It’s almost Christmas! Tomorrow morning will be a busy mix of crinkling wrapping paper, screams of delights, moans of disappointment, and lots of food. Chances are, you'll also be hitting peak amounts of family time, and you may want a distraction or two -- but one that can still include the whole family, right? You'll want to come prepared with some comfy-ass joggers, a spliff rolled ('tis Kushmas), all the chocolates you got in your stocking (you have that spliff), and a list of movies readily available on Netflix. Unfortunately, we can't help with the comfy sweats, the candy or the weed-- but we can help with that movies list.
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There's a long list of holiday-inspired movies on the streaming giant, and we've curated a Christmas list just for you. There's something for everyone on our list of the best Christmas movies to watch on Netflix today or tomorrow. For the irreverent comedy lover, Bad Santa is always an essential holiday flick. If that's a little too mature for your audience though, The Christmas Chronicles is a family comedy made for everyone in your household. The children will be enraptured by Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (if they aren't obsessing over their new gadgets), and the couples can cuddle up to Love Actually. Merry Christmas to all, and enjoy our list of the best Xmas movies on Netflix.
The Holiday Calendar
A magical Advent calendar leads the talented Kat Graham on a journey of love. Graham plays Abby, a freelance photographer that works at the mall taking pictures of kids sitting on Santa's lap. Her old best friend Josh comes back from traveling the world and taking pictures, and he becomes interested in Abby. A doctor begins courting her though, and she's cluelessly caught between two men. A magical calendar helps Abby by predicting her future and setting her up for a Christmas miracle.
The Christmas Chronicles
Netflix grabbed Kurt Russell for a role as Santa Clause, which sounds odd until you see the trailer. Russell plays an updated version of the legendary character, but they still keep the film PG. You can watch it with the kids, but enjoy it as an adult. After two kids find a way to sneak onto Santa's sleigh, they cause an accident that threatens to derail all of Christmas. Together, they must overcome the situation and find a way to deliver gifts to children all throughout the world.
The Nutcracker
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker is your classic Christmas background movie. That means, you can throw it on without feeling guilty about letting in play while you dabble between paying attention and playing with your new gifts. The movie is narrated by Kevin Kline and features the New York City Ballet performing the traditional holiday fantasy.
Love Actually
As the title implies, this is a romantic comedy. Christmas time is filled with love and warmth, which means the height of cuffing season is now. Love Actually focuses on ten different stories that intertwine right around Christmas. Some are stories of budding romance, while others focus on more dramatic narratives. The all-star cast includes Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Billy Bob Thornton, Liam Neeson, Martin Freeman, and Rowan Atkinson.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey was the best Grinch and there is no discussion. The classic Dr. Seuss tale comes to life with Carrey as the titular grumpy green Who that burrows away from Whoville with his dog Max. He tries to steal Christmas to punish the Whos, but we all know how that story ends. Cindy Lou Who becomes a major character, and The Grinch gets a backstory, but overall, Dr. Seuss's tale remains intact.
White Christmas
Bing Crosby stars in this holiday throwback. White Christmas follows two military vets who become infatuated with two young ladies, and accompany them up to Vermont. While there, the vets learn that their old commander owns the Inn that they are staying at, but it will be going out of business soon. Can a musical Christmas miracle save the Inn, and will the two vets win the hearts of the two ladies? The holiday spirit guides the crew through ups and downs, and White Christmas is a witty flick to view with the insight that it comes from the 50's.
Bad Santa
RIP Bernie Mac. This dark comedy isn't for the entire family. Billy Bob Thorton plays a crook that uses his role as Santa Clause at a mall to plan a robbery. He ends up falling for a gorgeous single mother who has a dim-witted son, and a hilariously crass adventure unfolds around him. Irrevent and offensive, this is the perfect film to watch if that Christmas bubbly has you in a laughable mood.
A Very Murray Christmas
This flick fuses Christmas, musical, and comedy all into one. Bill Murray brings a long list of talent along with him for the holiday musical including Chris Rock, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Paul Shaffer, Michael Cera, Julie White, Dimitri Dimitrov, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones, David Johansen and more. A massive snowstorm throws off the schedule for Murray's Christmas special, which sets up a ripple effect that draws all the aforementioned talent into an intersecting fantasy.
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas is for the kids and the kids at heart. Several of Disney's main characters are highlighted in three separate stories. Donald Duck gets his own story, as do Goofy and his son Max, and Mickey and Minnie. The Mickey story has caused many to shed a holiday tear, as he sells his harmonica to buy Minnie a chain, but she sells her locket to buy Mickey a case.