With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s just about acceptable to start saying that it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
When it comes to getting into the holiday spirit, Netflix is one of the best platforms for hosting both original holiday movie content as well as fan favorites, both old and new.
This November, Watch With Us wants to highlight our seven favorite Christmas movies currently streaming on the platform.
Our picks include the brand-new movie, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, starring Alicia Silverstone, as well as the charming rom-com, Last Christmas.
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‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’ (2025)
Husband and wife Everett (Oliver Hudson) and Kate (Silverstone) have recently separated but remain amiable, and they decide to spend one last Christmas together for their children in their family home. But when Everett arrives with his younger new girlfriend (Jameela Jamil), Kate decides to bring some man candy of her own, and hijinks quickly ensue as the couple duke it out in a friendly battle of wills.
A Merry Little Ex-Mas was praised for the charming chemistry between Silverstone and Hudson, as well as the cozy atmosphere and genuine warmth and love displayed between the characters in the film. Instead of there being an antagonist, A Merry Little Ex-Mas instead finds conflict in the flaws and humanity of its characters, which is very fitting for the holiday season.
‘Last Christmas’ (2019)
Last Christmas stars Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke as Kate, who works as an elf in a London Christmas shop that’s open all year round. Her ho-hum life soon takes a happy turn when she meets the dashingly handsome Tom (Henry Golding), who sweeps her off her feet. As Tom and Kate’s attraction turns into love, Kate begins to notice strange things about the man that she’s fallen for.
Keep the tissue box handy while watching Last Christmas, which features a shocking twist ending that you won’t see coming —even if it’s a little absurd. However, the absurdity of the movie is part of what makes it such a treat, alongside committed performances from both Clarke and Golding.
‘Carry-On’ (2024)
This Christmas Eve-set action thriller stars Taron Egerton as Ethan, a young airline security guard, who is contacted by a ruthless mercenary known as the Traveler (Jason Bateman). The Traveler tells Ethan that he must allow a specific carry-on case to pass through security, inside of which contains a dangerous weapon — if Ethan fails to comply, his pregnant girlfriend, Nora (Sofia Carson), will be killed.
With obvious comparisons to Die Hard, Carry-On succeeds as a great blend of holiday spirit and exciting action. It was lauded by critics for being a fantastic throwback thriller, and its totally illogical plot is made up for in its taut and confident execution. Additionally, Egerton and Bateman were highlighted as particularly great casting in their roles.
‘Christmas With the Kranks’ (2004)
Don’t let that 5 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes dissuade you from watching Christmas with the Kranks — especially since some critics have managed to admit that they were wrong about the movie in the years since its release. The movie follows the titular Krank family, who wish to do away with holiday tradition and take a Caribbean cruise instead. But they discover that their decision has ostracized them from their Christmas-obsessed neighbors.
Starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Aykroyd, Christmas with the Kranks wasn’t entirely panned upon release, with Variety in particular praising the film as being a light, fluffy and suitable Christmas confection. However, more recently, critics have retrospectively praised the film, feeling that it’s an under-appreciated classic that succeeds as goofy, slapstick-filled satire.
‘The Night Before’ (2015)
For a decade, longtime friends Isaac (Seth Rogen), Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have always gotten together on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holiday together. However, as Isaac now has a baby on the way, the trio realizes it’s time for their tradition to come to a close. To go out with a bang, the friends embark on a wild nighttime odyssey in search of the elusive “Nightcracker Ball” party.
With great chemistry on display between Rogen, Gordon-Levitt and Mackie, The Night Before manages to be both a hilarious Christmas comedy as well as a touching tribute to the spirit of friendship. The movie boasts a fantastic ensemble cast that includes appearances from Lizzy Caplan, Mindy Kaling, Michael Shannon and Nathan Fielder.
‘Our Little Secret’ (2024)
Exes Avery (Lindsay Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding) haven’t had a great relationship ever since their romance ended. But when they discover that their new partners are siblings, they realize they’re going to have to spend Christmas together. The only thing is, the siblings don’t know that Avery and Logan once dated. Together, the pair makes a pact to keep their past a secret and preserve the holiday peace.
The Guardian favorably compared Our Little Secret to other Christmas comedy movies like Four Christmases and Meet the Parents, and while the narrative is certainly thin, the movie is a warm, entertaining watch that further solidifies Lohan as a capable comedic actress. When it comes to more recent Christmas films, Our Little Secret certainly leads the pack.
‘Hot Frosty’ (2024)
Widowed Kathy (Lacey Chabert) lives in the throes of depression from the loss of her handyman husband, allowing her home to fall into disrepair, yet still managing to take care of her friends and neighbors. However, when Kathy somehow magically brings a muscular snowman sculpture to life, the newly human Jack (Dustin Milligan) begins fixing the physical cracks in Kathy’s deteriorating life — along with her broken heart.
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Hot Frosty is a winkingly absurd Christmas rom-com that is sweet enough to soften the hardened heart of any holiday movie naysayer. For Kathy, a hot snowman is just the comfort she needs in cold times, and Hot Frosty is similarly a warm, silly hug of a film that is charming, funny and undeniably sweet.
