No matter what age we are, everyone loves a good Christmas movie during the holiday season. From 2022 newly released flicks, to Christmas animation movies and 20-year-old classics, we’ve got something for everyone in the household to enjoy. These movies are available across Netflix, Neon, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more. Here are 12 of the most magical Christmas movies to watch this year.
1. Elf
No matter how many times you’ve seen it, this Christmas family-comedy movie never gets old. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, the iconic human adult elf, who, as a kid, fell into Santa’s sack on Christmas Eve. When he becomes an adult, he learns the truth of why he is so different to the other elves, and he goes on an adventure to find his real family in New York City. Watch on Neon or Apple TV.
2. A Boy Called Christmas
This Christmas movie tells the tale of a young boy called Nikolas, who ventures through the snowcapped North of Finland to find his father. He learns of a mysterious village of elves called Elfhelm. And, together, with a reindeer called Blitzen and a pet mouse, they set out to find Elfhelm. Certainly, you don’t need to be a child to enjoy this one.
3. The Polar Express
Another Christmas classic first released back in 2004, and it was the first fully motion-captured animation film made. It features the voice of Tom Hanks, as a young boy in search of the the true meaning of Christmas. He takes a magical train ride to the North Pole where he meets friends and foes along the way. Rent it on Neon, Apple TV or Google Play.
4. Home Alone 1 & 2
Another Christmas masterpiece starring Macaulay Culkin as Kevin, an eight-year-old boy who is left behind, by accident, when his family fly to Paris for Christmas. Kevin enjoys the quiet until a pair of burglars try to rob his home. Making traps of his own, he goes on a mission to keep the burglars out. In the second movie, he bumps into the same thieves in New York. Both movies are available on Disney+, Apple TV or Google Play.
5. The Santa Clause Trilogy
The first installment begins with a divorced father, Scott (Tim Allen), who accidently kills Santa on Christmas Eve. After receiving magical instructions, he puts on Santa’s suit, and before you know it, himself and his son are partaking in Santa’s Christmas deliveries. It sets the story to follow over three superb movies. Watch on Disney+, YouTube or Apple TV in New Zealand.
6. Office Christmas Party
Certainly, this adult 2016 Christmas flick will get you in the festive mood. It tells the story of a failing business branch, managed by an immature party-loving brother, Clay (T.J Miller) and his uptight sister (Jennifer Aniston). Clay throws an out-of-control Christmas party to try and impress a client to save the business. Watch on Apple TV.
7. Love Hard
The newest Christmas comedy flick to land on Netflix that is currently number one in many countries. It stars Nina Dobrev as LA writer Natalie, a hopeless romantic, who flies 3,000 miles for Christmas, to surprise a man she met on a dating app. However, she gets the shock of her life when she learns that she has been catfished. It’s extremely relatable and will put you in the holiday mood.
8. Miracle On 34th Street
Another much-loved old Christmas classic from 1994. It follows six-year-old Susan Walker (Mara Wilson) who doesn’t believe in Santa as a result of her mother’s influence. Her mother hires a man called Kris Kringle (Richard Attenborough) to fill in as Santa at Macys. Shortly after, he begins to openly tell people that he is the real Santa, and he is met with threats of institutionalization followed by a court case. Indeed, an enchanting Christmas family flick with some important life lessons.
9. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
As one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time, we simply must watch this annually. The Grinch (Jim Carrey), who hates Christmas, and his dog, Max, live outside Whoville. He hatches a plan to steal all the townsfolk Christmas gifts and ruin Christmas. Though, he is interrupted constantly by a six-year-old girl, who sees the good in him, and tries to change him. Stream on Netflix or Prime Video now.
1o. Falling for Christmas
This new Netflix movie is the perfect comedy flick to get you in the mood for Christmas. It follows a young and newly engaged heiress (Lindsey Lohan) who has a skiing accident before Christmas. Unfortunately, she’s diagnosed with amnesia, and finds herself in the care of a handsome cabin owner and his daughter, without her previous memories. Indeed, one of the most unmissable Christmas movies
11. Let It Snow
This 2019 coming-of-age romantic movie is another great movie to boost your festive mood. When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town on Christmas Eve, a group of high school students come together, to discover who they are, find friendship and figure out their love lives. Available on Netflix.
12. Holidate
This extremely relatable Netflix movie follows Sloane Benson (Emma Roberts), who is constantly taunted by her family for being single. She meets a stranger, Jackson (Luke Bracey), who convinces her to enter into a platonic relationship with him for one year, and pretend to be each other’s Holidate. But things aren’t as easy as it seems. Certainly, the humour to get you in the mood for Christmas.