What truly defines a Christmas movie? In recent years, the definition has expanded to include nearly any film featuring a decorated tree in the background, regardless of how loosely it connects to the holiday itself.
I consider myself more of a Christmas movie traditionalist. It goes beyond merely marking a date on the calendar; a true Christmas movie should evoke holiday cheer, warmth, and themes of togetherness that encompass families of all shapes and sizes.
A proper Christmas film exhibits a spirit of generosity that shines through even the most formulaic plots and performances, calling for a conscious lowering of expectations and an opening of hearts.
While the classics of the Christmas movie genre may be few and far between, with only a handful of masterpieces added to the collection in recent years, there remains a seemingly endless supply of red and green romances, quirky family comedies, and reimagined holiday stories to explore. Some of these films are certainly worth your time.
Are you tired of watching the same nostalgic favorites every holiday season? Now that Halloween has wrapped up, here are some new films to consider adding to your watchlist this holiday season, which seems to creep earlier and earlier on the calendar each year. But who among us doesn’t crave the warm embrace of Christmas movies with loved ones during difficult times like these?
The Holdovers (2023)
Dominic Sessa, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Paul Giamatti star in The Holdovers, which has the potential to become a new Christmas classic. This film centers around deep sadness, focusing on misfit characters during the chilly months of 1970.
It follows a student who is left behind at school during Christmas break, watched over by a curmudgeonly teacher who has no family to return to. Alongside them is the school’s cafeteria manager, a woman grieving the loss of her son to war.
So why is this film considered a new Christmas classic? For many people, this time of year can feel incredibly lonely. For those who are separated from loved ones, the holiday season can seem far away. The Holdovers doesn’t attempt to gloss over this loneliness with hollow sentiment; instead, it offers sincere empathy.
Within the film, there are moments of true kindness, illustrating how a little love and understanding can help those who feel isolated. It serves as a realistic remedy to genuine pains in the world, never offering cheap solutions, but instead calling for us to show a bit more care to those around us we might typically ignore. Merry Christmas indeed.
The Velveteen Rabbit (2023)
The Velveteen Rabbit is a delightful adaptation of the beloved children’s book. A young boy receives a stuffed rabbit, which he grows to love, leading the rabbit to believe he is real. When the boy contracts scarlet fever, the rabbit is at risk of being burned due to hygiene concerns. However, with a touch of magic, it may not be the last time the rabbit sees the boy he loves.
The Apple TV+ special manages to capture the essence of this touching story in just 44 minutes, using a blend of live-action and animation while keeping much of the power of the original tale.
A Biltmore Christmas (2023)
On Hallmark, Christmas is big business. This year, the channel will release 32 new Christmas films, most of which share a comforting but bland sameness, often featuring fantastical romances. The standout film among more than 100 released this decade is A Biltmore Christmas, a time-travel tale where a young screenwriter finds herself back on the set of a 1947 Christmas classic she is tasked with remaking.
In this journey, she must make things right while possibly discovering love along the way. It’s sentimental without becoming overly sweet, making it a charming addition to the holiday lineup.
Spirited (2022)
Spirited could have easily been a flop. After all, the only thing more saturated than Charles Dickens’s classic redemption story, A Christmas Carol, is Ryan Reynolds himself. His co-star, Will Ferrell, has also struggled to find his comedic footing since parting ways with creative partner Adam McKay.
While it may be a bit lengthy, Spirited has enough charm to make it a worthy holiday watch, with enough energy and humor to keep you engaged, stopping you from swapping it out for the Muppets version. The emotional conclusion carries the same weight as the best adaptations of Scrooge’s story.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy films are full of nostalgic throwbacks in terms of story, music, and character development. However, before wrapping up his trilogy and leaving the Marvel franchise, Gunn made a nostalgic move of his own by creating a holiday special reminiscent of the notorious Star Wars one-off from the 1970s.
This unique story features a band of misfit aliens attempting to recreate the holiday spirit for their human friend by kidnapping his favorite actor, Kevin Bacon, to offer him as a surprising gift. Full of the same charm that characterizes the franchise, this special is as absurd as it is heartwarming.
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
Though Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jingle All the Way was initially considered one of the biggest flops of his career when it released in 1996, it has since become a beloved cult classic for those who grew up with it (myself included). 8-Bit Christmas, set in the late 1980s, scratches a similar nostalgic itch.
In this story, a boy goes to great lengths to get his hands on the most sought-after game console of the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System. Yet, it’s not simply a tribute to consumerism; it ultimately focuses on his relationship with his father, which deepens as the tale unfolds.
An Unexpected Christmas (2021)
Alright, one more Hallmark original couldn’t hurt. An Unexpected Christmas follows the familiar formula of a young woman working in a creative field in the city who returns to her small hometown for the holidays.
She unexpectedly runs into her ex-boyfriend and finds herself needing to pretend they are still a couple for the sake of their parents. What sets this film apart is the strong chemistry between its leads, who never let the film feel routine or predictable.
A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
While this may not be the best Netflix original film to offer a fresh take on the Santa Claus myth (I’ve saved that one for a special mention later on), A Boy Called Christmas is an enjoyable and heartwarming reimagining.
The story follows a boy named Nicholas who travels north in search of his father, encountering the land of elves. With a star-studded British cast, including Jim Broadbent and the late Dame Maggie Smith, this film delivers the warmth and joy you hope for during the holiday season.
A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Although the world may have forgotten the eccentric and detailed anecdotes that humorist Jean Shepherd entertained millions with on American radio in the mid-20th century, A Christmas Story endures as a holiday favorite. Based on Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical book, the 1983 film is still one of the most relatable holiday classics, filled with keenly observed moments of small-town life.
A Christmas Story Christmas may not quite match the heights of the original, but it serves as a loving tribute, featuring many cast members from the first film and excerpts from Shepherd’s other works. It’s nostalgia for nostalgia, which perfectly encapsulates our current creative climate.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
The 2020 holiday special Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey on Netflix features some of the best Christmas songs of recent years. Perhaps if David E. Talbert’s musical fantasy had debuted on Broadway instead of Netflix, it might have made a bigger impact, but as it stands, Jingle Jangle deserves more recognition.
Produced by John Legend and featuring strong performances from Forest Whitaker, Hugh Bonneville, Phylicia Rashad, Keegan-Michael Key, and Ricky Martin, this film is a sweet holiday treat, full of catchy songs and vibrant costumes. It may be a bit overstuffed, but who hasn’t gone overboard during the holidays?
Honorable Mention: Klaus (2019)
Klaus narrowly missed the cutoff by just seven weeks, hitting Netflix on November 8, 2019, so it couldn’t be included in the top ten. However, it stands as one of the most captivating Christmas films of the century, featuring stunning animation and a story that is both heartfelt and delightfully unique. This reimagining of the Santa Claus origin story sets itself apart from the many holiday films that follow similar formulas.
This singular holiday movie radiates warmth and compassion. If you haven’t watched it yet, make sure to add it to your list this year; it might just become a new Christmas tradition for you.
