Binge Watch These 5 Netflix Christmas Movies To Get in the Holiday Spirit

There are so many Christmas movies out there, you could probably watch a different one every single day of the year and barely make a dent in the selection. From beloved classics like It’s a Wonderful Life to more contemporary crowd-pleasers produced by Lifetime or Hallmark, you have a wealth of options to cozy up with. If you have a Netflix subscription (who doesn’t, these days?), good news: We’re recommending five of our favorite Netflix Christmas films, all charming tales of holiday cheer — plus, they star some of our favorite actresses. So, snuggle up with your blanket and cookies and let the movie watching begin.

1. A Castle for Christmas

If you want to: escape to Scotland with stars of the ’80s.

The always-elegant Brooke Shields stars in A Castle for Christmas as a successful writer who, following a scandal with her most recent book, decides to vacation in Scotland and buy a castle. (Look out for an aspirational scene in which she makes a toast: “To women buying castles.” Probably a small group.) As luck would have it, the castle she wants happens to be owned by a surly duke, played by The Princess Bride’s dreamboat lead Cary Elwes (who has, shall we say, an interesting Scottish accent). Against the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish countryside, the two stars get on one another’s nerves, but ultimately fall for each another in a tartan-filled and festive happy ending. 

Watch A Castle for Christmas. 

2. Holiday in the Wild

If you want to: see a Sex and the City star in an unexpected setting.

When you think of Kristin Davis, you likely remember her defining role as Charlotte York, the most prim and proper member of the Sex and the City friendship foursome. But Holiday in the Wild puts Davis in a very different environment: the wide-open landscape of Africa. Following a messy divorce, she goes on a life-changing trip to Zambia and meets none other than still-charming ’80s hunk Rob Lowe. Unlike most Christmas movies, this one features some very cute elephants. 

Watch Holiday in the Wild.

3. The Christmas Chronicles

If you want to: see one of Hollywood’s best couples.

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are one of Hollywood’s most charming and successful couples, together for nearly 40 years. In both The Christmas Chronicles and its sequel (the latter is directed by Chris Columbus, who also helmed the ’90s holiday classic Home Alone), Russell and Hawn play Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Russell really committed to being Santa; not only does he look great in the big white beard, he also prepared for his role in the sequel by writing over 100 pages about Santa’s history. (Yes, really!) As director Columbus described it, “Kurt takes this role incredibly seriously. It may sound silly to some people, but Kurt approaches Santa Claus as if he were a method actor.” We appreciate a man who takes Christmas seriously. And even in a family film, this couple’s chemistry is red hot.

Watch The Christmas Chronicles and The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two.

4. Christmas on the Square

If you want to: get your Dolly Parton on.

You can always count on Dolly Parton to make things festive, and Christmas on the Square is no exception. This kitschy holiday romp stars The Good Wife actress Christine Baranski as a Scrooge-like rich woman who plans to evict the residents from her hometown. Thankfully, Parton is there to save the day, playing (what else?) a kindhearted, sparkly angel who helps Baranski remember the true meaning of Christmas. It’s fun to see powerhouse actors Baranski and Parton sharing the screen, and Parton’s original songs deserve a prized place on your holiday playlist.

Watch Christmas on the Square.

5. Falling for Christmas

If you want to: see a ’00s icon make a comeback.

Lindsay Lohan, who first rose to fame as a child actress in the ’90s and reached household name status in the 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls, has recently made a triumphant return to the screen. Now a fully-grown woman who’s a lot less wild than she once was, Lohan stars in Falling for Christmas, a sweet holiday romance whose plot is in the “city girl goes to a small town and learns the meaning of the season” grand tradition. Lohan plays a spoiled heiress who suffers amnesia following a skiing accident — and wouldn’t you know it, she’s left to recuperate under the care of a handsome single father with an adorable daughter. If you’ve been wondering what Lohan is up to lately, the movie’s worth checking out. The combination of her fabulous outfits and the rustic, snow-covered landscapes makes this one a cute and cozy watch.

Watch Falling for Christmas.

Remember: These are but a few of the many, many Christmas movies you can watch on Netflix right now. Any one of these would pair well with a warm sweater and a mug of hot chocolate (or spiked eggnog, if you’re feeling fancy). You may even want to marathon them all during your holiday break — ’tis the season!