Christmas viewing on Netflix has quietly grown into one of the platform’s most reliable seasonal strengths. Every December, familiar favorites resurface alongside newer titles that continue to gain traction. What was once a small collection of light holiday films has become a diverse library that includes modern animated classics, family adventures, romantic comedies, and more inventive takes on Christmas storytelling.
This curated selection highlights the 10 best Christmas movies and series currently available on Netflix, chosen for their lasting popularity, strong performances, and broad appeal across different types of viewers. Some of these titles have become yearly traditions, while others stand out for offering a fresh perspective on familiar holiday themes, whether through humor, emotional depth, or unconventional formats. Below, you will find clear, easy-to-read descriptions for each title, along with main cast information, concise synopses and trailers making it simple to build your holiday watchlist and find the perfect Christmas pick for any mood.
Klaus
Klaus is the rare Netflix Christmas film that feels instantly timeless. It begins in a frozen town where cynicism has become routine, then slowly warms the story through small acts of generosity that start to ripple outward. The hand-crafted animation style gives the movie a classic texture, but the emotional pull is modern: it is about loneliness, community, and how kindness can become contagious.
Main actors: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
Synopsis: A selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely friendship, bringing joy to a town that has forgotten it.
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- Title: Klaus
- Format: Animated Film
- Runtime: 96 minutes
- Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy
- Country of production: Spain
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 15, 2019
- Director: Sergio Pablos
- Lead cast: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80183187
The Christmas Chronicles
The Christmas Chronicles works because it gives Santa a real personality, not a polite cardboard cutout. Kurt Russell plays him as fast-talking, confident, and mischievous, turning a familiar setup into a lively Christmas Eve sprint. It is built for group viewing, with enough spectacle for kids and enough comedic energy to keep adults engaged.
Main actors: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
Synopsis: After accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh, two siblings must help him save Christmas in one frantic night.
- Title: The Christmas Chronicles
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 104 minutes
- Genre: Family, Adventure, Comedy
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 22, 2018
- Director: Clay Kaytis
- Lead cast: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80199682
A Boy Called Christmas
A Boy Called Christmas leans into fairy-tale wonder, but it earns its emotion by grounding the magic in loss, hope, and determination. The film follows a child’s belief pushing forward through hardship, which gives it a gentler, more heartfelt tone than many holiday comedies. It is a strong choice when you want something family-friendly that still feels meaningful.
Main actors: Henry Lawfull, Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins
Synopsis: A young boy travels into the snowy north to find his father and discovers a world that will shape the legend of Christmas.
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- Title: A Boy Called Christmas
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Genre: Family, Fantasy
- Country of production: United Kingdom
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 24, 2021
- Director: Gil Kenan
- Lead cast: Henry Lawfull, Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81029733
DASH & LILY
DASH & LILY is a Christmas romance that understands the season’s real appeal: small gestures, city lights, and the thrill of unexpected connection. The story unfolds through a notebook passed around New York, turning the city into a scavenger hunt of dares and confessions. It is festive without being overly sentimental, and easy to binge in just a few sittings.
Main actors: Midori Francis, Austin Abrams, Dante Brown
Synopsis: Two teens trade dares and messages in a notebook, slowly falling for each other across a holiday New York City.
- Title: DASH & LILY
- Format: Series
- Episodes: 8
- Genre: Romance, Romantic Comedy
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 10, 2020
- Creator: Joe Tracz
- Lead cast: Midori Francis, Austin Abrams, Dante Brown
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81037871
Love Hard
Love Hard updates the Christmas rom-com for the dating-app era, then squeezes the characters into the one place you cannot fake anything: a family holiday. The film is funny about modern online personas, but it is also surprisingly sympathetic about loneliness and the desire to be seen as someone worth choosing. If you like holiday romance with sharp, contemporary awkwardness, this is a standout.
Main actors: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
Synopsis: An LA writer flies across the country to surprise her online crush, only to discover she has been catfished.
- Title: Love Hard
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 105 minutes
- Genre: Comedy, Romantic Comedy
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 5, 2021
- Director: Hernán Jiménez
- Lead cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81086631
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square is pure holiday theater in the best way: big musical numbers, bright emotions, and a story built around redemption. It uses Christmas as a turning point for a woman determined to reshape a town in her image, then challenges her with music, memory, and community pressure. If you want something festive that feels like an event, this is it.
Main actors: Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Treat Williams
Synopsis: A cold-hearted woman plans to sell her hometown’s land, but music, magic, and memories push back.
- Title: Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre: Musical, Holiday
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 22, 2020
- Director: Debbie Allen
- Lead cast: Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Treat Williams
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81128934
A Castle For Christmas
A Castle For Christmas is cozy escapism with snow, scenery, and a romance that plays like a slow-burning holiday comfort read. The story sends a bestselling author to Scotland to reset her life, but the real pleasure is the setting: stone walls, winter landscapes, and a castle that becomes both battleground and fantasy. It is low-stress Christmas viewing with a warm, easy rhythm.
Main actors: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes, Lee Ross
Synopsis: A famous author tries to buy a Scottish castle and clashes with the duke who owns it.
- Title: A Castle For Christmas
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Genre: Romance, Romantic Comedy
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: November 26, 2021
- Director: Mary Lambert
- Lead cast: Brooke Shields, Cary Elwes, Lee Ross
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81026181
The Claus Family
The Claus Family is a family-friendly Christmas fantasy that puts its focus on emotion rather than noise. It follows a boy who dislikes the holidays until he is forced to confront a secret legacy that changes what Christmas means in his household. It is sincere, kid-friendly, and built around family connection rather than sarcasm.
Main actors: Jan Decleir, Mo Bakker, Bracha van Doesburgh
Synopsis: A boy learns his grandfather is Santa Claus and realizes he may be the only one who can help save Christmas.
- Title: The Claus Family
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 96 minutes (Netflix listing)
- Genre: Family, Fantasy
- Country of production: Netherlands / Belgium (Netflix listing)
- Original language: Dutch
- Release date: 2020
- Lead cast: Jan Decleir, Mo Bakker, Bracha van Doesburgh
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81316603
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery is the holiday pick for viewers who want something wildly different. It plays like a Christmas party game: the mystery is real, but the guest stars are improvising with minimal guidance, which turns every scene into controlled chaos. If your December watchlist needs comedy that is not cozy, this is the one that breaks the rules.
Main actors: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Maya Rudolph
Synopsis: A detective investigates Santa’s murder with celebrity trainees who must improvise their way through the case.
- Title: Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery
- Format: TV Special
- Runtime: 52 minutes (Netflix listing)
- Genre: Comedy, Mystery
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Release date: December 15, 2022
- Lead cast: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Maya Rudolph
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81629025
Our Little Secret
Our Little Secret uses a classic holiday pressure cooker: put two people with unresolved history under the same roof and let Christmas do the rest. The hook is simple and awkward in the best way, pushing the comedy through forced smiles, family gatherings, and the constant risk of exposure. If you want a modern Netflix Christmas rom-com built around discomfort and chemistry, this fits neatly into that lane.
Main actors: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth
Synopsis: Two resentful exes must spend Christmas together after discovering their current partners are siblings, while hiding their past relationship.
- Title: Our Little Secret
- Format: Film
- Runtime: 101 minutes (Netflix listing)
- Genre: Romance, Romantic Comedy
- Country of production: United States (Netflix listing)
- Original language: English
- Release date: 2024
- Lead cast: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth
- Platform: Netflix
Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81498404
