The Best Holiday Movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max
In the mood for a festive film? Here are the best holiday movies on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+!
Now that it’s officially December, I am all about holiday movies. I love watching everything – from the super corny/borderline terrible ones to the feel good classics that never get old. And since all of us are watching everything on streaming services instead of DVDs (or VHS tapes!) now, I thought it would be helpful to round up the best holiday movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max! Also, If you’re dying for your annual viewing of Love Actually, you can rent that on Amazon Prime!
The Best Holiday Movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max
Best Holiday Movies on Netflix
White Christmas
If you haven’t seen this classic, change that RIGHT NOW. It’s delightful and sweet and you’ll fall in love with Bing Crosby!
Klaus
Adam and I watched this last year and we were so impressed. It’s an animated movie with some major talent in the voiceover cast and lovely lessons for kids. Definitely a new favorite that we’ll watch again every year!
Dash & Lily
Okay this isn’t actually a movie, but this 8 episode limited series is so cute, I HAD TO include it. It’s about 2 teens in New York City who interact with each other through a notebook… and it is EXACTLY the kind of thing I want to watch during the holiday season. Sweet, quirky, heartwarming. It is darling.
Jingle Jangle
I keep hearing RAVE reviews about this new holiday musical – mostly about how beautiful it is. It is about a toymaker who was betrayed by his apprentice years ago. His granddaughter starts to learn about his past and wants to help him find inspiration again. I cannot wait to watch it!
The Christmas Chronicles
We also loved this new-ish holiday movie – I mean, Kurt Russell as Santa?! And Reese Witherspoon’s daughter from Big Little Lies plays the main character, and she is adorable. Not the best movie in the world, but a fun holiday flick!
Update: we watched the sequel, and it is nowhere NEAR as good as the first one. I don’t think we’ll be re-watching that one!
The Princess Switch
I don’t know who decided Vanessa Hudgens should be the new darling of holiday movies, but I am HERE FOR IT. This movie is terribly cheesy and perfect for a cozy night in with a big glass of wine.
Update: I watched the sequel for this one, too! The first one is definitely better, but this one was still cute. I enjoyed it!
The Knight Before Christmas
If you liked Vanessa Hudgens in The Princess Switch, you have to add this one to your list, too. A Knight time travels and meets Vanessa Hudgens in 2019… and they may or may not fall in love. I mean, why not, right?!
Midnight at the Magnolia
This one is new this year – and it takes place in Chicago!! Maggie and Jack are childhood family friends who host a local radio show together. When they find out they are being considered for national syndication, their boss puts together an on-air New Year’s Eve special. In order to create more buzz, they decide to surprise their fans on air by pretending that they are in love… but are they really pretending?! 😉
The Holidate
Two strangers discover that they have a common hatred for the holiday season, so they decide to be each others’ holiday plus ones. No strings attached, no feelings, just a guaranteed date for holiday events. I wanted this one to be a little bit more Christmas-y than it was (it covers all of the holidays throughout the whole year!), but it was still a fun rom com!
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
I personally like the classic animated version way better, but the live action version with Jim Carey is available on Netflix!
Christmas with the Kranks
I’ve never seen this one, but a bunch of you said it’s a favorite! Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd.
The Holiday Calendar
I watched this last year when I was in the mood for a cheesy movie and I thought it was cute! It’s about a photographer who inherits an antique Advent calendar… and of course there’s romance mixed in. DUH.
A Christmas Prince Series
It all started with A Christmas Prince, but you can also watch A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. Based on the first one, I’d recommend watching these with your girlfriends… and maybe finding a drinking game to play while you’re at it ?
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Best Holiday Movies on Hulu
It’s A Wonderful Life
If you’ve never seen this movie, please watch it this Christmas. It’s a classic for a reason!
The Holiday
I watch The Holiday every year and I never get sick of it! It always makes me laugh how bad Cameron Diaz in contrast to how INCREDIBLE Kate Winslet is in this film – but it doesn’t even matter. It’s adorable and heartwarming and I love it. Nancy Meyers can do no wrong!
Happiest Season
This original film is new this year – and I loooooved it. It’s about a woman who brings her girlfriend home to her conservative family, but introduces her as her platonic friend since she hasn’t come out to them yet. The cast is incredible, one her sisters had me cackling every time she spoke, and I cried at the end because it was so heartwarming. Such a great holiday movie!!!
The Santa Clause
This is another favorite of mine! I have distinct memories of watching this Tim Allen movie when I was younger – and Adam and I can both recite a lot of the lines by heart ? So good!
Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas
While the Jim Carey version doesn’t excite me, this animated version brings me right back to my childhood! If you have kids, or nieces/nephews, you have to watch this with them!
A Christmas Story
I’ll admit, A Christmas Story isn’t at the top of my personal list – but I can’t deny that there are some iconic moments. When Schwartz gets his tongue stuck on the frozen pole, Ralphie’s bunny onesie, the leg lamp… it’s pretty funny.
Same Time, Next Christmas
I watched this Lea Michele movie last year and it was definitely one of those “so bad, it’s good” movies. Basically, Lea has been going to Hawaii with her family every Christmas since she was very young, and that’s where she met and fell in love with Jeff (played by Charles Michael Davis from Younger!). After a family tragedy, Jeff stopped going to Hawaii – but then he shows up again! Sparks fly! But there are other significant others involved! Will they ever get together?! ?
No Sleep Til Christmas
I haven’t seen this yet, but one of you said it’s “corny but good” – and clearly, I’m here for that. It also stars Dave Annable from Brothers & Sisters (remember that show?).
The Night Before
I haven’t seen this yet, but it sounds like it’s a silly comedy about Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie behaving badly on Christmas Eve.
Best Holiday Movies on Disney+
Noelle
Out of all the new holiday movies out there, this is definitely the most fun! Anna Kendrick is adorable, Bill Hader is hilarious, and Billy Eichner is in it, too!! I loved every minute of it, and then watched it again with Adam a few days later. Highly recommend!
Home Alone
I mean… duh. This childhood classic has stood the test of time in a major way.
Home Alone 2
Unpopular opinion, but I like Home Alone 2 even better than the first one! Maybe it’s because I lived in New York and I love seeing Central Park and the Upper West Side? No matter which one you like best, we can all agree that they’re both great.
The Santa Clause
In case you don’t have Hulu, you can watch this on Disney+, too!
Miracle on 34th Street
I haven’t seen this movie in YEARS, so I’m really excited to watch it again this Christmas!
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Remember when Michael Caine was Scrooge in a version of The Christmas Carol with the muppets?? That happened! Definitely rewatching this over the next few weeks.
Best Holiday Movies on HBO Max
Last Christmas
I have been dying to watch this movie ever since I saw the trailer last year. And now that I know it’s on HBO Max, I’m going to watch it this weekend! It starts Emilia Clarke from Game of Thrones and Henry Golding from Crazy Rich Asians, so… need I say more?!
The Family Stone
I’m not sure why HBO labels this as a comedy because I sob every time! That being said, there are lots of funny and sweet moments with this all star cast… just don’t forget your tissues, too!
Die Hard
In my adult life, I’ve realized that a LOT of people consider Die Hard a Christmas movie – who knew?! I haven’t seen it in years, so I’ll watch it with Adam and report back!
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Did I miss any of your favorites?
Let us know in the comments!!
PS. You might also like my Gift Guides, Mint Chocolate Coconut Truffles, and Fig & Jam Brie Bites.
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December 19, 2019 @ 8:54 am
Thanks for the list!! Recently, re-watched While You Were Sleeping. I consider it a holiday movie since it’s set at Christmas and the message is so perfect for the season. My 13-year-old watched it with me recently and he loved it! I had forgotten how funny and charming it is.
December 19, 2019 @ 12:10 pm
I need to rewatch it this year! Do you know if it’s available to stream anywhere?
December 19, 2019 @ 5:34 pm
has all the trappings of a cheesy holiday movie. It s about a city girl who gets stuck in small town during a blizzard and somehow ends up falling in love and learning the true meaning of Christmas. And yet I love it!
December 26, 2019 @ 12:37 pm
The plot: Based on the story by Frank McCourt, this animated story of a little girl in 19 Ireland who just wants to make sure everyone has an amazing Christmas is about as heartwarming as you can get.
December 3, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
Hey — look, it’s our comments from last year! Thank you for updating this list. There are so many this year! To answer the question from last year, While You Were Sleeping is on Disney + now. My son and I have already done our first watch of it for this year!
December 3, 2020 @ 1:03 pm
Btw, this was supposed to be a reply to your comment above. Sorry, if it’s confusing.