The best films on Netflix, Amazon and Disney

Regardless of whether Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime: Christmas plays a major role for all streaming providers. After all, what could be nicer than getting into the festive mood on cold winter days with a Christmas classic and a hot drink? The selection ranges from films from 1936 to 2021 – the main thing is that it is Christmassy and good!

Christmas has a long tradition at Netflix. The streaming service now also produces some Netflix originals for the festive season itself every year. Here are the most beautiful Christmas films at a glance:

• The Three Kings (Comedy with Seth Rogen Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie)
• The Claus family 2
• David and the Christmas Elves
• Sissi (all parts of the classic series from December 10th)
• A California Christmas: City Lights (from December 16)
• A Naija Christmas (from December 16)

A new film will be released on Netflix on Christmas Eve, which looks very promising just because of its cast and director. In Dont look up give themselves among others Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Merly Streep and Cate Blanchet the honor. The comedic disaster film is directed by Oscar winner Adam McKay (The Big Short), who also wrote the screenplay. Thematically, the film is not particularly Christmassy, ​​but it should still provide entertainment over the holidays. With a running time of almost 2.5 hours, you should be patient.

For fantasy fans, the second season of The Witcher as an ideal binge feed over the holidays. The eight new episodes will all be released on December 17th on Netflix.

Of course, Netflix made tons of Christmas films available not only in 2021, but also in previous years. Here are some of the highlights from the Netflix range that will instantly put you in the holiday mood:

• The Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2 (Comedies with Kurt Russell, 2018 & 2020)
• Dirty Office Party (Comedy, 2016)
• A very Murray Christmas (Musical, 2015)
• The Grinch (Comedy, 2000)
• Klaus (animation / children’s film, 2019)
• Two Santa Clauses (comedy with Bastian Pastewka and Christoph Maria Herbst, 2008)
• Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Musical with songs by Dolly Parton, 2020)
• Princess Swap 1-3 (Romantic Comedy with Vanessa Hudgens, 2018/2020/2021)
• Angela’s Christmas wish (children’s film / animation, 2020)
• Three hazelnuts for Cinderella (Christmas classic, 1973)
• Buddy the Christmas Elf (Comedy, 2003)

For cynics: BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina’s Christmas Wish. BoJack Horseman is award-winning adult cartoon. The cynical series with deeply black humor is a real recommendation and also scores with a no less gloomy Christmas special.

Not enough? Use these genre codes to find all Christmas films on Netflix

Disney Plus has only been online since 2019, but this year, unsurprisingly, the streaming provider has already put together a large number of family-friendly Christmas films:

• Noelle (Comedy with Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader, 2019)
• Santa Clause: A Nice Present (1994 family comedy with Tim Allen, sequels also available)
• The Miracle of Manhattan (family film, 1994)
• Kevin – Home Alone (Comedy, 1990)
• Kevin – Alone In New York (Comedy, 1992)
• Nightmare Before Christmas (Fantasy / Musical, 1993)
• The Muppets Christmas Story (1992)
• A Christmas Story (with Jim Carrey, 2009)
• Die Hard (classic action action starring Bruce Willis, 1988)
• Dirty Office Party (black comedy with Jennifer Aniston, 2016)

Has in December Disney Plus * some exciting novelties in the program, which are well suited as a leisure program for gray winter days. For families especially are likely to Beauty and the Beast (Real adaptation with Emma Watson from 2017) and the animated comedy Ron goes wrong (available from December 15th). Marvel fans are looking forward to new episodes of the current series Hawk Eyewhose action takes place even at Christmas time. For Star Wars fans there is also new streaming fodder between the years: The book by Boba Fett starts on December 29th.

This Christmas will also be a special challenge for families. It is never wrong to have a few nice children’s films in hand so that you can ensure a stress-free holiday program in case of doubt. The following movies on Disney Plus might not be about Christmas, but they might be great for the holidays:

• Coco: Alive Than Life (animation, 2017)
• Wall-E – The last one cleans up the earth (animation, 2008)
• Frozen Part 1 and 2 (animation, 2013/2019)
• Mary Poppins Returns (fantasy / family film, 2019)

Also at Prime Video * there is a lot to discover this Christmas. As in the previous year, however, the streaming service is very reluctant to introduce new films and in-house productions. Probably the biggest highlight is not a real Christmas film – but many people are likely to associate the Harry Potter series with the Christmas season due to its mostly wintry cinema releases. Accordingly, we also have the second part of the Fantastic beasts included in the list.

But there are plenty of iconic Christmas films from earlier years, as our list shows:

• Santa’s Daughter (family-friendly comedy, 2019)
• Fantastic Beasts (2): The Crimes of Grindelwald (Fantasy film from the Harry Potter universe, 2018)

• Love Actually (Romance Christmas Classic, 2003)
• Last Christmas (romantic comedy with Emilia Clarke, 2019)
• Dirty Office Party (black comedy with Jennifer Aniston, 2016)
• The Polar Express (animated film, 2004)
• Three hazelnuts for Cinderella (Christmas classic, 1973)
• The Grinch (animation / comedy, 2018)
• The Grinch (Comedy with Jim Carrey, 2000)
• The Little Lord (1936 classic)
• The poinsettia (children’s film, 2015)
• Elliot, the smallest reindeer (animation / children’s film, 2018)
• The Stone Family (Romance / Drama, 2005)

If you are not looking for the program from a single provider, but for a certain cinematic Christmas classic, then you have come to the right place:

Die Hard (1988): Watching Bruce Willis in his star role as John McClane is still a lot of fun over 30 years after it opened in theaters. What did the wild shootings have to do with Christmas? By chance, the die-slow terrorists around Hans Gruber chose a Christmas party to carry out their explosive plan. But they did the math without John McClane (Willis). Because he has little desire to let them ruin Christmas. For everyone who doesn’t want to miss out on action even during the Christmas season.

The Muppets Christmas Story (1992): The Christmas story by Charles Dickens is probably one of the most famous Christmas stories. The numerous film adaptations have also contributed to this. The Muppets variant, however, clearly stands out from the other film versions and scores with lots of humor, singing and show values ​​for young and old. Kermit, Miss Piggy and Co definitely deliver bizarre Christmas entertainment.

Nice Christmas presents (1989): Chevy Chase has created a real cult film for Christmas with National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (original title). The family man Clark Griswold dreams of a perfect Christmas. His chaotic extended family and his own incapacity, however, keep him desperate on the way there. Still a fun comedy for all ages.

The polar express: The family-friendly animated film from 2004 may have gotten a bit of a technical dust, but has lost none of its warmth and its rapid pace. If you are looking for an exciting Christmas film that will delight children of all ages, this is the right place for you.

Three hazelnuts for cinderella: This Christmas fairy tale from 1973 is a co-production from the former Czechoslovakia and the GDR. For many people, the film is a must every Christmas. In addition to various free TV broadcasts, the imaginative children’s film has now also found its way to streaming services.

Gremlins: The 1984 monster comedy by Joe Dante is rightly a classic. More funny than creepy, the Gremlins take apart an American city just before Christmas. Thanks to the lovingly designed dolls and other hand-made tricks, the film is still fun for Christmas 2021.

Bonus film: Not a Christmas film for everyone, but definitely entertaining: Bei Krampus it’s the Austrian equivalent of Knecht Ruprecht – just a lot creepier. The bloodless horror film is dark, but it is more in line with scary comedies like gremlins or tremors. Fantastic sound design, beautiful backdrops, handmade monsters and lots of B-movie charm are guaranteed. Warning: Do not confuse this with the numerous, much worse, film copies!

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