Editor's note: Last updated Jan. 9, 2019.
Prince Harry might not be in any of these Netflix holiday movies, but perhaps we can interest you in the prince from Aldovia? Make no mistake, the winds are changing and the holidays are finally here! On top of that, Netflix's holiday movies are shining brighter than ever with stars like Vanessa Hudgens, Vivica A. Fox, *NSYNC's Joey Fatone, The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham, and The 100's Eliza Taylor. I don't know about you, but 2018 has been rough on my sinuses and tear ducts. Now, I'm ready to be reminded of what it's like to fall in love thanks to Netflix's extensive collection of feel-good holiday films.
Real talk though: What's not to love about Netflix movies, particularly Netflix romantic comedies that take place during the holiday season? Sure, they have moments that make them comparable to spray cheese, but there's nothing like curling up on the couch with a box of chocolates, a tri-flavored popcorn tin, and a bottle of Moscato to feel the warmth and magic of Christmas. In fact, cheerful holiday movies do a lot more than entertain us; they remind us of things we may have forgotten about as we carry on with our day-to-day lives. Things like believing in the goodness of others or, more importantly, remembering we are worth the love we hope to one day find.
So, I invite you to curl up on a cream-colored shag rug with a prince, celebrity chef, cowboy, or ghost of your choice (I'm not judging). It's time for us to remember that true love is real and holiday miracles do happen. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and grab a glass of spiked egg nog because here at Zimbio, we just so happen to have a metaphorical sleigh with your name on it. Yes, you heard that right: Although our Netflix holiday movie list is not a part of Oprah's Favorite Things, I shall be your Oprah this holiday season and we are all going for a spectacular, snowy ride! Hop right in, folks, because these are the holiday movies on Netflix that will make you grateful you remembered to stock up on wine, sweet treats, and boxes of tissue during your Black Friday shopping spree.
1. Christmas Inheritance (2017)
Starring: Eliza Taylor, Jake Lacy
Run Time: 104 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Premise: There's Paris Hilton, then there's Ellen Langford. In this Netflix original, Ellen "Ellie" Langford is the heiress to the Home and Hearth gifts fortune. While participating in a Toys For Tots fundraiser, our party heiress backflips into a giant Christmas tree, landing her on the front page of every tabloid imaginable!
Ellie's father decides that before he hands the family business over to her, he needs to put her through a little test to see if she's worthy. Ellie's father wants Ellie to deliver the box of letters to Uncle Zeke, which will transplant Ellie from city life all the way to their hometown of Snow Falls, where the family business all began. The Catch? While Ellie is in Snow Falls, she's not allowed to reveal that she's Ellen Langford. She'll also only have $100 dollars to her name and no access to her credit cards or family money! Can heiress Ellie get the people of Snow Falls to fall in love with who she truly is?
2. The Holiday Calendar (2018)
Starring: Kat Graham, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Brown
Run Time: 95 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Premise: In this Netflix Original, Abby is a photographer with the dream of one day owning her own studio. Unfortunately for Abby (and the rest of us, really), following your dreams doesn't always lead to prosperity. But, it's okay. This holiday season, Abby's best friend Josh is coming back from traveling the world as a freelance photographer, and his presence is just what she needs to forget her troubles.
Shortly after Thanksgiving, Abby's grandpa gives Abby her grandmother's advent calendar. He claims that Abby's grandma wanted her to have it before passing. Though Abby's grandma claimed that this calendar was "magic" and that it lead her to Abby's grandpa, Abby herself doesn't quite believe in the calendar's special abilities. So, is it possible that this calendar can lead Abby to true love? Or, at least, to some sort of direct path to achieving her dreams?
3. A Christmas Prince (2017)
Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb
Run Time: 92 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Premise: Amber is a journalist sent to interview the playboy prince of Aldovia. Excited about what this means for her career, Amber and the rest of the press are disappointed when Prince Richard doesn't show up for the press conference. You see, the prince was supposed to make a statement about his decision on becoming the ruling king of Aldovia, but low key, he's not entirely sure that becoming king is a responsibility he wants to take on. Determined to get her story, Amber poses as a tutor to the Princess of Aldovia. When she discovers a deep secret about the royal family that will directly effect Prince Richard's rightful place on the thrown, Amber no longer knows if securing a buzzworthy story is worth the cost of destroying countless lives. FYI, this Netflix original is so good, it spawned a sequel — A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding.
4. Christmas With A View (2018)
Starring: Kaitlyn Leeb, Scott Cavalheiro
Run Time: 91 minutes
Genre: Drama, Romance
Premise: Based on the Harlequin novel The Maverick's Christmas Homecoming by Teresa Southwick, Christmas With A View tells the story of Clara, a server at the Thunder Mountain Ski Resort. Though Clara had bigger plans for herself, she's finally content with where she's at, especially after losing it all when her restaurant business failed!
Enter Shane Roarke, a TV cooking-competition winner who has become an overnight celebrity chef. Unlike Clara, Shane's success as a chef just keeps getting better and he's just signed a substantial contract to become Head Chef at Thunder Mountain, where Clara works! As the two become close, Clara can't help but wonder what Shane is doing in her hometown. Shouldn't he be working in a bigger city, serving celebrity clients instead of small-town people? When Clara sees Shane lurking around Frank and Jackie's Mountain View Inn, she can't help but question what Shane's real intentions are with her friends.
5. The Princess Switch (2018)
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio
Run Time: 104 minutes
Genre: Romance
Premise: Stacy is a talented baker who owns her own small but successful bakery in Chicago. This holiday season, Stacy doesn't have time to fall in love or try to rekindle a romance with an unwilling ex-boyfriend. For Stacy, there's no time for cuffing season, especially with the Belgravia Royal Christmas Baking Contest right around the corner. Stacy knows that if she wants to win this prestigious contest, she needs to keep her eye on the prize. But, can Stacy have her cake and eat it too? All puns aside, falling in love is something our girl wants with all her heart. The good news is that Christmas miracles do come true, especially in Netflix holiday movies!
Once in Belgravia, Stacy discovers that she shares an uncanny resemblance to the elusive Duchess poised to marry the prince. It just so happens, this Duchess wants nothing more than to trade places with Stacy so she can taste sweet freedom one last time. Although the Duchess takes her duties very seriously, she's apprehensive about committing the rest of her life to the royal family. But can Stacy hang up her apron for a day and seamlessly step into the shoes of soon-to-be royalty?
6. The Spirit Of Christmas (2015)
Starring: Jen Lilley, Thomas Beaudoin
Run Time: 91 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance
Premise: If all the ghosts of Christmas past looked this good, we wouldn't need presents under the tree. Just saying.
Kate is a realtor ready for a promotion and eager to meet her career goals. When Kate's given the task of selling a house before the year closes, she's not sure it's possible. Yet, Kate is up to the task. The only problem is the house appears to be haunted by a ghost named Daniel. Daniel comes to life, in physical form, for only a few days out of the year and wanders the house, aimless and confused, because he can't recall how he died.
Kate decides to help Daniel remember his death with the hopes that it will free his spirit so he can leave the house for good. With Daniel free, Kate can sell the house, get her promotion, and finally live her best life now, right? Not so fast. Kate falls in love with Daniel and is about to learn just how difficult long distance relationships really are when the person you love doesn't have a physical body.
7. A Very Murray Christmas (2015)
Starring: Bill Murray and an ensemble cast
Run Time: 56 minutes
Genre: Musical Comedy
Premise: Please allow us to move on from the holiday rom-com genre for a moment. In this 2015 musical, Bill Murray leads a star-studded cast (and we mean "star-studded") on a holiday adventure of epic proportions. After a snowstorm forces many guests to cancel ahead of Murray's live Christmas special, the funnyman
becomes sad and defeated. Luckily, chance encounters at his hotel make up for it. He meets famous faces and an eccentric cast of characters. The film showcases delightful song and dance numbers and winter-inspired sets that will get you in the holiday spirit. Look out for George Clooney, Rashida Jones, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Shaffer, Maya Rudolph, and even Miley Cyrus in this one.
8. A Holiday Engagement (2011)
Starring: Bonnie Somerville, Chris McKenna, Jordan Bridges, Shelley Long
Run Time: 97 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Premise: How do you tell your family your perfect fiancé doesn't exist? Well, if you're Hillary, you don't. Hillary, a successful journalist, has just been proposed to by her long-term boyfriend. Hillary's super excited about this life-changing event because for the longest time, she's been gushing to her family about what a great guy Jason is. Now that they are engaged, Hillary is ecstatic about introducing Jason to her family on Thanksgiving. But what does Jason do? He dumps Hillary a few days before her family's big Thanksgiving dinner! Scrambling to hide her broken engagement, Hillary comes up with a rather crazy plan to avoid a holiday disaster. She hires David, a professional actor, to play the role of Jason, so she can fool her family into thinking that her life is as perfect as they think it is. But as Hillary and David grow closer, could David be the "Jason" Hillary's always wanted and truly deserves?
9. How Sarah Got Her Wings (2015)
Starring: Lindsey Gort, Derek Theler
Run Time: 88 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Premise: When Sarah accidentally dies after trying to save a dog, she expects to go directly to heaven. Only, that's not the case. Sarah finds herself stuck in the lobby waiting to get into heaven. When an angel informs she's been given 10 days to return to earth to finish her unfinished business, Sarah doesn't expect to find herself back at Jordan's apartment, her ex-boyfriend she dumped on Christmas! Trying to fix one thing changes everything, and Sarah not only finds herself trying to help all those who were affected by her while she was living, she now has to help all those who are inadvertently affected by her while she's dead.
10. Coffee Shop (2014)
Starring: Laura Vandervoort, Cory M. Grant
Run Time: 88 minutes
Genre: Inspirational, Romance
Premise: Donavan is a small town coffee shop owner who's doing her best to get back on the dating scene. She once had the perfect boyfriend but let him go when he was forced to move to Chicago for his career. Unfortunately for Donavan, she's also about to lose her coffee shop. When New York playwright Ben moves into town to work and take a break from the big city, he doesn't expect to find someone like Donavan. As the two become closer, Donavan can't help but wonder if maybe Ben is the guy she's been looking for this whole time. And when her ex-boyfriend returns (!), Donavan learns that, sometimes, losing it all helps you understand what you truly need.
11. Merry Kissmas (2015)
Starring: Karissa Lee Staples, Brant Daughtery, Doris Roberts
Run Time: 89 minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Premise: Is there anything worse than having to choose between true love and an almost true love with the promise of financial security? Kayla has been in a relationship with her fiancé for almost two years. He's a highly successful choreographer who seems to have little-to-no time for Kayla and is more interested in his career than anything else. When Kayla has a chance encounter in an elevator with Dustin, a caterer for their engagement party, she is left wondering if their kiss is the spark of love she's been looking for her entire life. Even Kayla's
fiancé has taken notice in her renewed energy and is more determined than ever to get back to the way they were. But, maybe, it's time for someone new.
12. Dear Santa (2011)
Starring: Amy Acker
Run Time: 90 minutes
Genre: Drama, Romance
Premise: Crystal is living a privileged lifestyle, leisurely searching for purpose and direction when she comes across a "Dear Santa" letter written by a 7-year-old named Olivia. In this letter, the little girl asks Santa to bring her someone this year that can make Christmas better again, since Christmas hasn't been the same since her mom died. Crystal decides to answer Olivia's wish and seeks her out. To Crystal's surprise, she gets more than she bargained for, including falling madly in love with Olivia's handsome father, Derek. As Crystal grows closer to Olivia and Derek, she finds herself caught in a love triangle involving one of Derek's old girlfriends. Crystal soon learns that if she wants to keep the love she's come to know, she'll have to fight for it.
13. You Can't Fight Christmas (2017)
Starring: Brely Evans, Andra Fuller
Run Time: 87 minutes
Genre: Inspirational, Romance
Premise: Leslie is a designer with one very important task this year: to decorate the lobby of the very famous and honorable Chesterton Hotel. As Leslie preps the lobby for the Christmas cheer she's about to bring in, she falls off the ladder and into the arms of Edmund James, the grandson of J.J. James, the owner of the hotel! Nothing could be more magical than this moment — that is, until she learns of what Edmund James and his business partner plan to do with the hotel! Can Leslie look past her feelings for Edmund and help save the Chesterton from being drained of all its holiday magic?
FYI: If you want to hear another tale from the Chesterton Hotel, check out number 16 on our list, Miss Me This Christmas.
14. A Dogwalker's Christmas Tale (2015)
Starring: Jonathan Bennett, Lexi Giovagnoli
Run Time: 86 minutes
Genre: Romance
Premise: When 21-one-year-old Luce realizes she's maxed out her credit cards and has no way of buying gifts for others this holiday season, she's forced to make money — fast. Willing to do anything for a quick buck, Luce gives in to walking her wealthy neighbor's dog. It's during this fateful walk in the dog park that Lucy comes across Dean, a fellow dog walker who is out and about with his own adorable puppy. Dean informs Luce that a developer plans to tear down the dog park to build a spa. This developer, coincidently, happens to be Luce's boss. Will Luce help save the dog park or is her desire to stay employed far greater?
15. Christmas Crush (2012)
Starring: Rachel Boston, Jonathan Bennett
Run Time: 87 minutes
Genre: Romance
Premise: Georgia has just returned home for her high school reunion, and she's the talk of the town amongst all her former peers. On the outside, Georgia seems to have accomplished her ambitious career goal of becoming a fashion designer, but everything isn't as it seems. During her visit, Georgia finds herself mulling over Craig, wondering if he's "the one" she should have ended up with. But when Georgia stumbles upon Ben, an old childhood friend, she realizes he can still see right through her. Little by little, Georgia starts to wonder if perhaps it's Ben who has been "the one" this entire time.
16. Miss Me This Christmas (2017)
Starring: Erica Ash, Redaric Williams, Eva Marcille
Run Time: 87 Minutes
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Premise: Returning to the Chesterton Hotel (see entry number 13 on our list), we find Regina, a woman on the brink of divorce. After she catches her husband cheating, Regina seeks refuge in her best friend, Trish, who happens to live at the Chesterton. Trish suggests Regina get back on her feet and try to make her soon-to-be ex-husband jealous by finding someone better than him to spend Christmas with. When Regina finds multi-millionaire Ulysses, she fills him in on her plan to make her ex-husband regretful for his indiscretions. Ulysses agrees to help Regina out, although that leads to one major problem: Ulysses actually falls in love with Regina. But is it possible for Regina to love him back? Guess you'll just have to watch Miss Me This Christmas to find out.
17. Christmas Wedding Planner (2017)
Starring: Keith Cooper, Rebecca Lamarche, Joey Fatone, Kelly Rutherford
Run Time: 86 Minutes
Genre: Romance
Premise: Based on the novel Once Upon A Wedding by Stacy Connelly, this Christmas classic follows Kelsey ⏤ a wedding planner hoping to get her business up and running thanks to her rich cousin, Emily's, high-profile wedding. The success of Emily's wedding could make all of Kelsey's career dreams come true! The only person who could jeopardize Kelsey's flawless execution is Conner, a private investigator hired by an undisclosed source to prevent Emily's wedding from happening. Conner is the physical manifestation of Kelsey's worst nightmare: At any given point, he can expose a truth that will stop Emily's wedding and Kelsey's blossoming career. But, as the two grow closer, can Kelsey and Conner come to an agreement that allows Emily's wedding to happen, while also allowing them to be together?
18. Angels In The Snow (2015)
Starring: Kristy Swanson, Chris Potter, Colin Lawrence
Run Time: 90 Minutes
Genre: Family, Inspirational
Premise: The Montgomery family is trapped in their cabin this holiday season courtesy of an intense snow blizzard. To make matters worse, nobody seems to be getting along. Mom and Dad are constantly fighting and even the kids can't seem to tolerate each other. On top of all this, they forgot to bring their Christmas tree decorations. Things take a drastic turn when the Tucker family comes to their door, in need of shelter from the storm. As the Montgomerys witness the warmth of a loving family like the Tuckers, they realize what they've been lacking this holiday season goes beyond Christmas decorations.
19. Holiday Baggage (2008)
Starring: Cheryl Ladd, Barry Bostwick
Run Time: 110 Minutes
Genre: Inspirational drama
Premise: After Pete suffers a heart attack, he finds himself back home with his family and wife, Sarah. Yes, Pete has a new life with his fiancée, but his divorce to Sarah has yet to be finalized. During his visit, Pete suddenly realizes his marriage and pending divorce to Sarah has had grave effects on his daughters, and they no longer want him to be a part of their lives. As he does his best to understand his girls and where they are in their adult lives, Pete finds himself aching to call them his family again.
20. Rodeo & Juliet (2015)
Starring: Stephen Beck, Harry Cason
Run Time: 88 Minutes
Genre: Family, Romance
Premise: After Juliet's grandfather dies, she is forced to leave the big city and move to the countryside with her mother. Of course, Juliet wants nothing more than to get back to her old way of life. As time passes, the country gradually grows on Juliet, and she falls in love with her grandfather's beloved horse, Rodeo. When Juliet's mother tells her they have to sell Rodeo to pay off her grandfather's debts, Juliet must rely on a young cowboy named Monty to help her keep Rodeo and save the ranch.
21. Christmas With The Kranks (2004)
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis
Run Time: 98 Minutes
Genre: Comedy
Premise: Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis team up to portray a married couple who decide not to partake in the year's Christmas festivities and go on a Caribbean cruise instead. What can go wrong? Well, everything. After catching plenty of flak from their holiday-obsessed neighbors, things take a turn for the worse (and the comedic) when their daughter, Blaire, reveals to them that she's coming home for Christmas to show off her new fiancé. The Kranks must then scramble to make Christmas at their home warm and inviting. But clearly, the task isn't going to be easy.
22. A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (2018)
Starring: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige, Tahirah Sharif
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Genre: Romantic comedy
Premise: The 2017 viral-hit holiday romantic comedy starring the worst journalist of all time spawned a sequel, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding. This time, Amber returns to the fictional country of Aldovia to plan her marriage to the prince of her dreams. But her plans for the anticipated royal affair go against royal protocol. Expect angry kings and queens in this one. The sequel, which may not be as beloved as the original film, is still an essential watch for those who have become fans of Netflix's foray into the so-bad-so-good rom-com genre.
23. Pottersville (2017)
Starring: Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Thomas Lennon, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, Ian McShane
Run Time: 85 Minutes
Genre: Quirky comedy
Premise: Also known as the film where Michael Shannon dresses up as Bigfoot, Pottersville isn't a great movie by any means (the critics gave it a sad zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes), but the cast sort of makes up for it. In the fictional town of Pottersville, Shannon's Maynard decides to bring the lore of Bigfoot to real life in order to help bring tourism dollars back to his struggling city, which is still reeling from the closure of the Pottersville Mill. If you like quirky dramas and mythical creatures, maybe give this one a shot.
24. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Starring: Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Lamorne Morris, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Oliver Hudson
Run Time: 104 Minutes
Genre: Action-Comedy, Family
Premise: You may be wondering what the heck Kirk Russell is doing playing smooth talking St. Nick in a Netflix Original film. We are, too. But we're not complaining. The former action star portrays Christmas's bearded VIP whose sleigh crashes while en route to deliver gifts. With the clock ticking, he is eventually aided by a brother and sister, and together they pull an all-nighter to save Christmas. If they don't, the Christmas Spirit will be gone and a new Dark Age will rise again. Eeek, sounds dark.
25. Angela's Christmas (2018)
Starring: Lucy O'Connell, Ruth Negga, Brendan Mullins
Run Time: 30 minutes
Genre: Animated Short, Family
Premise: Literature fans will want to check this heartwarming holiday film out. Angela's Christmas, based on a story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes), is set in Ireland in the early 1900s. While attending mass on Christmas Eve, she notices the baby Jesus statue isn't wearing enough clothes and so concocts a plan to warm him up. The animated film will move you and maybe bring you to tears as themes of innocence, selflessness, and family are explored. The film also features the voice of Oscar-nominated actress Ruth Negga. And at only 30 minutes, Angela's Christmas is an easy watch.
26. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor
Run Time: 104 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Premise: Jim Carrey gives the performance of his life as the titular Grinch who pouts atop his lonely hill overlooking the town of Whoville. Carrey is an absolute riot as he brings quirkiness, charisma, and downright insanity to Dr. Seuss's beloved literary character. Oh, and look out for a young Taylor Momsen (Cindy Lou Who), who we still cannot believe grew up to star in The WB's Gossip Girl and be the frontwoman in her own rock band. Crazy. Watching Ron Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas should be a yearly family tradition at this point.
27. Get Santa (2014)
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor
Run Time: 102 minutes
Genre: Family, Feel-Good
Premise: Honesty, we don't know who comes up with this kind of stuff. Get Santa is your usually feel-good holiday film but with a twist — Kris Kringle is arrested (!!!) for trespassing after he crashes his sleigh. Yup, this film goes there. In the delightful British comedy, a father and son duo must then team up to help Santa, of course, to save Christmas.
28. Beauty And The Beast (2017)
Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Kline, Ian McKellan
Run Time: 132 minutes
Genre: Family
Premise: Okay, Beauty and the Beast isn't exactly a holiday film. But bear with us. The Disney remake features snow, castles in winter, and a plot that honestly feels like a holiday fairytale. You know the story — Belle's father gets kidnapped by the Beast, Belle saves her father, Belle then becomes the Beast's captive, Beast and Belle fall in love. There are magic, spells, talking inanimate objects, iconic songs that will move you, and, at its heart, a beautiful story that will bring joy to your life.
29. Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (1999)
Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Wayne Allwine, Russi Taylor
Run Time: 65 minutes
Genre: Animated, Family
Premise: For children of the '90s, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is a staple. The direct-to-video anthology features three animated stories ("Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas," "A Very Goofy Christmas," and "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi"), each one narrated by Kelsey Grammer. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll sing along to the songs. If you're not into Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, your kids will be.
30. A Storybots Christmas (2017)
Starring: Edward Asner, Judy Greer, Erin Fitzgerald
Run Time: 25 minutes
Genre: Animated, Family
Premise: Technically a TV short, this is an essential watch for anyone who is a fan of the educational program Storybots. The 25-minute animated holiday special follows Bo (voiced by Erin Fitzgerald) who must learn the hard way that Christmas is more than just presents. A Storybots Christmas scored six Daytime Emmy Awards nominations, and won two. Ed Asner, who portrays Santa, even received an Emmy nod for the role.
