We are now in the midst of the holiday season, which means it’s time for the hopeful, optimistic, and cheerful movies that are typical of this time of year. And what better way to celebrate the 2025 holidays than to immerse ourselves in a Latin American movie marathon?
It’s fair to say that, over the last few decades, Latin American Christmas-themed films have brought us some truly original and moving stories, offering a unique insight into the culture and spirit of celebration throughout the region.
Among the best Latin Christmas movies are: the recent family adventure 31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad, produced in Chile; the cautionary Mexican comedy ¡Hasta la madre de la Navidad!; the Peruvian musical gem Una Navidad en Verano; and the exuberant Brazilian production Um Natal Cheio de Graça, to name just a few.
All of these films reflect Latin idiosyncrasies and are full of emotional reunions, colorful traditions, and irresistible local charm.
Without further ado, here is a list of seven Latin American Christmas movies that should become an annual tradition for the whole family. We assure you that there is something for everyone’s festive tastes.
31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad (31 Minutes: One Hot Christmas)
Country: Chile (2025)
Expanding on the universe of the region’s most famous “puppet” news program, the film 31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad shows Bodoque on a mission to save Christmas presents after an extreme heat wave in Titirilquén causes Santa Claus to cancel the holiday.
The film has been praised for breaking with the cliché of “Christmas with snow” to portray the reality of the southern hemisphere, where the holidays occur under heat waves.
The official synopsis describes the following:
“An extreme heat wave hits Titirilquén, causing Santa Claus to make an unprecedented decision: to cancel the delivery of gifts in that town due to climate problems. Faced with this situation, journalist Juan Carlos Bodoque embarks on an adventure to the North Pole to rescue the gifts and save Christmas for the news team and the townspeople.”
The Chilean production features the talented Julieta Venegas, who performs a new version of Mi muñeca me habló, adding a unique musical touch to this adventure full of humor and satire about consumerism and addiction.
Available on Prime Video.
¡Hasta la madre de la Navidad! (Christmas Is Cancelled!)
Country: México (2024)
The Christmas comedy ¡Hasta la madre de la Navidad! was a huge hit on Prime Video Mexico in December 2024, becoming a favorite on the platform thanks to its warm humor about Mexican family traditions.
The film tells the story of Lidia (Gala Montes) and Manuel (Michel Duval), a newlywed couple in love, who are going through a tough crisis because their families of origin are completely opposite and don’t quite fit together.
This is Prime Video’s official synopsis:
“The relationship between our protagonists Manuel and Lidia is in crisis and they face an uncertain future, forcing them to spend Christmas apart.”
The film explores family expectations, the tensions of forced coexistence, the typical friction of the December holidays (such as arguments over gifts or food), and, above all, the effort made by the protagonists to maintain peace while their own relationship is threatened by family turmoil.
“From the beginning, I wanted a Mexican Christmas movie, just as we experience it here, with our traditions,” said director Javier Colinas.
¡Hasta la madre de la Navidad! is the third installment in the Mexican saga from Prime Video and Corazón Films, which includes ¡Hasta la madre del Día de las Madres! and ¡Hasta la madre del Día de Muertos!, all directed by Colinas.
Available on Prime Video.
Reviviendo la Navidad (A Not So Merry Christmas)
Country: México (2022)
Directed by Mark Alazraki (Club de Cuervos), Netflix’s Reviviendo la Navidad uses the time loop device to convey important life lessons centered on human relationships and gratitude.
This Christmas comedy tells the story of a grumpy man who every year regrets being born on December 24.
Here is Netflix’s synopsis:
“After being cursed, grumpy Chuy (Mauricio Ochmann) wakes up a year later and realizes he is doomed to repeat Christmas Day over and over again.”
Trapped in a repetitive cycle, Chuy has no memory of what he did during the rest of the year, so every December 24th he encounters all kinds of “surprises” that his other “self” left behind, such as debts, work problems, or family crises.
Reviviendo la Navidad invites us to leave old resentments behind so we can fully enjoy life, traditions, and the spirit of togetherness that comes with the season. It’s the perfect movie to enjoy with the family on Christmas Eve.
Available on Netflix.
Um Natal Cheio de Graça (Christmas Full of Grace)
Country: Brasil (2022)
Directed by Pedro Antônio (Evidências do Amor) and released in 2022, Um Natal Cheio de Graça was in Netflix’s global Top 10 in more than 30 countries. Unlike many Christmas productions that imitate the northern winter, this one highlights the festive atmosphere of Brazil, with scenes shot in iconic locations such as Petrópolis.
Um Natal Cheio de graça tells the story of Carlinhos (Sérgio Malheiros), a man who, after discovering his partner ‘s infidelity, makes impulsive decisions to protect his pride.
The official synopsis describes the following:
“Carlinhos catches his partner cheating, then meets lively Graça (Gkay), who poses as his new one so he can save face at Christmas with his traditional family.”
This enjoyable Christmas romantic comedy explores themes such as the pressure to keep up appearances, betrayal, and the importance of authenticity in the face of family expectations.
Available on Netflix.
2 Papás en Navidad
Country: Ecuador (2017)
Directed by Álex Jácome, the Ecuadorian film 2 Papás en Navidad sends a powerful message about unconditional fatherhood.
This Christmas comedy-drama focuses on the struggle of two father figures: a biological father (Frank Bonilla) and an adoptive father (José Pacheco), who compete for the affection of their 20-year-old daughter, Belén (Mariela Sampedro), who has Down syndrome and dreams of winning a swimming championship.
This film uses the comical friction between the two fathers to remind us of what really matters: family. It is the perfect choice for the holidays because, in addition to entertaining, it invites us to reflect on involved fatherhood, inclusion, and personal growth. A very satisfying aspect of the project is that it treats disability so naturally, it’s admirable.
Available on Netflix and CineLatino.
Una Navidad en Verano
Country: Peru (2017)
The family musical comedy Una Navidad en Verano tells the story of Daniela (Maricarmen Marín), a feisty woman who is in charge of several orphans.
This vibrant musical immerses us in the moving story of Daniela, a brave and kind-hearted woman who takes in four orphaned children with very different personalities. At first, this peculiar family throws itself into Christmas preparations, and for them, everything is camaraderie and music.
However, everything takes an unexpected turn when, a few days before Christmas, an accident puts them in a difficult situation and they must raise funds for a crucial medical operation.
Directed by Ricardo Morán, this Christmas film emphasizes that love and unity are the most important values for overcoming any challenge.
Available on Apple TV.
Navidad, S. A. (Xmas, Inc)
Country: Mexico (2008)
Navidad, S. A. is an ambitious fantasy family comedy starring the legendary Pedro Armendáriz Jr. as Santa Claus.
In this adventure, the Christmas spirit faces a modern challenge: climate change is causing the Arctic to melt at an accelerated rate, putting Santa Claus’s home at risk.
According to the official description:
“As Christmas approaches, Santa Claus has to deal with the fact that the North Pole is melting and find a way to rid the holiday of its capitalist nature.”
Beyond comedy, the production strives to offer a reflection on the loss of faith in goodness and the damage to the planet.
Available on Prime Video.
Merry Christmas!
Now that you have your list of Latin American Christmas movies that should be an annual tradition, all that’s left is to pop some popcorn, gather your family and friends, and enjoy these films with a Latin American flavor.
Whether you’re looking for warmth or good humor, you’re sure to find something you’ll love.