I don’t know about you, but I love the holidays. From the aromas to the traditions, the whole season is just magical. One of my favorite things to do is watch holiday movies. Getting comfortable on the couch with a soft blanket and hot cocoa just makes everything better. Although this sounds great, I already know that as soon as I start browsing through the many movie choices on Netflix, it is going to take me at least an hour to find something I want to watch. With Christmas quickly approaching, I have put a list together and reviewed some of the holiday movies on Netflix this year, in order to help you decide what to watch.  

The Christmas Chronicles

4/4 Candy Canes (Stars) 

While first watching the trailer for this movie, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But let me just say that this is now one of my all-time favorites. It’s about a family of four that celebrates Christmas together every year. The father ends up passing away, and the two siblings, Kate and Teddy, drift apart while grieving their loss. On Christmas, they end up coming together when they make a plan to catch Santa Claus. This turns out to be successful, and they go on a crazy adventure with him after accidentally crashing his sleigh. In the end, they learn the importance of family and staying true to oneself. Not only is this movie so touching, but it is also hilarious. I definitely recommend this one, and it’s perfect for the whole family.  

The Christmas Chronicles 2  

3.5/4 Candy Canes

This sequel is just as good as the first. “The Christmas Chronicles 2” takes viewers on quite the rollercoaster ride. With new problems and solutions left and right, the movie was never boring. It starts two years after the first movie, with Kate and Teddy spending Christmas together once again. This time, their mom is dating a new man and they are all spending Christmas in Mexico, along with this man’s son, Jack. Jack and Kate end up at the North Pole together after running into a mischievous elf with quite the agenda. There are multiple plot twists in this movie, and it is undoubtedly worth the watch. Although I didn’t enjoy the story line of this movie as much as I did the first, I enjoyed the fact that Mrs. Claus made an appearance this time around. The movies in this series never disappoint, and they’re surely worth the watch.     

Klaus

4/4 Candy Canes 

“Klaus” is a great movie to watch if you want to get into the holiday spirit. This movie is an imaginative yet clever story about how Santa Claus came to be. It’s about a postman who gets sent to a small island to establish a post office. When he arrives, he discovers a rivalry going on within the town. After meeting an old woodsman, he learns the importance of selfless acts and brings the tradition of Christmas to life. This is such a heartwarming movie, and it has a really important message behind it. 

Christmas Break-In 

2.5/4 Candy Canes 

When looking for something comedic and festive, this is a great choice. “Christmas Break-In” has a similar storyline to “Home Alone.” The movie starts off by introducing a trio of criminals, who have just robbed The Salvation Army. While looking for somewhere to wait out a storm, they stumble across a deserted school that has just been let out for winter break. Little do they know that inside, a nine year-old girl, Izzy, is waiting for her distracted parents to pick her up. The movie follows Izzy and her janitor friend, Ray, as they try to outsmart the robbers, all while waiting for her parents to come get her. There are a lot of funny moments in this movie, but some parts are a little too cheesy. Not to mention, there are also a couple of slow moments where my interest was lost. Overall, this film wouldn’t be my top pick. But if you enjoyed the “Home Alone” series, this might be the movie for you.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey 

3/4 Candy Canes 

“Jingle Jangle” is a great family-friendly musical. I was not expecting this to be a musical, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was. With a very diverse cast and fantastic songs, this is the perfect choice for a family movie night. The movie starts off with a grandmother reading a story to her grandchildren. In the story, a toymaker invents something spectacular, only to have it taken away by someone he trusts. Decades after giving up, the toymaker welcomes his granddaughter for a visit. She aims to restore his hope and creativity. In general, there is plenty of action, but some parts of the movie are confusing and boring. However, if you’re looking for something fun and musical to watch, this is a great pick.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Live Action) 

3.5/4 Candy Canes 

This is a classic. Not only is it one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies, but it gets better everytime I see it. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is about a town inside of a snowflake. The town loves Christmas, and the citizens go all out for the holiday every year. Everyone that lives there loves Christmas, except for the Grinch. The misfit lives in the mountains, and he hates Christmas because of something that happened to him as a child. Because of this, the Grinch wants to take away Christmas by stealing the presents and decorations of the townspeople. In the end, the Grinch learns the true meaning of Christmas and makes new friends. Since this movie is from the early 2000’s, the quality is not that great. But other than that, this is a great holiday movie for anyone to watch with family and friends.  

With all that in mind, I hope you pick a movie that you’ll enjoy based on my reviews. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!