This holiday season, get into the Christmas spirit by checking out a brand-new yuletide-themed film designed to make you smile. From animated efforts by award-winning filmmakers to fantasy flings about hunky snowmen becoming sentient studmuffins, the Christmas movie market has a little something for everyone. Here are a few standout titles that nabbed our attention and are worthy of your precious time.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Lionsgate)
Directed by Dallas Jenkins
Release Date: November 8, 2024
Perfect for: Families, rugrats, kids who defy authority, Gilmore Girl aficionados
Based on the children’s book by Barbara Robinson, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the story of a group of outcast kids who decide to star in the town’s Christmas pageant and put their own spin on it.
A feel-good story about the meaning of the holiday in a small community, the clan of misfit kids end up learning about the spirit of the holiday while teaching a few folks about the real meaning of Christmas, as outcast kids in holiday specials are wont to do.
Starring Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes, the family-friendly Xmas comedy aims to yank at heartstrings with its wholesome, good-natured absurdity as it gently pokes fun at people who forget the spirit of the season and need a small reminder in the form of misbehaving kids with hearts of gold.
Our Little Secret (Netflix)
Directed by Stephen Herek
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Perfect for: Worshipers of the Lohan, rom-com lovers, hopeless romantics who believe Christmas Lindsay is her final form
The new lord and savior of the Christmas season, Lindsay Lohan, has graced streaming services with a new holiday film in Our Little Secret, for which the masses should be grateful. Costarring Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth, Chris Parnell, and Tim Meadows, this yuletide Netflix gift follows the exploits of two exes who are forced to spend the holiday season together when they make the unpleasant discovery that their new partners are siblings.
Will the contrived Christmastime captivity reignite any sparks between the former flames? Probably!
Will there be dozens of strained and forced situations that force the two into romantic situations involving a gazebo? We certainly hope so!
Will we watch it? You bet your sweet bippy we will.
If not for the content, one must support Lohan as the Princess of Millennial Comfort Watches makes her transition to the Queen of Christmas Movies. It’s your duty.
An Almost Christmas Story (Disney+)
Directed by David Lowery
Release Date: November 15
Perfect for: Families, people who enjoy well-made animated efforts about the holiday season, bird watchers
Directed by David Lowery and produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, An Almost Christmas Story is the third installment in Cuarón’s holiday shorts collection for Disney’s streaming service. Inspired by the true story of the tiny owl who was rescued from New York City’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree back in 2020, the toon follows the story of Moon, a little owl who finds himself trapped in a tree destined for greatness.
Now a stranger in the strange land of New York, Moon is alone and scared in the busiest city in the world. But with the help of his new friend Luna, he is hoping to find his way in time for the holidays.
Starring the voices of Cary Christopher as Moon and Estella Madrigal as Luna, the animated short also features the voice talents of Natasha Lyonne, John C. Reilly, and Jim Gaffigan.
Hot Frosty (Netflix)
Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti
Release Date: November 13
Perfect for: Hopeless romantics with active imaginations, people who really like snow, fans of Mean Girls, people who write for Christmas-themed fanfic
(Please sing to the tune of “Frosty the Snowman,” originally written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. Thank you kindly.)
Cathy the Widow was a lonely, saddened soul,
Played by Lacey Chabert of Mean Girls fame,
She thought a lot about the North Pole.
Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but Netflix knows,
That hot guys tend to slay.
There must have been some magic in,
That ice sculpture Cathy made.
It came to life like a sci-fi pic,
Featuring a hunk that was homemade.
Oh, corncob pipes or eyes of coal are dandy,
But can’t complete with six-pack abs,
And this Frosty is pure Christmas eye candy.
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump, Look at them go.
Thumpety thump thump, thumpety thump thump, What a surreal tableaux.
Oh, Frosty the Hot Man,
Was alive as he could be,
With Cathy he will laugh and play,
But man, what will the ratings be?
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever photos via Lionsgate Films; Our Little Secret photos via Netflix; An Almost Christmas Story photos via Disney+; Hot Frosty photos via Netflix.
