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It’s finally December! The holiday season is fully here, if it wasn’t already, and the hunt for holiday-themed programming is on. Netflix, unsurprisingly, has a bevy of holiday-themed movies and TV specials to satisfy your craving for yuletide warmth, Christmas romance, family fun, and even the rare dark comedy or baking competition. Netflix’s library of acquired titles — which we’ve rounded up for you here — is impressive enough as it is. But they’ve also got a selection of original films and specials that will attempt to satiate your appetite for holiday cheer.
These Netflix holiday originals include big Hollywood stars, sweeping snowy romance, the requisite touches of holiday magic, and, yes, a touch of Paul Hollywood. Everything short of a BoJack Horseman in a pear tree.
And if you’re looking for more of Decider’s holiday-programming recommendations, you should peruse our Jingle Binge section.
'The Christmas Chronicles' (2018)
Kurt Russell stars as the one and only Santa Claus in this Christmas story about a brother and sister who stay up late to capture Santa on camera and end up whisked away to help Santa deliver presents before the sun is up.
'The Princess Switch' (2018)
Vanessa Hudgens plays a double role in this brand new Christmas romance: she’s humble Chicago bakery owner Stacy and she’s the identical-looking Lady Margaret, who’s set to marry the Prince. As is required in movies about doppelgangers, they swap lives, fall in love with people completely outside their social circle, and end up much happier (eventually).
'A Christmas Prince' (2017)
Rose McIver and Ben Lamb star in this unexpected holiday romance about an American journalist who travels to a fictional European country (fictional European countries are quite simply made for lovers) and meets the Prince of her dreams for Christmas.
'A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding' (2018)
One year later and we’re back again, as Amber and Richard are headed towards a huge, fancy royal wedding. Of course, it’s also Christmas, so the festivities are compounded. Can Amber deal with the media attention, extravagant wedding planner, and Richard’s tradition-obsessed family?
'The Holiday Calendar' (2018)
Kat Graham stars as Abby, a photographer struggling to get her career off the ground when her grandfather (Ron Cephas Jones of This Is Us fame) gifts her with a special Advent calendar. Normally, an Advent calendar just counts down the days until Christmas. This particular Advent calendar might just be magic.
'Christmas Inheritance' (2017)
Ellen is a problematic socialite who gets sent by her father to visit the small town where he was raised in order to learn how to be responsible and develop a work ethic. What she really learns is that the cute guy who runs the inn (Jake Lacy) is verrrry charming.
'El Camino Christmas' (2017)
Tired of all these happy, romantic, snowy Christmas movies? Head out to the desert with Tim Allen, Jessica Alba, Vincent D’Onofrio, Dax Shepard, and Kurtwood Smith for a Christmas movie that doubles as a convenience-store heist gone wrong.
'Bojack Horseman Christmas Special' (2014)
Todd wants to watch an old Christmas-themed episode of “Horsin’ Around” in this special Christmas-themed episode of Bojack Horseman, and if you’re thinking that Bojack is way too much of a bummer to accomodate a Christmas special, well, you’ve never watched much of It’s a Wonderful Life, have you?
'A Very Murray Christmas' (2015)
Back before Netflix was regularly attracting A-listers to their service, Bill Murray hosting a holiday special — directed by his Lost in Translation auteur Sofia Coppola — was almost inconceivable. It’s a hugely star-studded affair, from George Clooney to Amy Poehler to Miley Cyrus to Chris Rock to Michael Cera to Maya Rudolph, and it’s a capsule of its time (that Monuments Men joke!), but for Bill Murray fans, it’s a must.
'A Storybots Christmas' (2017)
Celebrate Christmas with your favorite loosely-defined geometric shapes! The whole gang is here: Beep, Boop, Bing, Bang, and Bo, and they’re on a quest to find a missing Santa Claus and save Christmas.
'Dreamworks Home for the Holidays' (2017)
More children’s programming here as Top Tucci and her pal Oh decide to introduce the concept of Christmas to Oh’s fellow Boovs. Special voice appearances by Kelly Clarkson and Ben Schwartz!
'Trailer Park Boys Live at the North Pole' (2014)
Christmas is for everybody, even (especially?) the coke-bottle-glasses-wearing denizens of Trailer Park Boys. Ultimately, “Live at the North Pole” ends up being a TPB live concert special with vignettes thrown in as well. Come for Santa Jesus God, stay for the pee-stained Ghost of Christmas past.
'Ricardo O'Farrill Abrazo Naviendo' (2016)
If you’re up for stand-up comedy on the holidays, comedian Ricardo O’Farrill is here in his ugliest Christmas sweater (it’s honestly fine!) to talk about crappy presents, crappier decorations, and Santa Claus himself.
'Angela's Christmas' (2018)
A beautiful, animated Irish Christmas fable, based on a story by Frank McCourt (Angela’s Ashes). In this film, young Angela steals the baby Jesus from the church manger (she thought he was cold!), and so begins a chase all over town.
'The Great British Baking Show: Holidays' (2018)
Four familiar bakers from previous seasons — Selasi, Val, Becca, and Paul — none of whom ever won Star Baker, return for a holiday themed special that includes gingerbread, mince pies, and the most fabulous reindeer sweater on Prue. If this doesn’t get you in the mood for some holiday baking, you never will.
