New christmas movies in 2024 in Cinema & on VOD
Top movies up for release in 2024 in cinema and on VODBest christmas movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ or DVD in 2024
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and the 2010's best rated christmas movies out on DVD, Bluray or streaming on VOD (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ & More).
The Holdovers
DIRECTOR: Alexander Payne CAST: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa & Da'Vine Joy Randolph Paul Hunham is a teacher at Deerfield Academy who isn’t the least bit excited to be looking over students that are not heading home for Christmas break. The students don’t like him either. However, Paul will have to make amends with the troubled student Angus if he ever wants to draw out the smarts this boy clearly has. But can this bitter student and teacher set their differences aside this Christmas? Directed by Alexander Payne (Nebraska, Sideways), this comedy-drama stars the talents of Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Read more
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Ordinary Angels
DIRECTOR: Jon Gunn CAST: Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson & Emily Mitchell Inspired by a true story, Ordinary Angels follows the life of hairdresser Sharon Stevens. Committed to her community, she strives to help out a widowed father who is struggling to keep his ill daughter alive. However, those plans for preservation grow all the more challenging amid the 1994 North American cold wave. Directed by Jon Gunn (The Case for Christ), this engrossing American drama stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, Tamala Jones, and Amy Acker. Read more
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A Biltmore Christmas
DIRECTOR: John Putch CAST: Bethany Joy Lenz, Kristoffer Polaha & Lucy is a woman hired to write the script for a movie that will be a remake of another holiday picture. She tours the grounds for where the film will take place. While exploring, she accidentally knocks over an hour glass. This accident triggers a time warp that sends her flying all the way back into the year 1945. It is during this time that she learns more about history and perhaps a better concept of Christmas that she can use for her scripts. Directed by John Putch (A Holiday Spectacular, You Had Me At Aloha) and written by Marcy Holland (Time for Him to Come Home for Christmas), this fantasy romance stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha. Read more
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Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
DIRECTOR: Stephen Donnelly CAST: Luke Evans, Olivia Colman & Jessie Buckley The Charles Dickens classic story lives on in this new animated adaptation. The film retains the traditional tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, the greedy old man who thinks little of Christmas. He is given one last chance to redeem himself when Christmas Eve finds his home haunted by spirits of the past, present, and future, rendered in eye-catching CGI. Directed by Stephen Donnelly (Monster High: Welcome To Monster High), this animated Christmas adventure draws from the 1970s movie adaptation Scrooge and features the voice talents of Luke Evans, Jessie Buckley, Olivia Colman, Johnny Flynn, Jonathan Pryce, James Cosmo, and Trevor Dion Nicholas. Read more
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Spirited
DIRECTOR: Sean Anders, John Morris CAST: Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell & Octavia Spencer A Christmas Carol gets a surprising musical treatment. Scrooge has to learn the meaning of Christmas and is given a second chance after being visited by spirits in the night. The Charles Dickens classic story is given a fresh modern coat of amusing performances and musical numbers. If the ghosts don’t convince Scrooge to change his way, maybe the songs will. Directed by Sean Anders (Daddy's Home) and John Morris (Instant Family), this Christmas musical stars Ryan Reynolds as Ebeneezer Scrooge, Will Ferrell as The Ghost of Christmas Present, Sunita Mani as The Ghost of Christmas Past, Patrick Page, Aimee Carrero, and Joe Tippett. Read more
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Merry Christmas Officer Hansel
Hansel is a dog seeking to prove his worth and rise in the ranks of his K9 unit. That task won’t be easy as Hansel is considered too small and cute for the job of a cop dog. What Hansel needs is a chance to prove himself and he finds just that when a case comes up of a local package thief. Perhaps if the determined Hansel captures the culprit, he’ll finally be recognized as the hero of Christmas. This holiday-themed dog comedy comes from the writing/directing duo Alex Cain and Colin Kaye who additionally star in the film. Read more
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Falling for Christmas
DIRECTOR: Janeen Damian CAST: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet & George Young Sierra was a hotel heiress who had everything, including a new husband. All of that changes during her snowy vacation when a ski accident leaves her with no memory about who she was. Stricken with amnesia, she attempts to regain her memory with the aid of a blue-collar man who owns his own lodge with his daughter. With Christmas being mere days away, an unlikely romance might form amid the holiday season. Directed by Janeen Damian, this Christmas romantic comedy features the big return of Lindsay Lohan among a cast that includes Chord Overstreet, George Young, Jack Wagner, and Aliana Lohan. Read more
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Violent Night
DIRECTOR: Tommy Wirkola CAST: David Harbour, John Leguizamo & Beverly D'Angelo A wealthy family finds that their Christmas plans are ruined when mercenaries invade their home and bring chaos with them. There’s only one man who can save them now: The jolly fat man himself, Santa Claus. Yes, Santa Claus comes to the rescue of a family in need with this bizarre action-comedy with a Christmas theme. Directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, What Happened to Monday), the film features the talents of David Harbour, John Leguizamo, and Beverly D'Angelo. Read more
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Christmas in Wonderland
DIRECTOR: Janeen Damian CAST: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet & George Young Sierra finds herself without a memory when she loses it during a ski accident. Her amnesia leads to her being taken in by a single dad. It is during her stay that she learns all about the wonders of kindness and love amid the holiday season. Romance may be in the cards for her as the snow falls on his blue-collar lodge. Directed by Janeen Damian (A Christmas Waltz, Hot Tamale), this Christmas romance stars Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls), George Young (Malignant), Jack Wagner (The Bold and the Beautiful), Sean Dillingham (Yellowstone), and Olivia Perez (In The Heights). Read more
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8 Bit Christmas
DIRECTOR: Michael Dowse CAST: Winslow Fegley, Neil Patrick Harris & June Diane Raphael Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Jakubowski, 8 Bit Christmas takes place in the late 1980s Chicago. During such a time, there’s only one thing that a 10-year-old boy wants for Christmas: the hottest console video game system on the market, the Nintendo Entertainment System. Trying to attain such a present, he sets out on a wild adventure with video games being the grand goal in a town that is trying to ban them. Directed by Michael Dowse (Stuber, Coffee & Kareem), this retro coming-of-age comedy features a cast that includes Neil Patrick Harris, Winslow Fegley, June Diane Raphael, and Steve Zahn. Read more
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Home Sweet Home Alone
DIRECTOR: Dan Mazer CAST: Archie Yates, Ellie Kemper & Rob Delaney The tradition of Home Alone continues in this spin-off comedy. Max Mercer is a kid who finds himself all alone in his house when the holidays roll around. He just happens to be home at the same time that a married couple is seeking to bust into his place and steal an incredibly valuable heirloom. Unfortunately for the criminals, Max doesn’t intend to let them waltz right into his place as he seeks a means of defending his home in a series of slapstick gags. Directed by Dan Mazer (Borat), this Christmas comedy stars Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Archie Yates, Aisling Bea, Kenan Thompson, Pete Holmes, Ally Maki, and Chris Parnell. Read more
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A Boy Called Christmas
DIRECTOR: Gil Kenan CAST: Kristen Wiig, Michiel Huisman & Maggie Smith Based on a book of the same name by Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas follows the adventures of the young boy Nikolas (Henry Lawfull) and how he would grow up to become the legend known as Father Christmas. Directed by Gil Kenan (Monster House), this holiday family film is packed with a snowy wonderment of elves and the thrills of a kidnapping that must be foiled. In addition to Lawfull, the film additionally stars the talents of Kristen Wiig, Michiel Huisman, and Maggie Smith. Read more
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The Knight Before Christmas
DIRECTOR: Monika Mitchell CAST: Vanessa Hudgens, Emmanuelle Chriqui & Josh Whitehouse A movie about a medieval English knight who is magically transported to present day where he ends up falling for a high school science teacher. Read more
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Noelle
DIRECTOR: Marc Lawrence CAST: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader & Shirley MacLaine Santa Claus’s daughter is forced to take over the family business when her father decides to retire while her brother ends up getting cold feet prior to his first big Christmas Eve flight. Read more
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Klaus
DIRECTOR: Sergio Pablos CAST: Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons & Joan Cusack A postman is posted to a frozen town in the North - where he discovers Santa Claus is hiding out. Read more
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Rare Exports
DIRECTOR: Jalmari Helander CAST: Jorma Tommila Peeter Jakobi Onni Tommila Christmas cinema has an impressive history of films playing with the Christmas genre conventions. Perhaps these unconventional films have been even more popular than the sincere genre films – The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf, Scrooged, to just name a few. But lately there have also been several Horror Christmas films. The most popular recent one by far is Rare Exports – A Christmas Tale, yet again from Finnish soil. It is hugely entertaining film about a group of explorers who set out on a wild and bizarre adventure in the hope of discovering the secret of Christmas Read more
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RATING: 67/100
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Hjem til Jul
DIRECTOR: Bent Hamer CAST: Nina Andresen Borud Arianit Berisha Joachim Calmeyer Bent Hamer is a bit of a cult director, both inside as outside of Norway. To English-speaking audiences he is best known for Factotum (based on Bukowsky’s popular novel), but Scandinavians will always remember him for Kitchen Stories, a dark comedy that says a lot about Scandinavian mentality. His sharp eye is also reflected in this Christmas story – Hjem Til Jul is an Ensemble film that cleverly explores the spectrum of human emotions at Christmas time, and does so honestly without ever becoming too cynical or overtly sappy. Sentiment at its finest. Read more
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RATING: 62/100
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Un Conte de Noel
DIRECTOR: Arnaud Desplechin CAST: Catherine Deneuve Jean-Paul Roussillon Mathieu Amalric It was a bit of a coin toss because France has created two famous Christmas films in the 2000’s. The one that did not make the cut was Joyeux Noel (2005), a great film narrating the infamous Christmas eve during the First World War when armies laid down their arms for one night. I, however, chose to include Un conte de Noël because it hits a little closer to home – it is about family, and how difficult family relations can be. A feeling that especially during Christmas can become awfully present. It is a great drama with some funny and touching moments, but it can be a bit on the heavy side. Read more
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RATING: 71/100
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Når Nettene Blir Lange
DIRECTOR: Mona J. Hoel CAST: Svein Scharffenberg Gørild Mauseth Zbigniew Zamachowski Who would’ve thought Dogme 95 would ever produce a Christmas film. That radical group of Scandinavian film makers who strived to make films devoid of any form of artificiality. Well, if Cabin Fever proves anything, than it is that celebrating Christmas isn’t always a cosy get-together. The story evolves around a highly dysfunctional family coming together in a cabin to celebrate Christmas. Pretty soon after the group is complete, it becomes clear that every member is haunted by one or another ghost from the past. To coin this film Festen: The Christmas Edition would be a bit lame, but I’m doing it anyway. Read more
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RATING: 67/100
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Love Actually
DIRECTOR: Richard Curtis CAST: Hugh Grant Martine McCutcheon Liam Neeson The blueprint for the modern British feel-good/romantic comedy/Christmas film. You also cannot deny the great influence Love Actually has had worldwide. It has been copied everywhere, and almost every national cinema has crafted its own version of it. And indeed, the film is a genuine feel-good treat, and is always a joy to watch during Christmas time. Sure, it is a guilty pleasure, but that makes it no less effective. Read more
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RATING: 77/100
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Joulutarina
DIRECTOR: Juha Wuolijoki CAST: Hannu-Pekka Björkman Otto Gustavsson Jonas Rinne Lately, the origin story is somewhat a hype. The Christmas Story is a full blown origin story about Santa Clause. In this touching and funny little film (it runs only 70 minutes) Wuolijoki tells the story of a young Finnish orphan boy who, as he grows older, finds joy in giving people presents. After a while, things run out of hand. The Christmas Story avoids typical, sappy Christmassy clichés, while at the same being the summum of it. The fact that this film is from Finland, the country where Santa is from according to the myth, gives it all the more credibility. Read more
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RATING: 70/100
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Arthur Christmas
DIRECTOR: Sarah Smith, Barry Cook CAST: James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent Bill Nighy A disclaimer is perhaps warranted – I am not a big fan of animation films. Sure, they can be cute and touching, but usually I prefer to be moved by people of flesh and blood on the screen. But I actually kind of enjoyed Arthur Christmas. It is intelligent, moderately sentimental and delightfully charming. It is your typical ‘save Christmas film’, but remarkably human in how it poses the challenges the main character is facing – Santa Claus’ clumsy but kind-hearted grandson has to man up to right his own wrong. He has got 2 hours. Read more
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RATING: 71/100
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I am not arguing that these films are not supposed to aim for being warm and cozy, or nostalgic and uplifting for that matter. Sure, if there ever is a time to give into those cravings, Christmas time is the perfect occasion. In that sense, Christmas films are balancing on the same slippery slop as romantic comedies – they have to give us what we want, either moving us to tears or giving us that much sought after feel-good feel, but we don’t want to get conned into it. Many filmmakers know through dramaturgic tricks which buttons to press to make you shed a little tear or to feel good for a little while, but I am sure a part of you feels a bit ashamed at the same time. The rest of this article will name a number of new films that are great Christmas themed films AND manage to keep the feeling of shame to an acceptable minimum. Put in that perspective, here are the best Christmas films of the 2010’s up to 2016. In the past It’s A Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Apartment, Holiday Inn, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carrol and even Home Alone did the Christmas theme justice, but which recent films are out there? From 2000 to now in 2016.
