TwoChristmasseries are trending on Netflix , and they could n’t be more different . Netflix ’s subroutine library contains a diverse array of Christmas titles . Although their roll include an ever - shifting array of gain movies and TV bear witness that come and go as licensing contracts vary , their holiday season offering for 2024 have included theatrical rubric such asA Bad Moms ChristmasandJourney to Bethlehemas well as a Brobdingnagian lean of Hallmark CHannel movies includingHaul Out the Holly , Christmas with a Kiss , Christmas in Notting Hill , A Biltmore Christmas , andA Merry Scots Christmas .

However , since the former 2010s , they have also built out a huge roster ofNetflix original Christmas pic , many of which take place in an interconnect universe . This includes thePrincess SwitchandA Christmas Princetrilogies , A Castle for Christmas , andThe Knight Before Christmas . However , they also have many other vacation - themed offeringsincluding vacation versions of cooking competition shows such asNailed It!andIs It Cake ? , as well as original serial includingDash & Lily , a YA love affair star Austin Abrams and Midori Francis , andMerry Happy Whatever , a sitcom led by Dennis Quaid and Bridgit Mendler .

Between a unique spin on Santa and a visually arresting musical , there are short ton of great Christmas films to watch on Netflix this vacation season .

Lola tung smiling in The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Franchise Is Led By Kurt Russell

The first serial publication that is slue on Netflix isThe Christmas Chronicles . The franchise is a movie duology starring Kurt Russell as Santa Clausthat kicked off with the rubric of the same name in 2018 , which was followed by the sequelThe Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020 . Neither motion picture is technically part of theNetflix vacation movie population , as they feature no overlap characters , reference none of the fictional European countries in which many of the movies take place , and do not feature fictitious character find out movies from the dealership .

Many Netflix Christmas movies sport characters using the stream platform to look out Christmas movies from previous years , includingHot Frosty , Christmas Inheritance , andHoliday in the Wild .

The 2018 moving picture , which was conduct by Clay Kaytis ( The Angry Birds Movie ) from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman ( Free Guy ) , follows dispirited 16 - twelvemonth - quondam Teddy ( Judah Lewis ) and his 11 - year - old sister Kate ( Darby Camp ) , who have recently miss their father and assay to capture Santa while their widow mother Claire ( Kimberly Williams - Paisley ) is at work , only to be dragged along on a charming escapade . The subsequence , which was direct by Chris Columbus ( Home Alone , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stone ) , who co - wrote the screenplay with Lieberman , accompany Kate facilitate Santa keep start the North Pole from the biting former elf Belsnickel .

Bhumi Pednekar holding a piece of paper and standing next to Ishaan Khatter, both looking perplexed in The Royals

The Christmas Chronicles Both Received Average Reviews - Why They Are Still Beloved Netflix Christmas Movies

Audiences And Critics Diverge On The Christmas Franchise

Overall , critics had a halfhearted reaction to bothChristmas Chroniclesmovies . While both movies have sweet scores on the review collector web site Rotten Tomatoes , their ratings are just barely over the 60 % room access to be reckon impudent . In fact , if only the Top Critics ' scores are included , both are below the line and have Rotten scores . See a breakdown of the critical reception of the movie below :

Title

RT Score

Kurt Russell from The Christmas Chronicles in front of the posters for Hot Frosty and Falling for Christmas

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

RT Score ( Top Critics )

Average musical score

The Christmas Chronicles(2018 )

A lit fireplace in Netflix’s Rustic Cabin Fireplace

67 %

58 %

5.9/10

Article image

The Christmas Chronicles is a 2018 Netflix original Christmas movie starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. After sneaking onto Santa’s sleigh and losing all of the world’s presents by crashing the sleigh, two young children named Teddy and Kate race against time to save Christmas. The film was followed up by The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020.

The Christmas Chronicles 2(2020 )

66 %

54 %

Movies

5.6/10

However , audience had a stronger reaction toThe Christmas Chronicles , giving it a much superior 76 % score , with many user reviews praising the movie for Kurt Russell ’s performance , its holiday sunniness , and its ability to invoke to the intact kinsfolk . The sequel has a 45 % interview score , with many users criticize it for its uneven flavor , but it seems that the exuberance for the first movie has compel many viewing audience this year to make out the endurance contest despite these misgivings .

Netflix’s Yule Logs Are Dominating Streaming

The other serial that is trending on Netflix is not only not part of the Netflix holiday universe , it is surprisingly not even aChristmas moviefranchise . In fact , it is the streamer ’s collection of holiday fireplaces . Unlike 2022’sAdult Swim Yule Logand its 2024 follow - upAdult Swim Yule Log 2 : Branchin ' Out , which whirl touch revulsion stories around a scranch fireplace , these titles are simplystatic guesswork of open fireplace meant to add holiday coziness to the surrounding elbow room .

Netflix [ including ] these audiovisual ambience title in their subroutine library … has clearly paid off .

While there are many otherChristmasseries usable on Netflix , including the popularChristmas PrinceandPrincess Switchmovies , the fact that these fireplaces are trending speaks to the way thatthe acquire landscape painting of digital media has changed the way that many viewers interact with streaming services . In addition to branching out to let in interactive storytelling , biz , and more non - movie , non - show features , Netflix has included these audiovisual atmosphere titles in their program library , and it has clearly paid off in a unequaled style .

The Christmas Chronicles is a 2018 Netflix original Christmas movie star Kurt Russell as Santa Claus . After mouse onto Santa ’s sledge and losing all of the macrocosm ’s present by crashing the sleigh , two young children list Teddy and Kate backwash against time to save Christmas . The photographic film was followed up by The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020 .