(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix takes the holidays very seriously. As soon as the holiday season starts, the platform starts dropping a fresh batch of Christmas films that manage to be sweet, just what’s required in the spirit of the holiday.

Sure, the snow might look fake, and the moral of the story is the same old and predictable, yet you end up watching them all because that’s what December does to people. But you see, there is still about half a month left in December, and sure, on Thanksgiving we all will be watching Stranger Things volume one; hence, we felt it’s good to enjoy the holiday movies now.

The best part of these movies is how easy they are to watch. You don’t have to constantly analyse who the killer might be or get traumatised by crime because let’s just all accept that Netflix has given us enough true crime for the year. Hence, we like these light movies.

So, we have brought you five films full of holiday spirit, and these are for the days when you want something that doesn’t ask for much. You’ll find families arguing, kids saving the day, and a few reindeer doing their best to stay relevant. All very harmless, all very watchable.

And if you’re someone who claims they don’t like Christmas films, fine, give it ten minutes. Netflix has a way of proving people wrong before the first snowflake hits the screen.

Five family-friendly Christmas movies to stream on Netflix

A Boy Called Christmas (Gil Kenan, 2021)

Have you ever come across one of those Christmas movies that try too hard to be magical and end up feeling like an ad for hot chocolate? Don’t worry, this is not that. A Boy Called Christmas actually gets the feeling right. It follows a kid named Nikolas who sets out to find his father and somehow discovers the origin of Father Christmas along the way. The story sounds basic, but the film has this confidence that doesn’t oversell the magic but just lets it happen.

It looks beautiful too, all icy landscapes and candlelight. The characters don’t talk like greeting cards, and the emotions land without being syrupy. It’s sweet in a real way. If you want something that still feels Christmassy six weeks before Christmas, this is the one.

Best. Christmas. Ever! (Mary Lambert, 2023)

We all have that one friend who sends us a holiday newsletter every year and who seems to have their entire life sorted with a perfect job, perfect kids, and a perfect husband, and then we actually have to see them in person. Oh, the joyful and wholesome vibe they bring to the table… Well, that’s Best. Christmas. Ever! The movie starts off like a harmless reunion but turns into a funny, slightly petty competition between two women who clearly have old scores to settle.

What you’ll like about it is that it doesn’t pretend to be deep. Brandy and Heather Graham just go for it with their full dramatic energy, Christmas decorations everywhere, and so many awkward moments that you can’t look away.

The Christmas Chronicles (Clay Kaytis, 2018)

So, Kurt Russell as Santa. You might be sceptical at first because we were too. But it works, big time. He is just the required amount of dramatic in a fun way, and the movie knows exactly what it is doing with him. Two kids try to catch Santa on camera, and instead of a cute little prank, they end up in his sleigh, causing total mayhem across the city. It’s a lot of mess, but the good kind.

It’s funny, but the fun here does not feel forced. You just get swept into it before you even realise. By the end, you’re rooting for Santa like he’s an action hero. It’s silly, but you don’t even care, and it has got that energy that makes December nights feel lighter.

The Claus Family (Matthias Temmermans, 2020)

At first, you might confuse this film for another cute Christmas film with a kid, family drama, and a bit of magic. But this one has something gentler underneath it. Jules, the boy at the centre, doesn’t even like Christmas. He’s just trying to get through it until he finds out his grandfather is literally Santa. The story sounds familiar, but it doesn’t play out the way you expect. It feels sincere, like it actually cares about the people in it.

The tone is pleasant. The emotions land in small, honest moments and there is nothing dramatic, just little shifts that feel real. By the end, it stops being about gifts or magic and turns into something more personal, about loss and love and showing up for family.

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Debbie Allen, 2020)

In a world full of raw emotions, there are some movies that don’t even try to be realistic. This is one of those, and that’s exactly why it works. Dolly Parton shows up in full angel mode, covered in glitter, singing every few minutes like the story wouldn’t move without her. It’s an over-the-top, dramatic-as-fuck movie that is completely self-aware about what it’s doing.

The plot’s simple enough: a woman wants to sell her hometown right before Christmas, but the way it plays out feels more like a musical dream sequence. And yet, you keep watching. Dolly just has that effect. You roll your eyes while giggling a little, and before you know it, you’re enjoying the whole thing. It’s ridiculous yet fun.