23 Holiday Movies Coming To Theaters and Streaming This Season
Just add eggnog.
It's no secret that holiday movies have a tendency to be a bit cheesy. The plot lines are predictable, often with an outcome that's just a touch too good to be true, but despite it all, we can't get enough of 'em. Thankfully these days, big movie studios, networks like Hallmark and Lifetime, and streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ are all churning out cheer-fests, ensuring that they're never in short supply. To help you pick the perfect festive flick for any occasion, refer to our guide of the most notable holiday movies coming during the 2019–2020 season.
'Last Christmas' - November 8
Where to watch: In theaters
Believe it or not, studios are only releasing one holiday comedy in theaters this season, but luckily it's from director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat). In the film, a down-on-her-luck department store elf (Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones) finds romance when she needs it most. Henry Golding of Crazy Rich Asians also stars.
'Let It Snow' - November 8
Where to watch: Netflix
A group of young adults (Isabela Merced and Kiernan Shipka) get stranded during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. As the snow flakes fall, love and friendship begin to blossom. Based on the story by John Green ("The Fault in Our Stars" and "Paper Towns").
'Noelle' - November 12
Where to watch: Disney+
Do you have Disney+ yet? Well, if you don't, maybe this will entice you to hop on the streaming bandwagon. Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) stars as Noelle, the daughter of Santa Clause. When her father decides to retire and pass the family business down to her brother Nick (Bill Hader), the pressure becomes all too much. He flees the North Pole in favor of the real world, and it becomes Noelle's job to chase after him and convince him to return. All the while, their sketchy cousin (Billy Eichner) takes over the family business.
'A Christmas Miracle' - November 14
Where to watch: Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Emma, a single mother, played by Tamera Mowry-Housley, lands a temporary holiday job writing for a lifestyle magazine. Just as an unexpected romance sparks between her and a supportive colleague, her story's lead takes her on a journey that could provide someone with a much needed Christmas miracle.
'Klaus' - November 15
Where to watch: Netflix
A postal worker (Jason Schwartzman) stationed in the Arctic North befriends a mysterious toymaker, Klaus (J.K. Simmons). Rashida Jones and Joan Cusack also lend their voices to the animated origin story of Santa Claus.
'Write Before Christmas' - November 17
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
A recently single woman (Torrey DeVitto) sends Christmas cards to five people who greatly influenced her life. Among them is a supportive aunt, a pop star, her brother, a music teacher, and her best friend. But whose life will she greatly influence? Perhaps it's One Tree Hill heartthrob, Chad Michael Murray?
'The Knight Before Christmas' - November 21
Where to watch: Netflix
Every girl dreams of her knight in shining armor, right? In this Netflix original, medieval knight (Josh Whitehouse) magically transports to present day, where he meets a young school teacher (Vanessa Hudgens), and the two begin to fall in love.
'Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays' - November 23
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
We meet a whole new batch of characters in the follow-up to the Hallmark Channel's most-watched original movie of 2018, Christmas at Graceland. When Harper (Kaitlin Doubleday), a young woman with a serious case of wanderlust, returns to her hometown of Memphis, she gets a gig as a nanny for a wealthy businessman, Owen (Adrian Grenier). As they work together on a Christmas event at Graceland, sparks between the two start to fly.
'Check Inn to Christmas' - November 26
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
A Manhattan attorney returns home to her quiet, family-run inn for the holidays only to find that a decades-old feud between her family and the family who own a rival inn still stands strong. But not long after returning to her Rocky Mountain hometown, a forbidden romance blossoms between her and a rival family's son.
'Christmas at the Plaza' - November 28
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
When Jessica (Elizabeth Henstridge) lands the job of creating The Plaza's Christmas display, she looks to a charming decorator (Ryan Paevey) to assist with the job. As the two work together, they realize that there is something more to their professional relationship.
'Holiday Rush' - November 28
Where to watch: Netflix
When a popular radio DJ (Romany Malco) gets fired from his job, he moves in with his aunt–bringing his four spoiled children along with him. In order to return to the air, the family must buy out a small radio station, but to do that, they all need to downsize their extravagant Christmas wish-lists. This family is about to learn an invaluable lesson.
'Merry Happy Whatever' - November 28
Where to watch: Netflix
Netflix is expanding the holiday cheer into an entire eight-episode series with Merry Happy Whatever. The sitcom centers around a stressed-out father, Sheriff Don (Dennis Quaid), attempting to balance life when his youngest daughter brings home her new boyfriend for the holidays. Ashley Tisdale, Bridgit Mendler, Brent Morin, and Elizabeth Ho round out the cast.
'Staging Christmas' - November 29
Where to watch: Lifetime
When a wealthy widower (George Shultz) hires a woman (Soleil Moon Frye) to stage his home for Christmas, the two find they have more in common than just similar tastes in holiday decorations.
'Christmas in Rome' - November 30
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
After an American tour guide (Lacey Chabert) in Rome suddenly gets fired from her job just days before Christmas, she meets a wealthy businessman, Oliver (Sam Page). He hires her to show him around Rome, but the two quickly spark up something more.
'Christmas Town' - December 1
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
When Lauren (Candace Cameron Bure, Fuller House) leaves Boston for a new job opportunity, a detour through Grandon Falls leads her down an unexpected road of new friends, family, and love.
'A Christmas Prince: Royal Baby' - December 5
Where to watch: Netflix
Rounding out the Christmas Prince trilogy, this film kicks off with Queen Amber (Rose McIver) and King Richard (Ben Lamb), who are expecting their first child. All is well at the kingdom during Christmastime, but when a sacred treaty between nations goes missing, Queen Amber must discover the thief before the stroke of midnight–or else an ancient curse will lurk over the kingdom.
'A Christmas Love Story' - December 7
Where to watch: Hallmark Channel
When a youth choir teacher (Kristin Chenoweth) welcomes a new talented vocalist to her Christmas Eve show, he show up with his devilishly handsome widowed father (Scott Wolf, Party of Five) in tow.
'Christmas Unleashed' - December 7
Where to watch: Lifetime
Nothing makes a better holiday movie than combining Christmas and dogs, especially when the two help to rekindle love. When Rebecca's (Vanessa Lachey) dog runs away on Christmas Eve, she turns to her ex-boyfriend (Christopher Russell) to help her find the pup.
'Mistletoe & Menorahs' - December 7
Where to watch: Lifetime
To impress his new girlfriend's dad, a Jewish bachelor (Jake Epstein) needs to transform his pad into a Christmas wonderland. All the while, his friend Christy (Kelly Jackle) needs to learn about Hanukkah to help her land a big career move. It's a trade-off for the holidays as each learns about the other's traditions.
'Black Christmas' - December 13
Where to watch: In theaters
Not all holiday movies have to be romantic comedies, do they? And since there is a Friday the 13th in December, it should come as no surprise that Hollywood is turning holiday cheer into a bit of holiday fear. In the remake of the cult-classic horror film (coincidentally, from the same director who brought us A Christmas Story), a group of sorority sisters refuse to go down without a fight when they encounter a serial killer during holiday break.
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