Best On Netflix

Best Movies On Netflix: Christmas Edition

By Jade Budowski @jadebudowski

Published Dec. 5, 2017, 8:00 a.m. ET

Photos: Everett Collection ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

**The Nightmare Before Christmas**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 95%
This stunning stop-motion flick introduces us to the iconic Jack Skellington, the king of Halloween Town, as he discovers Christmas Town and confuses the demented residents of his own spooky home as he tries to integrate the holiday cheer into their everyday darkness. This revolutionary film is stocked with classic songs and wicked humor, and is the perfect twisted remedy to Christmas monotony.
[Stream The Nightmare Before Christmas on Netflix]

**Gremlins**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 84%
Set against a Christmastime backdrop, this holiday horror comedy kicks off when a man brings his teen son an unusual pet called a mogwai. Though he's been warned not to expose the mogwai to water and light and not to feet it after midnight, the rules are broken, and complete chaos ensues. Unexpectedly violent and bizarrely hilarious, there's a reason *Gremlins* remains a favorite after all these years.
[Stream Gremlins on Netflix]

**Pee-Wee's Big Holiday**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 80%
It may not be a full-on Christmas movie, but Netflix has dubbed it a holiday favorite, so here we are! This hilarious film sees our beloved Pee-Wee return and embark on his first-ever holiday after a fateful encounter with a mysterious stranger.
[Stream Pee-Wee's Big Holiday on Netflix]

**Santa's Apprentice**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 80%
Santa may not want to retire, but the time has come for him to train an apprentice to pass the reins to. An pure-hearted orphan named Nicholas turns out to be the perfect boy for the job, but with his lack of confidence and fear of heights, he may not be able to make the cut. The fate of Christmas lies in Santa's hands - will he step down and train his successor?
[Stream Santa's Apprentice on Netflix]

**Bad Santa**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 78%
Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham, this dark comedy sees a con man put on Father Christmas' suit while he bands together with his crew to pull off a particularly special scam during the holiday season. One thing's for sure - this Santa is definitely not making the nice list this year.
[Stream Bad Santa on Netflix]

**A Christmas Horror Story**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 78%
This anthology film balances multiple seasonally scary stories; the Krampus terrorizes a family in a winter wonderland, a group of high schoolers investigate a mysterious holiday murder, Santa fights off zombie elves, and a couple is terrified by their son's strange behavior after they cut down their Christmas tree. If you're looking for something to shake up the sappy Christmas flicks you may be watching, there's no better pick than this one.
[Stream A Christmas Horror Story on Netflix]

**Get Santa**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 77%
After Santa crashes his sleigh and finds himself on the run from police, he takes refuge in a garage. His secret is soon out, however, when a father and son discover him sleeping in said garage and decide to team up to help save Christmas.
[Stream Get Santa on Netflix]

**White Christmas**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 77%
When a successful song and dance duo both fall for showgirl sisters, the four must band together to save the floundering Vermont inn that belongs to the duo's former Army commanding general. Heartwarming, toe-tapping, and totally classic, this Bing Crosby flick still has us singing Irving Berlin's holiday ballad over half a century later.
[Stream White Christmas on Netflix]

**A Very Murray Christmas**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 73%
Directed by Sofia Coppola, this Netflix Original Christmas special sees Bill Murray round up an all-star cast for his own special holiday variety show. If you're looking for a classic format with a funky twist, look no further than *A Very Murray Christmas*; it's got Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Amy Poehler, and more!
[Stream A Very Murray Christmas on Netflix]

**The Ref**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 71%
When a cat burglar is abandoned by his partner mid-heist, he's forced to take a grating Connecticut couple and the rest of their family hostage on Christmas Eve. Obviously, things don't go as smoothly as he anticipates, and he soon finds himself driven crazy by the dysfunctional family antics and decides there's only one way to solve this - to be their referee.
[Stream The Ref on Netflix]

**Snowtime**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 70%
Winter break can get boring if you don't have the right activities lined up, but luckily, these kids have a plan. A group of children from a small village decide to throw a massive snowball fight over break, and things soon get more intense as 11-year-old Sophie fights to defend her snow fort from opponent Luke.
[Stream Snowtime on Netflix]

**Stick Man**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 65%
Featuring the voices of Martin Freeman, Jennifer Saunders, Sally Hawkins, and more, this endearing animated film follows Stick Man, a happy family twig who finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime when a little boy throws him for a dog to fetch and he ends up traveling halfway round the world. Will he make it home in time for Christmas? A certain jolly man may be the judge of that.
[Stream Stick Man on Netflix]

The Grinch — **Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 53%
No need to wonder where Christmas is, because Ron Howard's *How the Grinch Stole Christmas* has found it. Starring Jim Carrey as the iconic, grumpy green Grinch, this flick depicts the emotional journey of a character once hellbent on ruining Christmas for all the inhabitants of Whoville as Cindy Lou Who tries her hardest to help his heart grow and Christmas spirit flourish.
[Stream Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Netflix]

**Uncle Nick**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 50%
If you're expecting a classic Christmas comedy, you'll likely find yourself a surprised by *Uncle Nick*, but in the best way possible. It's Christmas Eve when crass, drunk uncle Nick visits his brother's new home and wreaks havoc on the family, attempting to seduce his step-niece in the process. This comedy of family dysfunction and totally inappropriate behavior will leave you gawking and laughing simultaneously.
[Stream Uncle Nick on Netflix]

**Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 40%
This three-part anthology style flick will make you nostalgic for Christmases past and grateful for what you have now. There's "Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas", a unique retelling of *Groundhog Day* with a Christmas twist, "A Very Goofy Christmas", which sees Goofy try to convince his son of Santa Claus' existence, and "Mickey & Minnie's Gift of the Magi", a heartwarming tale of holiday selflessness.
[Stream Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas on Netflix]

**A Christmas Star**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:**38%
Born under the Christmas star, young Noelle believes she has the ability to perform miracles. This theory may be up in the air at first, but when a sleazy developer threatens her peaceful town's existence as they know it, Noelle is determined to use her gift to save her town from his clutches.
[Stream A Christmas Star on Netflix]

**Believe**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 33%
A classic Christmas premise of the choice between selfishness and sacrifice, *Believe* follows Matthew, a business owner going through a tough time with the rest of his town under pressure to fund their annual Christmas pageant. Nothing seems to go right until Matthew meets Clarence, a young boy who believes in miracles, and then his choice is clear - will he save himself or do what's best to help the community?
[Stream Believe on Netflix]

**Noel**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 29%
Featuring a surprisingly star-studded cast including the likes of Susan Sarandon, Alan Arkin, Penelope Cruz, and the late Paul Walker, this moving film chronicles Christmas Eve in New York as five individuals cross paths with one another in pursuit of a miracle. Life, death, love, and everything in between affect these lives, and the miracles of the holiday soon prove more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
[Stream Noel on Netflix]

**Bad Santa 2**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 23%
Back again for a second round, Willie joins forces with his sidekick Marcus to con a Chicago charity on Christmas Eve, and total mayhem ensues. Rife with the ridiculous humor and whiskey-fueled antics that ran the first installment, this sequel is exactly the kind of mindless material perfect to put on after a few glasses of wine.
[Stream Bad Santa 2 on Netflix]

**Santa Buddies**
**Rotten Tomatoes Score:** 20%
You've heard of Santa Claus, but have you ever met Santa *Paws*?! Get ready for entirely too much Christmas cuteness, because *Santa Buddies* delivers. Ahead of the Christmas season, Santa and his chief dog Santa Paws worry that the toy processing system is slowing down due to the lack of Christmas spirit. It turns out the culprit may be one Puppy Paws, and they must bring back his Christmas spirit to save the holiday for the rest of the world.
[Stream Santa Buddies on Netflix]

Where to Stream:

Gremlins

christmas

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During the holiday season, sometimes there’s nothing better than cozying up on your couch with the right festive flick. Whether you’re fond of the cheesiest titles that Hallmark has to offer or Christmas classics, there’s a warmth to these kinds of films that is hard to find anywhere else. Luckily, Netflix understands this holiday necessity, and they’ve stocked their offerings accordingly.

In the platform’s “Holiday Favorites” section, you’ll find familiar titles like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Bad Santa and also be surprised by the sheer amount of sappy, soapy movies you’ve never heard of (but may very well fall in love with anyway). From holiday rom-coms to scary spins on the genre, there is truly no shortage of seasonal titles, and most of them are appropriate for the whole family!

Lost on where to start your Christmas journey? We sorted through Netflix‘s vast catalogue to help you on your way. These are the 20 highest-rated Christmas movies on Netflix, ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes scores.