Christmas movie guide 2023: New streaming holiday movies on Netflix, Disney+ and more
This year, the major streaming services are taking pages out of the Christmas playbooks of Hallmark Channel and Lifetime, churning out lots of holiday-themed movies and specials.
And they've roped in some pretty big stars, too, from Eddie Murphy to Hannah Waddington, and from the Velveteen Rabbit to … Little Batman.
Here's some of the new holiday movies and specials coming to major streaming services this season, along with some of the new Christmas movies that debuted before the holiday season actually got here.
RELATED: Where and when you can watch 15 classic Christmas movies and specials on TV, streaming
New streaming holiday movies and specials coming soon
Netflix
“The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday”: In this story set before the events of the 2022 animated movie, the Bad Guys set out to rob the city blind on Christmas morning, only to have to revive the spirit of the season by giving instead. Starting Nov. 30.
Hulu
"The Jingle Bell Jubilee": A middle school teacher finds out her new student is the daughter of her high school crush. They wind up working together to save the town's charity while trying not to fall in love, again. With Erin Agostino, Marshall Williams. Starting Dec. 3.
"Meet Me Under the Mistletoe": Rival Realtors (Sarah Fisher, Simon Arblaster) are forced to work together when they make and receive the same wish during the first snow of winter — to land the biggest home listing in town. Starting Dec. 9.
Disney+
“The Naughty Nine”: When he finds out he's on Santa's "naughty list," a creative kid joins forces with other kids on the list to get the presents they think they deserve. Danny Glover plays Santa Claus in this family holiday movie. Starting Nov. 23.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever”: What’s worse for the title kid in this animated special than getting stuck with his family during a snowstorm over winter vacation? How about sweating out whether he’ll get the new game console he wants for Christmas? Starting Dec. 8.
Prime Video
“Elf Me”: One of Santa’s elves, who is better at making weapons than toys, forms an alliance with a shy boy beset by bullies. Starting Nov. 24.
“Candy Cane Lane”: Eddie Murphy stars as a man who, bent on winning his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest, unwittingly makes a deal with a mischievous elf (Jillian Bell) who casts a spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life. Tracee Ellis Ross co-stars. Starting Dec. 1.
“Merry Little Batman”: In this animated holiday special, young Damian Wayne finds himself home alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, and he must become “Little Batman” to defend his home and Gotham City when supervillains set out to destroy the holidays. Starting Dec. 8.
Peacock
“Genie”: After losing his family and his job, a workaholic (Paapa Essiedu) stumbles on a genie (Melissa McCarthy) who tries to help him win his life back before Christmas. Alan Cumming, Denée Benton, Luis Guzmán and Marc Maron co-star. Starting Nov. 22.
Apple TV+
“The Velveteen Rabbit”: A 7-year-old gets a stuffed rabbit at Christmas, and boy and toy form a lifelong bond in this new live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s story. Starting Nov. 22.
"Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas": The “Ted Lasso” star sings and plays host in this special recorded at The Coliseum in London, with guests including Luke Evans, Leslie Odom Jr., the English National Opera, the London Gay Men’s Chorus and more. Starting Nov. 22.
BET+
“So Fly Christmas”: After her friend is left at the altar on Christmas Eve, a woman suggests they both renounce love. So when she falls for a record store owner, she has to figure out how to keep the relationship secret. With Tichina Arnold, Tami Roman, Jackee Harry, Tommy Davidson. Starting Nov. 23.
“A Royal Christmas Surprise”: A woman hosts her fiancé’s parents, who are royalty from South Africa, over Christmas, but a surprise from her man threatens to derail everything. With Jennifer Freeman, Thapelo Mokoena. Starting Nov. 30.
“The Christmas Ringer”: After her manager (who’s also her fiancé) derails her career, an R&B singer who’s the reigning “Princess of Christmas” heads to her family’s home for the holidays, and her mother talks her into directing her church choir in a holiday competition. With Trenyce, Kelly Price, Tyler Lepley. Starting Nov. 30.
“Never Alone for Christmas”: After a woman calls off her wedding just before the holidays, she goes to a Cajun Christmas retreat for singles with someone new — and so does her ex. With Mignon Von, Allen Maldonado, Macy Gray. Starting Dec. 7.
“Favorite Son Christmas”: Singer, actor and Milwaukee native Tank plays a man who takes over a struggling church as pastor at Christmastime and, to save the church, stages a reunion of his family singing group. Darrel Walls, Loren Lott, Serayah, Lisa Arrindell, MC Lyte, Jekalyn Carr, Anthony Evans co-star in this holiday musical. Starting Dec. 14.
“Christmas Rescue”: In a bid to win back the love of his life, a man kidnaps her from her holiday-themed wedding. With Robin Givens, Raven Goodwin, Catfish Jean, Mario Van Peebles. Starting Dec. 14.
“Whatever It Takes”: On a snowy Thanksgiving weekend, five women bond over problems in their love lives. With Tami Roman, Kandi Burruss, Brely Evans. Starting Dec. 21.
Roku Channel
“A Very Demi Holiday Special”: Demi Lovato sings holiday favorites and more in this new special, which promises surprises including “a very special duet.” Starting Dec. 8.
Fox Nation
“Christmas With the Foxes”: At the Fox family’s annual Christmas party, a woman (Gina Vitori) sets out to sabotage her father’s (Patrick M.J. Finerty) relationship with a new woman, less than a year after the death of his wife (and her mother). But a new romance of her own complicates matters. Starting Nov. 23.
New Christmas movies and specials already streaming
Netflix
“The Claus Family 3”: When Santa gets in trouble, it’s up to his grandchildren to save the day.
“Best. Christmas. Ever!”: Frustrated with the amazingly perfect life her friend’s annual Christmas letter depicts, a woman takes her family along to prove it’s all a fraud. Milwaukee native Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Matt Cedeno and Jason Biggs star in this holiday comedy.
Disney+
“Dashing Through the Snow”: A divorced social worker (Ludacris) who has few fond memories of Christmas reluctantly agrees to take his daughter along during his rounds on Christmas Eve, where one of his potential clients (Lil Rev Howrey) turns out to be Santa Claus. Teyonah Parris, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Oscar Nunez co-star. (Began streaming Nov. 17.)
Hulu
“A Christmas Frequency”: To save their dying radio show, a young producer sets up her recently separated boss on a string of live on-air blind dates. Things get complicated when she falls for one of them herself. Ansley Gordon (who also wrote the script) and Denise Richards star.
“Reporting for Christmas”: An idealistic reporter, annoyed that she’s been assigned a puff piece on a toy manufacturer, considers changing her tune when she meets the toymaker’s son.
BET+
“A Wesley Christmas Wedding”: Obstacles to a Christmas wedding include a “Momzilla,” a couple of wild-card exes and some new members of the family. With Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence "TC" Carson, Loren Lott.
“Heart for the Holidays”: A hard-driving businesswoman has a life-saving heart transplant in a small town, and she winds up connecting with a woman who received an organ from the same donor — and whose brother becomes her love interest. With Erica Peeples, Kyle Lowder, Starletta DuPois.
“Christmas Angel”: When her car breaks down on a desolate road, a troubled R&B star seeking to escape her tabloid celebrity gets help from a stranger and his 8-year-old daughter who share their Christmas with her. With Skyh Black, DaniLeigh, Romeo Miller, Elise Neal, Tamar Braxton.
“Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas”: On Christmas Eve, a detective and her DA boyfriend are both told that each other has been kidnapped in what becomes a night of fight for survival dictated by a menacing, unseen voice. Holiday thriller with Mishael Morgan, Leland B. Martin, Vivica A. Fox.
Roku Channel
“How to Fall in Love by the Holidays”: To save her company, the leader of a lifestyle brand (Teri Hatcher) has to write a piece about falling in love by Christmas. But things get complicated when she starts falling for the photographer (Dan Payne) assigned to shoot the story.
FreeVee
“EXmas”: After begging off seeing his family for the holidays so he can finish a project, a writer (Robbie Amell) decides to travel home anyway, only to discover that they’ve invited his ex-fiancée (Leighton Meister) to join them as well. (Began streaming Nov. 17.)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Christmas movie guide: New streaming holiday movies on Netflix, more
