15 Fantastic New Christmas Movies and Specials to Stream in 2024

Put the ho-ho-ho in your holiday with these heartwarming (often hilarious) gems from Netflix, Hallmark, Disney, BET, and more

Tracey Minkin,

AARP

Comments

Published November 27, 2024

a christmas tree with lights and decorations on it

Scott Gries/NBC

We love It’s A Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas as much as anyone, but watching only the classics during the holiday season can be a bit like getting the same gift under the tree every year. Allow us to gingerbread-spice up your holiday streaming schedule with these 15 new Christmas-themed films and TV shows from Netflix, Hallmark, Disney, BET, Hulu, the networks, and more!

An Almost Christmas Story (Disney+, G)

All of us who followed the touching story of Rocky, the adorable little owl found far from home in the limbs of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020, will especially love this new animated short film. This time, the owl’s name is Moon and its efforts to escape the city lead to befriending a little girl, Luna, also lost. Their journey home is a wholesome holiday watch for all ages, and grownups will love catching the voice acting of stars including Jim Gaffigan, 58, Natasha Lyonne, and John C. Reilly, 59.

Watch it: An Almost Christmas Story on Disney+

Christmas at Plumhill Manor (Lifetime, PG)

In this holiday rom-com, Margot Stone (Maria Menounos), a Type A powerhouse architect in New York, inherits an English countryside manor unexpectedly. Of course she heads to the UK with plans to knock it down and rebuild. Enter Kyle Pryor as a hunky plum-cider maker to put the rom in the com, and a historical mystery that may save the manor after all. This film kicks off Lifetime’s annual holiday cavalcade of original films: Check out the full schedule here. https://www.mylifetime.com/christmas-movies

Watch it: Christmas at Plumhill Manor on Lifetime

A Christmas Miracle (BET+, PG)

BET+ kicks off a bundle of eight original holiday films with this family tale of banding together to save a struggling community center's annual holiday jubilee to make sure that everyone – especially the local kids – has the merriest Christmas. Look for a BET+ new holiday film each week until Christmas Day, including Style Me For Christmas, A Wesley South African Christmas, Queens of Christmas and Blended Christmas.

Watch it: A Christmas Miracle on BET+

Hot Frosty (Netflix, PG)

Two years after losing her husband, Kathy (queen of holiday films Lacey Chabert) brings a handsome snowman (Dustin Milligan, Schitt’s Creek) to life! As his sweet nature opens her heart to love again, the unlikely pair face the ultimate separation: his melting. It may sound crazy, but this sexy snowman rom-com has already captured the hearts of Netflix nation, as the #1 movie on the streamer.

Watch it: Hot Frosty on Netflix

Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix, PG)

It’s a meet-cute in the beginning: Layla (Christina Milian) is stuck in an airport on Christmas Eve and meets what she’s sure is the man of her dreams (Kofi Siriboe). The pair vow to reunite the following year at a Christmas Eve Pentatonix concert. But when Layla finds the concert sold out and employs a savvy ticket concierge (Davale Ellis) to get her to the show on time, complications of the logistical and romantic kind ensue.

Watch it: Meet Me Next Christmas on Netflix

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland (Hulu)

In a fun and vibrant animated style, this new film based on the bestselling book written by Carys Bexington mashes up two beloved stories with enough sass for grownup watchers. Voiced by Gerard Butler, 55, St. Nick gets a last-minute gift-list letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts (she of Wonderland provenance). Off with the sleigh, but a Christmas-hating Queen of Hearts (Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones) stands in his way. Will he deliver the present – and the true meaning of Christmas – in time?

Watch it: The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland on Hulu

The Merry Gentlemen (Netflix, PG)

Between this Magic Mike-esque holiday film — where a former big-city dancer (Britt Robertson, Girlboss) decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue (including former teen heartthrob Chad Michael Murray) to save her parents’ small-town performing venue — and Hot Frosty’s sexy snowman, it’s the steamiest Christmas ever on Netflix. But it’s all in fun: Get your yule log burning with this PG rom-com.

Watch it: The Merry Gentlemen, on Netflix

Our Little Secret (Netflix, PG-13)

Merry Ex-Mas! After discovering their significant others are siblings, two resentful exes (Freaky Friday’s Lindsay Lohan and Pretty Little Liars’s Ian Harding) must spend Christmas under one roof — while hiding their romantic history, especially from holiday momzilla Erica (Tony- and Emmy-winner Kristin Chenoweth, 56).

Watch it: Our Little Secret, Nov. 27 on Netflix

Nutcrackers (Hulu)

It’s a script out of a Hallmark film, minus the dreamy setting and Gen Z hunk: Here, urban workaholic Mike (Ben Stiller, 58) has to travel to rural Ohio to look after his recently orphaned nephews. What he imagines will be just a quick pivot to foster care for the kids turns into — surprise! — a type of soul salvation on the farm. Ben Stiller fans will want to give this one a look; others might just migrate to Hallmark for its trademark avalanche of holiday feel-good films.

Watch it: Nutcrackers, Nov. 29 on Hulu

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story (Hallmark Channel)

Everyone’s favorite holiday movie channel is capitalizing on the Kansas City Chiefs’s Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce romance by partnering with the team to bring a new, Chiefs-themed love story to the screen. Mama Kelce even has a cameo in the movie, along with head coach Andy Reid and several players. Holiday Touchdown joins 30 more new movies on Hallmark Channel, nine new films for Hallmark Mystery’s “Miracles of Christmas” and seven more original movies on the new Hallmark+ streaming service.

Watch it: Holiday Touchdown, Nov. 30 on Hallmark Channel

Don't miss this: Deck the Hallmark Channel with AARP's 10 Best New Hallmark Christmas Movies for 2024

Jack in Time for Christmas (Prime Video)

English comedian Jack Whitehall plays himself in this star-studded attempt to get home from America to the UK for Christmas. Look for Michael Bublé, Jimmy Fallon and Rebel Wilson, among others, helping the wry, affable Englishman.

Watch it: Jack in Time for Christmas, Dec. 3 on Prime Video

Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC)

Singer and TV host Kelly Clarkson returns after having such a fabulous time last year to host this live, two-hour entertainment special that includes the annual lighting of the famed Christmas tree. Want to keep the party going? Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular follows at 10 p.m. ET.

Watch it: Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Dec. 4 live at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock

That Christmas (Netflix, PG)

It’s Love Actually, but make it animated and for kids! Based on a children’s book trilogy by Love Actually writer/director Richard Curtis, 68, this set of entwined tales wraps up family, friends, lots of turkeys and Santa Claus voiced by Brian Cox, 78. The all-star UK cast includes Jodie Whittaker, Fiona Shaw, 66, and frequent Curtis film castmember Bill Nighy, 74.

Watch it: That Christmas, Dec. 4 on Netflix

Carell Augustus/NBC

Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey in 'A Motown Christmas'

A Motown Christmas (NBC)

Settle in for the richest blend of holiday music of the season as Smokey Robinson, 84, and Halle Bailey co-host this special filled with performances by Motown legends including Gladys Knight, 80, Martha Reeves, 83, and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. Bailey will honor Diana Ross and the Supremes with a medley; Jamie Foxx, 56, will lead a celebration of Stevie Wonder’s greatest hits alongside BeBe Winans, 62, Jordin Sparks, and Andra Day; and October London and JoJo will honor the late Marvin Gaye.

Watch it: A Motown Christmas, Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. Eastern, next day on Peacock

The cast of 'Saturday Night Live'

Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC

A Saturday Night Live Christmas (NBC)

No need to stay up late for this annual holiday special, which bundles up the best of the famed comedy show’s Christmas-themed sketches from its astonishing 50-year run and airs it all in prime time.

Watch it: A Saturday Night Live Christmas, Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. Eastern, encore on Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. Eastern

%{postComment}%