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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Klaus is the best Netflix Original Christmas movie overall, but it is not the only worthwhile choice. Netflix’s holiday catalog ranges from hand-drawn Santa mythology and live-action family adventure to ambitious musicals, teen ensembles, adult rom-coms, and royal Christmas fantasies. This editorial ranking weighs originality, emotional payoff, craft, rewatchability, audience fit, and the ability to deliver a recognizable Christmas-movie experience.
Netflix’s best Christmas movie is Klaus—an imaginative, beautifully designed animated film with a real emotional arc rather than a collection of seasonal clichés. But the right choice depends on the kind of Christmas night you want: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is the biggest musical, The Christmas Chronicles is the most energetic Santa adventure, and A Christmas Prince remains the essential pick for royal-romance comfort viewing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Klaus: The Art of the Movie | $38.27 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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ECHO-LIT, LLC The Movie vs The Book Original Literary Art Print | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Klaus (Music from the Netflix film) | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Warhol (Basic Art) | $15.59 | Buy on Amazon |
The ranking below is an editorial judgment based on originality, emotional payoff, craft, rewatchability, audience fit, and how convincingly each film delivers a Christmas-movie experience. “Netflix Original” follows Netflix’s practical branding and catalog presentation; production, distribution, and availability can vary by country. Check the Netflix catalog in your region before planning a movie night.
15. Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)
Best for: A broad, contemporary ensemble comedy.
Best. Christmas. Ever! centers on friendship, comparison, jealousy, and the difference between a polished holiday image and the messier reality underneath. Its comedy is broad and its sentimental finish is easy to predict, but that can make it a workable casual group watch when nobody is looking for a demanding Christmas film.
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Choose it for glossy holiday excess and an uncomplicated evening. Viewers who prefer sharper writing or a more distinctive visual identity should start higher on this list.
14. The Princess Switch: Switched Again (2020)
Best for: Fans of the original who want more royal Christmas spectacle.
The sequel escalates the identity-switching premise and adds further royal complications. That heightened silliness is part of its appeal, particularly for viewers who enjoy fairy-tale romance, elaborate costumes, and knowingly improbable palace drama.
It is less elegant than the first Princess Switch, whose central mistaken-identity idea is cleaner. Watch this one after the original, and treat the increasingly tangled swaps as camp rather than as a serious plot puzzle.
13. The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020)
Best for: Families who want another adventure with Kurt Russell’s Santa.
The sequel expands the mythology around Santa and the North Pole, including a larger role for Mrs. Claus. It remains a colorful family adventure, but it does not have the same surprise or emotional focus as the first film.
Its best argument is straightforward: if the original’s confident, straight-talking Santa worked for your family, this follow-up offers more of that character in a broader, more franchise-oriented story. Watch the 2018 film first.
12. Holidate (2020)
Best for: Adults who prefer a sarcastic, more adult seasonal romantic comedy.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Holidate follows a year-long arrangement in which two people agree to accompany each other to holidays and avoid the pressure of attending alone. Christmas is a major destination, but this is not a purely Christmas-centered family movie; its scope covers the broader holiday calendar.
The appeal is its more cynical tone and willingness to move beyond the usual family-friendly formula. It belongs lower in a Christmas-specific ranking because its seasonal identity is broader and its romance remains familiar, but it is a useful choice for adults who want something less sugary.
11. Let It Snow (2019)
Best for: Teen viewers and fans of interconnected romantic stories.
Several romances and friendships unfold during a snowstorm, giving Let It Snow an ensemble structure rather than one dominant hero or couple. That format makes it a natural fit for viewers who like youth-oriented holiday stories with multiple perspectives.
Rank #2
- Original Design: Created by Glen Brogan in collaboration with Echo-Lit, LLC
- Multiple Format Options: Available in plain paper, laminated or framed in four sizes: 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 18 x 24, and 24 x 36 inches
- Secure Packaging: Carefully packaged to prevent damage during shipping
- Made in USA: Proudly created in the United States of America
- Literary Theme: Features a creative comparison between movies and books, celebrating the depth and excitement found in literature
The trade-off is unevenness: with several plotlines competing for attention, not every thread has the same impact. Still, its contemporary teen focus gives it a place among Netflix’s Christmas options, especially for a younger audience.
10. The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
Best for: Viewers who want a goofy magical premise and light romantic escapism.
A medieval knight arriving in the modern world gives Vanessa Hudgens’ holiday romance its central comic engine. The film plays with the collision between old-fashioned chivalry and contemporary Christmas-romance expectations, producing a deliberately storybook tone.
Its charm comes from the fish-out-of-water comedy, not from sophisticated plotting. If you want a film that commits to a cheerful, improbable premise, it is an easy choice; if you want realism or subtlety, look elsewhere.
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9. Falling for Christmas (2022)
Best for: Glossy, low-stakes comfort viewing with a recognizable star.
Lindsay Lohan plays a spoiled heiress who loses her memory in a skiing accident and is cared for by a widower and his daughter. The setup is classic holiday-romance material: an insulated character receives a reset, discovers a different way of living, and finds an uncomplicated path toward love.
Lohan’s star appeal gives the familiar amnesia premise enough energy to work as seasonal comfort viewing. It is best approached as a cozy reset, not as an attempt to reinvent the Christmas romantic comedy.
8. A Christmas Prince (2017)
Best for: Maximum royal-Christmas-camp energy.
An aspiring journalist travels abroad to report on a prince who is about to become king. From there, the film assembles the ingredients that helped define Netflix’s holiday-romance universe: palace intrigue, snow, undercover complications, instant attraction, and a royal setting designed for escapism.
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The clichés are obvious, but they are also the point. A Christmas Prince established a durable Netflix holiday template and launched a sequel-producing franchise. It is not the most original film here, yet it remains an essential starting point for viewers who want the full palace-and-snow experience.
7. The Princess Switch (2018)
Best for: Royal fantasy, mistaken identity, and uncomplicated seasonal escapism.
A Chicago baker and a future princess discover that they look alike and decide to trade places at Christmastime. The premise is pure fairy-tale machinery, but the first film uses it with a clean, accessible structure that makes the fantasy easy to enjoy.
The Princess Switch is not trying to reinvent the holiday romance. Its pleasure lies in the comfortable formula: two lives briefly exchanged, royal surroundings, seasonal decorations, and the promise that Christmas can rearrange everything. That high-concept simplicity is why it ranks above its more elaborate sequel.
6. Single All the Way (2021)
Best for: A warm LGBTQ+ holiday romance.
Peter asks his best friend to pose as his boyfriend during a Christmas visit, but the arrangement changes as their feelings develop. The film follows familiar holiday-romance conventions, yet it makes the central relationship explicit rather than treating queerness as a side plot.
The chosen-family atmosphere and relaxed ensemble chemistry make it one of Netflix’s most inviting Christmas romances. It is a good pick when the priority is warmth, representation, and a reassuring seasonal mood rather than surprise.
5. That Christmas
Best for: Families who enjoy animated ensemble storytelling.
That Christmas interweaves several perspectives and the pressures that complicate a supposedly perfect holiday. Rather than reducing Christmas to one hero’s quest or one couple’s romance, it builds its appeal around a community and the different ways its members experience the season.
That ensemble design gives the film emotional variety and makes it a strong family choice. Viewers looking specifically for a single-protagonist Santa story may prefer Klaus or The Christmas Chronicles; viewers who like connected holiday stories should move this one higher.
4. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
Best for: Families who prefer literary fantasy, folklore, and a traditional quest.
Young Nikolas travels toward a magical land of elves while searching for his father and trying to recover hope. The film has the shape of a storybook adventure, with a strong sense of quest and wonder rather than the more contemporary rhythm of a romantic comedy.
It also has darker and more melancholic edges. That gives the fantasy greater emotional weight, but parents should know that it is not simply lightweight seasonal comfort. For families ready for a more reflective Christmas adventure, it is one of the strongest choices in the middle of the ranking.
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Best for: Families wanting a fast-moving, contemporary Santa adventure.
A brother and sister accidentally crash Santa’s sleigh and must help save Christmas. The broken-sleigh setup gives the movie immediate momentum, while the siblings’ relationship supplies a more personal reason to care about the rescue.
Kurt Russell’s Santa is the film’s greatest asset. He is charismatic, confident, and straight-talking rather than merely jolly, giving the familiar character a modern center. The film balances action, comedy, and sibling reconciliation, making it a more energetic alternative to the romance-heavy Christmas movies lower on the list.
2. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
Best for: Viewers who want a large-scale family musical.
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Rank #4
- Length: 0.5in / 1cm, Height: 10.25in / 26cm, Width: 8.75in / 22cm
- By Klaus Honnef
- Hardcover
- 95 pages
- Imprint: Taschen
This is Netflix’s most ambitious live-action Christmas spectacle in the group. It combines musical numbers, elaborate production design, invention-driven fantasy, and an intergenerational story about betrayal, grief, and renewed creativity. At its center is a once-joyful toymaker who finds hope through his granddaughter.
The film’s Black-led fantasy world is a major part of its significance and appeal. It also offers an excellent alternative for families who have exhausted conventional Santa comedies: its magic comes from imagination, making, and inherited creativity rather than from a standard North Pole adventure.
Families who want to continue the story away from the screen can pair the film with Jingle Jangle: The Invention of Jeronicus Jangle, a publisher-backed middle-grade novel based on the movie. It works as an optional reading companion, not as a replacement for the film. Disclosure: links to recommended products may earn this site a commission.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.1. Klaus (2019)
Best for: Families, animation fans, and anyone looking for a modern Christmas classic.
Klaus is the most complete film on this list. Its unusual Santa origin story follows a selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker whose unlikely friendship begins to transform a cold, divided town. The premise gives the film a fresh way to approach Christmas mythology, while the community-focused story explains how kindness can spread beyond one individual act.
Its hand-drawn-inspired visual design is distinctive without overwhelming the characters, and the emotional arc earns its warmth rather than assuming that Christmas sentiment is enough. Children can enjoy the adventure and humor; adults can appreciate the film’s craft, melancholy, and carefully built redemption story.
For readers who want to explore the animation and production design after watching, Klaus: The Art of the Movie is a natural companion. The hardback examines the art behind the film and is more directly connected to this recommendation than generic Christmas merchandise. Disclosure: links to recommended products may earn this site a commission.
How to choose the right Netflix Christmas movie
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A definitive modern Christmas classic | Klaus | Distinctive animation, a strong redemption arc, and genuine emotional payoff. |
| A big family musical | Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey | Colorful fantasy, elaborate design, and musical spectacle. |
| A live-action Santa adventure | The Christmas Chronicles | Fast-moving action, sibling reconciliation, and Kurt Russell’s Santa. |
| A literary or folkloric fantasy | A Boy Called Christmas | A quest-driven story with wonder and more melancholy than a typical holiday comedy. |
| A warm LGBTQ+ romance | Single All the Way | Chosen-family comfort and an explicit central relationship. |
| Royal-romance comfort viewing | The Princess Switch | A clean mistaken-identity premise with fairy-tale escapism. |
| Royal Christmas camp | A Christmas Prince | Palace intrigue, snow, undercover complications, and instant attraction. |
| An adult, less family-oriented rom-com | Holidate | A sarcastic tone and a story that ranges across the holiday calendar. |
Before you press play
- Check your country’s catalog. Netflix’s title availability can change by territory and over time, so a film listed here may not be available in every country at publication or when you read it.
- Remember that this is an editorial ranking. Netflix holiday pages provide catalog context, not an objective quality consensus. A lower-ranked film may be the better choice for a particular age group or mood.
- Match the tone to your audience. Klaus, Jingle Jangle, and The Christmas Chronicles are family-oriented starting points, while Holidate is aimed more clearly at adults. A Boy Called Christmas is family fantasy with darker, more reflective edges.
- Watch franchise entries in order. Start with The Christmas Chronicles before Part Two, and with The Princess Switch before Switched Again.
The verdict
Choose Klaus for the strongest all-around film and the best chance of finding a new family favorite. Choose Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey for musical scale, The Christmas Chronicles for live-action Santa adventure, and A Christmas Prince or The Princess Switch when the goal is uncomplicated royal-romance comfort. Whatever you pick, verify the current Netflix catalog in your country first.
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What is the best Netflix Original Christmas movie?
Klaus is the best overall Netflix Christmas movie because it combines distinctive animation, an inventive Santa origin story, a convincing redemption arc, and emotional warmth that works for children and adults.
Which Netflix Christmas movie is best for families?
Start with The Christmas Chronicles for energetic live-action Santa adventure, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey for a large-scale musical, or Klaus for animation and a more emotionally layered story.
Which Netflix Christmas movie has the best LGBTQ+ romance?
Single All the Way is the strongest choice on this list for a warm LGBTQ+ holiday romance. Its central relationship is explicit, while the chosen-family atmosphere keeps the tone inviting.
Are all of these Netflix Christmas movies available everywhere?
Availability varies by country and can change over time. Search the title directly in your local Netflix catalog before scheduling a movie night.
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Best overall: Klaus. Best musical: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Best live-action family adventure: The Christmas Chronicles. Best royal romance: The Princess Switch.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
