The 12 New Movies of Christmas (and then Some)

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The 12 New Movies of Christmas (and then Some)

Rotham December 17, 2025 0 Comments

I love Christmas movies, but this is getting ridiculous.

It feels like there are more holiday movies being made each year than ever before. When you factor in the prolific likes of Hallmark, that answer becomes increasingly clear.

Starting in late October, there’s a steady stream of holiday offerings nearly every day. Most are forgettable and formulaic.

That being said, that’s okay. Familiarity is a huge part of the magic of Christmas. When I’m in the holiday mood, nothing is better than a warm Christmas movie paired against the lights of the tree.

Here are some of the freshest holiday films released in 2025. Listed from best to worst, they were judged and rated on three factors:

Christmas Spirit — Are the holidays integral to the film? Does it capture a particular feeling of the season?

Filmmaking — Is it well-crafted? Does it stand on its own as a movie when you take off the Poinsettia-colored glasses of Christmas?

Potential Rewatchability — How likely is it to become traditional viewing? Is it worth your time in the first place?

The Merchants of Joy

Not only is this the most on-target Christmas feature of 2025, Merchants of Joy is one of the strongest movies of the year, period. This playfully-paced documentary centers around the top Christmas tree sellers in New York City as they jockey for business in a cutthroat economy. As the strong personalities of the “five families” clash, heartfelt truths are revealed by actual, sympathetic individuals.

Directed By: Celia Aniskovich // 90 minutes // Amazon MGM Studios // Streaming on Prime

The Baltimorons

While this dramedy is potentially too dark for some, it’s beautifully broken. Following the story of a struggling, depressed recovering alcoholic comedian (co-screenwriter Michael Strassner) as he unexpectedly connects with his dentist, this post-mumblecore gem artfully responds to the stress and loneliness of the holidays.

Directed By: Jay Duplass // Starring: Michael Strassner, Liz Larsen, Olivia Luccardi // 100 minutes // IFC Films & Sapan Studio // Streaming on AMC+

Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!

Likely the best Hallmark film of the year, this one has camp classic potential with the heart to back it up. A Corning, N.Y. Meteorologist (Robert Buckley) visits his hometown of Lackawanna and runs into his high school flame. With a history of terrible luck and holiday calamities, Ted is nevertheless endlessly optimistic — an affable people-pleaser who often disregards his own feelings. Buckley’s comedic performance is dead-on, and the movie doubles down on its own weirdness, winning big.

Directed By: Jason Bourque Starring: Robert Buckley, Kimberly Sustad // 84 minutes // Hallmark // Streaming on Hallmark+

A Newport Christmas

Another entry in Hallmark’s “Christmas Time Travel” category, this movie follows a wealthy young turn-of-the-century socialite (Ginna Claire Mason) as she’s transported to present day Rhode Island. As she sees the long-term fruits of her charitable plans, she finds love with a man (Wes Brown) who isn’t the person she married historically. A bookend to 2023’s Hallmark masterpiece A Biltmore Christmas, this has cheesy humor, admirable energy, and a lovely earnestness.

Directed By: Dustin Rikert // Starring: Ginna Claire Mason, Wes Brown // 84 minutes // Hallmark // Streaming on Hallmark+ , fuboTV, Philo, friendly TV, and more

Oh. What. Fun.

Here’s an expertly-made comedy that appreciates the hard work that mothers do to make Christmas special. An upper-middle-class mom slowly comes apart at the seams while her family is home for the holidays. Pairing seasonal stress with a good ol’ fashioned breakdown, this is an exceptionally solid pick.

Directed By: Michael Showalter // Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloë Grace Moretz, Felicity Jones // 108 minutes // Amazon MGM Studios // Streaming on Prime

A Very Jonas Christmas Movie

If you’re already a fan of the Jonas Brothers, then don’t hesitate for one second watching this. If you’re not … you could do a whole lot worse. The brothers play real-life versions of themselves trying to get home despite outlandish hurdles. Impressive songs, tons of jokes, and a stellar supporting cast make this an easy-to-swallow fave.

Directed By: Jessica Yu // Starring: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Chloe Bennet // 80 minutes // Disney+ // Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu

A Keller Christmas Vacation

The cast in this movie truly helps to take this to a higher level than your average Hallmark movie. Join Superman, Sue Heck, and Aaron Samuels on a European family cruise as they each grapple with their 30-something struggles and connect with their parents. Humor, chemistry, and interesting locations underscore this charming take.

Directed By: Maclain Nelson // Starring: Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh, Eden Sher // 84 minutes // Hallmark // Streaming on Hallmark+

Champagne Problems

A bubbly and enchanting take on a Christmas in Paris, this was an unexpected dark horse. While I would have happily watched a whole movie with supporting actors Flula Borg and Sean Amsing, the romance and wonder is here in abundance.

Directed By: Mark Steven Johnson // Starring: Minka Kelly, Tom Wozniczka, Thibault de Montalembert // 99 minutes // Netflix // Streaming on Netflix

Christmas Karma

As one of the endless Christmas Carol adaptions, this film kind of has to be seen to be believed. Some scenes are shockingly stark, while others are cartoonishly buoyant. Its British multiculturalism is perhaps its biggest selling point and its biggest stumbling block. For what it’s worth, I had a wonderful time watching it. If you’re intrigued by the cast, give it a go.

Directed By: Gurinder Chadha // Starring: Kunal Nayyar, Billy Porter, Eva Longoria, Boy George // 114 minutes // True Brit Entertainment (UK) // Available on Apple TV

Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story

This entry might be most notable simply for the fact that it’s so much better than its predecessor, which focused on the Kansas City Chiefs. With a huge buy-in from the Buffalo Bills, two Sopranos veterans (get it – Bills Mafia?), and the unique timing of a new stadium’s construction, this is an absolute must for western New York football fans and beyond.

Directed By: Dustin Rikert // Starring: Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario, Joe Pantoliano // 87 minutes // Hallmark // Streaming on Hallmark+

The Family Plan 2

Make no mistake, this sequel to the 2023 streamer is top-notch action comedy. It’s just not a Christmas movie. While the opening ten minutes have a holiday flair, as soon as the family heads to Paris, that wonder is gone . There are some amazing roof parkour sequences (what year is this?) and one of the best uses of the Plastic Bertrand’s “Ça Plane Pour Moi” that make this worthwhile.

Directed By: Simon Cellan Jones // Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Kit Harington // 104 Minutes // Apple Studios // Streaming on Apple TV+

A Merry Little Ex-mas

This is another solid, low-stakes bet you won’t lose. The cast is great, the opening animation is lovely, but nothing really clicks. Feel free to play on your phone or wrap presents during this one.

Directed By: Steve Carr // Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Pierson Fodé // 91 minutes // Netflix // Streaming on Netflix

Merv

I’m including this mostly because it looks so promising. A Christmas movie with Zooey Deschanel and a terrier? Sounds like a win, right? While it’s cute enough, there’s almost zero chemistry between Deschanel and Charlie Cox, and it totally loses any Christmas spirit about ten minutes in, clearly shoehorned in just to move along production.

Directed By: Jessica Swalle // Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, Gus the Dog // 105 minutes // Amazon MGM Studios // Streaming on Prime