The holidays are the perfect time to put your "serious" watchlist on hold and relax with cosy and silly flicks that warm your heart and boost your mood. And what better indulgence is there than the irresistible Christmas rom-com?
What these movies lack in realism they make up for in cheesiness. They feature quirky characters to cheer for and love stories to swoon over. To get you started, here are 10 of the best Christmas romantic comedies currently on streaming services. Let the festivities begin!
Year: 2006
Cast: Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law
Starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, this wonderful Nancy Meyers concoction has romance, beautiful people, gorgeous interior designs and humour galore. It's pretty much a perfect Christmas rom-com, with a positive message about how important it is to care of yourself.
The plot follows 2 women, 1 from the US and 1 from Britain, who decide to swap houses for the holidays. Completely unexpectedly, they both find love with local men. But will their newfound relationships survive if they move back home? Tune in to find out.
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Year: 2021
Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
Netflix releases a lot of holiday rom-coms, so you can take your pick. While most are a good time, there's something about Love Hard that elevates it to instant classic. Maybe it's the likeable cast clearly having a blast. Or maybe it's the script – which doesn't reinvent the wheel, but delivers a lot of laughs and enough charm to make up for predictability.
Nina Dobrev plays an LA writer who falls for the seemingly perfect guy on a dating app. So much so that she decides to fly 3,000 miles to surprise her online crush for Christmas… only to learn that she has been catfished. Rational thought has little to do with rom-coms, so she decides to stay anyway. Let the misadventures begin!
Year: 2019
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
Last Christmas is an offbeat rom-com, one that makes you giggle repeatedly until it takes a baffling turn and proceeds to make you bawl your eyes out. Consider yourself warned. The cast, at least, is the stuff of dreams.
The story follows Kate, an aspiring singer who works as an elf at a year-round Christmas shop in London. One day, she meets a mysterious man who seems too good to be true. As the 2 grow closer, Kate takes small steps to improve her life. But how much does she really know about the new man in her life? Turns out, she's in for quite a shock.
Year: 2021
Cast: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, Jennifer Coolidge
Keen to avoid his family's judgment over being perpetually single, a young man convinces his roommate to join him home for the holidays and pretend to be his boyfriend. Then his mother sets him up on a blind date and things don't exactly go as planned.
Netflix's first gay holiday rom-com doesn't disappoint. The movie is funny and touching, with a healthy helping of festive shenanigans. It will put a big smile on your face.
Year: 2003
Cast: Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, Rory MacGregor, Colin Firth
Love, Actually features 9 intertwined stories and a talented ensemble cast. You can argue that it has something for everyone.
From a young boy trying to win over his crush to a prime minister falling for a young staffer, this movie has enough holiday cheer and whimsy to keep you engaged throughout. A Christmas rom-com staple, it might be just what you need to ignite that dormant holiday spirit.
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Year: 2020
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy
Abby and Harper are a longtime lesbian couple heading to Harper's parents for the holidays. Abby is planning to pop the question but is shocked to learn that Harper hasn't come out to her family yet. Not only that, but Harper plans to introduce her as just her roommate, so the 2 are in for an awkward celebration.
With joyous performances, heartfelt moments and witty jokes, Happiest Season has all the ingredients for a jolly good time. It's also the perfect stream for when you're looking to escape your own family drama.
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Year: 2011
Cast: Amy Smart, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Jayne Eastwood, Peter MacNeill
If you're a fan of made-for-TV Christmas rom-coms, you can't miss this one. 12 Dates of Christmas centres on Kate, a young woman who goes on a bad blind date on Christmas Eve. Then, to her horror, she finds herself stuck reliving the same day over and over again. Will she eventually fall for the man she so easily dismissed?
Wacky and sweet, the movie doesn't break any new Groundhog Day ground. Still, it leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
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Year: 2001
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant
Bridget Jones's Diary isn't a Christmas rom-com per se, but it perfectly embodies the spirit of the holiday and features Colin Firth in an ugly Christmas sweater. That more than qualifies it for this completely-objective-and-not-at-all-influenced-by-my-own-preferences list.
The movie follows the titular character, Bridget, as she struggles to improve herself and find love over the course of a year. Eager to turn a new page in her life, she's surprised to discover that the handsome man she crushes on might not be a perfect match after all. Prepare to laugh out loud.
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Year: 2006
Cast: Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Giancarlo Esposito
Last Holiday deserves a stream for Queen Latifah's fabulous performance alone. She plays Georgia, a woman who leads a life of unfulfilled desires. When a doctor tells her that she has a terminal illness, Georgia decides to turn things around make the absolute most of her last days.
The movie is more about Georgia's journey of self-discovery, but it also features a cute romance between her and a perfectly cast LL Cool J. The result? A feel-good story for the ages.
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Year: 1995
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle
Is the premise of this movie ridiculous? Definitely. Does that make it any less charming? Not at all.
While You Were Sleeping revolves around Lucy, a lonely transit worker who pulls Peter, her crush, from the path of a train on Christmas Day. He falls in a coma and his family assumes that Lucy is his fiancée. She doesn't correct them; instead, she spends more time with Peter's family and ends up falling for his brother.
The movie is funny and romantic, with intriguing twists and heart to spare. The only problem is that you'll want to watch it over and over again.
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Didn't love our picks? Check out the latest releases on every service here. Or, we have a great list of movies to watch if you're a grinch.
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