The holiday season is well underway… in fact, there are only a few days until Christmas. And with the festivities comes a favorite tradition of many – watching Christmas movies, of course! There are plenty of classics we all return to time and again, but we’re here to key you in on all of the new releases for the season, giving our recommendations in the form of a ranked list, along with some info on where to stream each of these festive films. So without further ado, here’s Popped’s ranking of every 2024 Christmas movie!
HONORABLE MENTION: AN ALMOST CHRISTMAS STORY
Before we get to the proper list of feature-length films, I’d be remiss to not mention An Almost Christmas Story. This short film was written by Alfonso Cuarón and David Lowery, and directed by the latter. While it’s CG animated, it often takes on the appearance of stop motion, and depicts different characters with various real-world materials such as wood or cardboard. All of this meticulous craft is used to tell the endearing story of a young owl who loses his way and gets stuck in New York City. It may not be the most fleshed out story, but it packs plenty of heart into its 25-minute runtime, making it well worth a watch.
An Almost Christmas Story is available to stream on Disney+.
10. HOT FROSTY
While we may be ignoring Hallmark movies in favor of more notable releases, Netflix has taken up delivering some movies with the same tone and quality, and Hot Frosty is one of them. Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls) leads as a woman who falls in love with… a snowman come to life. There are a couple funny moments, usually involving Craig Robinson (The Office) and Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) on the side, but even accepting it for what it is didn’t make Hot Frosty any more bearable of a watch.
Hot Frosty is available to stream on Netflix.
9. THE MERRY GENTLEMEN
Netflix was onto something, as they knew that moms everywhere are yearning for more of that Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas spirit, so they decided to release these budget rom-coms weekly. And luckily, they got better each week, with The Merry Gentlemen being the second release. This movie stars Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland) as a big city dancer visiting her small hometown for the holidays, where she decides to put on an all-male revue show to help her parents financially. Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) is definitely the reason to watch, with plenty of charisma and looks to match, as a handyman who isn’t afraid to get shirtless and dance. So if you’ve always dreamed of a wholesome, heartwarming Hallmark-does-Magic Mike, The Merry Gentlemen might be for you.
The Merry Gentlemen is available to stream on Netflix.
8. DEAR SANTA
It’s hard to pinpoint who Dear Santa is really for. It’s about a dyslexic kid who makes a terrible error in addressing his letter to Santa… accidentally spelling it S-A-T-A-N. And with Jack Black as Satan, what could go wrong? Conceptually it’d make for a hilarious adult comedy. But in practice it’s very heavily aimed at kids, with a moral story exploring treating people with kindness vs. living selfishly. Why I remain confused is in the middle of the upbeat (yet sometimes draggy) story, a heavy plot point comes into play. It had me quite shocked, as it took me out of that lighthearted kid-centered fun, into something that felt tough for the sake of being tough. A few cameos add to the chaotic fun of Dear Santa, but ultimately it’s a tonal mess that relies too much on middle school humor and overdone tropes.
Dear Santa is available to stream on Paramount+.
7. OUR LITTLE SECRET
The third time was a charm for Netflix’s weekly rom-com releases, with Our Little Secret, starring Lindsay Lohan (Mean Girls) and Ian Harding (Pretty Little Liars). It follows two exes who discover that their current partners are siblings, putting them in an awkward position at the siblings’ family Christmas gathering. It has a similar feel to films like Anyone But You where some characters may butt heads, and funny problems ensue, with even funnier solutions to come. Overall, Our Little Secret is an entertaining, if sometimes predictable, watch.
Our Little Secret is available to stream on Netflix.
6. THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
I tend to be skeptical of faith-based media. Sometimes messaging gets in the way of a good script, or often there just isn’t a large enough budget to pull off anything of interest. However, I decided to give The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a chance for a couple reasons: 1. I read the 1972 novel it’s based on growing up and enjoyed it, and 2. The director, Dallas Jenkins, has proven himself capable of producing captivating faith-based media with his series The Chosen. But the end result for this movie is a mixed bag. Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) offers A Christmas Story-esque narration that ties everything together in a lovely way, but other stars such as Judy Greer (13 Going on 30) often have stiff line reads that take some of the heart out of this film about loving others. It’s worth noting that it’s set largely in a church and deals with Christian themes, but it does have aspects that can be universally appreciated by anyone. Ultimately, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a family film with Christmas spirit at its core.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever isn’t available to stream, but is available on PVOD and is showing in theaters.
5. NUTCRACKERS
It’s been a while since Ben Stiller has been cast in a starring role, and there’s no better opportunity to return to the spotlight than a Christmas comedy/drama. Directed by David Gordon Green (Halloween), Nutcrackers follows Stiller’s character leaving the big city for the countryside to take care of his recently orphaned nephews until they find foster parents. The four rambunctious brothers are played by real life brothers, all in their acting debut – and they’re definitely the stars of the show here. While you may expect a Meet The Parents-style comedy, it’s actually a little more The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, as the emotional journey is the biggest focus. The sometimes aimless, empty plot takes quite a while to get to where it’s going, and there aren’t laughs every minute, but once the gears are turning, Nutcrackers is a precious film with some of the most beautiful moments I’ve seen put to film this year.
Nutcrackers is available to stream on Hulu.
4. RED ONE
I’m going to say it. I don’t care too much for The Rock. The action/adventure projects he’s attached to rarely have any appeal to me. Red One surprised me a bit though. It may not be a great movie, but it’s definitely a good one. Santa, who’s played by J. K. Simmons (Whiplash), is kidnapped on Christmas Eve, so his bodyguard has to track him down and bring him home to the North Pole in time to deliver gifts all over the world. Chris Evans (Avengers) also stars as a mercenary hacker, who’s forced into helping complete the mission. What I didn’t expect was such an interesting mythology. It’s nothing crazy, but it does something similar to The Santa Clause franchise in tying certain fables together, and putting its own little spin on it all. If you’re looking for a fun Christmas romp for the whole family, Red One isn’t a bad way to go.
Red One is available to stream on Prime Video, and is showing in theaters.
3. THAT CHRISTMAS
We may only be at spot #3, but I’m going to firmly declare That Christmas as the best family film on this list. This animated Netflix Original is absolutely adorable throughout. It never feels so dumbed down that it only appeals to kids either — I had quite a few chuckles. It follows the intertwining lives of several kids in a small town in England as they each face their own struggles on Christmas Day. There’s so much heart, and so much holiday cheer. If you want to hear more about That Christmas, you can read our full review here.
That Christmas is available to stream on Netflix.
2. CARRY-ON
Now, Carry-On isn’t the most Christmas-y movie on this list. In fact… it’s the least. But it does qualify, and it’s a damn good thriller. Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) plays a TSA agent who’s given a tough choice on Christmas Eve: He has to let a dangerous bag through the security checkpoint, or his girlfriend dies. It’s the next best thing to watch if you enjoyed Trap this year, with tense conflict and fantastic performances from both Egerton and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development). Carry-On sets the gold standard for what a streaming original thriller should look and feel like.
Carry-On is available to stream on Netflix.
1. CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT
This is where I should emphasize that this list is based on my personal opinion, so my #1 might not be your #1. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s not. Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point might not be for everyone. It doesn’t follow a central character or plot, instead focusing on a large family gathering on Long Island on Christmas Eve. It’s not far off from the energy of The Bear episode ‘Fishes’, albeit with far less anxiety. It’s just pure, unadulterated, noisy, family. And I think there’s a real beauty in how that essence is showcased. Several little vignettes are interspersed throughout, and they all seem to point to a core message of what it means to grow up or get old. The nostalgic Christmas vibes are off the charts, the occasional Tim Robinson-style bits are hilarious, and the members of the large ensemble cast (including Michael Cera, Gregg Turkington, Francesca Scorsese, and Elsie Fisher) all knock it out of the park. Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point has the makings of a Christmas classic.
Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point in Miller’s Point is available to stream on AMC+.
BONUS: HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS
There was Die Hard. Then there was Eyes Wide Shut. Now there’s Hundreds of Beavers. The infamous canon of “movies that are actually Christmas movies” grows larger, but this one has a leg up on the others. It features Santa as one of its few characters, and is set in a winter wonderland. So it’s really actually a Christmas movie. It just wasn’t marketed as such, and released early in the year, which is why it didn’t make it into the proper ranking. If you want a wildly fun time full of Tom & Jerry-style gags wrapped in an insanely creative package, look no further. Hundreds of Beavers isn’t just well worth a watch compared to the rest of the movies on this list — it’s among the best movies of this year.
Hundreds of Beavers is available to stream on Prime Video, Tubi, and PlutoTV, and is showing in select theaters.