Summary

• Hulu offers a variety of Christmas movies, including hidden gems that don't air on television every year.
• Some of these movies, such as "The March Sisters at Christmas" and "Holly's Holiday," offer unique twists on classic stories.
• Hulu also features family-friendly films like "A Unicorn for Christmas" and "Christmas at the Drive-In," which provide heartwarming and nostalgic experiences.

Though Hulu might not be the first streaming platform audiences would think of when it comes to Christmas movies, it holds its own against some of the bigger services. Disney Plus might have Home Alone and The Santa Claus, but between some original content, a couple of 'so bad they're good' movies, and soon-to-be classics, Hulu is a major player in the streaming world when it comes to Christmas flicks.

Hulu features a few family movies centering around the holidays, but they also feature many made-for-tv holiday movies. Many of those are ones that have proven popular as some of the best from the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime, which means there are a lot of Christmas rom-coms available to stream on Hulu. Some of these Christmas movies on Hulu are hidden gems that don't air on television every year.

RELATED: The Best Christmas Episodes From Great TV Shows, Ranked

Christmas Rom-Coms

The Family Stone (2005)

Though The Family Stone at times feels like a drama, at its heart, it’s a romantic comedy. The stacked cast of rom-com veterans like Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, and Luke Wilson makes that pretty clear.

Set at a family holiday gathering, the movie follows Meredith (Parker) when she agrees to go home with her boyfriend (Mulroney) to meet his family for the holidays. While she is reserved and quiet, his family is loud and exuberant, making her feel like an outsider. As her sister (Claire Danes) s the group, however, it becomes increasingly clear that Meredith might not be dating the right member of the Stone family and that the Stones might not have given her the chance she deserves.

Watch on Hulu

The March Sisters At Christmas (2012)

This modern take on Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women aired as part of Lifetime’s movie lineup. It brings the four March sisters into the modern day as they struggle to save the family home and deal with romantic connections in their hometown.

While the movie takes a lot of liberties with the original story to update it for today, it does stay true to the spirit of the original book. Each sister still has their defining traits - Beth’s kindness, Meg’s mothering instinct, Jo’s independence, and Amy’s dramatic nature. It’s not the best adaptation of Little Women, but it does make for a great holiday version of their story.

Watch on Hulu

Naughty And Nice (2014)

Tilky Jones stars as a Los Angeles-based radio DJ who gets himself into a little too much trouble. His reputation as a bad boy gets him relocated to a small town in Colorado where he shares a hosting job with Haylie Duff’s Sandra Love, a romance specialist. The two butt heads on air and their antagonistic banter catches the attention of the entire town during the holiday season.

The romantic comedy is a predictable one, but it’s also got a kind story. Naughty And Nice encourages kindness as part of its celebration of the holiday spirit. While it does feature more religious than secular elements of the holiday, that likely won’t turn off audience who usually steer clear of them.

Watch on Hulu

Holly’s Holiday (2012)

Claire Coffee stars as an ad executive who es by the same window display on her way to work every morning. She thinks one of the mannequins there is her “perfect guy,” and gets the chance to find out if he really would be after he seemingly comes to life.

Of course, the holiday movie demonstrates that sometimes, perfection is an image, not a reality. Holly might not find that perfection is what she really wants. While the script for Holly’s Holiday isn’t going to be perfect in the eyes of the audience, what makes it such a great Christmas movie on Hulu is the cast. Coffee, Ryan Martlin, and Jeff Ward turn out great performances and have fantastic chemistry.

Watch on Hulu

Girlfriends Of Christmas Past (2016)

Girlfriends Of Christmas Past is not the best holiday movie but it is, however, one of the best Christmas movies on Hulu because it does have a great cast and a great premise. If a revenge movie like John Tucker Must Die was set at a Christmas getaway instead of a high school, it would be Girlfriends Of Christmas Past.

Tammin Sursok plays a woman dumped by her boyfriend just as she thinks he’s going to propose. She gathers together some of his other exes and follows him to a holiday retreat, wanting to prevent his next girlfriend from getting hurt. Instead, she meets someone new while planning her scheme, and has to decide if she’s ready to start a new relationship herself. The movie is full of wacky hijinks, but it also contains a story about forgiveness and moving on.

Watch on Hulu

A Christmas Crush (2019)

Addie (Cindy Sampson) makes a wish on a shooting star for her new neighbor (Robin Dunne) to fall in love with her. She gets more than her wish though when a different neighbor (Chris Violette) falls for her instead. She has to get the help of her crush to find someone else for the other man. This movie is completely over the top even when taking into the many made-for-tv rom-com premises during the holiday season. Despite that, the performances of the actors are grounded and real. It’s a fun romance for those looking for Christmas movies to stream on Hulu.

Watch on Hulu

The Enchanted Christmas Cake (2021)

Originally produced as part of Lifetime’s holiday movie lineup, The Enchanted Christmas Cake is pretty standard holiday rom-com fare. Set in a small town, a baker (Smallville star Erica Durance) struggles to keep up the holiday spirit after the death of her grandmother. A producer (Robin Dunne) comes to town to prepare for the filming of a holiday special, and there are definite sparks between the two.

There is nothing particularly out of the ordinary in The Enchanted Christmas Cake, but what makes it so good is the performances of the main cast. That might be due to Dunne also having a hand in writing and producing the movie. Durance is also a credited producer of the movie.

Watch on Hulu

Christmas At The Drive-In (2022)

Danica McKellar and Neal Bledsoe star on opposite sides of the conflict in this holiday movie on Hulu. McKellar plays a property manager who wants to prevent the closing of the small-town drive-in. Bledsoe is the very person trying to sell the property. Despite their very different opinions, the two fall for one another.

Opposites attracting is a pretty common trope in holiday rom-coms, but this movie has a great nostalgia factor going for it. There are very few drive-in theaters left, making it easy to root for McKellar’s character as she fights to save a dying institution. It’s just as rare to see drive-ins on screen today, and it’s a welcome addition to the holiday movie genre.

Watch on Hulu

A Cinderella Christmas (2016)

In this retelling of Cinderella, Angie (Emma Rigby) is trying to run her uncle’s party-planning business while her mean-spirited cousin (Sarah Stouffer) takes all the credit. When she finally spends a night having fun at a masquerade ball, she meets a bachelor (Peter Porte) and the two hit it off. When her cousin finds out, she wants the family business in exchange for helping Angie get the guy.

The modern take on Cinderella is a good one, although forcing a woman to choose between a business she loves and a man she just met is a little odd for the story. That trope is not a beloved one in Christmas rom-coms, but Rigby’s performance is still a great one.

Watch on Hulu

Dear Santa (2011)

Amy Acker stars in this Christmas movie on Hulu that features the daughter of a wealthy couple who is asked to become more responsible rather than spending all her parents’ money. When she finds a letter to Santa from a little girl who wants a new wife for her dad, she sets out to find them, thinking she can help them.

What she finds is that the man runs a business and a soup kitchen for the unhoused, and she begins to volunteer herself. She learns a lot about responsibility and selflessness while getting to know the father and daughter. Dear Santa is one of the more heartwarming stories of the holidays, not just a romance, which is why it’s more beloved among the made-for-tv movies than some of the usual rom-coms.

Watch on Hulu

RELATED: The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time

Catering Christmas (2022)

Molly Frost (Merrit Patterson) is struggling to make her catering business a success when she lands a great gig: catering the annual Christmas Gala for the Harrison Foundation. She sees it as her chance to shine. Her work, however, is interrupted by the nephew (Daniel Lissing) of the person who hired her. He has no interest in the foundation until he’s told that the dinner has to be perfect.

Patterson and Lissing have a lot of experience in made-for-tv romances. Lissing in particular has a large body of Hallmark Channel work on his resume. That means he knows just the right amount of charm to make use of, and the chemistry of the two leads is what makes this standard holiday fare work so well. The movie might not be unique, but it’s great holiday comfort food.

Watch on Hulu

Merry Kiss Cam (2022)

Merry Kiss Cam is a unique entry among the Christmas movies on Hulu. That’s because there’s actually very little to do with Christmas in it other than it being set at some point in the holiday season. It might not be extremely Christmas-y, but it is a solid rom-com that is sweet, entertaining and features a great pair of leads.

Starring Jesse Bradford and Katie Lowes as a bartender and an artist who get a little flirty even though one of them might not actually be ready for a relationship, Merry Kiss Cam is also a sports movie. That’s because the two of them get caught on a kiss cam at a hockey game right before the worst team in the region scores, making everyone superstitious and sure that these two just have to kiss at every game. It’s certainly a bold take on superstitions in sports.

Watch on Hulu

Holiday In Santa Fe (2021)

Former Shadowhunters star Emeraude Toubia stars as an executive at a greeting card and decor company who is sent to Santa Fe to acquire a family-owned business. That business is a Mexican-American family’s store that sells decorations inspired by Mexican Christmas traditions. The big brother of the family is played by Saved By The Bell’s Mario Lopez.

It’s rare for Mexican-American traditions to be spotlighted in a Christmas movie. Writers are more apt to focus on Halloween and its connection to the Day of the Dead, so it’s refreshing to see a different holiday focus here. It’s also refreshing to see Toubia in the Lifetime movie as a new face for Christmas rom-coms as the network, like Hallmark, tends to cast a lot of the same talent. Holiday In Santa Fe is a winner all around and definitely one of the best Latinx-led holiday movies.

Watch on Hulu

The Holiday Fix Up (2021)

Home improvement shows saw a huge uptick in the early 2000s, and that trend has continued. That’s why the main character of The Holiday Fix Up hosts a home improvement show. Jana Kramer stars as a young woman who returns to her hometown when a competitor gets the network holiday special over her. She agrees to help fix up the local inn, which was damaged in a storm, in time for the annual Christmas party.

The story, however, isn’t just about a reality TV star finding her ion again. It’s also about her reconnecting with the love of her life, who broke up with her when she left to work on her show. The movie somehow balances the love story with the career story in a way that a lot of Hallmark and Lifetime movies fail to do. Kramer is also one of the most likable protagonists in the Christmas movies on Hulu, making it easy to root for her.

Watch on Hulu

The Holiday (2006)

The Holiday makes for one of the best modern Christmas movies

The Holiday often gets overlooked among the more glitz Christmas romantic comedies, but it definitely deserves a watch. It’s underrated and has become a cult classic despite originally mixed reviews. It’s one of the best Christmas movies on Hulu right now largely due to the chemistry of its great cast.

Diaz and Winslet star as two women who decide to switch houses for the holiday season to give themselves a change. Winslet’s storyline pairs her with Jack Black while Diaz’s pairs her with Jude Law. Both women experience heartfelt, funny, and poignant holidays while having very different Christmases than they’re used to. The Holiday makes for one of the best modern Christmas movies.

Watch on Hulu

Happiest Season (2020)

Though Hulu's original Christmas movies don't always have that warm holiday feeling and can leave a lot to be desired, Happiest Season comes the closest to reaching that Christmas spirit. The movie follows a woman who brings home her girlfriend for the holidays, only she hasn't told her parents that she's gay.

Happiest Season sports a great cast of brilliant comedic actors, including Alison Brie and Aubrey Plaza, and it's full of laughs. It also has tons of heart and Christmas cheer, and it would have gotten a lot more attention if not for being a Hulu exclusive. It's one of the best LGBT+ holiday movies to release in recent years as it finds a balance between realism and a heartwarming rom-com.

Watch on Hulu

Family Christmas Movies

A Unicorn For Christmas (2022)

When a family moves from the big city to the countryside, they also end up taking care of a petting zoo where kids can come and interact with a variety of animals usually found on a farm. One of those animals turns out to be a real unicorn. It’s then a race to keep the unicorn safe from someone who would exploit it.

A lot of the movies available to streaming concerning the holiday season are romances these days thanks to the prolific nature of Hallmark’s and Lifetime’s production schedules. A Unicorn For Christmas, however, is decidedly aimed at kids and families instead of those looking for romance. It’s a sweet story about wanting to do the right thing, though it’s definitely a predictable one.

Watch on Hulu

Due to its partnership with Disney, Hulu also features limited-time offerings from Disney, like the Disney+ original movie Dashing Through The Snow, but the options change over time.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets have taken on a lot of pop culture references in their various shows, but a handful of their movies remake classic literature. The Muppet Christmas Carol places some of the Muppets into the roles of the Charles Dickens classic, while Michael Caine takes on the role of Scrooge.

It’s not the most faithful adaptation, but it features musical numbers, Gonzo as Charles Dickens, and Kermit and Miss Piggy as the Cratchits. It’s a fun adaptation that will get kids interested in the classic story, but also gives adults a fresh take on a story they already know by heart.

Watch on Hulu

The Mistle-Tones (2012)

Made for TV movies can be hit or miss during the holiday season, but The Mistle-Tones is a surprising musical gem among the Christmas TV movies. Originally produced for Disney’s ABC Family, it regularly airs as part of Freeform’s holiday lineup and finds its way into Hulu’s streaming offerings. It has something of a cult following since it is rarely available to stream anywhere else.

Tia Mowry stars as a young woman who longs to the Snow Belles, a singing group that her mother belonged to that is known for performing holiday classics. When the current Snow Belle leader es over her, she decides to form her own group and compete against the Snow Belles in a local competition. Featuring great performances of holiday classics and a fun cast, The Mistle-Tones makes for a unique holiday movie streaming on Hulu.

Watch on Hulu

RELATED: Best Christmas Musical Movies

Polar Express (2004)

The Polar Express is one of the most beloved children’s holiday books of all time, so it makes perfect sense that it would eventually be adapted for film. Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, the same creator behind Jumanji, the book was published in 1985. It took nearly twenty years before it would become an animated movie.

Tom Hanks voices multiple roles in the story of a boy who wakes up on Christmas Eve to the sound of a train right outside his home. He, along with many other children, takes the Polar Express right to the North Pole to discover that Santa Claus and his workshop really do exist. Though Polar Express initially received mixed reviews, it did earn several Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. The American Film Institute also named it among their 10 best animated films in 2008.

Watch on Hulu

Miracle On 34th Street (1947)

Miracle On 34th Street is a Christmas classic that never gets old. It’s been remade numerous times, but this version is probably one of the best-known. Maureen O’Hara stars as a woman who hires a new Santa Claus performer for Macy’s, only to be surprised that he insists he is the real Kris Kringle.

Eventually, the man’s claims are put on trial, making for an incredibly memorable narrative. The very idea of whether someone can believe in Santa Claus is brought to court. The movie won four Academy Awards and was added to the National Film Registry in 2005.

Watch on Hulu

The 1994 remake is also available to stream on Hulu.

Christmas Dramas

A Christmas Winter Song (2019)

Ashanti stars as Clio, a young woman who loses her father right before the holiday season. She befriends an unhoused former Jazz musician (Stan Shaw) and helps him reconnect with his own family just in time for the holidays. When so many holiday movies on Hulu focus on romantic entanglements, it’s nice to see one focus on family. Here, the themes are grief and forgiveness. While both of those can be present in other Christmas movies, here they coincide with a song and some great performances from the main cast.

Watch on Hulu

The Christmas Candle (2013)

The Christmas Candle was Samantha Barks’ first movie follow-up after playing Eponine in Les Misérables. For some who had become fans as a result of her Eponine performance, The Christmas Candle was a bit of a letdown. The movie is much less of a spectacle, based on a book of the same name, challenging the faith of a small town during the holiday season as a new reverend wants his parishioners to pray instead of relying on a supposedly magical candle to solve their problems.

While the movie has plenty of cheesy moments, it’s also a feel-good film for those who enjoy stories of faith and miracles. Both points of view - that prayer works and that the miracle candle works - are given equal weight in the movie, providing the idea that maybe, people just need to have faith in whatever works for them.

Watch on Hulu

Christmas Comedies

Fred Claus (2007)

Vince Vaughn stars as the titular Fred Claus, the brother of Santa Claus that no one knows exists. Since Fred has always been considered the “bad boy” of the two, he’s not well-known or part of the family businesses. That changes when his brother (Paul Giamatti) offers to pay him when he’s in a tight spot - as long as Fred comes to the North Pole and helps out for the holiday season.

While the movie received largely negative reviews upon its initial release, it’s become something of a modern comedy classic thanks to its unique take on the Claus myth and Vaughn leading the way. The talented ensemble also features Elizabeth Banks, Ludacris, and Kathy Bates.

Watch on Hulu

It’s A Wonderful Binge (2022)

This Hulu original is actually a sequel to a previous Hulu project. The original spotlighted a single day when laws related to drugs and alcohol were no longer in effect. In this sequel, that day happens to fall on Christmas.

It’s A Wonderful Binge is a comedic (and significantly less violent) take on a similar concept to The Purge. The movie features a great ensemble cast that includes Eduardo Franco of Stranger Things and Danny Trejo of From Dusk Till Dawn.

Watch on Hulu

Four Christmases (2008)

Vince Vaughn followed up Fred Claus with another holiday comedy, Four Christmases. The movie is frequently part of Hulu’s Christmas movie offerings but isn’t always on the streamer the rest of the year. Here, Vaughn stars opposite Reese Witherspoon as a couple in a long-term relationship who have no intention of getting married and who usually find a way to avoid family holiday gatherings.

When they can’t avoid Christmas with the family, they have to attend four different gatherings since both sets of parents are divorced. The actors have great chemistry, and the idea of having to visit multiple holiday destinations because of a separated or blended family is one that definitely rings true in the modern day. Though a lot of the comedy is over-the-top, the movie has been looked upon more favorably in a lot of ways as it has aged, giving it a modern comedy cult classic spot among holiday movies.

Watch on Hulu

Deck The Halls (2006)

Deck The Halls was almost universally panned by critics when it released in theaters in 2006. Despite that, it’s found repeat holiday viewing thanks to airing in TV lineups every year, and now, being available as part of Hulu’s Christmas movies.

The movie stars Matthew Broderick as his neighborhood’s “Christmas guy” who becomes jealous of new neighbor Danny DeVito, who decides to decorate his own home with enough lights to be seen from space. The two become so wrapped up in their rivalry that their wives and kids leave them to it, and they have to unite to get their families back for a true holiday celebration.

Watch on Hulu

Santa Games (2022)

It’s rare to see a Black Santa in movies, but Santa Games includes one who is a legacy mall Santa. He truly enjoys his work and his family has all been involved in the job. Changes to the budget mean Santa Charles (Faizon Love) is about to be forced into early retirement though, and he agrees as long as he gets to pick his replacement.

Several locals compete in a series of challenges after the video looking for a new Santa goes viral. The mall live streams the competition, as is how modern competition goes, and it’s a really fun take on just what goes into being Santa Claus. The movie is a little cheesy, but it’s truly a good time.

Watch on Hulu

RELATED: 10 Christmas Movies With The Best Re-Watch Value

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

The National Lampoon movies might not always be the most awarded or the most critically acclaimed, but those centering on the Griswold family have become comedy classics. Any time the Griswolds try to do anything as a family, everything that can go wrong does. That’s exactly what happens here.

Clark (Chevy Chase) wants to have a great Christmas for his family, and Chase is able to play Clark Griswold with an earnestness that isn’t spoiled by some of the more ridiculous and humorous aspects of the movie. His holidays might be ruined by overbearing relatives, accidents, and a greedy boss, but he keeps going in top comedic form.

Watch on Hulu

Elf (2003)

There’s something magical about Elf that brings people together during the holidays. Will Ferrell is really at his best in the movie as the naive Buddy the Elf who just wants to find his birth father after being raised among Santa’s elves at the North Pole.

The movie is charming and funny, featuring jokes that will go over kids’ heads, but is also silly enough to hold the attention of young audience while keeping parents entertained too. It’s one of the rare holiday movies that seems to cross the generational divide to entertain just about everyone, which is what makes Elf the best Christmas movie to stream on Hulu.

Watch on Hulu