Now That We've Seen All 10 of Netflix's New Holiday Movies, Let's Rank 'Em
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My favorite part about the end of the year has to be binge-watching every holiday movie ever made. You really only get one window of time to do so, and if you're not packing every free second of December with cheery films, are you really doing it right? This year, Netflix has made the movie rotation even more packed by releasing 10 new holiday films.
Obviously, I had to watch them all. There were some notable standouts and a few that might have been a bit too cheesy for me — but, cheesy is it's own genre when it comes to holiday movies, so take that as you will. Either way, if you're looking for a seasonal film to curl up with this winter, I've ranked all the new ones on Netflix from worst to best so you'll know exactly where to begin.
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Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
Fans of musicals will love Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square, though anyone who doesn't enjoy the genre might not like this film. I ranked it lower because the plot didn't grab me and the songs weren't ones I'd go back and listen to over and over again. It's fun for a singular watch, but probably won't become part of my holiday canon.
A California Christmas
A California Christmas has all of the elements needed for a classic cheesy holiday film: city boy, small-town girl, hate turning to love, and the real meaning of Christmas. If you're a fan of Hallmark films you'll surely love this one, but it does have a bit of a "been there, done that" feel. As Taylor Swift says, "I think I've seen this film before."
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Angela’s Christmas Wish
One of a few sequels on the list, Angela's Christmas Wish, is a short animated film and the follow-up to Angela's Christmas. Angela and her brother Tom decide they'll embark on an adventure to bring their father home for Christmas. It's definitely aimed at a younger audience, but it's only 47 minutes long, so you might as well watch it either way.
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The Princess Switch: Switched Again
When I first heard that Vanessa Hudgens would be back reprising both of her roles as Stacy and Princess Margaret, while also debuting a third doppelgänger Lady Fiona, my first thought was "did we need another one of these?" The sequel, though admittedly more fun than I expected, probably isn't going down as one of the greatest holiday films ever made. Still, for a cozy night in, The Princess Switch: Switched Again, is an easy and lighthearted watch.
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Holidate
Holidate gets immediate points in my book for the play on words in the title — I seriously can't believe it took until 2020 for someone to come up with it. This one had the same energy as certain Netflix rom-coms I've come to love — think To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Set It Up, or Always Be My Maybe — with a seasonal twist. However, since it covers so many dates across the year, it doesn't quite have that cozy feeling I look for in a holiday film. It probably would have ranked higher if it weren't for this detail.
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Alien XMas
Alien XMas is another animated short that will warm even the coldest hearts this winter. While it's definitely aimed toward children, I was surprised at how entertaining it was to watch a small alien named X discover how special it is to put others first. Also, who doesn't love cute aliens?
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The Christmas Chronicles 2
The follow-up to the 2018 Netflix film surprised me in the best possible way. The Christmas Chronicles 2 featured a teenage Kate back again with Santa on another quest to save Christmas. The film is great for anyone looking for an action-packed family film. Come for the adventure, stay for Santa's random singing outbursts.
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Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker
I loved Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a documentary about the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. The film follows the academy's annual production of the Hot Chocolate Nutcracker. Not only did it remind me how much I can't dance, but it was a really special inside look at the world of ballet. I ranked it slightly lower because, like Holidate, it isn't overly full of Christmas cheer. However, if Netflix ever wants to release a film of the entire production (hint, hint) it'd go straight to the top.
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Operation Christmas Drop
As far as cheesy, rom-com-style Christmas movies go, Operation Christmas Drop was my favorite released on Netflix this year. It seemed to subvert certain cliches — set on an island instead of a small town, for example — while also keeping true to the genre in which it exists. Plus it stars Kat Graham, and after the Holiday Calendar two years ago, I was happy to see her return to the streaming site.
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Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Coming in at number one, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey was the best Netflix holiday movie released this year. It had all the essential elements to go down as a seasonal classic: adventure, signing, family, a vibrant setting, beautiful costumes, and of course, a toy store. The soundtrack is amazing and the story heartwarming — it's definitely a film I'll revisit year after year.