9 Christmas Films On Netflix To Watch This Year
Looking for something to put on while waiting for the turkey to be done? Already done your annual watches of Love Actually and Home Alone? We’ve put together a list of a few modern Christmas films you might have missed, all of which are available on Netflix:
The Christmas Chronicles
Kurt Russell is a natural fit for Santa Claus, and The Christmas Chronicles sees the Guardians of the Galaxy star step into the role of St Nick in fun, festive fashion. It has the standard ingredients you’d expect from a cheerful Xmas story: two mischievous siblings (Kate and Teddy) decide they want to try and meet Santa in person, and so sneak up on him on Christmas Eve. This has the unintended effect of causing his all-important sleigh to crash and the presents in it to be lost. The kids and Santa team up to find his presents and possessions, and make sure they’re correctly delivered to everyone on time.
Jingle Bell Heist
Recently released on Netflix, Jingle Bell Heist follows two strangers who decide to rob the (fictional) London department store Stirlings. Sophie (Olivia Holt) is strapped for cash and trying to care for her sick mother, and she’s caught stealing by Nick (Connor Swindells), the contractor who installed the security system at Stirlings. With the threat of Nick handing the recording of her theft to the police, Sophie agrees to accompany him in a scheme to steal a large sum of cash from the owner of the store, Maxwell Sterling (Peter Serafinowicz), whom Nick holds a grudge against. Motherland star Lucy Powell also plays Maxwell’s wife, Cynthia.
Click & Collect
Stephen Merchant stars in this surprisingly warm and affecting Christmas film that can definitely be described as “underrated.” The Office and Extras creator plays an upright father, Andrew, who lives in Bedford with his family. On a last-minute attempt at Christmas shopping, he fails to get the gift that his daughter is most desperate for, and is about to give up when his next-door neighbour, Dev (People Just Do Nothing’s Asim Chaundry), tells him he’s managed to find one of the toys. The only problem is, it’s located in Carlisle, some 300 miles away, and since Dev reserved it, Andrew must bring him along to collect it. Andrew is keen to redeem himself as a dad, but he’s reluctant to be in the company of his much more extroverted neighbour.
The Holdovers
When a film is instantly dubbed “a future Christmas classic” at the time of release, it’s likely to be a good one, and The Holdovers certainly is a great Christmas film- and more. Set in the 1970s, it stars Paul Giamatti as a grumpy school teacher at a prep school, whose idea of fun is more about reading books on Ancient Rome than a Christmas party. Over the Christmas break, he ends up having to supervise one of his students, Angus (Dominic Sessa), who’s unable to go home, and the two clash over Angus’s more rebellious instincts. They’re joined by Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph in an Oscar-winning performance), a bereaved mother. The Holdovers is often melancholy and emotional (yet sweet), so it’s one to watch with tissues, and if you want a bit of drama with your Christmas stories, but it’s definitely worth a watch.
Klaus
Klaus is an animated family film that rises above the rest and can be enjoyed by all ages. It works as something of an origin story for Father Christmas, set in the 19th century, and centres on a young postman (played by Jason Schwartzman), who meets and befriends a reclusive toymaker, Klaus (played by JK Simmons). The postman, Jesper, is generally lazy and self-centred, but he begins to find himself becoming kinder and more generous as he gets to know Klaus. The two also have to deal with the feuding families that live in the town of Smeerensburg (where Jasper has been sent to set up a post office), but they will eventually begin Christmas traditions that will last for years to come.
Christmas With You
Freddie Prinze Jr stars opposite Aimee Garcia in this Christmas romcom, following pop star Angelina, who is trying to keep up with an ever-ruthless industry and needs a Christmas hit single. Upon discovering a young fan, Christina, who posts covers of songs, including some of Angelina’s, she decides to fulfil her wish to meet her. When she arrives at Christina’s home, Angelina is introduced to her father, Miguel (Prinze Jr), who’s a music teacher and is also single. Soon enough, the two seem to have a spark between them, and Angelina begins to rediscover her passion and inspiration for music.
Carry-On
One that falls into the Die Hard category of Christmas films, Carry-On stars Taron Egerton as a young TSA officer who works to ensure nothing nefarious is skipped past airport security. On Christmas Eve, while on duty, Ethan (Egerton) is given an earbud and is told through it that his pregnant girlfriend Nora is being held hostage and will be killed if he does not comply with the voice’s instructions. The voice (played by Jason Bateman) tells him to let a weapon through security, endangering the lives of those on board the flight. Facing the possible death of the one he loves and hundreds in the air, Ethan has no choice but to act quickly and stop the plot.
Champagne Problems
Champagne Problems is a romantic-comedy about ambition in the face of modern love, set against a backdrop of festivities and luxurious vineyards. There’s a serious mix of business and pleasure here, and all the classic rom-com tropes that you would expect. Kelly, a driven American exec played by Minka Kelly, heads to Paris, determined to defy the odds and acquire a world-renowned champagne brand, Chateau Cassell. She meets charming Parisian, Henri Cassell (Tom Wozniczka) in a bookstore, but it turns out to be part of the family that owns the vineyard she’s trying to acquire. If you’re looking for a Christmas film that you can watch while planning a winter getaway to Paris, then Champagne Problems is for you.
The Merry Gentlemen
The Merry Gentlemen is an American Christmas romantic comedy directed by Peter Sullivan in which Broadway dancer Ashley Davis returns to her small hometown after losing her big‑city gig and discovers her parents’ beloved performance venue is struggling financially; determined to help, she organizes an all‑male, Christmas‑themed revue called The Merry Gentlemen to save the venue, reignite community spirit, and along the way finds unexpected romance with local carpenter Luke, (played by none other than Chad Michael Murray).
