When it comes to Christmas movie staples, we all know the standards of the genre – your heavy hitters like “Christmas Vacation,” “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone,” and the like. We love them too, and they will continue to be holiday mainstays around these parts!
But if you’re looking for something fresh – and since we’re officially at the halfway point of this decade – it’s a good time to look at some Christmas movies of the 2020s that may be worth checking out if you haven’t already.
For our money, it doesn’t get better than “The Holdovers” (2023). Starring Paul Giamatti as a curmudgeon professor, this film set in the 1970s follows the story of college students who have nowhere to go over the holidays and are forced to stay on campus. “The Holdovers” received several Academy Award nominations, with Da’Vine Joy Randolph winning for best supporting actress. This is a new classic that will be played in our house for years to come. Available to rent on streaming services; rated R.
“Spirited” (2022) is a modern musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. The Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) is nearing retirement and sets his sights on an “unredeemable” and controversial media consultant named Clint Briggs (Reynolds), who ends up helping the Ghost reconciling his own past. Available on Apple TV; rated PG-13.
If it’s a romantic comedy you’re in the mood for, “Happiest Season” (2020) is a solid option. It features a great ensemble cast centered around Abby Holland (Kristen Stewart) and Harper Caldwell (Mackenzie Davis), who visit Harper’s family in her hometown. Abby plans to propose to Harper on Christmas morning but, suffice to say, that turns out to be more difficult than expected. Available on Hulu; rated PG-13.
One movie from 2025 that’s getting some chatter is “Jingle Bell Heist,” which was released on Netflix on Nov. 26. Two down-on-their-luck hourly workers (Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells) team up to rob a posh London department store on Christmas Eve. Secrets surface and feelings develop, putting the heist in serious jeopardy. Available on Netflix; rated TV-14.
Finally, “Falling for Christmas” (2022) marked Lindsay Lohan’s comeback as she played a spoiled heiress who suffers from amnesia following a skiing accident and lands in the care of a handsome, widowed lodge owner. Another good pick if you just want something pleasant and not think too hard. Available on Netflix; rated PG.
Those are our picks – what are yours? What did we miss? Let us know in the comments!
