The holidays aren’t just about crazy family gatherings or a wild ride with Santa, they’re also a time for unexpected romance, heartwarming connections, and holiday sparks flying. This week’s watchlist is part 1 of the hundreds of holiday films that celebrate the magic of love set during the Christmas holidays.
From accidental encounters in Love Hard to life-changing getaways in The Holiday, each story brings humor, charm, and the thrill of new beginnings with the right person by your side. Love can bloom in the most unlikely places and modern tales like as Something from Tiffany’s or Our Little Secret captures that exact excitement of mishaps and the chaos of contemporary love.
These films prove that the holiday season is the perfect time for love to take center stage. Packed with tons of laughter, tenderness, and heartfelt festive joy, this watchlist is your ultimate guide to cozying up with love on big screen.
The Holiday
Two women (Amanda from Los Angeles and Iris from England) swap homes over Christmas to escape their complicated lives. What begins as a hopeful getaway quickly turns into a life-changing adventure as Amanda falls for Iris’s brother, and Iris finds unexpected connection with Amanda’s co-worker. The film is a holiday classic!
Director: Nancy Meyers/ Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Something From Tiffany’s
Two couples’ lives become unexpectedly intertwined after a mix-up with a pair of holiday gift bags from Tiffany & Co. When an engagement ring meant for one woman ends up with someone else, a charming and emotional journey unfolds as true feelings begin to surface.
Director: Daryl Wein / Starring: Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson
Love Actually
A holiday classic, and featuring an ensemble cast, Love Actually tells multiple interconnected stories of romance, heartbreak, and holiday hope as a diverse group of Londoners navigate love in all its magical forms.
Director: Richard Curtis /Starring: Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson & more!
Last Christmas
A woman, who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop, meets a mysterious and optimistic stranger who encourages her to reconnect with herself, her dreams, and the people she’s pushed away. As their bond deepens, she uncovers a shocking truth that reshapes her understanding of love.
Director: Paul Feig / Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding
Holidate
Two singles, fed up with holiday pressures and family expectations, agree to be each other’s platonic “holidates” for every celebration throughout the year. What starts as a convenient arrangement quickly turns into something more complicated as real feelings begin to emerge.
Director: John Whitesell / Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey
A Merry Little Ex-Mas
After years of drifting apart, Kate and her husband return to their small hometown for one last traditional Christmas with their family. Upon arrival, they find old feelings and unresolved tensions resurfacing amid holiday festivities.
Director: Steve Carr / Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson
Our Little Secret
Once close friends turned exes, Avery and Logan are unexpectedly reunited when they both start dating siblings. The pair are forced to spend Christmas together with their blended holiday weekend crew. In trying to keep the secret of their past relationship, they pretend not to know each other which leads to a string of awkward and heartfelt holiday moments.
Director: Stephen Herek /Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding
Love Hard
A hopelessly romantic thinks she’s finally found “the one” after matching with a charming guy online. When she travels across the country to surprise him for Christmas, she discovers she’s been catfished by a socially awkward but well-meaning guy using another man’s photos. Now stuck in his small hometown for the holidays, she strikes a deal with her catfish to help her win over the real guy.
Director: Hernán Jiménez / Starring: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet
