24 Christmas Movies To Stream On Netflix In 2023

There's something about Christmas films that just makes you want to binge-watch. If you're one of those people particularly inclined to celebrate the season from your couch, it's important to have a good game plan to maximize your holiday viewing options — even if Christmas is still months away and you just want to be reminded of that yuletide feeling. That's where streaming services come in, particularly the ubiquitous behemoth that is Netflix and its massive library of films. 

Even in the summer months, when Christmas feels far away amid all the heat, the streaming giant still packs its fair share of holiday films into the lineup, and the closer you get to December, the more frequently they start popping up. So Netflix is always a Christmas viewing option, but where to begin? Right here, with this list of Christmas films currently available on the service. Ranging from funny to festive, these holiday favorites are just waiting for you to watch at your leisure — and whenever you get started, it'll be the most wonderful time of the year.

Some viewers may dismiss "A Christmas Prince" as another generic royal romantic comedy that the filmmakers just slapped some Christmas decorations on. Others may shrug it off as a completely unrealistic movie, and not just because it takes place in the fictional European nation of Aldovia. If you actually sit down and watch it, though, you'll find charm, heart, and a film that wrings every little bit of joy out of what it's given to work with. Rose McIver ("iZombie") stars as a young reporter eager to catch the eye of her boss by infiltrating the Aldovian monarchy and learning what's keeping the mysterious prince (Ben Lamb) from claiming his rightful place on the throne. 

Posing as a tutor to the Prince's young sister (Honor Kneafsey), she quickly finds there's more to him than just tabloid fodder, and they develop a bond. Of course, because we're dealing with royalty here, greedy forces are at work to stop the prince's coronation, which just happens to be scheduled for Christmas Eve. It's not the most lavish production you'll ever see, but there's a reason "A Christmas Prince" quickly earned a sequel, "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding," which made its Netflix arrival on Nov. 30, 2018, and a third film, "A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby," the following year.

If you're after an enduring holiday classic full of musical numbers, gorgeous Technicolor imagery, and the exquisite comic timing of Danny Kaye, then "White Christmas" is for you. Like many holiday films of its time, it doesn't entirely revolve around Christmas, but rather builds to it by telling the story of four entertainers who find themselves at an inn in Vermont only to find that December hasn't brought any snow with it yet. Like the characters, the audience waits virtually the entire film for anything wintry or Christmasy to show up, but when it finally does, it proves to be absolutely worth it. 

In addition to Kaye's comedic mastery, the film also features Bing Crosby in one of his most famous roles, Rosemary Clooney showing both her acting and singing chops, Vera-Ellen's incredible dancing, and some of the most memorable musical numbers you'll ever see. This film has lived on in the hearts of Christmas movie fans for more than 60 years, and a single viewing is all it takes to understand why.

Netflix isn't just excelling in the fairy tale princess Christmas rom-com department. They've also branched out into more humble, even somewhat quirky, offerings aimed at everyone who enjoys cozy, low-stakes Christmas fare. Enter "The Holiday Calendar," the story of a small-town photographer named Abby (Kat Graham) stuck in a rut both personally and professionally. Her life seems to be going nowhere, until her grandfather (the great Ron Cephas Jones) gives her an antique advent calendar that once belonged to her late grandmother. 

The calendar will only open its doors on its own, magically, at midnight each night in December, revealing a unique charmed item that will prove to have some meaning in her life the following day. Through the calendar's magic, Abby thinks she has found love, then realizes there are bigger lessons to be learned from this strange little family artifact. "The Holiday Calendar" is, like so many Christmas romantic comedies, ultimately predictable, but its charm is such that you won't really care if you see the ending coming.

Sometimes the most casually enjoyable Christmas movies arrive when you take a tried and true romantic comedy formula and just sprinkle a little holly and mistletoe through it all, and that's the case with "Christmas Wedding Planner." The film follows wedding planner Kelsey (Jocelyn Hudon) as she attempts to plan and execute the perfect holiday wedding. Her biggest problem isn't the venue, or the bride, but a private investigator (Stephen Huszar) who's threatening to expose the truth about the couple at the heart of the ceremony and wreck the whole wedding. 

In an effort to keep the P.I. happy while still delivering the dream wedding she was hired for, Kelsey agrees to join his case and help him get to the bottom of it. Of course, if you know romantic comedies at all, you can probably guess what happens next. It's exactly the kind of light, crowd-pleasing holiday fare you want after a long day of shopping, or to have on while you're wrapping gifts. 

While "The Christmas Chronicles" wasn't exactly a huge hit with critics, its enormous success with viewers seemingly accelerated Netflix's original Christmas programming, making it almost certain that a sequel would be made. Thus, just two years after the original movie's release, fans were treated to "The Christmas Chronicles 2." What's more, Netflix managed to convince Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, and most of the cast from the first film to come along for the ride.

In the sequel, Santa Claus and his wife again team up with Kate (Darby Camp) — this time without her younger brother — to save Christmas. Here, though, it is the villainous Christmas elf Belsnickel (Julian Dennison) who poses a threat to the holiday season as he intends to destroy the Claus village where the rest of the elves live. Like its predecessor, "The Christmas Chronicles 2" was met with a mixed reception but proved popular with Netflix subscribers, even if it didn't quite manage to live up to the first film.

Those in the mood for a Christmas musical could do a lot worse than "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey." Helmed by David E. Talbert, the film sees Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, and Anika Noni Rose team up for an award-winning experience that is sure to make even the most Scrooge-like viewer smile. It isn't just one of the best Netflix Christmas films, it also stands out as one of the most enjoyable holiday films released on any streaming service in recent years.

In the film, the titular inventor ends up financially ruined when his apprentice steals his prized creation and sets up his own workshop. However, when his granddaughter is sent to live with him, Jangle soon finds his creative spark as the pair set about resurrecting his fortunes. Colorful, whimsical, and joyful, "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" is a perfect holiday film for the entire family. It has something for everyone and is full of songs that you won't be able to stop singing along.

Emma Roberts of "Unfabulous" and "We're the Millers" fame teams up with "Hacksaw Ridge" star Luke Bracey in the 2020 romantic comedy "Holidate." If you can get past the cheesy name, you'll find yourself following two singletons who have been desperately unlucky in their search for love. After a chance encounter at a department store, the pair decide to act as girlfriend and boyfriend in a platonic relationship to combat the disapproval they receive from their families around the holidays.

Shockingly, Sloane and Jackson start to develop genuine feelings for each other, although neither wants to admit it until the situation comes to a head, and they finally admit that they love each other. As lead actors, Roberts and Bracey share tremendous chemistry, making their relationship in the movie feel believable. With some adult jokes and a generally sweet sensibility, it's suitable to watch either with kids or as a date night treat.

Christmas films generally fall into two categories: They are either romantic comedies where two people fall in love against all the odds or feature a miserable figure without any Christmas spirit who is eventually redeemed à la "A Christmas Carol." "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" comfortably fits into this second category, with the film featuring Christine Baranski as a property owner who plans to sell off a local town to a developer, evicting all of the residents in the process.

Winning multiple awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie, "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" is also a musical filled with catchy songs and stylish dance numbers. The over-the-top choreography, colorful imagery, and uplifting message make it an ideal Christmas movie when you need cheering up or just want to have a good time. This isn't a movie that requires too much thinking on your part and doesn't demand 100% of your attention to understand the plot, but is self-aware enough for its jokes to pack some punch.

There's a reason that romantic comedies tend to dominate the Christmas season. They are an easy watch, often coming with the guarantee of a familiar happy ending, while also being able to trigger a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality about the good old days. It's a formula that works — just look at the Hallmark Channel and its output for evidence of that. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that "Single All the Way" takes a similar approach, even if it does throw in a few modern twists to keep things from feeling dated.

The film sees Michael Urie star as Peter, a down-on-his-luck singleton who convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pose as his boyfriend over Christmas to try and deflect attention about his dating life from his family. However, Peter's family seems to think that the pair are perfect for each other and do their best to get them to admit how much they care for each other. Sure, it comes jam-packed with all the tropes you'd expect from a Christmas romcom, but doesn't shy away from including elements of gay culture in its depiction of the lead couple.

Another Netflix exclusive, "Alien Xmas" is a 2020 stop-motion animation based on an earlier children's book by Stephen Chiodo and Jim Strain. The work of the Chiodo brothers, who are probably best known for providing stop-motion scenes for films such as "Elf," and filmmaker Jon Favreau, "Alien Xmas" follows a strange extraterrestrial sent to Earth to enact a plan for his race to steal all of humanity's belongings as part of their never-ending thievery quest across the galaxy.

After arriving on the planet, X (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) quickly sets about with his scheme to disable Earth's gravity to allow his fellow aliens to capture Christmas presents more easily. However, when he is mistaken for a toy by an elf and given to his young daughter, X has something of a change of heart, seeing the kindness and charitable nature of the elves. "Alien Xmas" ultimately avoids being too sentimental and tries to address consumerism surrounding the holidays in an honest way.

DreamWorks Animation's "Trolls" franchise has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with the second sequel "Trolls Band Together" reuniting the team once again in 2023. Like many other animated series, executives took advantage of the success of the franchise following the launch of the first movie in 2016 to create a 2017 Christmas-themed special. "Trolls Holiday" was the end result, a made-for-television movie that originally aired on NBC before making its way to Netflix.

Don't be fooled into thinking that "Trolls Holidays" is a low-effort attempt to cash in its popularity, though. The movie actually has a lot going for it, from its charming story where the Trolls try to teach the Bergens how to celebrate over the holidays to its star-studded cast that sees Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, and Zooey Deschanel reprise their roles. "Trolls Holiday" is an excellent choice for a family with young kids who want a quick distraction but don't want to commit to a feature-length movie.

Netflix has continued its tradition of releasing exclusive Christmas content every year well into the 2020s. With many new movies coming out in the last few years, "A Castle for Christmas" easily stands out as one of the better releases. Starring Brooke Shields and Cary Elwes, in many ways it is your standard romcom, with the two lead characters clashing due to differing personalities but eventually ending up falling for each other against all the odds.

The story follows author Sophie Brown who flees from her home in the U.S. following a backlash from fans after she killed off a popular character in her latest novel. She chooses to escape to Scotland, the ancestral home of her father, and soon meets Myles. He is the Duke of Dunbar and the owner of a beautiful castle that Sophie quickly falls in love with. Despite being a somewhat strange project for director Mary Lambert — who is best known for her work on horror films such as "Pet Sematary" and "The Attic" — it remains one of the better-received Netflix Christmas movies and is easy viewing for the holiday season.