12 (or 13) New Movies of Christmas: 2024
Ranking a baker's dozen holiday films from this year
Christmas movies are evolving. I think we can officially say that we're in the post-Hallmark era of holiday filmmaking. While the greeting card company's studio arm may be far from inactive, this year in particular sees online streaming platforms clamoring for views amidst the holiday noise.
There's a definite bright side to this, of course. The movies are getting better. While the Hallmark era had low budgets, D and F-list stars, and some of the most formulaic tropes a genre has ever seen, this new breed is a step up.
While not everything is a masterpiece like Klaus or The Holdovers, a rising tide is lifting at least most ships.
By putting just a little more money for better scripts and better supporting casts, this new crop of Christmas movies are bringing new life to a dead sector of cinema: Mid-budget comedies.
While they once fueled the DVD and rental market, these rewatchable hits and misses (which reached their heyday between 2004 and 2014) are coming back wearing plenty of red and green. While the post-theatrical market then provided a path to profitability, the yearly hunger for holiday films has made a similar impact. That impact is making it a safer choice for studios, and if we have to slap a late December timeline to a script worth making, then I'm all for it.
That being said, we had a lot of good (and not so good) releases this season. Here are 12 films of 2024, some nice and some naughty.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Based on the classic mini novel, this film has charm coming out of every corner. With a heart not unlike a Christmas story, it's funny, chaotic, and fit for the whole family. If you don't see it this year, you will soon and you won't regret it.
Currently in theaters, and available for purchase
Christmas Charm: 9
Filmmaking: 6
Potential Rewatchability: 10
Christmas Eve in Miller's Point
A brilliantly constructed work that feels lived in and real, this critical favorite showcases an Italian-American extended family getting together for one night. Starting episodic and building to grand realizations, this is easily the best film on this list in terms of cinematic originality.
Streaming on AMC+ and Philo, available for purchase
Christmas Charm: 8
Filmmaking: 10
Potential Rewatchability: 7
Carry-On
A tense thriller in the lineage of Die Hard. This airport-based holiday film ratchets up each of its setpieces, and might just be worth re-watching in the coming years, Christmas or not.
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 4
Filmmaking: 9
Potential Rewatchability: 8
That Christmas
The only computer animated movie on this list, That also happens to be the sweetest. In what could become a low-tier classic, it lacks the visuals that say, Arthur Christmas had a decade and a half ago. Even so, it's a guaranteed family hit.
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 8
Filmmaking: 6
Potential Rewatchability: 6
Nutcrackers
Unexpectedly enjoyable despite critical razzing, this film turns out to be much more subtle than its broad plot would indicate (not to mention the past work of Ben Stiller). You'll be rooting for the Janson brothers by the end.
Currently streaming on Hulu
Christmas Charm: 7
Filmmaking: 7
Potential Rewatchability: 6
Red One
While it's probably a movie that shouldn't have been made, at least it was made well. If you're into a hyper-militarized North Pole, some decent effects (including a talking polar bear), and an A-list core cast, it's worth a watch.
In theaters and steaming on Amazon
Christmas Charm: 5
Filmmaking: 7
Potential Rewatchability: 4
Hot Frosty
With a winning cast and campy Holiday schmaltz, this is an easy one to love (or at least tolerate). Mindlessly funny yet perplexingly sincere
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 6
Filmmaking: 4
Potential Rewatchability: 5
Our Little Secret
Here is where we enter the much more traditional zone. It's a farce based on withheld information, played for successful laughs, by a strong cast.
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 6
Filmmaking: 4
Potential Rewatchability: 3
Meet Me Next Christmas
Another half-watchable popcorn movie, the chemistry of the lead couple shines through as well as an extremely entertaining acting performance from the group Pentatonix. And yes, there's singing.
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 6
Filmmaking: 4
Potential Rewatchability: 3
Carnage for Christmas
The only horror film on this list (I'll admit I didn't see Terrifier 3), this barely feature length Australian slasher feels more like a backdoor pilot for a procedural about it captivating trans lead. That's a series I would watch.
Streaming on AMC+ and Shudder, available for purchase
Christmas Charm: 3
Filmmaking: 6
Potential Rewatchability: 3
The Merry Gentleman
Like a lot of the surrounding movies on this list, this is a good one to half watch while playing on your phone. If you happen to like shirtless middle-aged beefcakes, you'll probably be looking up a lot more. What more do you need?
Streaming on Netflix
Christmas Charm: 5
Filmmaking: 3
Potential Rewatchability: 3
Holiday Touchdown
While the Kansas City Chiefs continue to be one of the most hated teams in the NFL, we are treated to this odd entry. Will every NFL team have a movie of its own? The only time will tell, but at least Ed Begly Jr. in this one. Fun or not, the refs say it's okay.
Streaming on Hallmark+, available for purchase
Christmas Charm: 6
Filmmaking: 3
Potential Rewatchability: 1
Dear Santa
Well, no one will argue that Jack Black is lovable in almost every role, this movie doesn't do him justice. Lifeless and boring, you'd have to sell your soul to the devil in order to finish the thing.
Streaming on Paramount+
Christmas Charm: 2
Filmmaking: 2
Potential Rewatchability: 1
Best Christmas movies of the last five years
Klaus (2019)
Christmas Charm: 10
Filmmaking: 10
Potential Rewatchability: 10
The Holdovers (2023)
Christmas Charm: 8
Filmmaking: 10
Potential Rewatchability: 9
The Happiest Season (2020)
Christmas Charm: 7
Filmmaking: 7
Potential Rewatchability: 9
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
Christmas Charm: 7
Filmmaking: 6
Potential Rewatchability: 8
Little women (2019)
Christmas Charm: 3
Filmmaking: 10
Potential Rewatchability: 7
Nick Warren watched way too many Christmas movies this season. They can be reached at nick@eriereader.com
