This is the time of the year when the perfect storm occurs — and no, we’re not talking about a snowstorm in Omaha. We’re talking about the combination of one of the best movie genres, holiday movies, colliding with a time period when you have ample free time to binge-watch movies and TV shows on Netflix.
You may have a holiday movie that you watch each year as a family and if you don’t watch it, the season just isn’t complete. On the other hand, you may find yourself wasting precious time scrolling through the thousands of movies and shows available on Netflix without a clue of what you might watch. Thankfully, we’re here to help narrow down your search! Check out a few of our favorite holiday movies available on Netflix this year.
A Christmas Carol
Year: 1938
Rated: G
Length: 1 hour, 9 minutes
Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Summary: This classic Christmas tale has been retold and remastered over the years, but it is refreshing to revisit the 1938 original. Step back in time to Christmas Eve in nineteenth century London. “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge and his overnight transformation thanks to warnings from the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This touching family classic is a wonderful way to remember the loving spirit of the holidays.
Love Actually
Year: 2003
Rated: R
Length: 2 hours, 16 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Summary: Try to keep things straight during the intertwined telling of ten different stories that have one thing in common: love. The stories take place during a frantic month before Christmas in London, and paths ultimately become interconnected as the plot progresses. This well-loved holiday romantic comedy is the perfect movie to cozy up to for a relaxing date-night-in, or watch with your girlfriends during a girl’s night this holiday season.
A Very Murray Christmas
Year: 2015
Rated: TV-MA
Length: 56 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Music, Musical
Summary: This brand new Netflix original movie — as in, released a few weeks ago! — should not be missed this holiday season. Bill Murray (as himself) worries that no one will show up to his holiday TV show due to a snowstorm in New York City. “A Very Murray Christmas” is a refreshing nod to the classic variety show with a modern twist and lots of familiar faces on stage. With appearances from Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Amy Poehler and Chris Rock, this is sure to be an entertaining performance complete with dancing, singing and an abundance of holiday spirit!
While You Were Sleeping
Year: 1995
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Summary: Sandra Bullock stars in this charming romantic comedy where she plays a lonely transit worker named Lucy who gets swept up in a complicated love story. After pulling and rescuing her crush from an oncoming train on a snowy Christmas Day in Chicago, she winds up at the hospital where he is in a coma, and his family mistakes her as his fiancée. Don’t believe us that this is one of the best holiday movies on Netflix? Apparently, there are 32 reasons why “While You Were Sleeping” should be your favorite Christmas movie by now.
Ernest Saves Christmas
Year: 1988
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Summary: This goofy holiday movie is one the entire family will enjoy…and laugh at. Who doesn’t love a good Ernest movie? In this particular story, taxi driver Ernest helps 151-year-old Santa Claus find his successor. Travel along with Ernest, Santa, a children’s show host, and a teenage girl on a mission to save Christmas as its future might be in jeopardy!
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Year: 1998
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 26 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Family
Summary: Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Jessica Biel star in this late-’90s classic that you must add to your Netflix queue if you haven’t yet seen it. The story follows college student Jake as he attempts to make it home to New York on Christmas Eve to receive a Porsche from his estranged father. Eager to claim this bribe, Jake somehow finds himself in the desert wearing a Santa suit in hopes of making it home in time for Christmas! This hilarious story teaches Jake and viewers a lot about the things that truly matter in life.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Year: 1993
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 16 minutes
Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy
Summary: This stop-motion animated film from genius film director, Tim Burton, is a wonderfully quirky movie to watch with the family this holiday season. It follows Halloweentown’s pumpkin king, Jack Skellington, as he accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown. He then attempts to bring this land under his control with plans to kidnap Santa Claus and take over his position of power. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a creative and creepy twist of a Christmas story!
Saving Santa
Year: 2013
Rated: NR
Length: 1 hour, 23 minutes
Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Summary: Kids are typically the ones most eager to watch a holiday movie this time of year, so we wanted to pick out a movie you both can enjoy. This fun computer-animated film tells the story of an unlikely hero, Bernard. As a lowly stable elf, Bernard finds himself responsible for saving Christmas, as he is the only one who can stop an invasion of the North Pole. This is a light-hearted, but exciting adventure that will get the whole family in the holiday spirit this year!
White Christmas
Year: 1954
Rated: NR
Length: 2 hours
Genres: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Summary: This old-school Christmas musical is as entertaining as it was when it was released in 1954. Sing along with Bing Crosby & Co., consisting of a successful song-and-dance team romantically involved with a sister act, as they attempt to save a failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general. This timeless classic brings Christmas to life!
Happy Christmas
Year: 2014
Rated: R
Length: 1 hour, 22 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Summary: Anna Kendrick plays the role of an irresponsible 20-something named Jenny who moves in with her older brother, his novelist wife and their two-year-old son in Chicago. Jenny shakes up this little family’s picturesque life and challenges her sister-in-law’s life and career. This light-hearted Christmas movie does not disappoint, which is not surprising with Kendrick on the cast list.
Serendipity
Year: 2001
Rated: PG-13
Length: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Romance
Summary: Jonathan and Sara meet on a magical night during the Christmas season in New York, as they reach for the same pair of gloves to buy their respective significant others. The two part ways and must eagerly anticipate the chance that fate will bring them together again.
Bad Santa
Year: 2003
Rated: R
Length: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Summary: Take a walk on the wild side with “Bad Santa,” the story of two accomplices dressed as Santa and an elf who steal from shopping outlets each Christmas Eve. This year is different, as “Santa” is softened by the friendship of a small boy, who makes him reconsider his actions and mindset.
A Christmas Kiss
Year: 2011
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Genre: Romance
Summary: Wendy, an aspiring interior designer, shares a spontaneous kiss in an elevator with a stranger named Adam, only to find out that he is her demanding boss’s boyfriend. The two get to know each other while Wendy is decorating his home for a Christmas party, causing Adam to decide between the two. This dramatic comedy is an entertaining Christmas scandal.
Get Santa
Year: 2014
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Family
Summary: 9-year-old Tom discovers Santa Claus in his garden shed after he crashed his sleigh and is desperate to return home in time for Christmas. His reindeer are roaming loose throughout the streets of London, the police are on the lookout for Santa, and time is running out. Watch “Get Santa” and be a part of the holiday madness!
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Year: 2005
Rated: TV-G
Length: 1 hour, 7 minutes
Genres: Animation, Family
Summary: This holiday movie is a loose continuation of the 1969 classic “Frosty the Snowman” TV program, but it holds the same charm and magic. Follow along with Frosty and his new friends as they attempt to spread the word that magic is alive and well within their town of Evergreen! This is a fun and festive movie that children will want to watch over and over this holiday season.
Christmas With the Kranks
Year: 2004
Rated: PG
Length: 1 hour, 39 minutes
Genres: Comedy, Family
Summary: Luther and Nora Krank are eager to forgo Christmas traditions the year their daughter is away, and plan to take a Caribbean cruise instead. Their festive neighbors do not appreciate this and are instead determined to win the annual “best decorated street” competition. When their daughter returns home at the last minute, the Kranks have to scramble to find their festive spirits once again!
If you’re more of a bookworm and would rather read a wintery book by the fire, look no further. Netflix even has you covered in this arena, with their Fireplace for Your Home. Or maybe you prefer a wintery wonderland scene as the backdrop for your living room activities!
What’s your favorite holiday movie on Netflix? After all this binge-watching and cookie-eating, our Netflix queues are running on empty and we need your suggestions!