[Updated December 2021]
It seems that having a Netflix Christmas movie binge is becoming as much of a Christmas tradition as leaving out a mince pie for Santa on Christmas eve.
Here are my reviews and recommendations for Netflix Christmas films from the last few years. Netflix has recently added several new titles for 2021 and I have made a start on watching those. They are all very light and usually cheesy. Some are seriously bad, and we wouldn’t give them a second glance normally, but bad Christmas films are strangely acceptable.
It seems that Christmas movies allow you to watch and enjoy things that you wouldn’t normally. I love a Christmas movie that can make you feel like a child again. Ones where you can enjoy all the magic that this time of year brings for the younger generation. A good old rom com always hits the spot too.
Watching a Netflix Christmas movie is the perfect way to switch off from all the hustle and bustle of the holiday period.
I’m hoping you will all give me your suggestions too.
Top 3 Netflix Christmas Movies
My Top 3 Netflix Christmas movies are:
Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Operation Christmas Drop (2020)
Love Hard (2021)
Read on to find out why.
2021 Netflix Christmas Movies
Love Hard (15)
Love Hard is actually a play on words over what the best Christmas movie is – Die Hard or Love Actually!
After numerous unsuccessful dates via dating apps, Natalie finally meets someone that she thinks could be “the one”. She leaves Los Angeles and heads off to Lake Placid to surprise Josh, only the surprise is on her as she has been catfished.
This has been my favourite of the bunch so far this year. There’s lots of lovely shots of LA and Santa Monica at the beginning, followed by traditionaly snowy Christmas scenes and experiences in NY.
A California Christmas (12)
Being a lover of all things Californian, I chose this for the title alone. In it, a spoilt trust fund boy from San Francisco is sent by mummy to wine county to try to persuade the owners of a dairy farm to sell the land to his mother’s company.
He arrives during the birthing of a calf and is mistaken for the new farmhand. He decides that taking on the role is his best shot at getting round the owner (who is actually his wife in real life).
It’s just about watchable if you’re looking for a cheesy romance set on a farm.
The Princess Switch 3 – Romancing the Star (PG)
I enjoyed the first one, the second less so, and couldn’t make it to the end of this one thanks to the appaling cousin Fiona and her posse. I tried to persevere for the scenery and beautiful dresses that the queen wears, but couldn’t hack it.
Truly awful but kids will probably love it.
2020 Netflix Christmas Movies
Operation Christmas Drop – family
Operation Christmas Drop is filmed on an air force base in the gorgeous tropical location of Guam. Being a bit of a plane geek, and lover of blue skies and the ocean, this is my favourite Christmas Netflix film of 2020 so far.
Every year the air force unit organise a humanitarian drop of food, medical equipment, school supplies and toys to the inhabitants of 5 remote islands. An aide from Washington DC is sent there to look into closing the base down which puts the future of the drop in jeopardy.
A nice family movie showing us a tropical Christmas, and that the season really should be about giving.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 – family
The Christmas Chronicles 2 isn’t a patch on the first one from 2018, but it’s still worth a watch. It starts off at a gorgeous beach resort in Mexico, then heads off to the North Pole for some fabulous Christmas special effects that are guaranteed to instil a bit of magic in your soul. Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn make a perfect Mr and Mrs Claus.
The Princess Switch: Switched Again – romance/family
The sequel to The Princess Switch is very much along the lines of the first but with a third look alike. Vanessa Hugdens is stunningly beautiful, even with an amusing highly over-pronounced accent. Filmed in gorgeous settings with an abundance of Christmas decorations. Take it for what it is and it is a good Christmas movie for little girls and their mums.
I’ve only just started my binge but there have been plenty more Christmas movies released for 2020 including:
Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square – musical/drama
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey – musical/family
Angela’s Christmas Wish – animation
Alien – animation
I have also tried the 2020 Netflix release, Holidate. It was so bad, I didn’t even make it halfway through. Not something you’d want to watch with your granny or younger kids either.
2019 Netflix Christmas Movies
Let it Snow
This is my favourite Netflix Christmas movie of 2019. It’s a modern day romance with a predominantly teenage cast. Perfect feel good Christmas movie. Thumbs up for this one Netflix.
Holiday in the Wild
This new Netflix Christmas movie features an elephant sanctuary in Africa where orphaned elephants are rehabilitated and returned to the wild when they are ready.
The film itself isn’t mind-blowing but worth a watch just for the scenery, elephants and Rob Lowe! It also features the lovely Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) and Rob Lowe’s son John (Johnny) Lowe making his film debut.
Christmas Break In
This slapstick family drama is very much along the lines of Home Alone, where a 9 year old gets stranded in school after her parents forget to collect her. Worth a watch if you need something suitable for the whole family.
Klaus
I’m sure this high quality animation is going to be a huge hit. Created by the makers of Despicable Me.
2018 Christmas Movies on Netflix
The Christmas Chronicles
This 2018 Netflix addition, featuring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus, was my favourite Christmas movie of 2018.
I think Kurt Russel has been the best Christmas movie Santa since Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street. A fabulous magical film for all ages.
The Princess Switch
Two lookalikes (both played by Vanessa Hugdens of High School Musical) swap their roles as baker and princess in this family rom com set in Belgravia. An easy watch.
A Christmas Prince 2017/2018/2019
A bit of light watching where a journalist heads to Aldovia to report on the royal family and ends up falling in love with the prince. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding follows in 2018 and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby in 2019.
More Recommended Netflix Christmas films
Christmas Inheritance 2017
The Christmas Trap 2017
A Wish for Christmas 2016
I’ll be home for Christmas 2016
Almost Christmas 2016
Angel of Christmas 2015
Deck the Halls 2006
The Holiday 2006
Love Actually 2003
If you’re a Netflix user, you might also be interested to read an older post where I explain how we saved £5000 in one year which included changing our TV package.
You can watch trailers for all these films and more on my YouTube Channel or check out my earlier post of must see Christmas movies.
Have you scrapped your tv package in favour of Netflix?
Do you have any favourite films or box sets on Netflix or Amazon Prime?
Tea & Cake For The Soul 
Although I watched until the end, I feel the way you do about Holidate! I’ve been watching the Netflix movies, too. In fact, I think I will watch one tonight. Thx for the recommendation for Let it Snow! I hadn’t yet decided if I wanted to watxh it, but now, I will.
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I hope you enjoy it. One of the Christmas musicals will be my next watch.
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I keep hearing about The Princess Switch. I hear it’s kind of cheesy but fun at the same time. Hoping to check that out this week.
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Pretty much everything on this list is cheesy but I enjoyed it. I think Christmas movies take you back to being a child again so they work.
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Cheesy movies are the best! They are always so much fun. I just watched the Lifetime Movie The Christmas Contract. It was like a One Tree Hill Reunion. It was ridiculous, LoL, but I loved it.
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I’m starting to read some Christmas books now but I will be sure to get a few more movies in too before Christmas.
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Aww no, I really hope you feel better asap! These Christmas feels sound lovely, Love Actually & The Holiday are two of my sure fire favourites each year and I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of your recommendations! ♥︎
Sophie | soinspo xo
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*films
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Thank you.
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I’ll check out the Christmas Chronicles! Daniel wants to watch Home Alone 2 before we see anything else though! And Lee has never seen Die Hard so I have that downloaded too. With Sky Cinema, Netflix and Amazon Prime there’s so much choice!
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We care going to watch Home Alone again. Die Hard is great even though it’s so dated now.
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I second the Christmas Chronicles- that one was really good. Kurt Russel made a great Santa!
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It took me a while to realise who it was.
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I hope you’re sitting down….we have Everything (with exception of Sky Movies package I think – I don’t actually know what that means though to be fair) – which includes (most of) the Sky channels, Amazon and Netflix. We loved the Christmas Chronicles – Kurt Russell makes a good rocking Santa. I’m not sure we’ll get round to watching any more Christmas movies as time seems to be running out. Is there peak Christmas? When does that happen? When’s the cut off point for watching Christmas? I hope you’re well on the mend but it does seem like you’re putting your time to very good use – thanks for all the recommendations!
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Christmas Chronicles was fab wasn’t it. I’m probably all Christmas’d out but I may squeeze one or two more in. Think I’ve probably reached the bottom of the Netflix barrel though. Some didn’t even last 10 mins. Still that’s the beauty of Netflix.
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