TwoChristmasseries are trending on Netflix, and they couldn’t be more different. Netflix’s library contains a diverse array of Christmas titles. Although their roster includes an ever-shifting array of acquired movies and TV shows that come and go as licensing contracts change, their holiday season offerings for 2024 have included theatrical titles such asA Bad Moms ChristmasandJourney to Bethlehemas well as a huge list of Hallmark CHannel movies includingHaul Out the Holly,Christmas with a Kiss,Christmas in Notting Hill,A Biltmore Christmas, andA Merry Scottish Christmas.
However, since the late 2010s, they have also built out a huge roster ofNetflix original Christmas movies, many of which take place in an interconnected universe. This includes thePrincess SwitchandA Christmas Princetrilogies,A Castle for Christmas, andThe Knight Before Christmas. However,they also have many other holiday-themed offeringsincluding holiday versions of cooking competition shows such asNailed It!andIs It Cake?, as well as original series includingDash & Lily, a YA romance starring Austin Abrams and Midori Francis, andMerry Happy Whatever, a sitcom led by Dennis Quaid and Bridgit Mendler.
25 Best Christmas Movies On Netflix
Between a unique spin on Santa and a visually stunning musical, there are tons of great Christmas films to watch on Netflix this holiday season.
The Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2 Are Trending On Netflix - What These Movies Are About
The Franchise Is Led By Kurt Russell
The first series that is trending on Netflix isThe Christmas Chronicles.The franchise is a movie duology starring Kurt Russell as Santa Clausthat kicked off with the title of the same name in 2018, which was followed by the sequelThe Christmas Chronicles 2in 2020. Neither movie is technically part of theNetflix holiday movie universe, as they feature no overlapping characters, reference none of the fictional European countries in which many of the movies take place, and do not feature characters watching movies from the franchise.
Many Netflix Christmas movies feature characters using the streaming platform to watch Christmas movies from previous years, includingHot Frosty,Christmas Inheritance, andHoliday in the Wild.
The 2018 movie, which was directed by Clay Kaytis (The Angry Birds Movie) from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman (Free Guy), follows dispirited 16-year-old Teddy (Judah Lewis) and his 11-year-old sister Kate (Darby Camp), who have recently lost their father and try to capture Santa while their widowed mother Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) is at work, only to be dragged along on a magical adventure. The sequel, which was directed by Chris Columbus (Home Alone,Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), who co-wrote the screenplay with Lieberman,follows Kate helping Santa save the North Pole from the bitter former elf Belsnickel.
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 lukewarm reaction to bothChristmas Chroniclesmovies. While both movies have Fresh scores on the review aggregator web site Rotten Tomatoes, their ratings are just barely over the 60% threshold to be considered Fresh. 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:
67%
58%
5.9/10
66%
54%
5.6/10
However,audiences 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 cheer, and its ability to appeal to the entire family. The sequel has a 45% audience score, with many users criticizing it for its uneven tone, but it seems that the enthusiasm for the first movie has compelled many viewers this year to complete the marathon despite these misgivings.
The Other Trending “Franchise” Popular On Netflix During Christmas Are The Digital Fireplaces
Netflix’s Yule Logs Are Dominating Streaming
The other series 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 spin disturbing horror stories around a crackling fireplace, these titles are simplystatic shots of fireplaces meant to add holiday coziness to the surrounding room.
Netflix [including] these audiovisual ambience titles in their library… has clearly paid off.
While there are many otherChristmasseries available on Netflix, including the popularChristmas PrinceandPrincess Switchmovies, the fact that these fireplaces are trending speaks to the way thatthe evolving landscape of digital media has changed the way that many viewers interact with streaming services. In addition to branching out to include interactive storytelling, games, and more non-movie, non-show features, Netflix has included these audiovisual ambience titles in their library, and it has clearly paid off in a unique way.
The Christmas Chronicles
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.
