I’m trying to plan a cozy holiday movie night and want to discover the best new Christmas movies that have come out recently. I’m overwhelmed by all the streaming options and mixed reviews, and I don’t want to waste time on boring picks. Could you recommend some must-watch new Christmas films and share where to stream them?
While the old-school holiday movies are basically comfort food at this point, I’ve been in the mood for stuff I haven’t already seen 20 times in the background while wrapping gifts. So I went down a bit of a rabbit hole with newer Christmas releases and pulled together a small batch that actually seem worth queuing up.
Not going full “definitive guide” here, just sharing what’s on my own watch list and why.
1. Red One (2024)
Think of it like someone looked at Die Hard, then at the current Marvel era, and said, “Okay, what if Santa gets the blockbuster treatment?”
You get Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans teaming up for a full-on rescue mission after Santa (J.K. Simmons, which is already perfect casting) gets kidnapped. It’s loud, over the top, and clearly designed to be watched with snacks and zero expectations of realism. If you’re burned out on cozy rom-coms but still want something Christmassy, this pretty much scratches that itch.
This is the one I’d put on when people are half-paying attention, yelling at the screen, and talking over the dialogue anyway.
2. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
Total tonal shift here.
This is based on that kids’ book a lot of us had read to us in school. It follows a bunch of notoriously chaotic siblings who crash a small-town Christmas pageant and accidentally turn the whole thing upside down.
From what I’ve seen, it leans hard into the “feral children cause havoc but teach everyone a lesson” vibe. Messy kids, skeptical adults, and a surprisingly sincere heart buried under all the chaos. Feels like a good pick if you’ve got family around and need something that works for kids without making adults want to hide in the kitchen.
3. Our Little Secret (2024)
This is the “yes it’s a rom-com, yes it’s messy, no I’m not apologizing” slot.
Lindsay Lohan has been slowly carving out this unexpected second act as Holiday Movie Person, and this one has a pretty fun setup: two exes who still kind of hate each other find out, very awkwardly, that their new significant others are siblings. Next thing you know, everyone’s stuck spending Christmas together.
So you get that classic mix of:
- Old resentment
- Forced proximity
- Family drama
- Peaks of secondhand embarrassment
If you like your Christmas movies full of petty energy wrapped in twinkly lights and fake snow, this is probably the one.
4. That Christmas (2024)
If you’re the type who still quotes Love Actually around this time of year, this one is probably up your alley.
It’s an animated movie written by Richard Curtis, and it pulls together a bunch of interlocking stories about different families, friends, and a Santa who blows it in a pretty big way. Classic “multiple threads that connect” structure, but dressed up in animation so it feels more like a storybook than an ensemble rom-com.
Expect:
- Nice emotional gut punches
- Gentle humor instead of constant punchlines
- That very specific British holiday melancholy that somehow still ends up cozy
Basically, if you want at least one Christmas movie that feels like it actually tried to say something about people, this is a good candidate.
5. The Holdovers (2023)
This one barely qualifies as a “holiday movie” in the traditional sense, which is exactly why a lot of people end up loving it.
The setup: lonely Christmas break, 1970, snowed-in boarding school. You’ve got:
- A bitter, old-school teacher
- A student who’s stuck there for reasons that aren’t exactly happy
- A cook dealing with her own grief
Instead of the usual lighting-and-mistletoe overload, it goes slower, more character-focused, more “this is what the holidays feel like when life isn’t going great.” It still lands on something warm, but you have to walk through a lot of emotional slush to get there.
Perfect for when you don’t want wall-to-wall cheer but you also don’t want to spiral watching something bleak.
6. Hot Frosty (2024)
Look, sometimes you just want a sugar rush.
This is absolutely that. It’s the “cheesy Netflix Christmas movie with a wild premise that everyone pretends they’re above but then watches anyway.” Lacey Chabert plays a woman who ends up falling for a snowman who magically becomes a real guy.
It’s knowingly ridiculous. The whole point is to lean into the trope: small-town vibes, magic logic that stops making sense if you think for more than two seconds, and romantic beats you can see coming from the opening credits. Zero subtlety, maximum comfort.
Save this one for when your brain officially clocks out for the year.
One Practical Thing Nobody Talks About Until It Breaks
All of this sounds great until you actually try to watch half of it, and some file refuses to open, or the stream is in a weird format, or your player throws an error right when everyone’s finally sat down on the couch.
On my Mac, I eventually gave up on juggling different apps and landed on using a single player that just does what it’s supposed to:
Elmedia Player
Not trying to sell it to anybody, just explaining why I keep it installed:
- It opens basically anything I’ve thrown at it: MKV, AVI, random stuff I get from friends, files from streaming recorders, etc.
- It sends video straight to my Apple TV or Chromecast without making me convert it first.
- Subtitles usually just work instead of turning into a separate tech project.
Once you’ve had one Christmas movie night derailed by “Why won’t this file play?” you start to appreciate boring, reliable tools more than fancy interfaces.
Anyway, that’s my current short list of newer holiday stuff that seems actually watchable instead of pure algorithm fodder.
Out of these, which one are you hitting play on first?
23 Likes
Cozy Christmas movie night is like 50 percent vibes, 50 percent “why is nothing actually good.” @mikeappsreviewer pulled some solid newer picks, but I’d mix the list up a bit depending on what kind of night you’re going for.
Here’s a quick breakdown of recent-ish Christmas stuff that’s actually worth queuing, without turning your brain into eggnog:
If you want big fun, snacks, and people talking over the movie
-
Red One (2024)
Totally agree with mike here: loud, ridiculous, perfect for background chaos. Think “Christmas MCU cousin.” Not a masterpiece, but no one will be bored. -
Spirited (2022) – Apple TV+
Modern musical riff on A Christmas Carol with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell. Jokes hit often enough, the songs are better than they have any right to be, and it’s great for a crowd that doesn’t want to sit silently and analyze plot holes.
If you want cozy and actually kind of good
-
The Holdovers (2023)
I’d actually bump this higher than mike did in the “holiday canon” ranking. It’s not tinsel-in-your-face Christmas, but it nails that weird mix of loneliness and warmth around the holidays. Great choice if your group can handle slower, character-y stuff. -
That Christmas (2024)
This is your “hot chocolate, lights off, blanket” pick. Mike covered it, but I’ll add: it’s the one I’d pick if you have mixed ages and don’t want brainless fluff or full-on chaos. -
Klaus (2019) – Netflix
Not brand-new, but still “new era” compared to the classics. Hand-drawn style, legit emotional, funny without being annoying. Honestly one of the best Christmas movies made in the last decade.
If you want rom-com nonsense (no judgement…sort of)
-
Our Little Secret (2024)
Setup is fun, but I’ll be a tiny bit contrary: it lives or dies on how much tolerance you have for secondhand embarrassment and contrived drama. Great if you want to yell “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER” at the screen. -
Hot Frosty (2024)
This is the one you put on when everyone’s tired and no one wants to commit to anything serious. It’s dumb in a winking way. If the idea of “woman falls for ex-snowman” makes you roll your eyes, save it for late in the night when standards are low and snacks are high. -
Love Hard (2021) – Netflix
Catfishing Christmas rom-com. Better than the premise sounds, and it moves fast. Good middle-ground if half your group hates rom-coms but will tolerate one.
If you’ve got kids around but don’t want your own brain to melt
-
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
Mike summed this up well: feral children, chaos, heart. I’d use this early in the evening when everyone’s still paying attention. -
8-Bit Christmas (2021) – Max
Neil Patrick Harris telling a nostalgic story about trying to get a NES for Christmas. Kids get the chaos, adults get the “oh wow I’m old” feels.
How to not waste the whole night doomscrolling for something
Two things that help a ton:
-
Pick one “main event” movie and one dumb backup.
Example:- Main: The Holdovers or That Christmas
- Backup: Red One or Hot Frosty
That way if the room vibes are off, you pivot fast instead of debating for 40 minutes.
-
Have your files & apps sorted before people show up.
The fastest way to kill the mood is the “why won’t this file play / why is the sound in Spanish” drama.
If you’re using local files at all, Elmedia Player on Mac is stupidly useful. It plays basically every weird format, handles subs, and streams to TV with way less headache than some of the default apps. I only mention it because I learned the hard way what it’s like when your “big holiday movie” is stuck as an MKV your TV hates.
If you want to keep it really simple for a single cozy night and avoid choice paralysis, I’d build a mini lineup like this:
- Start (everyone arriving / chatting): Red One in the background.
- Main cozy watch: That Christmas or The Holdovers.
- Late-night junk food slot: Hot Frosty or Our Little Secret.
That combo gives you one actually good movie, one loud dumb one, and one romantic trainwreck option without scrolling for an hour.
If you’re overwhelmed, same. The trick for me was to stop hunting for “the best Christmas movie” and instead match movies to moods. I like a few that @mikeappsreviewer and @sterrenkijker mentioned, but I’d shuffle the lineup a bit.
Here’s how I’d build a cozy night without doomscrolling for an hour:
1. Pick your “main cozy” movie first
If you only choose ONE to really pay attention to, I’d pick:
-
That Christmas (2024)
Great if you want something that actually has feelings but still feels warm and safe. Animated, interconnected stories, kind of like a softer, storybook version of Love Actually. This would be my central “everyone shut up and watch” movie. -
The Holdovers (2023)
I’ll disagree slightly with how lightly it got treated above. This is easily good enough to be a yearly rewatch. Not super Christmassy in a jingling-bells way, but it nails that weird mix of sadness / connection that December brings. Put this on if your group likes slower, character-driven stuff.
Choose one of those as your anchor and build everything around it.
2. Add one “chaotic fun” pick
Something you can talk over, check your phone, refill snacks, whatever:
- Red One (2024)
Totally agree with both of them here. It’s not great cinema, but it’s fun enough, loudly Christmassy, and Dwayne Johnson + Chris Evans will keep the room awake. Perfect while people are still arriving or you’re eating.
If you want an alternate:
- Spirited (2022, Apple TV+)
Musical, snarky, and surprisingly decent. Good for a crowd that likes quips and big musical numbers.
3. Add one “shameless rom-com” slot
You don’t have to pretend you’re above this stuff:
-
Our Little Secret (2024)
Messy exes + new partners + all forced into Christmas together. I agree with @sterrenkijker: it lives or dies on how much secondhand embarrassment you can take. I’d save it for later in the night when everyone’s a bit loopy and ready to yell at the screen. -
Hot Frosty (2024)
This one is so ridiculous it loops back around to being kind of perfect. Woman falls for former snowman. If that sentence makes you laugh or groan, you already know if it belongs in your line up. Good “we’re tired and just want background nonsense” slot.
If you want something slightly better written:
- Love Hard (2021) on Netflix is still one of the more watchable modern holiday rom-coms.
4. If kids are involved (or adults with low tolerance)
I would definitely include:
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)
This is your safe, kid-friendly chaos pick. It has that “wild children with a heart of gold” energy. Adults won’t want to claw their eyes out and kids will actually pay attention.
Backup option:
- Klaus (2019, Netflix)
Not brand-new, but newer era. Honestly, it’s better than most recent stuff and works for all ages.
5. Simple structure that actually works
To avoid wasting time scrolling, set your plan now:
-
Everyone arriving / chatting
Put on Red One in the background. -
Main cozy focus movie
Choose That Christmas if you want warm & gentle, or The Holdovers if you want something a bit deeper. -
Late-night silly slot
Hot Frosty or Our Little Secret once the serious energy is gone and snacks are taking over.
If kids are around, swap in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for the main or early slot.
6. Tiny tech thing that actually matters
One place I’ll fully agree with @mikeappsreviewer: nothing kills the vibe faster than “why won’t this file play,” especially if you’ve got some downloads or mixed-format stuff.
If you’re on a Mac and planning to use local files at all, grab Elmedia Player ahead of time. It’s boring in the best way: opens pretty much any file type, handles subtitles without a fight, and streams to TV via AirPlay or Chromecast without needing to convert anything. It’s one of those tools you forget about until the night something refuses to play and then you’re suddenly grateful it exists.
TL;DR:
- Choose 1 serious cozy movie (That Christmas or The Holdovers).
- Add 1 chaotic fun movie (Red One).
- Add 1 dumb-but-fun rom-com (Hot Frosty or Our Little Secret).
- Test your setup with something like Elmedia Player before people show up.
That combo hits pretty much every holiday vibe without wasting your whole night deciding.
Skip chasing “the best” and build a rotation you can actually live with over a couple of nights. I’d zig a bit from what @sterrenkijker, @vrijheidsvogel and @mikeappsreviewer suggested and sort newer Christmas movies into energy levels instead of genres:
Low‑effort, high‑fun crowd picks
- Red One (2024) is great noise, but I’d actually pair it with Violent Night (2022) if your group likes darker humor. Red One first while people arrive, Violent Night when everyone’s awake and snack‑drunk.
- If you want something less loud, Spirited (2022) works better than people admit, especially if your group is into musicals.
Heartfelt but not syrupy
- Totally agree that The Holdovers (2023) is a yearly‑rewatch candidate. I’d put this in the middle of the night, not at the end, so you are still awake enough to pay attention.
- Instead of stacking it with That Christmas only, consider Klaus (2019) as a companion. New‑ish, gorgeous, and more emotionally satisfying than half the “prestige” holiday releases.
Rom‑com / cozy chaos
- I’m a bit colder on Hot Frosty (2024) than others. It is fun, but it works best as “we’re talking over this anyway.” If you want something equally silly but with slightly better writing, pair Our Little Secret (2024) with Love Hard (2021) and let people vote in the room. Winner goes on, loser becomes backup if everyone stays late.
Kid‑compatible that adults survive
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) is fine, but I would alternate it with That Christmas (2024) across different nights instead of watching both back‑to‑back. Same “wholesome chaos” wavelength. Watching them together can feel repetitive.
Practical setup tip that no one has really broken down yet
Everyone mentioned playback issues, but not how to choose a player. Since you asked about not wasting time, this is where you actually save your sanity.
On Mac, Elmedia Player is a solid default for mixed‑format holiday nights:
Pros
- Plays a ridiculous number of file types without complaining
- Built‑in AirPlay / Chromecast so you do not have to convert things first
- Subtitle handling is smoother than most free players
- You can keep just one player instead of a folder of random apps
Cons
- Some of the nicer features sit behind the paid version
- Interface is functional rather than pretty
- Strictly local / network playback, not a streaming service replacement
Compared with what others hinted at, I’d still keep a free alternative installed:
- VLC as the “break glass in case something truly weird shows up” option
- IINA if you want something more modern‑looking on macOS
Plan the order like this and you will dodge the scroll‑of-doom:
- People arriving: Red One or Spirited
- Main focus: The Holdovers or Klaus
- Late cozy chaos: Our Little Secret or Hot Frosty
- Family night variant: swap in That Christmas or The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Test one movie file in Elmedia Player the day before. If it plays, subtitles show, and casting to TV works, you are done. No last‑minute tech panic, more blanket‑and‑cocoa time.