15 Holiday Movies You’re Forgetting to Add to Your Watchlist (Do It Now!)

Hosting a holiday movie marathon is one of the most traditional (and fun!) activities you can do in November and December, and it’s a great excuse to hang with your roommates and friends. Sure, you need the classics, like The Holiday and Home Alone, but what about when you’re done watching Kevin McCallister craftily save his family’s home from intruders? That’s when you turn to the underrated Christmas movies you forgot about or didn’t even realize qualify as Christmas movies. 

From a Lindsay Lohan instant classic on Netflix, to a film following a group of high schoolers’ epic snow day, to a rom-com about an engagement ring mixup that’s set in New York at Christmastime, there are so many cinematic gems waiting to be added to your lineup.

Lindsay Lohan returns to the Netflix Christmas world in this movie where she stars as Avery, a consultant who goes with her boyfriend, Cameron, to his family’s house for Christmas. Things get messy when she discovers that her ex-almost-fiancé, Logan, is dating Cameron’s sister Cassie, and no one knows Avery and Logan used to date and nearly got engaged a decade ago — and Avery and Logan want to keep it that way. It’s got everything you want in a rom-com: fake smiles, awkward family dinners, and a little bit of blackmail.

Where to watch: Netflix

A case of two men accidentally swapping little blue boxes leads to them navigating some big questions in their respective relationships during the holiday season in New York. 

The real love story kicks off when Ethan, who lost a Tiffany engagement ring in the switch, meets Rachel, who’s dating Gary and accidentally receives the ring in the swap. Rachel, who has no idea Gary didn’t buy the ring and it wasn’t meant for her, gets to know Ethan after inviting him to her bakery, and the pair form an undeniable connection. It’s a sweet, funny film that’ll definitely get you in the holiday spirit 

Where to watch: Prime Video 

Kristen Stewart and Dan Levy star in this film where meeting the parents goes slightly wrong when Abby (Stewart) finds out her girlfriend, Harper, has been keeping their relationship a secret from her mom and dad. The couple poses as roommates for the weekend and navigates family holiday tensions. Schitt’s Creek fans will be happy to see Abby’s best friend, Adam (Levy), show up to provide some moral support and comic relief.

Where to watch: Hulu

A history of stolen inventions and heartbreak leads to Journey, a young girl who’s also an inventor, visiting her grandfather, Jeronicus Jangle, in the days leading up to Christmas. While staying with Jeronicus, Journey finds an old toy, The Buddy 3000, that was dreamed up by her mom, Jessica. Journey gets it working, but Buddy is stolen by Gustafson, a toy tycoon who also stole Jeronicus’ other ideas. The family works together to finally right the wrongs. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Technically this movie covers a lot of holidays, but it starts and ends on Christmas. Emma Roberts stars as Sloane, who meets Jackson in line at the mall while returning gifts and — after their respective disastrous Christmases — they strike up a deal to be each other’s dates to every holiday until one of them gets a real partner. The fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes that unfold are predictable, but Roberts and Luke Bracey, who plays Jackson, have such great chemistry that you won’t even care.

Where to watch: Netflix

This animated feature is set in 19th-century Norway, and it’s centered on Jesper, the son of Norway’s postmaster general. Jesper is supposed to train to be a postman, but he seems to prefer a more pampered life. His father sends him to a faraway town, where Jesper needs to create a post office, or else he’ll be cut off from his dad’s money. The holiday cheer starts as soon as Jesper meets Klaus, a woodworker whose specialty is toys.

Where to watch: Netflix

The entire movie takes place after a snowstorm hits on Christmas Eve. Based on a 2008 novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, this movie is peppered with teenage love stories (including one with a pop star!), plenty of comedic relief, and quite a few problems that need to be solved in 93 minutes. 

Where to watch: Netflix

Anna Kendrick plays Noelle Kringle, Santa’s daughter, who finds herself trying to save Christmas after the new Santa in training, her brother (played by Bill Hader), completely panics and disappears days before the big night. That leads Noelle to Phoenix, Arizona, of course, to look for him. As Noelle navigates life away from the North Pole, she realizes she might also be ready to take on the role of Santa, and her optimism and hijinx make the movie irresistibly sweet without being saccharine. And hello, it’s Anna Kendrick! 

Where to watch: Disney+

This movie is filled with big names and a lot of family dynamics. Amy (played by Mila Kunis), Kiki (played by Kristen Bell), and Carla (played by Kathryn Hahn) resume their roles in this Bad Moms sequel. Amy, Kiki, and Carla have their own moms — Ruth, Sandy, and Isis, respectively — in town for the holidays and navigate their oftentimes tenuous relationships with them while celebrating the holiday.

Where to watch: Netflix

Another film stacked with stars: Childhood friends (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie), who reunite on Christmas Eve every year, celebrate their last holiday shindig with a night to remember. Centered on getting to The Nutcracker ballet in New York City, the movie takes some wild turns before ending with a rushed cab ride to the hospital for the birth of the first baby for Isaac (played by Rogen).

Where to watch: Hulu

The plot of this Hallmark movie is, of course, a little out there: Greta, a tabloid reporter, picks up her friend’s wedding dress, quickly pivots to driving to Big Bear to follow a lead on a story, and gets her car stuck in a snowstorm. She puts on the dress to stay warm, gets rescued by the subject of her potential story, Ben, and celebrates Christmas with him and his family under false pretenses, as one does. There’s a little fake-dating, some revenge — Ben’s brother brings home Ben’s ex-girlfriend as his new fling — and plenty of holiday happenings.

Where to watch: Hallmark+

This is traditionally a kids movie, but it’s a holiday favorite. Full of fun surrounding so many major holidays, the movie takes place in the winter and centers around Santa Claus and Jack Frost, who join forces with other holiday mascots to fight the evil boogeyman. It’s part fantasy, part holiday magic, and all heart. 

Where to Watch: Peacock

The other animated pick on this list focuses on the story of Arthur, Santa’s younger son. A missing present leads to Arthur trying to deliver a gift himself, with the help of a definitely not-up-to-date sleigh and his Grandsanta. Arthur’s approach is less laser-focused than that of Santa and Steve, Arthur’s older brother, who is basically the head of Christmas operations. The movie shows that maybe there’s more than one way to get all those presents to the kids.

Where to watch: Prime Video

You know Tim Allen as Santa Claus, but in this movie he’s a middle-aged dad who wants to go on a cruise for Christmas with his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis). His Christmas boycott quickly turns into a holiday decorating rush job when their daughter surprises them by coming home. The “free Frosty” scene is something you’ll never forget.  

Where to watch: Netflix

One of the first scenes in the movie includes Mark (Colin Firth) wearing a Rudolph sweater, and one of the last scenes involves a snowman sweater, so I believe that automatically qualifies this as a Christmas movie. The film follows Bridget (Renée Zellweger) as she attempts to change some aspects of her life over the course of a year, which includes two romances — Mark and Daniel (Hugh Grant) — and a kiss outside in the snow that could certify this as a holiday movie on its own.

Where to watch: Paramount+