A selection of the festive TV specials and movies streaming on Netflix in December 2025 With less than a week to go until the big day, it’s about time you started putting together your Christmas watchlist. Fortunately, Netflix has a wide array of films and TV specials, both old and new, to help you lock into the festive mindset this year. So, to help ease some of that oh-so-stressful festive planning, we’ve rounded up the good, the bad and the, frankly, bizarre on offer on Netflix this year… Love Actually Love Actually Arguably the daddy of all Christmas movies, at least when it comes to the British ones, this year Love Actually is returning to Netflix (truth be told, it’s also available on Prime Video and Now in 2025, so you’ve really got no excuse not to indulge). Richard Curtis’ classic rom-com has become a 21st century seasonal classic, helped in no small part by its different interwoven love stories and a star-studded cast, and even if not all of its content has aged the best, it’s still guaranteed to raise a smile as you tuck into your Celebrations. The Holiday How many times have you unknowingly landed on The Holiday around halfway through when channel-hopping and thought to yourself, “oh, I love this film, I’d love to watch it from the beginning some time”? Well, your Christmas wish has finally been answered. This year, it’s available to watch on Netflix from the start, without adverts, in all its dancing-to-Mr-Brightside-on-the-bed, I-wonder-if-Jude-Law-would-do-Mr-Napkinhead-in-person-if-I-asked-him-nicely, oh-yeah-I-forgot-Lindsay-Lohan-was-in-this, wait-how-long-does-this-staring-match-with-a-dog-go-on-for glory. The Holdovers Film fans are always calling out the fact that awards bodies rarely recognise the horror genre, but Da’Vine Joy Randolph did something arguably even more rare in 2024, and won an Oscar for her performance in a Christmas movie. And there’s a reason The Holdovers is so revered (it received five Academy Award nominations in total, including Best Picture) – this story about chosen family, unlikely friendships, grief, class, and overcoming differences pretty much sums up the true meaning of Christmas. Not only does it pack an emotional punch, it’s also guaranteed to raise plenty of smiles, which is how it’s already cemented its spot as a modern-day classic. My Secret Santa Alright, so long-time Netflix users will know that every year, the platform gifts us all with an array of new Christmas movies to enjoy and they’re often… well, let’s just say it, a little deranged. Case and point, My Secret Santa, a film that essentially serves as a gender-flipped Mrs Doubtfire set at Christmas, with Alexandra Breckenridge playing a desperate single mother who transforms herself into a ski resort’s resident Santa Claus when she falls on hard times financially. Do we wish Netflix would invest more into quality cinema rather than churning out an endless line of festive “comedies” that feel like they’re engineered specifically to wind up film critics and drum up interest from bored subscribers? Yes. Will we let that stop us streaming My Secret Santa with a mulled wine? No. Apols. Jingle Bell Heist Connor Swindells and Olivia Holt in Jingle Bell Heist Another of Netflix’s new Yuletide comedies for 2025, Jingle Bell Heist stars Olivia Holt as a young woman who resorts to pulling off a Christmas Eve heist at the lavish department store where she works to pay for her mother’s cancer treatment. To make it all go off with a hitch, she teams up with Sex Education and Barbie star Connor Swindells, and it’s probably not too much of a spoiler to say that the spirit of the season means a festive crush slowly starts to develop. While Netflix’s Christmas offerings can often feel – let’s be honest – a little on the brainless side, the plot of Jingle Bell Heist is actually surprisingly layered, with plenty of twists thrown in along the way (including some you genuinely might not see coming). A Merry Little Ex-Mas A Merry Little Ex-Mas And then we arrive at the somewhat more straightforward Merry Little Ex-Mas, in which a divorcing couple agree to spend one last family Christmas together with their kids. Naturally, the good times lead to old feelings resurfacing, considerably complicated by the presence of the parents’ new partners. Clueless fans can look forward to an appearance from Alicia Silverstone, with the cast also featuring Jameela Jamil, Oliver Hudson and Sabrina herself, Melissa Joan Hart. Falling For Christmas The great Lohanaissance of the 2020s got started with a trilogy of Netflix rom-coms, two of which took place over the festive season. First up was Falling For Christmas, which saw Lindsay Lohan appearing as a spoiled heiress who discovers the true meaning of country when a skiing accident results in a bout of amnesia. Oh, and if you enjoyed that, you’ll definitely want to check out Our Little Secret (co-starring Wicked legend Kristin Chenoweth), in which Lindsay plays a young woman trying desperately to impress her new in-laws when spending Christmas with them. With Love, Meghan With Love, Meghan Meghan Markle is back for one last outing of her Netflix lifestyle series, this time offering tips on everything from cooking, crafting and entertaining with a seasonal holiday twist. Listen, if you weren’t a fan of the first two seasons of With Love, Meghan then this probably isn’t going to do much to change your mind. On the other hand, if you’ve avoided the show until now, this stand-alone Christmas special could be a good way of seeing exactly what all the fuss is about… That Christmas Fans of Love Actually will definitely want to check out this festive movie that is a lot more child-friendly than the 2003 rom-com. That Christmas (written by Richard Curtis himself!) takes the best parts of Love Actually and weaves them into a new story that the whole family can enjoy, with the film focussing on different intertwining stories that all take place one Christmas Eve. Goodbye June Another new arrival for 2025, Goodbye June arrives on Christmas Eve. The directorial debut of Oscar-winning actor Kate Winslet, the tear-jerking drama centres around a family saying goodbye to its terminally ill matriarch in the lead-up to Christmas, and features an A-list cast including Toni Collette, Andrea Riseborough and Dame Helen Mirren. Klaus Listen, we love what Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks have all managed to achieve with CGI across the past two decades… but there’s just something about traditional 2D animation that computer-generated imagery just can’t match, isn’t there? Klaus is proof that there’s still a place for this particular kind of visual in the modern era. The film’s completely unique look, and the nostalgia it invokes, make it a perfect family watch for Christmas. Plus, who doesn’t love an alternative Santa story? So, if KPop Demon Hunters has been on repeat in your household in 2025, this hidden gem of an animated adventure just might be for you. Nativity! Effectively a love letter and send-up of Britain at Christmas time, Nativity! tells the story of a school Christmas show that winds up spiralling out of control when it captures the attention of Hollywood. It kind of came and went when it was released in 2009, but has gone on to become a cult favourite, spawning three sequels and even a stage musical. Intrigued? Why not give something new a stream this Christmas? Oh, and keep your eyes peeled from a certain Celebrity Traitors winner (without the green cloak this time, though). The Family Stone The Family Stone The ultimate dysfunctional family Christmas, Sarah Jessica Parker takes the lead in The Family Stone, a star-studded dramedy about a woman who struggles to win over her new in-laws when she spends Christmas with them. We should warn you, though, that The Family Stone makes for far more difficult and uncomfortable viewing than you might assume at first glance, which has made it quite polarising in the decades since its release. Still, it has something of a cult following, and there’s an amazing performance from the always-dependable Oscar winner Diane Keaton, who died earlier in 2025 at the age of 79. Single All The Way Single All The Way arrived with plenty of fanfare a few years ago, capturing viewers’ attention by taking the tried-and-tested “will they, won’t they... oh and by the way it’s Christmas” festive formula and applying it to a queer love story. Michael Urie and Philemon Chambers pull off this sweet love story to great effect, but the true star of the show is screen icon Jennifer Coolidge, making the most of her supporting role with a scene-stealing performance that’s the stuff of Yuletide meme dreams. A Christmas Prince Now we’re into the good stuff (playing fast and loose with the term “good”, of course). Let’s just call a spade a spade here – sometimes what we all really need at Christmas is to sit down in front of a load of brainless tosh while you tuck into the Quality Street or frantically wrap some last-minute presents. And on that note, we have to say thank you to Netflix for the A Christmas Prince cinematic universe. Initially dreamed up as a Christmas cash-in on royal fever, the film proved popular enough that it spawned two more sequels. Prestige cinema this is definitely not, but pair it with your favourite festive snack and/or tipple, and you’ve got a good time on your hands. The Princess Switch Or, if the Christmas Prince series seems a bit high-brow, there’s always Netflix’s Princess Switch trilogy (that’s right, there are three of ’em!). The original film essentially mixes the plots of The Princess Diaries and The Parent Trap, with subsequent sequels throwing an additional third lookalike into the mix, with all three separated siblings all of being played by former High School Musical star, Sneakernight singer and voguing enthusiast Vanessa Hudgens. Hot Frosty Where do we even start with this one? Hot Frosty introduces us to a grieving widow, whose life is turned upside down when her Christmas wish brings a snowman to life. If that sounds preposterous, that’s because it is – but as long as you don’t take it too seriously (no one involved in Hot Frosty seems to be, and that’s the point!), you’ll have a great time with this film, which stars Mean Girls’ Lacey Chabert and Schitt’s Creek’s Dustin Milligan. Love Hard An unconventional story of Christmas romance for the 21st century, Love Hard tells the story of a dating columnist who travels to her online crush’s hometown over the festive season, only to discover he’s been catfishing her using pictures of his pal. We probably don’t need to tell you the whole thing ends in a farcical (albeit predictable) love triangle, but Love Hard gained quite a following when when it was released in 2021, so it’s potentially worth checking out at least once. Jingle Jangle When Jingle Jangle first started streaming in 2020, it was obvious Netflix had something special on their hands , and if you’ve not managed to watch it in the years since, now’s your chance. Not only is the film a festive adventure with a stellar cast (including Forest Whittaker, Anika Noni Rose and Ricky Martin as the voice of a matador doll who comes to life), it’s also a heartwarming musical with songs by John Legend. Once you’ve blown through the usual suspects, this is definitely worth adding to your go-to Christmas films list. Last Christmas For some reason, critics made a sport out of tearing Last Christmas to bits when it premiered at the end of the 2010s – and while admittedly it was never going to be the stuff of prestige cinema, as festive rom-coms go, this one is as serviceable as any other. Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding lead a cast that also includes Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Emma Thompson, with the film exploring a love story partly inspired by the titular Wham! hit, including a devastating twist that will make you see the film in a new light on repeat viewings. The Christmas Chronicles Another Christmas family adventure, this one is set in the modern day, and sees two precocious children accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh, only for them to team up with him to save the big day. Young fans will enjoy the adventure, festive scenes and Kurt Russell’s take on Father Christmas. Personally, we’ll be tuning in for two reasons: Goldie Hawn… and all of the wigs. And if you enjoy it – or, indeed, just need something else to describe a child that did – don’t miss The Christmas Chronicles 2, which is also available on Netflix. Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square But if we’re going to talk about be-wigged Hollywood legends having an unapologetically naff time over the holidays, we have to give a shout-out to Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square. Now, we can’t go on record as saying that Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square is, by any stretch of the imagination, a “good” film. But that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable Beginning with Dolly playing the least convincing homeless woman ever committed to the screen, and later floating up on a cloud in Christine Baranski’s living room, this film is a real wild ride and great fun. And if the mix of Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis and a whole lot of fake snow doesn’t make for an irresistible Christmas treat, what does? The Merry Gentlemen Finally, a film that asks the age-old question, “what if Magic Mike and The Full Monty had a baby, born around Christmas?”. The Merry Gentlemen arrived under Netflix’s Christmas tree just waiting to be unwrapped (literally!) in 2024. The unique rom-com features Britt Robertson and Chad Michael Murray in a film that… in fact, we’re not even going to waste our time explaining the story of this one. You can try and say you’re watching this for the plot if you like – but no one who’s actually seen The Merry Gentlemen will actually believe you. Friends Of course, it’s not just festive movies that Netflix has to offer this Christmas. Friends’ continued dominance on the platform means we can still get a big dose of 90s nostalgia this Christmas, thanks to the sitcom’s array of festive episodes. The One With The Girl From Poughkeepsie sees Phoebe striving to write the perfect Christmas songs for her close-knit pals (if only anything rhymed with “Rachel”), while The One Where Rachel Quits sees Lisa Kudrow’s character trying to rehouse some unappealing brown trees after seeing them going into a chipper. But the definitive Christmas special is unquestionably The One With The Holiday Armadillo. That one has everything you want from a Friends episode: Ross embarrassing himself, some lovely scenes with Joey and Rachel and the revelation of Monica’s apparent Santa fetish. What’s not to love? All we can say is enjoy ’em while you can, with Friends set to leave the platform in just a few weeks . Smiley Set in Barcelona in the lead-up to Christmas, the Spanish-language series Smiley mixes a bit of Normal People with Friends and the queer comedy Fire Island, centring around two men who meet around the festive period, but can’t quite get on the same page due to issues with communication, classism and internalised homophobia. If all of that sounds a tad serious – let us reiterate that it’s also both hilarious and sweet (the whole thing is called Smiley, after all!). American Psycho Christian Bale in American Psycho Bored of the annual debate about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas film ? Well, why not give this a stream and argue about that instead… READ MORE: These Are All Our Top Picks Of What's New To Watch On Netflix In December 2025 29 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Probably Never Knew About Love Actually, Actually British Stereotypes And Clichés Galore – What Christmas Movies Get Wrong