Best Christmas Movies to Stream on Netflix

As winter approaches, the holiday season calls for binge-watching your favorite Christmas films when it’s too cold outside.

There are plenty of titles to stream for a merry movie marathon on various networks and platforms, including Lifetime, Hallmark and Prime Video. Netflix leads the charge with its extensive catalog of festive originals — often referred to as the Netflix Christmas Universe (NCU) — that will keep you entertained and leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside when a cup of hot chocolate doesn’t do the trick.

From classic trilogies like A Christmas Prince, The Claus Family and The Princess Switch to popular standalone movies and specials starring Lindsay Lohan, Lacey Chabert, Sabrina Carpenter, Dolly Parton and more, the streaming giant has an array of snuggle-worthy and kid-friendly flicks to choose from.

To help narrow your choices, here’s a list of the best Netflix Christmas movies to make your spirits bright. Consider it our holiday gift to you.

Falling for Christmas

Featuring Lohan and Chord Overstreet, this film puts a holiday spin on the 1987 classic Overboard as a hotel heiress loses her memory and falls for the handsome cabin owner, where she is recovering.

Watch Falling for Christmas on Netflix

Our Little Secret

Netflix treats audiences to another addition in the Lohan streaming tradition with Our Little Secret. The holiday rom-com follows two exes (Lohan and Ian Harding) who have to share a roof after learning their current partners are siblings. Kristin Chenoweth, Judy Reyes, Henry Czerny, Tim Meadows (Lohan’s former Mean Girls costar) and more also appear.

Watch Our Little Secret on Netflix

The Merry Gentlemen

If Santa’s got you on his “naughty” list, The Merry Gentlemen certainly belongs in your stocking! Former big-city dancer Ashley (Britt Robertson) doesn’t want to see her parents close the shutters on their bar business, so, for the holiday season, she turns up the heat (as much as a film rated TV-PG can) with an all-male dancer revue — led by none other than Chad Michael Murray and abs galore.

Watch The Merry Gentleman on Netflix

A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter

Santa and Carpenter both have one thing in common: They’re working lateee! So please, please, please grab your espresso and cookies because the superstar singer is serving a short-and-sweet holiday special filled with beautiful gowns, showstopping performances, cheeky innuendos and cameos from stars like Chappell Roan, Shania Twain, Quinta Brunson and many more.

Watch A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter on Netflix

Hot Frosty

Some might need to kiss a frog to find their prince, but for widow Kathy (Chabert), all it takes is a magical scarf to bring a hunky snowman (Dustin Milligan) to life. Thanks to his charming naïveté, this frosty fellow helps Kathy heal from her grief — and maybe find love again.

Watch Hot Frosty on Netflix

Family Switch

The Walker family members are all caught up in their individual lives and beginning to drift apart. However, thanks to an astrological reader (Lauren Ash), a Christmas miracle (er, misfire?) strikes, and leaves the family waking up in each other’s bodies on the most important day of their lives. Jennifer Garner, Ed Helms, Emma Myers and Brady Noon also star in the body-swap comedy.

Watch Family Switch on Netflix

Love Hard

This 2021 Netflix original follows young journalist Natalie (Nina Dobrev), who travels across the country to spend the holidays with a guy she matched with online, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang). However, once she gets there, she discovers Josh catfished her by using photos of his childhood friend, Tag (Darren Barnet). Needless to say, things get complicated.

Watch Love Hard on Netflix

Angela’s Christmas

Based on the children’s story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, this 2018 animated film is the perfect pick to watch with kids. After you’re done, keep the merriment going with the sequel.

Watch Angela’s Christmas on Netflix

Angela’s Christmas 2

The 2020 sequel to Angela’s Christmas follows the titular character as she makes a wish to reunite her family for Christmas.

Watch Angela’s Christmas 2 on Netflix

The Holiday Calendar

Starring The Vampire Diaries actress Kat Graham, this 2018 romance film about a young woman who receives a magical advent calendar provides the perfect dose of escapism.

Watch The Holiday Calendar on Netflix

Holiday in the Wild

After separating from her husband, a woman (Kristin Davis) embarks on her previously scheduled second honeymoon to Africa solo. Along the way, she meets and falls for a local pilot (Rob Lowe).

Watch Holiday in the Wild on Netflix

Klaus

If you’re looking for an animated Christmas movie, check out Klaus, which was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2020 Academy Awards.

Watch Klaus on Netflix

Holidate

In this Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey-led comedy, two strangers decide to be each other’s date for various holidays. The film spans a year, making it an ideal movie to watch year-round.

Watch Holidate on Netflix

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Produced by John Legend (who also contributed a song), this musical film will take you on a magical journey, just as the title suggests.

Watch Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix

The Princess Switch

Netflix has produced a handful of Christmas franchises over the years. However, The Princess Switch movie series starring Vanessa Hudgens has become a fan favorite for its inspired storyline — thanks, in part, to the 1998 classic The Parent Trap — and Hudgens’ delightful performance in multiple roles.

Watch The Princess Switch on Netflix

The Princess Switch: Switched Again

A sequel to The Princess Switch, Hudgens pulls triple duty as Margaret Delacourt, Stacy Wyndham and Margaret’s cousin, Lady Fiona Pembroke, the latter of whom stirs up some trouble in the 2020 film.

Watch The Princess Switch: Switched Again on Netflix

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star

In the third installment in The Princess Switch franchise, Margaret, Stacy and Fiona put their differences aside and team up when a priceless royal artifact is stolen from the palace.

Watch The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star on Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles

Real-life couple Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn star as Santa and Mrs. Claus in this charming Netflix film.

Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

In the 2020 sequel to The Christmas Chronicles, Russell and Hawn reprise their roles as Mr. and Mrs. Claus as the North Pole is threatened by a mysterious new troublemaker.

Watch The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two on Netflix

The Knight Before Christmas

Hudgens really is the queen of Netflix Christmas movies. In this film, her character falls for a handsome knight from the 1300s (Josh Whitehouse) who is magically transported to the present day.

Watch The Knight Before Christmas on Netflix

Let It Snow

Based on the 2008 young adult novel of the same name, the film follows a group of teens navigating love, life and friendship on Christmas Eve.

Watch Let It Snow on Netflix

A Christmas Prince

If you’re looking for a fairy tale-themed Christmas movie, look no further than Netflix’s A Christmas Prince franchise, which is every bit as regal as it is cheesy. It follows Amber (Rose McIver), an aspiring American magazine journalist, who falls for Prince Richard of Aldovia (Ben Lamb).

Watch A Christmas Prince on Netflix

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

After Amber and Prince Richard fall in love, the couple prepares to tie the knot around Christmastime, but their relationship quickly grows strained as Amber struggles to adjust to royal life.

Watch A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding on Netflix

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby

In the third and final film in the A Christmas Prince franchise, the royal couple prepares to welcome a baby of their own. However, when a priceless royal artifact is stolen, they must solve the mystery to save their kingdom.

Watch A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby on Netflix

Single All the Way

As a young man (Michael Urie) goes home for the holidays, he convinces his best friend (Philemon Chambers) to pose as his boyfriend to avoid any judgment from his family for his recently ended relationship. Hijinks ensue.

Watch Single All the Way on Netflix

Christmas Inheritance

A city girl heiress (Eliza Taylor) is sent to a small town in New England as a test to see if she’s ready to take over her father’s company.

Watch Christmas Inheritance on Netflix

A Boy Called Christmas

The 2021 film serves as a Santa Claus origin story, featuring a star-studded cast including Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig, Sally Hawkins and more.

Watch A Boy Called Christmas on Netflix

Operation Christmas Drop

Loosely based on the real-life U.S. Air Force Operation Christmas Drop humanitarian mission, the film follows a young congressional assistant (Graham) tasked with investigating the U.S. Air Force, who ends up butting heads with one of the captains (Alexander Ludwig).

Watch Operation Christmas Drop on Netflix

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square

Featuring original songs written by Parton, this 2020 Christmas musical follows a wealthy woman (Christine Baranski) who returns to her hometown to evict the residents over Christmas. (Don’t worry: Lessons will be learned.)

Watch Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square on Netflix

Holiday Rush

After a popular DJ (Romany Malco) is let go from his job, he and his children are forced to leave their life of luxury behind to move in with his aunt (Darlene Love) while he and his producer Roxy (Sonequa Martin-Green) try to start up a new radio station — and, of course, fall in love.

Watch Holiday Rush on Netflix

The Claus Family

Once his grandfather, Santa Claus (Jan Decleir), falls ill, his holiday-hating grandson Jules (Mo Bakker) must take the reins as Father Christmas in this Dutch film.

Watch The Claus Family on Netflix

The Claus Family 2

In the sequel to The Claus Family, Jules is finally getting the hang of the holiday season — that is, until he receives a letter from a young girl with a special Christmas wish.

Watch The Claus Family 2 on Netflix

The Claus Family 3

As Jules’ family goes on a vacation in the franchise’s third outing, he and his grandfather must covertly handle the holidays, which go smoothly until Jules’ little sister, Noor (Amber Metdepenningen), discovers what they’re up to.

Watch The Clause Family 3 on Netflix

A Castle for Christmas

In an effort to escape a scandal from her last book, an author (Brooke Shields) travels to Scotland, where she falls in love with a beautiful castle — while also facing off against the duke who owns it (Cary Elwes).

Watch A Castle for Christmas on Netflix

Father Christmas Is Back

A group of sisters is shocked when their long-lost father (Kelsey Grammer) shows up at their family manor for the holidays.

Watch Father Christmas Is Back on Netflix

Christmas with You

Freddie Prinze Jr. returns to his rom-com roots in this holiday film about a single father and music teacher who crosses paths with a famous pop star (Aimee Garcia).

Watch Christmas with You on Netflix

The Noel Diary

Based on Richard Paul Evans’ 2017 book of the same name, this holiday movie centers on best-selling author Jacob (Justin Hartley), who teams up with a young woman named Rachel (Barrett Doss) after he discovers a diary that holds secrets to both of their pasts.

Watch The Noel Diary on Netflix

Champagne Problems

Sydney (Minka Kelly), an up-and-coming executive, travels to Paris to acquire a renowned champagne brand before the Christmas deadline, only to find herself swooning for a handsome Frenchman named Henri (Tom Wozniczka) — who, of course, happens to be the heir to the aforementioned bubbly fortune.

Watch Champagne Problems on Netflix

Jingle Bell Heist

Two budding thieves — Sophia (Olivia Holt) and Nick (Connor Swindells) — team up to rob a big London department store on Christmas Eve. As their feelings toward each other grow, it jeopardizes their holiday heist.

Watch Jingle Bell Heist on Netflix

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

Recent divorcée Kate (Alicia Silverstone) wants to spend one more Christmas together as a family. However, things take a turn when her ex-husband Everett (Oliver Hudson) unexpectedly brings his new, younger girlfriend, Tess (Jameela Jamil), around for the holidays.

Watch A Merry Little Ex-Mas on Netflix

A Very Merry Beauty Salon

When paired as dance partners at a high-profile charity event, romance blossoms between salon owner Sienna (Tia Mowry) and Lawrence (RonReaco Lee), who runs a family wine brand.

Watch A Very Merry Beauty Salon on Netflix