovia. Things go too well, however, and Rose soon finds herself in hot water when she’s assumed the new tutor of his younger sister. Watch it now.
11. Holidate
New for the Christmas period of 2020, Holidate stars Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey – and is perfect for those who prefer more of a naughty laugh than your typical family-friendly festive flick. Following two strangers, Sloane and Jackson, after a casual meet-cute at the mall, the pair agree to be each other’s ‘holidate’ to ensure both have a platonic date on special occasions. Streaming now.
12. The Noel Diary
Joining this year’s roster of Christmas films on Netflix is The Noel Diary. When best-selling author Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) returns home at Christmas to settle his estranged mother’s estate, he discovers a diary that may hold secrets to his own past and that of Rachel (Barrett Doss) – an intriguing young woman on a mission of her own. Together, they embark on a journey to confront their pasts and discover a future that’s totally unexpected.
13. A Very Murray Christmas
Bill Murray fans will have already seen A Very Murray Christmas, but even if you have, it’s an annual classic. Following the beloved actor as he worries that no one will make his show due to a terrible snowstorm in New York City, Murray finds a number of celebrity friends along the way to help with his Christmas show, resulting in a fabulously festive (and very musical!) watch. Stream it now.
14. Love Hard
Hopeless romantic but eternally single LA journalist Natalie (Nina Dobrev) thinks things are beginning to look up when she swipes right on Tag (Darren Barnet), a dreamy guy from the East Coast. Taking a leap of faith, she jumps on a flight to surprise her crush for the holidays, only to discover that she’s been catfished by Tag’s childhood friend who is equally unlucky in love, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang).
15. A Storm For Christmas
December 2022. A group of people arrive at Oslo airport. Some to welcome their loved ones, some to travel home to their families, and some to fly away and escape Christmas. But in one way or another, their Christmas mission goes awry. They are all stranded at the airport and the clock is ticking – only 24 hours til Christmas – so what do they do? In real life, I don’t wish this kind of festive drama on anybody. Watch it now.
16. I Believe in Santa
This latest Netflix release is sure to put a smile on your face this Christmas, which follows Lisa (Christina Moore) and her new romantic flame Tom (John Ducey). All is going well in their blissful five months of dating until Lisa learns that Tom is actually obsessed with her least favourite holiday of the year. The big question of the film is, though: is it time to give Christmas another chance? Available to stream now.