What’s better to get you in that holiday mood than a good Christmas movie? From comedy to horror and love dramas, we’ve made a list of 15 timeless Christmas movies that will awaken that cheery holiday spirit. Here are some of our favourite Christmas movies on Netflix Canada for the entire family.
20 Best Netflix Christmas Movies This Year
These Christmas movies are listed based on Rating, starting with family-friendly versions and progressing to more adult options toward the end of the list. These movies are all available on Netflix Canada for viewing.
1. Arthur Christmas (2011)
- Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family
- Rating: PG
- Directed by: Sarah Smith
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen
When Santa overlooks delivering a present to a child at Christmas, Arthur, Santa’s youngest son, sets out to deliver the forgotten present before Christmas morning. This movie was originally lauded by critics and underperformed at the box office but has since become a classic.
2. Klaus (2011)
- Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family
- Rating: PG
- Directed by: Sergio Pablos
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- Starring: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Sergio Pablos
This animated movie features a postman Jesper who befriends a toymaker, Klaus, in the frozen town of Smeerensburg. Together their gifts help stop an old feud in this creative retelling of the myth of Santa Claus.
3. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
- Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family, Adventure
- Rating: TV-PG
- Directed by: Clay Kaytis
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- Starring: Kurt Rusell, Darby Camp, Judah, Lewis, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Siblings Kate and Teddy formulate a plan to capture Santa on Christmas Eve, and once their plans are foiled, they join forces with Santa and his elves to save Christmas. This delightful comedy is appropriate for children, but Kurt Russell’s performance makes this more entertaining for adults to rewatch every year as one of the best Christmas movies on Netflix.
4. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
- Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy
- Rating: PG
- Directed by: Gil Kenan
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- Starring: Maggie Smith, Michel Huisman, Kristen Wiig, Sally Hawkins, Toby Jones, Stephen Merchant
A boy named Nikolas journeys to the north to recover his father, who has become lost on his quest to discover a village of elves. He is joined by a pet mouse and a reindeer named Blitzen. This movie is visually stunning and captures the true spirit of the holiday season.
5. Dash & Lily (2020)
- Genre: Romance, Drama
- Rating: TV-14
- Runtime: 8 episodes
- Starring: Austin Abrams, Midori Francis, Dante Brown, Troy Iwata, Keana Marie
Optimistic Lily finds herself uncharacteristically alone on Christmas. She meets the cynical Dash, and the two share their dreams and desires in a notebook passed back and forth at locations across New York City. If you want to see New York at Christmas, this limited series won’t disappoint.
6. Love Hard (2021)
- Genre: Comedy, Other
- Rating: TV-MA
- Directed by: Hernán Jiménez
- Runtime: 1h 44m
- Starring: Nina Dobrev, Darren Barnet, Jimmy O. Yang, Locklyn Munro, Harry Shum Jr.
An unlucky-in-love LA writer connects to the man of her dreams through a dating app. On a whim, she flies to the east coast to meet him for Christmas, only to discover she’s been catfished. Love Hard is a quirky romantic comedy worth watching for the revised rendition of Baby It’s Cold Outside.
7. Holiday Rush (2019)
- Genre: Kids & Family, Drama
- Rating: TV-PG
- Directed by: Leslie Small
- Runtime: 1h 33m
- Starring: Stormi Maya, Sonequa Martin-Green, La La Anthony, Tamala Jones, Deon Cole, Romany Malco
A widowed DJ is fired right before Christmas, and his children must leave their luxurious home to move in with their middle-class aunt while their father devises a plan to get back on the airwaves.
8. Falling For Christmas (2022)
- Genre: Romance, Comedy
- Rating: TV-PG
- Directed by: Janeen Damien
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, George Young, Jack Wagner
The newest Netflix Christmas movie stars Lindsay Lohan as a rich heiress who loses her memory in a skiing accident. She then finds herself in the care of a small town lodge owner and his daughter at Christmastime.
9. Last Christmas (2019)
- Genre: Romance, Comedy
- Rating: PG-13
- Directed by: Paul Feig
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Starring: Emilia Clark, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson, Michelle Yeoh
George Michael-obsessed and wannabe singer Kate hasn’t always made the best decisions. She works in a year-round Christmas store dressed as an elf, but she lacks faith in the magic of the season until she meets Tom, who seems too good to be true.
10. Holidate (2020)
- Genre: Raunchy, Romance, Comedy
- Rating: TV-MA
- Directed by: John Whitesell
- Runtime: 1h 43m
- Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Kristin Chenoweth, Frances Fisher, King Bach, Jessica Capshaw
Fed up with being alone on the holidays (and her family’s reaction to that), Sloan recruits fellow singleton Jackson to be her platonic plus-one for the holiday season and beyond. The friends-only relationship becomes complicated when they start catching feelings for each other.
11. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
- Genre: Late-night Comedy
- Rating: R
- Directed by: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
- Runtime: 1h 44m
- Starring: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hann
Amy, Carla, and Kiki are stressed-out moms feeling overburdened by the Holidays, made even worse when their own moms stop in unexpectedly. This year they rebel against the expectations of Christmas and have fun doing it!
12. Happiest Season (2020)
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ Movies
- Rating: PG-13
- Directed by: Clea Duvall
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Dan Levy, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen
If you’re looking for a heartfelt Netflix Christmas movie, this is it! Abby is ready to propose to her partner Harper at their family’s Holiday gathering. The one problem? Harper’s family doesn’t know they are a couple!
13. A Very Murray Christmas (2015)
- Genre: Comedy, Musical
- Rating: TV-14
- Directed by: Sophia Coppola
- Runtime: 56m
- Starring: George Clooney, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus, Bill Murray
Bill Murray brings you an extra dose of holiday laughs in this all-star holiday special. When New York is shut down due to snow on the night of his live show, Bill tries to make the best of it and have a cheery night with friends, visitors, and hotel employees.
14. Trailer Park Boys Christmas Special (2004)
- Genre: Raunchy, Comedy
- Rating: TV-MA
- Directed by: Mike Clattenburg
- Runtime: 46m
- Starring: John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, John Dunsworth
The comical prequel covers the Holiday season in Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Julian gets a great idea of making money for Christmas, Ricky confuses God with Santa, and Bubbles tries to get all the boys together for an annual Christmas bonfire.
15. Let It Snow (2019)
- Genre: Romantic Comedy, Teen Movies, LGBTQ Movies
- Rating: PG-13
- Directed by: Luke Snellin
- Runtime: 1h 33m
- Starring: Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka
It’s Christmas eve in a small town when an unexpected snowstorm hits, affecting a group of high school seniors as they navigate love, friendships and their futures.
16. Christmas with You (2022)
- Genre: Romantic comedy, Family-friendly
- Rating: PG
- Directed by: Gabriela Tagliavini
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Starring: Aimee Garcia, Freddie Prinze Jr., Deja Monique Cruz
Another new Netflix Christmas movie for this year! A burnt-out pop star seeking inspiration for a hit Holiday song grants the wish of a young fan and finds inspiration, plus a shot at love.
17. Operation Christmas Drop (2020)
- Genre: Romantic comedy, Family-friendly
- Rating: G
- Directed by: Martin Wood
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Starring: Kat Graham, Alexander Ludwig, Virginia Madsen
Congressional aide Erica has to work over Christmas. She heads to a seaside Air Force base, looking for a reason to shut it down; however, she also falls for a lovable Air Force Pilot trying to stop her.
18. The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star (2021)
- Genre: Romantic comedy, Family-friendly
- Rating: G
- Directed by: Mike Rohl
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Nick Sagar, Remy Hii, Sam Palladio
A priceless relic is stolen in the third installment of The Princess Switch movies. Queen Margaret and Princess Stacy turn to Fiona – and her dashing ex – for help. An unexpected switch leads to romance.
19. A California Christmas (2020)
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Rating: PG-13
- Directed by: Shaun Paul Piccinino
- Runtime: 1h 47m
- Starring: Lauren Swickard, Josh Swickard, Ali Afshar
Wealthy bachelor Joseph’s lifestyle is on the line unless he can get Callie’s family to sell their family farm in California. Posing as a ranch hand, Joseph takes a job to seduce Callie and convince her to sell; however, he doesn’t anticipate falling in love with her.
20. Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas
- Genre: Reality TV, Home makeovers
- Rating: G
- Runtime: 4 Episodes
- Starring: Benjamin Bradley
In this reality TV series, interior designer Benjamin Bradley, AKA Mr. Christmas, gives family’s homes a Holiday makeover. If you are looking for Christmas decoration inspiration, this is it!
