One thing I look forward to this time of year is my streaming services filling back up with Christmas movies again. It’s fun when the Christmas movies on Netflix start to pop up on my list because they were still saved from last year. There are a lot of cheesy holiday movies that you can stream, with the best ones I’ve found on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. But there are also some great Christmas classic movies and newer ones that are worth watching together over again each year.
Add an at-home date night to your weekly routine this holiday season. It’s a great opportunity to slow down and relax together amidst the hustle and bustle of the season. Try searching movie titles on Pinterest earlier in the week to get ideas for food or treats you can make to create a theme night. I’ve seen cute Grinch cookies or Elf popcorn recipes and I’m sure there are others. Turn on the fire, curl up with a blanket, and let the holiday spirit embrace your date!
Related: Holiday Traditions for Married Couples
Note: If you’re a fan of cheesy, Hallmark-type Christmas movies, Netflix added a lot of Hallmark this year. It has been a lot of fun to watch them, but they’re an “on my own” watch in our house.
This is a Netflix original that we discovered a few years back and it is really good! The storyline is sweet, the songs are catchy and it’s easy to fall in love with the characters and the scenes in the movie. I got really strong Greatest Showman vibes from this film and had a friend or two say the same thing when I mentioned I’d watched it. We watched it again this year and it didn’t disappoint.
This Netflix original is only a couple of years old, but it’s already a classic that we have watched together every year as a couple, and again with our kids, and almost always a third time. The sequel is just as good, if not better than the original. And the two movies together make a great double feature date!
My sister always tells us how much she enjoys this movie. We watched it as a family last year, but I don’t remember much about it. I know that the kids and Joe enjoyed it and that I’ve seen it highly recommended elsewhere. There is a good message in the movie and it’s one we plan to watch on a Sunday afternoon this year.
Another Netflix original that I fell in love with the moment I watched it. This movie has more of a “Hallmark Christmas movie” feel BUT it’s not over-the-top cheesy, and the storyline is different and good. I felt that it could be a fun one to watch together for a date.
I haven’t watched this one yet, but it’s definitely on my list this year for a Christmas date night at home. It sounds like a Saturday Night Live type show, about an hour long, with musical numbers and comedy scattered throughout. Stars like Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, Miley Cyrus, and George Clooney are involved. It was released in 2015, so maybe this is a show you’ve seen and loved already. Now you know where to stream it!
This show is holiday home decor on steroids! It’s so fun to watch Mr. Christmas and his team take a house and transform it into a holiday happy spot that fits the family’s personalities so well!
Who doesn’t love Paul Hollywood and his highly sought-after handshake?! Past season bakers come back to the big white tent and make classic holiday foods and desserts. This is a must-watch! There’s a new season this year that I’m really enjoying, and I don’t mind rewatching previous seasons over again each year as well.
If you have a sweet tooth, like me, you’ll love this show! Participants create three rounds of desserts, with eliminations after each round. I love the holiday-themed season and just started watching it this year.
If you’ve never seen Nailed It! It’s a Pinterest fail type show. Bakers have a creation they are trying to mimic and we get to watch the chaos of them trying to make that happen. This show is a lot of fun!
Related: Make Your Marriage a Priority This Holiday Season
This movie has quickly become one of my favorites, right up there with Elf. It’s a Disney original, released straight to Disney+. I love the storyline, the characters, and the humor in it. And now that I think about it, it might be fun paired with Elf for a date night. Although this movie is a lot more family-friendly than that one.
This is a must watch with our kids every holiday season. It’s quirky and funny and great if you love Guardians of the Galaxy! The kids saw it on Disney+ first thing this year and made sure it was on my list of movies to watch together this season.
We introduced our kids to these movies a few years ago and watched them all over one day of our weekend. I posted a poll on Instagram stories asking which one was everyone’s favorite. The original got the most votes by far, with the second (my favorite) getting quite a few as well. The poor third movie in the series got a whopping ZERO votes, which is understandable. After watching all three again, however, I don’t think the third is terrible, and it’s worth watching. There is also a series that was released in 2022 and continued in 2023, The Santa Clauses, that is worth adding to your watch list!
I have a confession. I had never seen any of the Home Alone movies until a few holiday seasons ago. We spent Sunday afternoons watching one of the movies as a family. There are three movies in the series, and as always, the first is the very best, but you can’t not watch them all! Make it a movie marathon over a day/night, weekend, or few weeks. And then watch the newer, three releases as well!
This version of the classic story features Jim Carrey. If you like to include Ebeneezer Scrooge in your holiday celebrations, add this to your list.
Classic stories muppet style never disappoint!
We watched this movie all the time at my grandparent’s house when I was growing up. It must have been good if we watched it that frequently. I added this one to our list so I can watch it and introduce the kids to it this year. It’s an older movie, but might be a classic.
I have a second Disney movie confession, and it’s that I’ve never seen this movie. It’s been recommended to me a few times, which is why it’s on this list. And I’m planning to watch it this year. If you’re in my position, add it to your list to watch this year too!
This movie looks stunning and promises an amazing storyline. It’s at the top of my list to watch as a family this year, but I believe it would make a great date night movie as well.
This is another movie that I haven’t seen, but the storyline looks cute and worth watching. It has kind of a The Santa Clause meets Home Alone plot maybe? Watch it and let me know what you think!
Is there anywhere more happy and magical than the Disney parks at Christmastime? No, there is not! I’m glad that Disney has given us a glimpse into the holiday park magic coming to life. For those of you, myself included, not getting to Disney this season, this show is a good one to live vicariously through.
If you’re a die-hard Disney couple or family, you will love this movie! Disney’s daughter, Diane shares Christmas memories alongside Disney home movies, vintage Disneyland footage, shorts, and Disney classics.
Related: Our Favorite Christmas Eve Tradition
Note: If you’re a fan of cheesy, Hallmark-type Christmas movies, Amazon is your place to go. There are so many great ones there! As far as date night movies, I didn’t see as many, but there are still a few good ones.
A classic movie that reminds us all of what’s important! You can catch this one in full color or in black and white, included with your Prime subscription.
The classic Christmas movies that people watch every year are always a win. This is one I’ve seen multiple people share already this year and it’s on my list to watch as well!
This movie synopsis made me think of The Santa Clause. Santa falls, develops amnesia and forgets that he is Santa Claus. It looks like an old classic and it has decent ratings, so it might be a fun new one to watch for date night.
They’re made for kids, but they’re so good that you can’t help but enjoy them as an adult as well. There are two hours worth of these classic cartoons if you want to watch them all at once, or make a countdown and watch one every night leading up to Christmas.
Related: Holiday Date Night Ideas
Note: Hulu has a lot of great Hallmark-style Christmas movies. But there are a few that you’ll both enjoy watching for a holiday date night as well.
Is there anyone who doesn’t love watching Elf at Christmastime? It was our first holiday movie of the year, per the kids’ request, and it never gets old! I was excited to see it on Hulu to stream for free this year.
This movie is right up there with Love Actually when it comes to movies that people watch every year for the holidays. I love this one and was excited to see it on Hulu this year as well!
This movie is a must watch for me every year. It’s a fun family movie, but great to enjoy for a date night as well.
This family-friendly, holiday drama looks like it could be a bit cheesy, based on the actors in it and other holiday movies they are in. But it looks like it could be enjoyed by both of you at the same time.
This show is like the Great British Bake Off, but American style. I love watching this every year, it never disappoints!
This is a one season series from 10 years ago. Eight bakers come together and bake, share their traditions, and compete. Holiday cooking shows are always a win.
Our family loves Lego Masters, so this is a must-watch for us every year! Former competitors join forces with celebrities and build based on a holiday-themed challenge, set by the well-loved hosts. There are two episodes and they are a lot of fun!
Related: Movies You’ll Enjoy Watching Together for Date Night
Holiday movies only stream for a short time, usually a month or two. Like sleigh rides and Christmas tree farms, they’re only available for a limited time. Make yourselves a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy every moment of your favorite ones. I hope this list helps you discover a new favorite Christmas classic movie that you look forward to watching together during the holiday season every year.
For more date night ideas like these, check out the book, Prioritizing Date Night in Your Marriage, with 300+ date night ideas.