As the year winds down, the most eagerly awaited time for many people has arrived: the holiday season. This period, which comprises several festivities, is surrounded by magic, get-togethers with family and friends, and traditions of all kinds that vary from one country to another. And if there is one holiday that stands out among all the others during this period, it is Christmas, bringing with it its wide catalog ofholiday-themed moviesthat invite people to enjoy them to the fullest with the snack of our choice. Among all these, one of the most popular is theChristmas romantic comedy.
This particular type of rom-com has turned into a classic of the season that audiences patiently wait for, and year after year, there are new and exciting releases that capture the magical atmosphere of this special time. As a matter of fact, Netflix releasedBest. Christmas. Ever?!, a holiday rom-com directed by Mary Lambert. In this film, two old college friends compete during the jolly season to prove their life and relationship is superior, leading to uproarious hijinks. Just likeBest. Christmas. Ever?!, there are dozens of rom-coms that portray this special time of the year. Here are some of the best.
Update August 11, 2025: For 12 days of Christmas, this article has been updated to 12 heartwarming and satisfying Christmas rom-coms and where each title is streaming.
12The Best Man Holiday (2013)
The Best Man Holiday
In The Best Man Holiday, old college friends reunite for a long-awaited holiday gathering, rekindling friendships and facing unresolved issues from the past. As they navigate complex emotional landscapes, the bonds between them are tested, revealing the enduring power of love and camaraderie. This heartwarming and reflective film offers a blend of humor and heartfelt moments that explore the dynamics of friendship and personal growth.
Several years after the events of Malcolm D. Lee’s beloved inaugural film,The Best Man, old friends Lance, Harper, Quentin, Robyn, Candace, Jordan, Mia, and Murch reunite over the Christmas holidays. Life has brought about changes for all of them, and as responsible adults, they’re more mature and wiser. As past relationships are looked back upon, the friends realize just how easy it is to become rivals and fall in love. More than a mere follow-up,The Best Man Holidayis a tender ode to friendship that will have you laughing and crying at the same time.
The Best Man Holiday Is a Festive Sequel
It is lovely to see the entire original cast return to deliver natural and nuanced performances. Under Lee’s expert direction, the film createsroom for slapstick humor, nostalgia, and lots of romance set in a joyous holiday setting. While many movie franchises have tried to do holiday sequels, notably films likeBatman ReturnsorBad Moms Christmas,The Best Man Holidayproves to be an effective use of the holiday for the type of story it wants to tell about friendship.Stream on Peacock
11Last Christmas (2019)
Last Christmas
Kate is not having the best time of her life: she made some very bad decisions and now works as an elf in a year-round Christmas store, something she doesn’t enjoy at all. However, this rough patch turns around when she meets Tom, a mysterious young man who helps her overcome all of her fears and look at life in a brighter light.Last Christmasstars Emilia Clarkeand Henry Golding, under Paul Feig’s direction.
Last Christmas Has Fantastic Chemistry
Last Christmasis a wholesome and tender film that is truly elevated due to the winning chemistry between Clarke and Golding, who shine as star-crossed lovers who form a life-changing bond while celebrating the holiday season. The unique twist at the end sets it apart from its fellow rom-coms, and though some audiences may have seen the reveal coming, it nonetheless packed an emotional punch. The fact that the quirky flick also features countless George Michael and Wham! tunes are just an added bonus.Stream on Prime Video
The Ultimate List of Holiday Comedies, Ranked
Line em up and knock em down. Your ultimate list to a holiday comedy watch party!
10Let It Snow (2019)
Let It Snow
Touting a young and talented cast including Kiernan Shipka, Isabela Merced, and Shameik Moore, the 2019 Netflix originalLet It Snowis based on the novel of the same name and centers on a colorful group of high school students on Christmas Eve as they deal with their own respective romantic hurdles and personal flaws, as their own stories interconnect as the evening plays out at a huge holiday party.
Let It Snow Is a Complex Rom-Com
From unhappy waitresses to glamorous pop stars, frustrated friends and paranoid girlfriends,Let It Snowhas an array of complex characters who each undergo some serious soul-searching and growth over the course of the night. Though there is no shortage of clichés and the plot can sometimes be predictable, the endearing movie still has universal appeal and does exactly what a good seasonal rom-com should do: deliver Christmas spirit alongside a heaping dose of holiday cheer.Stream on Netflix
9Last Holiday (2006)
Last Holiday
Last Holiday, the 2006 film, is a Christmas classic and one ofQueen Latifah’s best-remembered movies. In it, she stars as Georgia, a modest kitchen store saleswoman who has spent her entire life saving as much money as she could. Due to a medical mix-up, she gets a terrifying diagnosis: she now has a brain condition and only three weeks to live. Willing to enjoy them to the fullest and convinced that she has nothing to lose, Georgia uses her savings to fulfill a lifelong dream: to go on a luxurious trip to Europe, setting aside all her worries and inhibitions.
Last Holiday is a Queen Latifah Classic
Queen Latifah shines as the humble Georgia, displaying her charisma and signature comedic chops as her on-screen counterpart enjoys the finer things in life and finally allows herself to let loose. Her winning chemistry with LL Cool J and the rom-com’s overall uplifting message helped land the dynamic leading lady an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and it remains one of her most spirited and delightful cinematic portrayals.Stream on Paramount+
8Single All the Way (2021)
Single All the Wayis a 2021 Canadian film directed by Michael Mayer and written by Chad Hodge. It stars Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Kathy Najimy, Jennifer Coolidge, and Jennifer Robertson. This movie follows Peter, a gay man who desperately wants to avoid his family’s opinions about him being single. Therefore, he convinces his best friend Nick to pretend to be his boyfriend for the holidays. This plan takes a turn when his mother sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer, leading to a chaotic Christmas.
Single All the Way Is Warm and Familiar
Despite covering familiar ground and relying on common rom-com themesSingle All the Waytruly shines due to its talented ensemble cast and Peter and Nick’s endearing relationship and connection. Both critics and audiences were impressed by the entertaining film, which wasstreamed 13.82 million hoursduring its first week and went on to win the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie.Stream on Netflix
7Love Hard (2021)
Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang star inLove Hard, which tells the story of columnist Natalie Bauer, who shares her failed experiences dating men she meets on apps. After many unsuccessful encounters, her luck seems to change when she is paired with Josh, a man from New York who appears to be her perfect match. As Christmas is coming, she decides to surprise her crush by traveling across the country to meet him, only to make the shocking discovery that she’s been catfished.
Love Hard Is a Memorable Rom-Com
In spite of her anger, Natalie makes a deal with Josh: he promises to introduce her to the real person in the photos if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays, which gives the two of them plenty of time to get to know each other better. Dobrev and Yang effortlessly play off one another in every scene, and their massively entertaining, modernized duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is definitely one of the movie’s most shining and memorable moments.Stream on Netflix
6Happiest Season (2020)
Happiest Season
Happiest Seasonis a 2020 film directed by Clea DuVall and inspired by her own personal experiences. Starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, this production features Abby, a young woman who is asked by her girlfriend Harper to spend Christmas with her and her family. She agrees, willing to propose to her at a special moment. But Harper left out one major detail in the invitation: her family is very conservative, and she never came out to them. Joining Stewart and Davis in the cast are Alison Brie, Dan Levy, Aubrey Plaza, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen.
Happiest Season Is a Lauded LGBTQ+ Rom-Com
Happiest Seasongarnered widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences upon its release, with appreciation going towards its heartfelt message, playful humor, and delightful performances by its exceptional ensemble cast. The rom-com has emerged as a major triumph forLGBTQ+ streaming content, and it won a GLAAD Media Award.Stream on Hulu
Best LGBTQ+ Holiday Movies, Ranked
From Carol to Single All the Way, if you’re looking for queer-themed holiday movies, we’ve got the list for you.
5The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
Hollywood legends Cary Grantand Loretta Young headlined the spellbinding story of an angel who is sent to Earth to help a disheartened bishop (David Niven) raise crucial funds for his struggling church while also encouraging him to rediscover the importance of love, family, and faith during the Christmas season in the 1947 classicThe Bishop’s Wife. The suave and sophisticated angel Dudley (Grant) answers the bishop’s prayers and shows up on a quest to spread holiday cheer and inspire the questioning clergyman.
The Bishop’s Wife Is a Classic Rom-Com
The Bishop’s Wifewas a knockout at the box office, with moviegoers flocking to see the debonair Grant appearing as the beguiling angel to carry out his heavenly mission. The supernatural rom-com received a whopping five Academy Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture (ultimately winning one), and in the ensuing years it emerged as a Christmas staple. It featured one of Grant’s most charismatic performances, and it also went on to inspire the 1996 Denzel Washington-led remakeThe Preacher’s Wife, with the Oscar-winner assuming the role of Dudley in the picture.Stream on Peacock
4The Holiday (2006)
The Holiday
With an unforgettable star-studded cast led by Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Jude Law, the fan-favorite 2006romantic comedyThe Holidaycenters on two lovelorn ladies on opposite ends of the globe as they decide to escape their relationship woes and exchange homes during the Christmas season. Successful film producer Amanda (Diaz) is a workaholic who can’t emotionally commit to a partner, while London society columnist Iris (Winslet) wants to heal her broken heart, so the women swap residences and go on an epic journey of self-discovery.
The Holiday Is a Tender Love Story
Though neither wants anything to do with love and romance during their much-needed getaways, both Amanda and Iris meet life-changing people during the house swap, including compassionate widower Graham (Law), charming film composer Miles (Black), and wise famous screenwriter Arthur (Eli Wallach).The Holidaytugged on the heartstrings of audiences across the world, and memorably introduced them to the swoon-worthy meet cute while reminding women everywhere to always be their own leading lady in life.Stream on Fubo TV
3While You Were Sleeping (1995)
While You Were Sleeping
Sandra Bullock was an absolute delight when she starred alongside Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher in the 1995 blockbuster hitWhile You Were Sleeping, which follows the lonely fare token collector Lucy Eleanor Moderatz as she rescues the longtime object-of-her-affection Peter (Gallagher) from being hit by a train after falling on the tracks, and after helping him get to the hospital is confused for being his fiancée. Lucy decides to stay mum on her true identity, and is taken in by his loving family during the holiday season, but finds herself falling for his shy brother Jack (Pullman).
Sandra Bullock Thrives in While You Were Sleeping
Bullock thrived in the role as the lonesome transit worker, giving the character a refreshing emotional depth and plenty of heart, as she struggles to sort through her complicated feelings and the unconventional love triangle.The illustrious actressrightfully earned a Golden Globe nomination for her compelling performance, andWhile You Were Sleepingbrought in an impressive $182 million during its theatrical run. The film showcased early on that Bullock naturally shined in rom-coms, and she would continue dominating the enduring genre in the years to come.Stream on Disney+
