Romantic Christmas holiday movies have become a beloved tradition, filling our screens with festive cheer, heartwarming moments and, of course, the promise of love. These films transport us to snow-covered cities, twinkling lights, and… Convenient settings Where couples find unexpected connections, rekindle old flames, or discover new ones. With their perfect blend of seasonal magic and romance, holiday romance novels have a special way of capturing the spirit of the season while touching our hearts.
Whether showcasing charming small towns, Christmas miracles, or heartwarming reunions, these films have become synonymous with the holiday season because they bring joy with their happy endings. Fun fact: Most of these Christmas movies were filmed in Canada!
Frosty Hot (2024)
Frosty hot It is a magical, feel-good romantic story set in a charming small town full of snow. The film centers on Cathy (Lacey Chabert), a grieving widow struggling to find joy after the loss of her husband. Her life takes a frosty turn when her enchanted scarf brings to life Jack (Dustin Milligan), an ice statue with a knack for learning quickly — especially handyman skills, which he uses to repair fences, mend roofs, and win over the townsfolk. Jack's infectious charm melts the hearts of almost everyone, except the local cop, who suspects his cold origins and tracks his every snowy move with comic intensity.
As Jack and Cathy bond in celebratory moments, an undeniable romance blossoms—but the elephant in the room (or the snowman in this case) remains: Jack's days are numbered, thanks to the laws of thermodynamics. Cathy faces a dilemma: Should she dive headfirst into a romance with her lukewarm lover or brace herself for an inevitable pool of heartbreak?
heed: The dazzling and chiseled Jack turns heads with his chiseled abs, leaving every woman in town swooning. But let's be honest, you'll need to fully embrace the supernatural premise of the film. Questions like how Jack can speak fluently instantly, how watching TV has somehow turned him into the perfect man, and, well, if he has genitals are best left unasked.
Our Little Secret (2024)
Our little secret The film follows Avery (Lindsay Lohan) and Logan (Ian Harding), childhood best friends turned exes, who find themselves awkwardly reunited during a family Christmas gathering. development? Their current partners, Cameron (John Rudnitsky) and Cassie (Katie Baker), are siblings. To further complicate matters, Cameron's mother is an absolute mother-in-law's nightmare, prompting Avery to do her best to impress her.
Amid a week of festive chaos involving the family dog ​​toy, meddling family members, and secrets – including Cameron's ex-lover and some blackmail antics from Cameron's mischievous younger brother – Avery and Logan are forced to confront their unresolved feelings. Filled with hilarious misunderstandings, heartfelt moments, and the classic misfire of a holiday reunion, the film offers a fun, relatable look at love, family, and second chances.
heed: It's perfect for fans of Lindsay Lohan's previous Netflix projects. She plays the same character – the type who is extremely awkward, especially around the in-laws, and will do the craziest things imaginable.
Exmas (2023)
Speaking of the former, EXMas is a rom-com that takes holiday chaos to a whole new level. When Graham (Robbie Amell) decides to surprise his family for Christmas, he is met with a strange accident: his ex-fiancée Ali (Leighton Meester) is now the guest of honor. The former two compete to see who the family will choose to stay over Christmas Day and who should leave, with Graham betting against Ali that his parents will ask her to leave before Christmas. As old sparks fly and family secrets unravel, the two navigate their shared past while dealing with their distinguished relatives.
When the Graham family insists on a game of charades, Graham and Ali find themselves unwittingly acting out their previous relationship with exaggerated movements, much to the embarrassment of both of them. Their awkwardness, mixed with the family's over-excited reactions, creates a hilarious but cringe-worthy moment that perfectly embodies all the Christmas clichés — because nothing says “holiday spirit” like dealing with exes at Christmas!
heed: Meester and Amell are innovative comedic actors, and they have you rooting for them from the first moments, never sure who will win in the end.
Single All the Way (2021)
One all the way is a festive romantic comedy full of small-town charm and chaos in which Peter (Michael Urie), an ever-sociable social media strategist, ropes in his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pretend to be his boyfriend at Christmas to avoid his family's relentless juggling. . . Things escalate hilariously when Peter's mother arranges a blind date with her cool coach, James (Luke MacFarlane), while the rest of the family begins scheming to pair Peter with Nick, who might just be a perfect match after all. It helps that they both secretly have feelings for each other!
Filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and a dazzling turn from Jennifer Coolidge as the eccentric Aunt Sandy, this delightful story explores love, friendship, and finding happily ever after in a bright, all-encompassing holiday setting.
heed: An intimate Christmas film that focuses on a gay love story – something extremely rare even in today's cinematic landscape. The timeless appeal of the best friends-to-lovers trope resonates with anyone who fears that the pursuit of love might risk a cherished friendship.
Tough Love (2021)
Hard love It follows Natalie Power (Nina Dobrev), a down-on-his-luck Los Angeles journalist who falls in love with a seemingly perfect man, Taj (Darren Barnett), on a dating app. After a brief period of online dating, she travels to his East Coast hometown to surprise him for Christmas, only to discover that she has been molested by Josh Lane (Jimmy O. Yang), Tug's childhood friend who has been preying on women using photos of his hiker jacket. -A school friend (yes!). To make up, Josh offers to help Natalie win over the real Mark if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays so his family doesn't think he's a loser (who lives in his parents' basement).
Josh helps Natalie woo Tug by providing inside information to turn her into someone she clearly isn't, turning this movie into a weird love triangle. Basically, Natalie goes from being a catfisher to being a catfisher! As the bonds grow between the three, who will get their happy ending, and who will be left out in the snow?
heed: He landed an Asian role in a holiday rom-com, which is something you don't see very often. It also shows how problematic and messy the dating scene is in the real world, especially with catfishing so prevalent.
Holiday (2020)
Holidate It follows Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey), two commitment-phobic strangers who find themselves under siege by nosy relatives and strangely isolated during a family Christmas gathering. So they made an agreement to be each other's “holiday” — a platonic addition to every holiday on the calendar. From wild New Year's Eve parties to annoying family Thanksgiving dinners, her arrangements hilariously veer into murky territory when sparks start flying.
The film revels in acerbic humor, unapologetically lewd jokes, and satirical jabs at holiday rom-com tropes. Sloane and Jackson are both great, funny and charming, but Kristin Chenoweth steals every scene as Sloane's hilariously unfiltered aunt. Equal parts irreverent and sweet, Holidate It's a festive, funny and slightly naughty rom-com cocktail.
heed: Sloan and Jackson (did we mention his irresistible Aussie charm?) share a sexy and believable chemistry. Their playful banter and natural connection make their journey from platonic partners to falling in love feel so much more authentic than typical holiday love stories.
Vacation (2006)
Vacation The film revolves around two women, Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), who find themselves single just before Christmas – Iris from her emotionally needy ex-husband and Amanda from her cheating husband. Amanda decides to take a two-week vacation and surf the Internet. She meets Iris online and they agree to swap homes for the holidays. Amanda heads to a quaint English cottage where Iris belongs, while Iris stays in a lavish Los Angeles mansion where Amanda belongs. Iris strikes up a romance with wizard Miles (Jack Black), as well as forming a sweet friendship with retired screenwriter Arthur (Eli Wallach). Meanwhile, Amanda begins a romance with Iris' brother, Graham (Jude Law). As they each find love, they soon realize that the impending return home may end their relationships.
Along the way, there are plenty of funny moments, like Amanda's strange encounters with Iris's elderly neighbor and Iris' attempts at dating in Los Angeles, all set against a backdrop of Christmas magic and personal transformation. The film features an all-star cast, so you can expect some great chemistry.
heed: The excellent cast, especially with the impressive Jude Law in the role of father Mr. Nakenhead, makes this film feel more big-budget than other Christmas romances. Also, the setting and design of both homes feels like watching Architectural Digest come to life.
Love Actually (2003)
This is a beloved classic! Love indeed It is a heartwarming romantic comedy Located in London During the weeks leading up to Christmas. The film follows ten intertwined love stories, each exploring different aspects of love, from romantic to familial. Key plots include the British Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) falling in love with his assistant (Martin McCutcheon), a grieving widower (Liam Neeson) helping his son with his first love, and Mark (Andrew Lincoln) secretly falling in love with his best friend's wife, Juliet. Keira Knightley and Jamie (Colin Firth) fall in love with his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lucia Moniz), despite the language barrier.
With a star-studded cast including Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, and many more, the film celebrates love in all its forms, from the passionate to the unspoken, all against the magical backdrop of Christmas.
heed: Its amazing cast and heartwarming stories have made it a classic for at least two decades. The most famous scene in the film is when Mark stands outside Juliet's door declaring his love for her using giant cards and a jukebox that plays “Silent Night” without his friend Peter knowing. This scene has been parodied in other films (including Love Hard) and TV series, including Big Bang Theory.
Why not spend your nights before Christmas with one of these feel-good movies? Although the plots are not innovative, you will have plenty of settings to choose from.
