17 Best New Christmas Movies in 2023 and How to Watch Them

Every December, the internet turns into a festive group chat where everyone is yelling, “Drop your holiday watchlist!”
If you’re trying to keep up with the best new Christmas movies of 2023 (without accidentally rewatching the same
five classics until your hot cocoa develops a personality), you’re in the right place.

2023 delivered a little bit of everything: big-name streaming originals, cozy Hallmark romances, family-friendly Disney+ adventures,
and at least one movie that basically dares you not to decorate the living room after watching it. Below are 17 standout
new holiday movies from 2023plus the easiest, most practical ways to watch each one legally.

What counts as a “new Christmas movie” in this guide?

For this list, “new” means these films premiered in 2023 as holiday-season releasesmostly Christmas, with one Hanukkah gem
(because the holiday movie calendar is big enough for more than one vibe). Streaming availability can change over time, so when
I say “how to watch,” I’m focusing on the film’s primary release home (where it premiered) and the most common legit options.

Quick cheat sheet: how to watch new holiday movies without stress

• Netflix / Disney+ / Prime Video / Peacock: Usually simplestsearch the title and hit play with a subscription.
• Hallmark / Lifetime premieres: Most often air live on cable, then re-air (a lot). Many viewers watch through live TV streaming bundles that carry those channels.
• Theater-first movies: Look for “rent/buy” (digital) after the theatrical window, then a streaming landing spot later.
• Pro tip: If you can’t find a movie instantly, it’s not personalit’s licensing. Search the title + “where to watch” and check your platform’s “Included with subscription” label.

The 17 best new Christmas movies of 2023 (and how to watch them)

1) Candy Cane Lane (2023)

Vibe: Big, bright, “the neighborhood is competing like it’s the Olympics” energy.
Eddie Murphy plays a dad determined to win a Christmas decorating contestuntil a magical deal turns the season into chaotic, living-ornament mayhem.
How to watch: Streams on Prime Video. If you’re already a holiday-movie collector, it’s also commonly available through Amazon’s digital storefront options.

2) Family Switch (2023)

Vibe: Body-swap comedy with a holiday bow.
Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms anchor a family that swaps bodies at the worst possible time (which is, naturally, right before big life events). It’s silly, sweet, and designed for group watching.
How to watch: Streams on Netflix. Great pick if you want a new Christmas movie that feels like a crowd-pleasing “movie night” default.

3) Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)

Vibe: Christmas letters, frenemies, and “is her life really that perfect?” spiraling.
Heather Graham and Brandy lead a holiday comedy that’s equal parts goofy and oddly relatablebecause comparison is the thief of joy (and also the thief of your peace during December).
How to watch: Streams on Netflix.

4) Genie (2023)

Vibe: Modern wish-fulfillment with classic holiday heart.
Melissa McCarthy plays a genie who shows up when a stressed-out guy desperately needs a reset button. It’s funny, a little messy (like real life), and ultimately warm.
How to watch: Streams on Peacock. If you’re a “holiday comedy + big personality” viewer, this one’s for you.

5) Dashing Through the Snow (2023)

Vibe: Family adventure with Santa-related hijinks.
Ludacris stars as a dad who doesn’t do Christmasuntil a Christmas Eve shift turns into a magical crash course in believing again. It’s built for watching with kids (or your inner kid).
How to watch: Streams on Disney+.

6) The Naughty Nine (2023)

Vibe: Kid-led holiday heist (North Pole edition).
A group of “naughty list” kids decide to take matters into their own handswith a mission that involves breaking into Santa’s workshop. It’s mischievous, fast, and playful.
How to watch: Streams on Disney+ (after premiering on Disney Channel).

7) Christmas as Usual (2023)

Vibe: Culture clash rom-com with holiday awkwardness turned up to 11.
A Norwegian woman brings her Indian fiancé home for Christmas, and the “we do it this way” family traditions collidesometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt, often both.
How to watch: Streams on Netflix.

8) The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday (2023)

Vibe: Animated holiday special, quick and easy.
The Bad Guys crew tries to pull off their annual “Holiday Heist-tacular,” but they’ll need to restore Christmas spirit first. It’s a fun, snack-sized watchperfect when you want something festive without committing to a full feature.
How to watch: Streams on Netflix.

9) Your Christmas or Mine 2 (2023)

Vibe: Rom-com sequel, bigger holiday chaos (and snow).
If you like your Christmas movies with relationship misunderstandings, family pressure, and “why is this happening to us?” moments, this sequel leans in hardwith a winter getaway twist.
How to watch: Streams on Prime Video.

10) The Holdovers (2023)

Vibe: Cozy-but-sharp holiday dramedy with emotional payoff.
Paul Giamatti plays a cranky teacher stuck supervising students over Christmas break in the 1970s. It’s funny, human, and quietly movingthe kind of movie you finish and then stare at the credits like, “Well, that got me.”
How to watch: Released in theaters first; later became available to stream on Peacock and via digital rent/buy options.

11) A Biltmore Christmas (2023)

Vibe: Hallmark romance with time travel and serious “old-Hollywood” sparkle.
A screenwriter visits the Biltmore Estate and finds herself swept into the pastcomplete with a classic movie production and a love story that feels like it belongs in a vintage ornament.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel. Look for re-airs during the season or check Hallmark’s viewing options through participating TV providers and channel bundles.

12) Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up (2023)

Vibe: Holiday sequel with over-the-top neighborhood cheer.
This follow-up keeps the comedy going as the community doubles down on decorations, traditions, and friendly chaos. If you love “everyone on the block is committed to the bit,” you’re home.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel; commonly re-airs and is available through provider-based streaming options.

13) Holiday Hotline (2023)

Vibe: Cozy romance + food comfort, with a phone-call meet-cute.
A woman working at a holiday cooking hotline bonds with an anonymous caller. It’s sweet, gentle, and perfect if you want something you can watch while wrapping gifts without missing the plot.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel and tends to re-air; check listings or Hallmark-supported streaming access through TV providers.

14) Christmas Island (2023)

Vibe: “Travel plans ruined” romance with a snowy detour.
A pilot job opportunity meets a storm-induced reroute to Christmas Island, and suddenly the holiday spirit shows up with the intensity of a carol group at your front door.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel. Watch live, catch re-airs, or use Hallmark channel access through participating bundles/providers.

15) Christmas on Cherry Lane (2023)

Vibe: Ensemble holiday storytellingthree households, one festive street.
Multiple families face turning points during the holidays, all connected by the same address. If you like heartfelt, multi-story Christmas movies, this one scratches that itch.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel; re-airs are common during the season.

16) Round and Round (2023)

Vibe: Hanukkah + time loop + rom-com sweetness.
A woman gets stuck reliving the same night at her parents’ Hanukkah party. It’s funny, clever, and a refreshing change of pace if you’ve already watched three Santa movies in a row.
How to watch: Premiered on Hallmark Channel. Check Hallmark schedules, re-airs, and provider-based viewing options.

17) A Cowboy Christmas Romance (2023)

Vibe: Lifetime holiday romance with ranch energy.
Big sky, bigger feelings, and a storyline that aims for “cozy” while still bringing a little extra grown-up spice compared to the most squeaky-clean holiday offerings.
How to watch: Premiered on Lifetime. Look for re-airs, Lifetime’s app/website viewing options with TV login, or live TV streaming bundles that carry the channel.

How to watch Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies (even if you don’t have cable)

If you’re new to the Hallmark/Lifetime universe, here’s the trick: these movies are built for re-watching.
Premieres happen on a specific night, but the networks typically replay them repeatedly throughout the season.
Many viewers watch through live TV streaming bundles that include Hallmark Channel or Lifetime, and others use
the networks’ apps or websites via participating TV-provider logins.

Because exact “included with subscription” rules can shift, the easiest move is to check your TV provider,
your live TV streaming service channel lineup, or the network schedule. If a movie isn’t available on-demand,
it often pops back up in a re-air window faster than you can say “stocking stuffer.”

FAQ: choosing the right new Christmas movie in 2023

Which 2023 holiday movies are best for kids?

Start with Dashing Through the Snow, The Naughty Nine, and The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday.
They’re fast-moving, family-friendly, and don’t require deep focus (perfect for a living room full of cookie crumbs).

Which ones feel the most “classic holiday”?

If you want that traditional glow, try A Biltmore Christmas (classic romance with a twist),
Christmas Island (cozy travel detour), or Holiday Hotline (gentle holiday comfort).

Which picks work for a mixed group?

Family Switch is a safe crowd-pleaser, Candy Cane Lane brings big comedy energy,
and The Holdovers is the “seriously good movie” option when the group wants something deeper than mistletoe misunderstandings.

Holiday movie marathon experiences: how to make these 2023 releases feel like a tradition

Here’s the funny thing about holiday movies: half the joy is the film, and the other half is everything happening around it.
The best “new Christmas movies 2023” experience isn’t just pressing playit’s the tiny rituals that turn a random Thursday
into a memory you’ll reference for the next decade (“Remember when we watched that one where the kids did a North Pole heist?”).

If you’re building a holiday movie marathon, start by picking a “vibe lane” for the night:
chaotic comedy (hello, Candy Cane Lane), family-friendly adventure (Disney+ is basically built for this),
or cozy romance (Hallmark and Lifetime said, “We got you.”). Matching the movie to the mood is the difference between
“nice” and “we should do this every year.”

Next, design your evening like you’re the executive producer of your own living room:
keep snacks easy, warm, and low-maintenance. Think popcorn + holiday mix-ins (cinnamon sugar, crushed candy canes, or chocolate chips),
store-bought cookies plated like you baked them (no judgmentpresentation is powerful), and one hot drink station.
It’s not fancy; it’s strategic. Nobody wants to pause a movie during the emotional climax because someone is “just reducing a sauce.”

For group viewing, a tiny bit of structure goes a long way. Try a two-title lineup:
one “light” pick first (The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday or Family Switch), then finish with something
more heartfelt (The Holdovers) or more romantic (your favorite Hallmark premiere). That pacing feels like dessert:
sweet at the start, satisfying at the end.

If you’re watching with family across ages, consider the “phone test.” Some movies are perfect background comfort
(many Hallmark romances are friendly to multitasking), while others reward attention (The Holdovers is the kind of film where
the quiet moments matter). Picking the right title for the attention level in the room prevents the classic holiday argument:
“Wait, who is that guy again?”

Finally, add one tradition that’s so simple you’ll actually repeat it: a “holiday preview” at the beginning
(everyone says what they want from the movielaughs, tears, or chaos), or a one-minute post-movie rating (“one to five candy canes”).
Those tiny rituals create continuity, and continuity is what turns “a bunch of new Christmas movies in 2023” into “our Christmas movies.”

Conclusion

The best part about the 2023 holiday lineup is that it gives you options: goofy comedies when you’re tired,
cozy romances when you want comfort, and at least one genuinely great film when you’re craving something that sticks with you.
Pick a couple from this list, match them to your mood, and build your own traditionbecause the only real rule of Christmas movies
is that you’re allowed to enjoy them exactly the way you like.

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