It’s impossible to count the number of movies on Netflix (and I’ve tried), but most estimates put it at around 7,000 at any given time. Some are obviously more worthwhile than others. In this weekly feature, I’ll put on my streaming cap and recommend a few for the week, using a variety of metrics like popularity, ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, and personal preference. This week, the holiday movie season has officially begun, so celebrate with the best Netflix has to offer.
A Merry Little Ex-Mas
Netflix is slamming the service with holiday movies this month, and the first one to be released has risen to #2 in the rankings (Frankenstein is still #1). A Merry Little Ex-Mas couples Christmas awkwardness with romantic tension. Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson play a divorced (but amicable) couple who gather for one last holiday season together, only for a new girlfriend to interject herself into the mix. The chemistry between the leads is solid, it has some funny moments, and of course, you get a happy ending.
Hot Frosty
Want to know why Netflix is going so big on Christmas this year? Look no further than Hot Frosty. 2024’s surprise smash took a deeply stupid premise (a snowman magically becomes a hunky dufus and falls in love with a widowed diner owner who simply doesn’t have time for his nonsense) and ran with it to make a goofy, charming tribute to the magic of the season. It’s no masterpiece, but it commits so fully to itself that you can’t help but be charmed.
Director: Jerry Ciccoritti
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
Sign up for our What’s New Now newsletter to receive the latest news, best new products, and expert advice from the editors of PCMag.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy
Policy.Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Cast: Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Chrishell Stause
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG
IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
A Bad Moms Christmas
For something a little saltier, the 2017 sequel A Bad Moms Christmas brings the laughs. The trio of suburban moms from the first movie seemingly have their lives together until each of their mothers drops in for the holiday season. Bristling at their interference, the moms decide to “take Christmas back,” with predictably chaotic results. Tapping into the essential friction between the moms and their moms is fertile (no pun intended) ground for comedy, and this one packs some serious laughs.
Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Cast: Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn
Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
Klaus
For something a little more family-friendly, 2019’s Klaus is about as good a holiday movie as can be. The traditionally 2D animated movie has an all-star cast, including J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, and Norm Macdonald in his final role. It’s about a layabout postman assigned to a remote island town who meets a reclusive toymaker and winds up convincing the children of the village that new toys are just a letter away. Brilliant stuff, lovely to look at and very original.
Recommended by Our Editors
Want to see everything that’s new on Netflix this month? We’ve got you covered.
About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
Read Full Bio
