Mustering up your Christmas cheer for the holidays? Looking forward to curling up with a good holiday flick on Netflix paired with a cup of delicious hot chocolate in your hand? So are we. From Christmas classics like The Holiday to newer Netflix originals such as Holidate and Love Hard, there is a feel-good film for everyone this season. Get into the Christmas spirit with these holiday rom-coms, we promise it is the best way to end this stressful year.
Love Hard
LA journalist and hopeless romantic, Natalie (played by Nina Dobrev), swipes right on her dream man from the East Coast: Tag (played by Darren Barnet). She jumps on a flight to surprise him during the holidays, only to realise she has been catfished by Tag’s friend, Josh, played by the hilarious Jimmy O. Yang.
Both Natalie and Josh find out they have both been unlucky in love, and this lighthearted Christmas rom-com records Natalie’s attempt at finding love. This begs the question: who will she end up with? Curl up with popcorn and watch to find out.
Holidate
Personally, Holidate is a must-watch for me, and easily one of my all-time favourite Christmas rom-coms. The film revolves around Sloane (played by Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey), two strangers who are fed up with being single during the holidays. This leads them to agree to be each other’s platonic plus-ones all year long to appease their family and friends, but sparks fly as they catch feelings along the way.
An entertaining movie, best watched with your partner!
A Christmas Prince
In this feel-good rom-com, an aspiring young journalist is sent abroad to Aldovia to get an insider scoop on a dashing, playboy prince who is about to take the throne. Believe it or not, A Christmas Prince is a franchise, with three movies that you can binge-watch with the family. Don’t miss the sequel A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding, and a third installment A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby that is just as lighthearted and fun.
The Princess Switch
Set in the fictional country of Belgravia, the story centers around a Chicago baker (played by Vanessa Hudgens) who competes in a Christmas baking competition. She eventually bumps into the prince’s fiancée, who looks exactly like her. Realising that both of them has what the other wants, they agree to switch lives for two days.
The success of the first movie has spawned a sequel titled The Princess Switch: Switched Again, and a third movie called The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, which has recently been released.
Let It Snow
Let It Snow was originally a compilation novel written by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle that told a series of love stories on Christmas Eve. In a small midwestern town, a snowstorm brings together a group of teenagers during Christmas Eve. Soon enough, they find their love lives, futures, and friendships colliding, and everything changes by Christmas morning. A charming addition to Netflix’s holiday collection, this movie has multiple storylines that will tug on your heartstrings.
The Holiday
The Holiday is quite literally a must-watch for the holidays: a timeless Christmas classic with a star-studded cast that includes Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black. The storyline focuses on two women with relationship issues swapping homes in each other’s countries for the holidays, where they unexpectedly meet and fall in love with two local guys. Be warned – this movie will move you to tears, and we highly recommend watching it with your beau.
The Christmas Chronicles
If you’re looking for a family-friendly Christmas movie, this is the one that needs to be on your watch list. It tells the story of two siblings, Kate and Teddy Pierce, who devise a plan to catch Santa Claus (played by Kurt Russell) on camera. However, their plan goes awry and they embark on an unexpected journey with Saint Nick and manage to save the holiday on time. Feel free to binge the sequel, The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two, after finishing the first movie for the best experience.
A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
You’ve probably heard of A Cinderella Story film series, made famous by 2004’s A Cinderella Story starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. This latest installment follows a young singer-songwriter (Laura Marano) who has big dreams, but she is stalled on her path to success by a wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She works at a place called “Santa Land” to achieve her dreams, and starts to fall for the handsome new Santa (Gregg Sulkin). If you are a fan of cheesy rom-coms, A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish is the perfect film for you.
The Holiday Calendar
The Holiday Calendar’s story revolves around a talented photographer, Abby (Kat Graham), who is stuck in her dead-end job. She comes into possession of an antique advent calendar that seems to predict her future each day during the holiday season, leading her towards a budding romance. Abby begins to connect the dots and believe that the advent calendar is indeed magical. The Holiday Calendar is a feel-good movie, and make sure you watch it with a cup of hot cocoa for the best experience.
Special Mention: Dash & Lily
Dash & Lily is a rom-com television series adapted from the young-adult series of the same name. This eight-episode show deserves a special mention thanks to how enjoyable it is. Set in New York City, Dash & Lily tells the story of a whirlwind holiday romance between cynical Dash and optimistic Lily as they trade dares, dreams, and desires in a notebook passed back and forth between a multitude of locations. Opposites attract as these two pursue a budding romance that is impacted by their family, friends, and old lovers.
