What Are The Christmas Movies On Netflix Worth Watching With Kids

Last Updated: Written by Isadora Leal Campos
what are the christmas movies on netflix worth watching with kids
what are the christmas movies on netflix worth watching with kids
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Finally: What Are the Christmas Movies on Netflix That Matter

As of May 31, 2026, Netflix's most essential Christmas movies include Klaus (95% Tomatometer), Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (91%), Hot Frosty, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Jingle Bell Heist, and My Secret Santa, alongside licensed titles like A Very Vintage Christmas and Haul Out the Holly. These films span animated classics, faith-based stories, and family-friendly rom-coms suitable for shared viewing during the holiday season.

Top-Rated Christmas Movies on Netflix Right Now

Netflix's holiday catalog features over 64 Christmas movies, with Certified Fresh titles leading the pack based on Rotten Tomatoes scores. The highest-rated films combine strong storytelling with visual artistry and universal values of family, hope, and community.

what are the christmas movies on netflix worth watching with kids
what are the christmas movies on netflix worth watching with kids
Movie TitleYearTomatometerPopcornmeterRuntime
Klaus201995%96%96 min
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey202091%69%122 min
Alien Xmas2020100%69%77 min
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery202291%80%43 min
Feast of the Seven Fishes201988%89%105 min
Let It Snow201985%48%97 min
A Boy Called Christmas202184%62%106 min
Hot Frosty202476%51%96 min
Jingle Bell Heist202576%41%101 min
My Secret Santa202575%41%95 min

2025 Netflix Original Holiday Releases

Netflix dropped four original holiday films in late 2025, releasing one every Wednesday for a month starting November 2025. These originals represent the streamer's festive spirit investment and include both rom-coms and family fare.

  1. A Merry Little Ex-Mas (November 2025) - Starring Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson; follows a divorced mother seeking one perfect family Christmas before selling her house
  2. Champagne Problems (November 2025) - Directed by Minka Kelly; features an emerging executive leading a major acquisition for a champagne house
  3. Jingle Bell Heist (December 3, 2025) - Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells star as small-time thieves planning a Christmas Eve score in London
  4. My Secret Santa (December 3, 2025) - Alexandra Breckenridge disguises herself as a man to get hired as seasonal Santa

Licensed Christmas Movies Added in November 2025

Netflix licensed over 20 fan-favourite festive movies from Great American Family, Lifetime, Freeform (Disney), and Reel One Entertainment, all available in the US library starting November 2025. Outside the US, viewers received Hallmark movies throughout November through January 2026.

  • A Very Vintage Christmas (November 1, 2019) - Tia Mowry-Hardrict finds sentimental trinkets in her antique shop
  • Merry Liddle Christmas (November 1, 2019) - Kelly Rowland plays a tech entrepreneur with a messy family
  • Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas (November 1, 2013) - Madea helps convince a daughter to come home for Christmas
  • Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (November 11, 2019) - Aisha Dee dies on a first date and literally ghosts her date
  • Same Time, Next Christmas (November 11, 2019) - Lea Michele reunites with childhood sweetheart at a Hawaiian resort
  • A Royal Date for Christmas (November 15, 2023) - Danica McKellar gives a European Duke a royal makeover
  • Becoming Santa (November 15, 2015) - Michael Gross loses Christmas spirit and becomes Santa for the season
  • Marry Christmas (November 21, 2024) - Joey and Matthew Lawrence's siblings schedule weddings for Christmas Day
  • Santa Bootcamp (November 24, 2022) - Rita Moreno and Emily Kinney in a mall magnate rom-com

Faith-Based and Family-Friendly Christmas Films

For families seeking values-driven content aligned with spiritual and social mission, Netflix offers several faith-based and family-oriented options. These films emphasize gratitude, generosity, and community-principles central to holistic education and character formation.

TitleThemeBest ForTomatometer
Journey to BethlehemNativity storyFamilies teaching Biblical narratives74%
KlausOrigin of SantaAll ages; kindness & giving95%
Jingle JangleHope & redemptionFamilies; intergenerational bonds91%
Feast of the Seven FishesItalian Christmas traditionCultural heritage education88%
A Boy Called ChristmasAdventure & faithChildren 8+84%
Angela's Christmas WishFamily reunionYoung children61%

How to Choose Christmas Movies for Educational Settings

School administrators and educators selecting holiday content for community engagement activities should prioritize films demonstrating measurable impact on values formation. Klaus exemplifies generosity through its origin story of Santa Claus, while Feast of the Seven Fishes teaches cultural heritage through Italian Christmas traditions.

For Marist pedagogy aligned with holistic education, choose films emphasizing fraternity, service, and solidarity-core Marist values. Jingle Jangle showcases intergenerational mentorship and redemption, while A Boy Called Christmas illustrates faith-driven adventure. These narratives support character development alongside entertainment.

Key concerns and solutions for What Are The Christmas Movies On Netflix Worth Watching With Kids

What Christmas movies are new on Netflix in 2026?

New 2026 Christmas movies on Netflix include late-2026 releases like A Dog's Perfect Christmas, The Gospel of Christmas, Guarding Stars, and In a Holidaze, though exact release dates remain TBA. The most recent completed releases are the four 2025 originals: A Merry Little Ex-Mas, Champagne Problems, Jingle Bell Heist, and My Secret Santa.

Are Hallmark Christmas movies on Netflix?

Yes, but regionally limited. Outside the United States, Netflix licensed Hallmark movies throughout November 2025 through January 2026, including Haul Out the Holly, Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up, All I Need for Christmas, Christmas Under the Lights, and Our Holiday Story. These titles are not available in the US library.

Which Christmas movie on Netflix has the highest rating?

Klaus holds the highest Tomatometer score at 95% with a 96% Popcornmeter, described as an "instant candidate for holiday classic status" due to beautiful hand-drawn animation and a heartwarming narrative. Alien Xmas has a perfect 100% Tomatometer but only 69% Popcornmeter.

What are the best Netflix Christmas movies for kids?

Top family-friendly options include Klaus (96 min, animated origin of Santa), Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (122 min, toymaker adventure), A Boy Called Christmas (106 min, young boy's snowy adventure), Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas (30 min special), and Angela's Christmas Wish (determined girl reuniting family). Netflix also curates a dedicated Christmas Family Movies collection with animated crowd-pleasers.

When do Netflix Christmas movies typically get released?

Netflix typically releases Christmas movies in November, with 2025's originals debuting every Wednesday for a month starting late November. Licensed titles arrived throughout November 2025, with the bulk dropping November 1-24. This timing aligns with the holiday viewing season, allowing subscribers to binge-watch throughout December.

Can I download Netflix Christmas movies for offline viewing?

Yes, Netflix allows downloading most Christmas movies for offline viewing on mobile devices through the Netflix app. This includes originals like Klaus, Jingle Jangle, and the 2025 releases A Merry Little Ex-Mas and My Secret Santa. Download availability depends on licensing agreements for licensed titles.

Are there Christmas documentaries on Netflix?

Yes. Dear Santa, directed by Dana Nachman, is a documentary about Operation Santa run by the US Postal Service, revealing the massive effort behind answering children's Christmas letters. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All! is a concert special featuring her festive holiday hits including "All I Want for Christmas Is You".

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Editorial Strategist

Isadora Leal Campos

Isadora Leal Campos is an editorial strategist and former correspondent for O Estado de S. Paulo's education desk. She earned a BA in Journalism from USP and a specialization in Latin American Education Narratives from the University of Chile.

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