Forget Netflix’s sad girl autumn phase, because the streamer is absolutely done playing it safe with holiday content. Starting November 12, 2025, Netflix unleashes a Christmas movie lineup so packed with romance, chaos, heists, and weirdness that you’ll forget seasonal depression exists. We’re talking about a recently divorced woman desperately trying to host the perfect family Christmas before her ex-husband crashes the party with his new girlfriend. A champagne executive falling for a Parisian who just happens to be the founder’s son. Two petty criminals discovering they planned to rob the same department store on Christmas Eve. And somehow, Rowan Atkinson dressing up as a man to work as Santa at a ski resort. If Netflix’s approach to holiday movies has always been “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” then 2025 is the year they’re throwing premium paint at marble. Between the brand new originals and the existing classics already dominating streaming, your December calendar is about to be completely booked with binge sessions that’ll make eggnog consumption a requirement just to keep up.
A Merry Little Ex-Mas Starts the Chaos November 12
Netflix’s holiday assault begins November 12 with A Merry Little Ex-Mas, a film that understands modern relationships are messy, breakups are awkward, and trying to host the perfect family Christmas becomes exponentially harder when your ex-husband shows up with his new girlfriend looking like she stepped out of a magazine. Alicia Silverstone stars as Kate, a recently divorced woman with one mission: throw an absolutely perfect Christmas in the house she’s about to sell to prove that divorce didn’t destroy everything. Simple enough, right? Except her ex-husband Everett (Oliver Hudson) arrives with his impossibly successful new girlfriend (Jameela Jamil), immediately derailing every carefully laid plan.
Credits: Mashable
The film’s genius lies in how it leans into the specific awkwardness of ex-family dynamics during holidays. Kate’s desperate need for perfection clashes immediately with reality’s refusal to cooperate. Throw in Pierson Fode as an attractive younger man Kate invites to balance out the power dynamics, and you’ve got the recipe for a comedy that’s part Home Alone, part therapy session, and entirely entertaining. The supporting cast includes Melissa Joan Hart, suggesting this isn’t just another Netflix rom-com but actually has some comedic firepower behind it.
Share this with your friend who’s already stressed about hosting family this Christmas!
Champagne Problems Serves Romance with Bubbles November 19
One week later, November 19, Netflix pivots from family chaos to pure romantic escapism with Champagne Problems. Minka Kelly stars as an ambitious executive tasked with acquiring a renowned champagne brand for her company before Christmas. The location: The gorgeous French countryside during winter. The complication: She falls into a whirlwind romance with a charming Parisian (Tom Wozniczka) only to discover he’s the founder’s son, making this situation approximately 10 times more complicated than her boss intended.
Credits: Netflix
The film borrows its title from Taylor Swift’s song, which Netflix likely hopes captures the Gen Z audience who quote “champagne problems” whenever they experience mild inconvenience. But the actual film seems genuinely designed around exploring what happens when business ambition collides with unexpected romance in the most picturesque European setting possible. Winter in France provides stunning cinematography that’ll make viewers consider abandoning their lives to become champagne tasters in rural vineyards. Thibault de Montalembert joins the cast, adding French charm that justifies why an American executive would abandon her corporate mission for love.
If you want your Christmas movie with a European art-house vibe instead of mall culture, Champagne Problems delivers.
Jingle Bell Heist Combines Robbery and Romance November 26
November 26 brings something completely different to Netflix: a heist film dressed up in Christmas clothes. Jingle Bell Heist follows Olivia Holt as a retail employee and Connor Swindells as a handyman who discover they’ve both been planning to rob the same London department store on Christmas Eve. Rather than becoming enemies, they become partners, combining forces for what amounts to a holiday heist comedy that probably shouldn’t work but absolutely does.
Credits: Netflix
Directed by Michael Fimognari and written by Abby McDonald and Amy Reed, the film takes the ocean’s eleven template and applies it to the chaos of Christmas shopping season. The premise is ridiculous enough to work and grounded enough to maintain tension. Combining comedic caper with holiday romance is a delicate balance that requires talented performers and writers who understand tone. This ensemble looks capable of delivering both the laughs and the emotional beats audiences expect from Netflix’s holiday offerings.
Don’t miss out on watching criminals plan their biggest score while decorated with Christmas lights!
My Secret Santa Delivers Rowan Atkinson December 3
December 3 brings perhaps the weirdest premise on Netflix’s 2025 holiday slate: My Secret Santa, which involves someone disguising themselves as a man to work as Santa at a ski resort. The film apparently stars Rowan Atkinson, though reports remain slightly unclear about exact casting. But if Atkinson is involved, that’s gold because the man is comedy genius who understands physical comedy and absurdist humor in ways most performers never achieve.
Credits: Mashable
The premise suggests Netflix is completely leaning into ridiculous holiday hijinks at this point. Why would someone disguise themselves as a man? Why does it need to be at a ski resort? What exactly qualifies one to play Santa while maintaining this deception? Those are questions best left unanswered before watching, allowing the film to surprise you with its complete commitment to whatever logic it establishes.
The fact that Netflix is willing to make this suggests the streamer’s completely abandoned trying to reinvent the Christmas movie wheel and instead decided to just have maximum fun with whatever ideas survived the development process.
Klaus Remains Netflix’s Undisputed Champion
Amid all the new chaos, it’s important to remember that Netflix’s Klaus, available for streaming, remains the gold standard for modern Christmas animation. This beautifully crafted film tells the origin story of Santa Claus through a postman (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) teaming with a reclusive carpenter named Klaus (J.K. Simmons) to deliver toys in an arctic village.
Credits: THR
The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and swept the Annie Awards 2020, winning all seven categories in which it was nominated. That level of critical validation means Klaus isn’t just a Netflix money grab but genuinely acclaimed cinema that happens to be a Christmas movie. The animation is stunning, the story is heartfelt without being saccharine, and it works for viewers of literally any age.
If you’re planning a Christmas movie marathon, Klaus should anchor your entire schedule.
The Christmas Chronicles Brings Kurt Russell Magic
The Christmas Chronicles series sees Kurt Russell fully embodying Santa Claus in a way that feels like the role he was born to play. Russell brings charisma, warmth, and genuine Christmas spirit that makes these films work despite their premise being fundamentally absurd. Two kids have adventures with Santa, and somehow Russell’s performance makes it feel completely real and magical rather than ridiculous.
Credits: THR
The sequel features Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus, adding layers of casting prestige and star power. These aren’t cynical cash grabs but legitimate efforts to create family entertainment that adults can genuinely enjoy watching alongside kids. Russell even sings “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” in one film, and the performance deserves cult classic status for its complete commitment to pure joy.
Hot Frosty Gets Weird in All the Right Ways
Hot Frosty became a symbol of Netflix’s commitment to the absolute weirdness of holiday romance when its trailer dropped. The premise: a widow falls for a snowman brought to life. Not metaphorically, actually literally a snowman who becomes a hot man. Lacey Chabert plays the widow and Dustin Milligan plays the snowman (obviously), and the film embraces its absurdity so completely that it somehow works as entertainment even for viewers who think the concept is ridiculous.
Credits: Forbes
This is Netflix’s holiday filmmaking in its purest form: “What if a very weird thing happened during Christmas? Let’s make that movie.” The fact that audiences responded positively suggests there’s real appetite for the strange, unexpected, and completely illogical as long as it’s wrapped in Christmas cheer.
Last Christmas Deserves Your Reconsideration
Credits: Netflix
Directed by Paul Feig, Last Christmas stars Emilia Clarke as a disgruntled employee at a Christmas shop and Henry Golding as an enigmatic do-gooder she falls for. The film received mixed reviews upon release, but it’s genuinely worth reconsidering if you skipped it. Yes, the ending’s predictable if you’re paying attention, but the journey matters more than the destination. Clarke and Golding have genuine chemistry, the film looks beautiful, and it delivers the heartfelt message about human connection that makes Christmas movies actually matter beyond just seasonal decoration.
Your December Schedule Just Got Complicated
Between the new Netflix originals, classic standbys, and existing films worth rewatching, December 2025 becomes the month you finally justify that expensive Netflix subscription. Plan your viewing schedule now because choosing between watching divorce comedy one night and champagne romance the next means you’ll be constantly streaming from November through January.
What’s your must-watch Netflix Christmas movie this year? Do the new releases interest you or are you rewatching classics for the millionth time? Drop your predictions and recommendations in the comments because the holiday streaming wars are about to get intense. Share this guide with anyone still planning their December and isn’t ready for the commitment. Follow for updated reviews once these films premiere because first impressions from actual viewing will matter more than trailers and hype. Because Christmas 2025 on Netflix is less about finding the perfect movie and more about finding all the chaotic, weird, romantic, heist-filled options available for celebration.
