17 Merry New Christmas Movies and Specials to Watch in 2025

Put the ho-ho-ho in your holiday with these heartwarming (and often hilarious) gems from Netflix, Hallmark, Lifetime, Disney+, BET, the networks and more

Tracey Minkin,

AARP

Comments

Published November 14, 2025

Pierson Fodé and Alicia Silverstone in a scene from A Merry Little Ex-Mas

"A Merry Little Ex-Mas" premiers Nov. 12 on Netflix.

Marni Grossman/Netflix

We love It’s a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas as much as anyone, but watching only the classics during the holiday season can be a bit like getting the same gift under the tree every year. Allow us to gingerbread-spice up your holiday streaming schedule with these 17 new Christmas-themed films and TV shows from Netflix, Hallmark, Lifetime, Disney+, Hulu, the networks and more.

Christmas on Duty (Hallmark Channel, Hallmark+)

Blair (Janel Parrish) and Josh (Parker Young) have been rivals ever since their training days back at Quantico, where they competed to be top of the class. Three years after graduation, they clash at a base holiday party and cause a scene. Their punishment? Working side by side for 24 hours of Christmas duty. Their plan to stay out of each other’s way is derailed when they’re forced to team up as a snowstorm threatens to cancel Christmas for everyone on the base.

Watch it: Christmas on Duty on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark+

Don't miss this: The 10 Best Hallmark Christmas Movies in 2025

Joy to the World (Disney+, Hulu)

Martha Stewart–like cookbook author Joy Edwards (Emmanuelle Chriqui) has whipped up a persona that features a perfect home life and family. But that’s a fiction, so when a TV network decides to film Christmas dinner at her home, Joy has to pop up a fake family to keep up the charade and enlist her best friend, Max (Chad Michael Murray), to pose as her husband. Guess what happens!

Watch it: Joy to the World on Disney+, Hulu

Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy (Prime Video)

In Tyler Perry’s holiday rom-com, Shannon Thornton stars as Joy, a talented but overlooked New York fashion designer who feels unlucky in both love and career. What else to do but follow her crush to Colorado for a holiday getaway? But when a shocking revelation leaves her stranded in a snowstorm — and Ridge (Tosin Morohunfola) comes to the rescue — her path may be changed forever.

Watch it: Tyler Perry’s Finding Joy on Prime Video

A Merry Little Ex-Mas (Netflix, PG-13)

Kicking off Netflix’s fresh bundle of 2025 Christmas movies, this festive comedy stars Alicia Silverstone, 49, as a recently divorced mom determined to host one final perfect family Christmas before selling the house. Her plans go off the rails when her now ex-husband (Oliver Hudson, 49) arrives with his glamorous and younger new girlfriend (Jameela Jamil). Awkward!

Watch it: A Merry Little Ex-Mas premieres Nov. 12 on Netflix

A Very Jonas Christmas (Disney+, Hulu)

Cross pop stars with Planes, Trains and Automobiles and you get this feel-good story of Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas playing themselves as they try desperately to get home to New York from London to spend the holiday with their families.

Watch it: A Very Jonas Christmas premieres Nov. 14 on Disney+, Hulu

Timeless Tidings of Joy (Great American Family, Pure Flix)

An annual bundle of new Christmas movies is there for the taking on the faith-forward Great American Family channel and its streaming app, Pure Flix. A high-profile offering: Full House alum Candace Cameron Bure plays Ally, who inherits a letterpress shop from her grandmother that she is preparing for sale when she meets an avowed old soul (Paul Greene) determined to preserve its legacy.

Watch it: Timeless Tidings of Joy premieres Nov. 15 on Great American Family and Pure Flix (encore broadcast Nov. 29 on Great American Family)

Merry Little Mystery (The Roku Channel)

Meet Natasha (Jordin Sparks), who spends the holidays at her grandparents’ house in her hometown and has taken over her grandfather’s role as a covert holiday gift-giver to deserving, grateful citizens. It’s her family’s best-kept secret, until an investigative reporter (Keon Alexander) wants to unmask the town’s Secret Santa. He’s hot on her trail, but things get more complicated when Natasha gets the hots for him.

Watch it: Merry Little Mystery premieres Nov. 19 on The Roku Channel

The Family Plan 2 (Apple TV+, PG-13)

The original 2023 family action thriller may have wobbled critically, but it emerged a big winner on Apple TV+ in 2023. Which explains why the streamer is bringing back a sequel, doubling down by making it a Christmas movie (call this the Die Hard factor). Mark Wahlberg, 54, stars as dad, car salesman and former assassin Dan Morgan, who just wants his family to have a fun holiday overseas. Bad guys have other plans.

Watch it: The Family Plan 2 premieres Nov. 21 on Apple TV+

Jingle Bell Heist (Netflix)

Think Ocean’s Eleven, but cuter, more Christmassy, and with fewer thieves. Sophia (Olivia Holt), a quick-thinking retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a struggling repairman, team up to rob London’s most famous department store on Christmas Eve. A funny thing happens on the way to the caper: Buried secrets and unexpected feelings threaten to unravel both the heist and their budding connection.

Watch it: Jingle Bell Heist premieres Nov. 26 on Netflix

Christmas Everyday (Lifetime)

Lifetime kicks off its annual “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” rollout of 13 new Christmas films this weekend, and Christmas Everyday has top-of-the-tree star power. R&B singer-songwriter Brandy Norwood plays fashion designer Fancy, who is overwhelmed planning a wedding for her bridezilla baby sister while trying to uphold family holiday traditions as her mother (Debbi Morgan, 69) is losing her sight.

Watch it: Christmas Everyday premieres Nov. 29 on Lifetime

A Grand Ole Opry Christmas (Hallmark Channel, Hallmark+)

Hallmark celebrates the Grand Ole Opry’s real-life centennial this year with a new film about a country music icon’s daughter who leaves songwriting behind when her dad is killed in a sudden, tragic accident. But when the Nashville institution invites her back to represent him at its upcoming centennial celebration (at Christmas, no less!), she begins a journey toward healing.

Watch it: A Grand Ole Opry Christmas premieres Nov. 29

Dancing With the Holidays (ABC, Disney+, Hulu)

This 20-year-old reality show has never been hotter than this season, so why not add a special holiday edition? ABC’s first-ever Dancing With the Holidays promises to transform the ballroom with festive-themed routines, musical performances and special seasonal greetings. Keep the dial on ABC for the 16th annual CMA Country Christmas, which follows at 9 p.m. and features performances by hosts Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis and luminaries including Lady A, BeBe Winans and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Watch it: Dancing With the Holidays, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, Disney+, Hulu

Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC, Peacock)

Newly engaged Reba McEntire, 70, hosts the beloved annual two-hour special featuring star-studded performances and the illumination of the world’s most famous Christmas tree.

Watch it: Christmas in Rockefeller Center, Dec. 3, 8 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock

My Secret Santa (Netflix)

In this Mrs. Doubtfire-esque holiday rom-com, single mom Taylor (Alexandra Breckenridge) lands a job as a seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort but finds herself falling for the hotel manager (Ryan Eggold). Can she keep her cool undercover? Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister) costars.

Watch it: My Secret Santa premieres Dec. 3 on Netflix

Oh. What. Fun. (Prime Video, PG-13)

Is this It’s a Wonderful Life? Is this Home Alone? It’s a little bit of both, as uber-holiday-mom Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer, 67) is left behind on a seasonal family outing. By the time Dad, the kids and grandkids realize she’s missing, Claire is on a new adventure: one that doesn’t involve cooking, cleaning or chaos management for others. As the gang scrambles to find Mom, what holiday (and family) lessons will they all learn? Costars include Denis Leary, 68, Movies for Grownups best supporting actress winner Joan Chen, 64, and Eva Longoria, 50.

Watch it: Oh. What. Fun. premieres Dec. 3 on Prime Video

A Pickleball Christmas (Lifetime)

It took a few years, but Lifetime has caught up to what AARP has known for years: Pickleball is fun, festive and perfect fodder for a holiday rom-com! Tennis star Luke (James Lafferty) heads home after a big win to Florida for Christmas only to discover his family's racquet club is on the verge of being sold. Pairing up with pickleball coach (Zibby Allen), Luke reluctantly agrees to compete in a high-stakes holiday tournament that could save the club. Sparks fly on and off the court.

Watch it: A Pickleball Christmas premieres Dec. 20 on Lifetime

A Soulful Christmas (BET+)

When the children of two legendary — and feuding — R&B artists are forced to collaborate on a holiday song remake, their rivalry turns into unexpected romance. But between family legacies, long-buried grudges and a looming Christmas Eve deadline, they’ll need to find harmony both on and off the stage to create the hit that could heal two families. A Soulful Christmas is one of six new original holiday films coming to BET+ this season.

Watch it: A Soulful Christmas premieres Dec. 25 on BET+

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