It’s finally wintertime, which means it’s time to dust off all the holiday decorations, warm up the fireplace, and hunt for the leftover hot cocoa packets from last year.
My favorite holiday traditions have always revolved around movies. I’ve always watched “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with my family on Christmas Eve. Also, I forced my parents to sit through “Die Hard” every Christmas morning. I love finding movie theaters that play “Love Actually” every year, and I have watched many a Hallmark Christmas movie. However, a few years ago, my family got rid of Hallmark.
So, I had to find my cheesy and completely unrealistic holiday movies elsewhere—and that’s exactly what I did. Just like Hallmark, I’ve compiled 12 days’ worth of cheesy Christmas movies to stream from your couch this December.
A Merry Little Ex-Mas
Our first cheesy holiday movie is a new Netflix release. “A Merry Little Ex-Mas” follows a recently divorced—or “consciously uncoupled”—pair and their children as they navigate celebrating Christmas differently this year. Our leading lady, Kate, always dreamed of being an environmentally friendly architect and isn’t sure she likes living in her ex-husband’s small town anymore. Meanwhile, her ex, Everett, is ready to change some holiday traditions away from Kate and closer to his new girlfriend. As they passive-aggressively co-parent through the holidays, they learn to accommodate one another. They strive to be better for each other and the new people in their lives.
Hot Frosty
Another Netflix film released in 2024, “Hot Frosty,” mixes the classic “Frosty the Snowman” with a contemporary Christmas rom-com. Kathy, a widow living in a small town, is focused on everyone except herself—until an impressive-looking snowman comes to life. Her and her Mr. Snowman both teach each other a lesson in taking care of yourself rather than just those around you.
Spirited
Available on Apple TV, “Spirited,” starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, takes a futuristic twist on “A Christmas Carol.” It focuses on the ghosts and the massive team that make the “Scrooge magic” happen every year. This 2022 musical steps away from the rom-com feel of cheesy holiday movies. It focuses more on the Christmas spirit and the power of friendship. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this comedy has become one of my holiday favorites. The songs have all made their way onto my holiday playlists.
Love Hard
A Netflix rom-com built around the modern online dating scene, and the falsification that often comes with it. “Love Hard” follows Natalie and Josh after Natalie makes a surprise trip to see him, only to realize he’s not who she believed. Josh convinces her to help him out with his family using the classic fake-dating trope. This fake relationship leads them to get to know each other on a deeper level beyond photos and text messages.
Single All the Way
This Netflix film features Peter, recently single, and his best friend Nick, whom Peter asks to pose as his boyfriend for the holidays. The fake-dating arrangement doesn’t last long, but the two grow closer than ever while helping produce a children’s play about the story of Christmas. This movie delivers classic tropes yet still offers a fair number of twists—even if you can guess the final outcome.
Something From Tiffany’s
Stepping away from Netflix originals, “Something From Tiffany’s” is an Amazon Prime film. It revolves around two men visiting the same jewelry store to get gifts for their girlfriends. However, only one is planning to propose and looking for the perfect ring. When the gifts get swapped, the couples become intertwined as Christmas takes an unexpected turn. In the end, the mix-up pushes all of them to realize it might be time for a change.
The Happiest Season
A Hulu original, “The Happiest Season” focuses on Abby and her girlfriend Harper, who are spending the holidays with Harper’s family. Abby plans to propose—until she discovers that Harper’s family doesn’t know she’s gay or in a relationship, drastically shifting the Christmas plans. Staying in the same house and pretending to be nothing more than roommates, they navigate the pressures of surviving Harper’s family and the expectations of her small hometown. Starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, and supported by Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, and more, this film is sure to be a bit of a tear-jerker.
The Holiday
Arguably one of the most famous cheesy holiday movies, this classic rom-com, starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, never gets old. It follows two very different women who embark on similar journeys of finding love while on holiday vacations. Opposite Jude Law and Jack Black, the star-studded cast captures the holiday spirit while delivering the perfect dose of romantic cheesiness.
A Christmas Prince
Another Netflix original, “A Christmas Prince” is fun for the whole family. It focuses on Amber, a small-town reporter who travels to the kingdom of Aldovia to get an inside scoop on the soon-to-be king, Richard. Although she falsifies quite a bit to get close to him, they develop a genuine connection. They are forced to decide what their next steps will be. With two sequels, you can also follow the story beyond the first film and into the rest of their lives.
A Christmas Kiss
Streaming on Prime Video, “A Christmas Kiss” delivers peak holiday cheesiness with all the classic rom-com tropes. After an unexpected elevator ride turns into an even more unexpected kiss with a stranger. Interior designer Wendy soon discovers that the mystery man is actually her boss’s boyfriend. As she helps decorate their lavish holiday events, Wendy and the stranger keep finding themselves drawn back together, sparking a very complicated love triangle. It’s layered with twinkle lights, dramatic misunderstandings, and a whole lot of holiday festivity.
A Cinderella Christmas
Available on Freevee through Prime Video, “A Cinderella Christmas” brings the classic fairy-tale setup straight into a classic holiday masquerade ball. Angie works tirelessly in her family’s event-planning business until one magical night at the Wintergarden Christmas Gala. Behind a mask, she meets Nicholas, the handsome bachelor hosting the event, and the two hit it off. He doesn’t know who she really is. When the clock strikes midnight and Angie disappears, Nicholas is determined to find the woman from the ball. Meanwhile, Angie tries to balance her everyday responsibilities with the possibility of a little Christmas magic becoming something real.
Christmas in Evergreen
From the Hallmark Channel and streaming on Peacock, “Christmas in Evergreen” centers on Allie, a small-town veterinarian in the impossibly festive town of Evergreen. When a snowstorm interrupts her plans to visit her long-distance boyfriend, she meets Ryan, a single father passing through with his daughter. A series of holiday mishaps keeps them stuck in Evergreen. There, Allie and Ryan become caught up in the town’s Christmas traditions—along with its legendary magical mailbox that supposedly grants Christmas wishes. As they help the tight-knit community prepare for the holidays, they both realize they might have found something unexpected in the snow-covered charm of Evergreen.
With tons of new releases every year on every platform, there is never a shortage of cheesy holiday movies. Even if the cheesy ones aren’t for you, you can find a number of alternative, spooky, or adventure holiday films as well. And if all else fails, there’s always Die Hard.
