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Christmas movies are as essential to the festive period as the food, the decorations and the family squabbles over the Monopoly board.
Everyone has their favourite classic that demands a rewatch each year, but there’s always time to discover some new offerings from Hollywood and beyond.
And 2024’s line-up has something for everyone, with cute ’toons for the kids, R-rated Christmas comedies for the adults, and romcoms cheesier than a Boxing Day Stilton.
If you’re looking for a new Christmas contender, you’re in luck. Our rundown takes in the best festive films that are either available to stream now or will be landing soon soon. And there’s some real festive froth to tuck into.
Best new Christmas movies available now
Dear Santa
Here’s one just for the grown-ups. Jack Black stars as the devil in a Paramount+ comedy that sees a young dyslexic kid send his Christmas wish list to Satan instead of Santa. Satan leaves hell behind to grant the kid three wishes, leading him astray via wild parties and trips to the casino. Cue plenty of raucous festive chaos from the irreverent mind of Dumb & Dumber and There’s Something About Mary’s Bobby Farrelly.
Streaming on Paramount+ now
An Almost Christmas Story
The most family-friendly option on the list, An Almost Christmas Story features brightly rendered animation and clocks in at a spritely 25 minutes, which means you can tee it up to keep the little ones busy while someone is carving that large bird.
It tells the story of Moon, a young owl who accidentally ends up on the mean streets of New York City, where he befriends a local human girl. It’s the handiwork of talented filmmaker David Lowery, the man behind Disney’s Pete’s Dragon remake (and The Green Knight), so definitely worth a watch.
Streaming on Disney+ now
Hot Frosty
A struggling young widow accidentally brings a snowman to life, and as the pair get to know each other, it’s the hunky snowman that thaws her heart and the pair fall in love. Get the tissues ready for this one.
Lacey Chabert (Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls) heads up the cast. It’s already a hit on Netflix – watch the trailer below to find out why. And look out for a Lindsay Lohan cameo in a brilliantly meta Mean Girls nod.
Streaming on Netflix now
Our Little Secret
Speaking of Lindsay Lohan, the actress returns in the latest of her string of Netflix originals. See also (or don’t) Irish Wish.
Our Little Secret follows two resentful exes forced to spend an uncomfortable Christmas under the same roof, after discovering that their current partners are siblings. Broadway legend Kristin Chenoweth puts in a hilarious turn as the tyrannical mother-in-law from hell.
Streaming on Netflix now
The Merry Gentlemen
Magic Mike meets Santa in this festive offering, as a woman stages an all-male dance show to save her family’s failing restaurant. Noughties heart throb Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) is the barman who turns out to be the gift that all the women in the town want to find inside their stockings this Christmas.
Streaming on Netflix now
Best new Christmas movies coming soon
Red One
When Santa Claus (JK Simmons) is kidnapped by a mysterious villain, his security guard (The Rock) must team up with notorious hacker (Chris Evans) to track down the big man in red and save Christmas.
Yes, it was panned by critics and has misfired at the box office but Christmas is a time for second chances. Plus, how bad can a movie that pairs up Captain America and Luke Hobbs really be?
In cinemas now
Nutcrackers
Ben Stiller gets more than he bargained for in this chaotic comedy that packs an emotional punch. The Dodgeball star plays businessman Mike, who has to leave the city and his bachelor life behind when his four nephews become orphans following a tragic incident.
Mike is pushed to his limit by the four unruly-but-sweet kids as he tries to give them a typical Christmas, while battling life on their rural farm home.
Streaming on Disney+ Nov 29
Jack in Time for Christmas
Part comedy, part travel documentary, Jack in Time for Christmas is a festive adventure that follows comedian Jack Whitehall as he tries to make it home in time for Christmas.
Trapped in the US three days before the big day, the journey involves planes, trains, huskies, and bobsleigh, along with a ton of celeb guests along the way. Aboard the caper are Christmas legend Michael Bublé, as well as Rebel Wilson, Daisy May Cooper and Dave Bautista.
Streaming on Prime Video Dec 3
That Christmas
That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake – not to mention an enormous number of turkeys on the loose.
This animated flick based on a trilogy of Richard Curtis children’s books takes place in a rural British town that’s thrown into festive chaos. It features the vocal chords of Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Bill Nighy. As a bonus Christmas gift, Ed Sheeran chips in with a new song.
Streaming on Netflix from Dec 4
Carry On
Taron Egerton swaps Rocketman for a commercial airliner in this aerial thriller from Netflix. The Brit leads the cast in an action flick that offers a wildcard alternative to standard Christmas fare: much like Die Hard 2 before it, its high-stakes thrills take place on Christmas Eve.
Egerton plays a young airport security officer who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveller (Jason Bateman) and forced to follow strict instructions, delivered via an in-ear device, or face deadly consequences.
Streaming on Netflix from Dec 13
The 50 best Christmas movies of all time.
The best movies on Netflix right now.
