My favourite part about the end of the year has to be binge-watching every festive movie [1] ever made. You really only get one window of time to do, and if you're not packing every free second of December with cheery films [2] are you really doing it right? This year, Netflix [3] has made the movie rotation even more packed by releasing 10 new festive films.
Obviously, I had to watch them all. There were some notable standouts [4] and a few that might have been a bit too cheesy for me — but, cheesy is it's own genre when it comes to festive movies, so take that as you will. Either way, if you're looking for a seasonal film to curl up with this winter, I've ranked all the new ones on Netflix from worst to best so you'll know exactly where to begin.
Dolly Parton's Christmas On the Square
Fans of musicals will love Dolly Parton's Christmas On the Square, though anyone who doesn't enjoy the genre might not like this film. I ranked it lower because the plot didn't grab me and the songs weren't ones I'd go back and listen to over and over again. It's fun for a singular watch, but probably won't become part of my holiday cannon.
Watch Dolly Parton's Christmas On the Square on Netflix [5].
Angela’s Christmas Wish
One of a few sequels on the list, Angela's Christmas Wish, is a short animated film and the follow-up to Angela's Christmas [8]. Angela and her brother Tom decide they'll embark on an adventure to bring their father home for Christmas. It's definitely aimed at a younger audience, [9] but it's only 47 minutes so you might as well watch it either way.
Watch Angela's Christmas Wish on Netflix [10].
The Princess Switch: Switched Again
When I first heard that Vanessa Hudgens [11] would be back reprising both of her roles as Stacy and Princess Margaret, while also debuting a third doppelganger Lady Fiona, my first thought was "did we need another one of these?" The sequel, though admittedly more fun than I expected, probably isn't going down as one of the greatest holiday films ever made. Still, for a cosy night in, The Princess Switch [12]: Switched Again, is an easy and lighthearted watch.
Watch The Princess Switch: Switched Again on Netflix [13].
Holidate
Holidate gets immediate points in my book for the play-on-words in the title, I seriously can't believe it took until 2020 for someone to come up with it. This one had the same energy as certain Netflix romcoms I've come to love — think To All The Boys I've Loved Before [14], Set it Up, or Always Be My Maybe with a seasonal twist. However, since it covers so many dates across the year, it doesn't quite have that cosy feeling I look for in holiday film. It probably would have ranked higher if it weren't for this detail.
Watch Holidate on Netflix [15].
Alien XMas
Alien XMas is another animated short that will warm even the coldest hearts this winter. While it's definitely aimed towards children, I was surprised how entertaining it was to watch a small alien named X discover how special it is to put others first. Also, who doesn't love cute aliens?
Watch Alien XMas on Netflix [16].
Operation Christmas Drop
As far as cheesy, rom-com style Christmas movies go, Operation Christmas Drop was my favourite released on Netflix this year. It seemed to subvert certain cliches — set on an island instead of a small town, for example — while also keeping true to the genre in which it exists. Plus it stars Kat Graham, and after the Holiday Calendar two years ago I was happy to see her return to the streaming site.
Watch Operation Christmas Drop on Netflix [17].