Let’s face it: Christmas wouldn’t be complete without holiday movies.
We already know that the holiday season is all about family, loved ones, good food and presents. But it’s also worth getting excited about the feature films that are released around this time. Of course, there are plenty of classic movies that we’ll watch again and again without fail, too.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t new releases that deserve our full attention.
Some 2024 productions have big names in their cast, such as Danny DeVito, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lindsay Lohan, Chad Michael Murray, just to name a few. You will be able to stream some immediately, while a few will involve a night out at the theater.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly movie, a romantic comedy, a gripping drama, or even a Christmas thriller, there’s a wide range of options to choose from this year. Some stories are “naughty”, some are “hilarious”, and some are just “heartwarming”. Whatever you like, you’re sure to find something satisfying.
Here’s our definitive list of the Best Christmas Movies to watch in 2024. Now, all you need is a comforter, candy canes and hot cocoa to give yourself a good marathon.
1. A Sudden Case of Christmas
Directed by: Peter Chelsom
Starring: Danny DeVito, Andie MacDowell, Wilmer Valderrama, Lucy DeVito
Released on Friday, November 08
Where to Watch: Prime Video
In the family comedy A Sudden Case of Christmas, an American couple takes their 10-year-old daughter, Claire (Antonella Rose), to her grandfather’s (Danny DeVito) hotel in Italy to tell him they are getting divorced. With this in mind and in the hope of bringing them back together, the girl asks the whole family to celebrate one last Christmas together, even though they are in the middle of August.
Overall, it’s a fun story about how communication, compassion and empathy can help bring estranged people together. A Sudden Case of Christmas is a remake of the 2022 Italian film Improvvisamente Natale.
2. Red One
Directed by: Jake Kasdan
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J. K. Simmons
Released on Friday, November 15
Where to Watch: In Theaters Now
Red One is an action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans as unlikely allies who must work together to save a kidnapped Santa Claus (J. K. Simmons).
“When a villain kidnaps Santa Claus from the North Pole, an E.L.F. (Extremely Large and Formidable) operative joins forces with the world’s most accomplished tracker to find him and save Christmas,” describes the official synopsis.
Red One is full of irreverent, unexpected and funny moments.
3. The Night Before Christmas In Wonderland
Directed by: Peter Baynton
Starring: Gerard Butler, Emilia Clarke, Mawaan Rizwan, Simone Ashley
Released on Friday, November 15
Where to Watch: Hulu
The upcoming film is based on the bestseller of the same name written by Carys Bexington.
As its title suggests, The Night before Christmas in Wonderland blends two classic tales: Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem Twas The Night Before Christmas.
In this animated adventure, St. Nicholas (Gerard Butler) teams up with the Alice in Wonderland character (Simone Ashley) to show the Queen of Hearts (Emilia Clarke) the true magic of Christmas.
Here is the official synopsis from Hulu:
“The Queen of Hearts has outlawed Christmas. As a child, the white rabbit missed her gift. Years later, Father Christmas receives the lost letter and voyages to Wonderland. With the help of curious young Alice, can Christmas be saved?”
4. An Almost Christmas Story
Directed by: David Lowery
Starring: Cary Christopher, Estella Madrigal, Jim Gaffigan, Mamoudou Athie, Alex Ross Perry
Released on Friday, November 15
Where to Watch: Disney+
Produced by Alfonso Cuarón (Niños del hombre, Roma), and directed by David Lowery, An Almost Christmas Story is an animated short film that follows Moon, a young owl who has become trapped in a Christmas tree destined for New York’s Rockefeller Plaza.
Trying to escape the city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna, and together they embark on a journey home.
5. The Merry Gentlemen
Directed by: Peter Sullivan
Starring: Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff
Released on Wednesday, November 20
Where to Watch: Netflix
This Netflix film mixes the sensuality of Magic Mike with holiday cheer.
In The Merry Gentlemen, a former professional dancer puts on a Christmas benefit show with a cast of handsome male dancers to try to save her family’s business premises. Britt Robertson plays the plucky leading lady, while Chad Michael Murray plays her love interest, who is set to appear in the show.
Judging by the preview footage, which features shirtless dancers, this film has a bolder premise than most holiday productions, but follows a seasonal romance formula.
6. Dear Santa
Directed by: Bobby Farrelly
Starring: Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Jason Alexander, Robert Timothy Smith, Brianne Howey, Hayes MacArthur, Austin Post, P. J. Byrne
To be released Monday, November 25
Where to Watch: Paramount+
The talented Jack Black and Shallow Hal director Bobby Farrelly team up again in what looks to be a hilarious holiday comedy, with Black playing the devil.
The upcoming Paramount+ film tells the story of Liam (Robert Timothy Smith), a distracted kid who accidentally mixes up his spelling and sends his Christmas list to Satan instead of Santa Claus.
7. Our Little Secret
Directed by: Stephen Herek
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth
To be released on Wednesday, November 27
Where to Watch: Netflix
We’re thrilled to hear that Christmas magic has brought Lindsay Lohan back to the small screen.
After making her genre debut with Netflix’s feature film Falling For Christmas, Lindsay Lohan is back in Our Little Secret.
Directed by Stephen Herek, the film follows two resentful exes who are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings.
8. The Snow Sister
Directed by: Cecilie A. Mosli
Starring: Mudit Gupta, Celina Meyer Hovland, Ole Steinkjer Øyen, Jan Sælid, Samsaya
To be released on Friday, November 29
Where to Watch: Netflix
Based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Maja Lunde and Lisa Aisato, this Norwegian film is about Christian (Mudit Gupta), a sweet boy whose grieving family has forgotten about Christmas.
According to Netflix’s official synopsis:
“Christmas Eve is approaching. It is also the day Julian turns eleven years old. Usually, it is the best day of the year, filled with the fantastic aroma of gingersnaps and tangerines, the sound of a crackling fire, the decorated Christmas tree, and the flickering candlelight. All the things that makeup Christmas. But this year nothing is as usual. Julian and his family have a sadness over them, and Julian feels that Christmas has just been canceled. Then, one day, Julian meets the happy and Christmas-loving Hedvig and begins to believe that there will be Christmas after all. But there’s something strange about Hedvig’s house, and who is the old man who is lurking around the house all the time?”
The hit book that spawned the Netflix movie has already been released in 31 territories.
9. Nutcrackers
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: Ben Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, Toby Huss
To be released on Friday, November 29
Where to Watch: Hulu
Ben Stiller’s latest family comedy revolves around the holiday season, and comes with some emotional ties. Nutcrackers centers on Michael (Stiller), a successful real estate developer, who is forced to move to Ohio to care for his sister’s children after she suddenly passes away.
The thing is, Michael knows nothing about parenting, nor about rural life.
10. Hasta la Madre de la Navidad
Directed by: Javier Colinas
Starring: Gala Montes, Michel Duval, Anette Michel, Alejandro Camacho, Leticia Huijara, Giovanna Reynaud
To be released on Friday, November 29
Where to Watch: Prime Video
The Mexican comedy Hasta la Madre de la Navidad tells the story of a newlywed couple whose relationship is in danger when they decide to bring their irreverent families together to celebrate Christmas.
Hasta la madre de la Navidad, closes a trilogy that began last year with Hasta la madre del Día de las Madres and continued with Hasta la madre del Día de Muertos, both produced by Prime Video.
11. Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story
Director: John Putch
Starring: Hunter King, Tyler Hynes, Ed Begley Jr.
To be released on Saturday, November 30
Where to Watch: Hallmark Channel
It’s no secret that there’s no holiday season without a nice Hallmark movie, and one of this year’s most interesting ones comes from a collaboration with the NFL.
According to Hallmark’s official synopsis:
“Alana Higman is sure that her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick, Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them but when her grandfather’s vintage Chiefs good-luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate, destiny and even questions her future with Derrick – unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.”
12. That Christmas
Directed by: Simon Otto
Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Bill Nighy
To be released on Wednesday, December 04
Where to Watch: Netflix
The famous screenwriter and director of Love Actually, Richard Curtis, brings us That Christmas.
Based on Curtis’ own trilogy of children’s books, That Christmas tells a series of connected stories about family and friends, love and loneliness. “I hope it’ll remind people of the joy and complexity of Christmas, and some of the joys and comedy and heartbreak of childhood,” Curtis told Netflix’s Tudum.
This animated fantasy film has a sweet animation style and promises to be a lot of fun.
13. Carry-On (Netflix)
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Jason Bateman
To be released on Friday, December 13
Where to Watch: Netflix
If at Christmas you prefer to watch Die Hard instead of seasonal musicals or lighter movies, we recommend you check out Carry On.
This is an unusual Christmas movie that takes place during the holidays, but doesn’t focus on the typical celebrations. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan), Carry-On follows Taron Egerton as a TSA agent who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) to place a dangerous package on a flight, citing “A bag for a life.”