Sarah was scrolling through streaming services last week trying to find something festive to watch when she realized: 2025 has produced an unusually strong lineup of holiday films. From Netflix’s big-budget spectacles to indie darlings on smaller platforms, this year’s Christmas movies offer genuine quality alongside the expected comfort food.
Netflix Dominance
Christmas movies received major investment from Netflix in 2025, with the platform releasing 18 original holiday films between October and December. The standout is “The Naughty List,” starring Chris Evans as a disillusioned mall Santa who discovers he’s actually on Santa Claus’s naughty list and must redeem himself before Christmas Eve.
Evans brings surprising emotional depth to what could’ve been a throwaway role. The film cost a reported $75 million—unusual for a holiday movie—and features impressive practical effects for the North Pole sequences. It premiered November 15 and quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film of the month, with 89 million views in its first week.
“Hot Frosty 2” also deserves mention. The sequel to 2023’s surprise hit brings back Lacey Chabert as Kathy and Dustin Milligan as the formerly-animated snowman Jack. This time they’re planning a Christmas wedding, but a heat wave threatens to literally melt the groom. The absurd premise works because the cast fully commits to the premise’s ridiculousness while maintaining genuine romantic chemistry.
Apple TV+ Quality
Apple TV+ continues prioritizing quality over quantity with “Christmas in Killarney,” starring Amy Adams and Andrew Scott. Adams plays an American baker who travels to Ireland to trace her family roots and meets Scott’s reclusive novelist character. The film avoids typical rom-com clichés, instead offering a thoughtful meditation on belonging and home.
Director Emma Thompson (yes, the actress) brings her first holiday film to Apple with a $45 million budget that shows in every frame. The Irish countryside cinematography is gorgeous, and Scott’s performance reminds viewers why he’s one of contemporary cinema’s most compelling actors. The film premiered November 22 and received 92% positive reviews—rare for holiday content.
Disney+ Family Fare
Disney+ released “A Very Mickey Christmas” on December 1, featuring classic Disney characters in a new animated special that pays homage to vintage Disney animation while utilizing modern CGI techniques. The 38-minute special includes original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and features voice work from the regular cast plus surprising cameos from Josh Gad and Kristen Bell reprising their “Frozen” roles.
“Godmothered 2” brings back Isla Fisher and Jillian Bell for another fairy godmother adventure, this time set during Christmas in New York City. The sequel improves on the original’s charm while adding genuine stakes about belief, magic, and what it means to help others during the holiday season.
Indie Gems
Hulu quietly released “December 26th,” a clever indie dramedy about what happens after Christmas when a family must confront the dysfunction they ignored during the holidays. The film stars Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass as siblings forced to care for their aging father (Christopher Lloyd) after Christmas dinner goes disastrously wrong.
The Christmas movies formula gets deconstructed thoughtfully here—it’s less about holiday magic and more about family obligation, complicated love, and finding grace in imperfect relationships. Plaza delivers one of her best dramatic performances, suggesting range beyond her typical deadpan comedy.
Where to Stream
The accessibility of 2025’s Christmas movies means viewers can easily sample different genres and tones:
- Netflix: “The Naughty List,” “Hot Frosty 2,” “Falling for Christmas 2”
- Apple TV+: “Christmas in Killarney,” “Silent Night” (Keira Knightley thriller)
- Disney+: “A Very Mickey Christmas,” “Godmothered 2”
- Hulu: “December 26th,” “Gingerbread Miracle”
- Amazon Prime: “Candy Cane Lane 2” (Eddie Murphy sequel)
- Max: “A Christmas Story Christmas” (sequel to the sequel)
Critical Reception
What distinguishes 2025’s Christmas movies from previous years is the improved writing and production values. Studios recognized that audiences want holiday content but won’t tolerate lazy execution. The increased budgets and A-list casting reflect this understanding.
Rotten Tomatoes scores for 2025 holiday releases average 68%—significantly higher than the typical 45% average for Christmas movies. This quality improvement suggests the genre is maturing beyond disposable content into films that could become annual rewatching traditions.
Whether you want big-budget spectacle, intimate romance, family animation, or thoughtful drama, 2025’s Christmas movie lineup delivers options for every taste and mood.