14 Christmas Movies That Will Put You in the Holiday Spirit

‘Tis the season for hot cocoa, cozy blankets, and a new lineup of Christmas movies to get you in the holiday spirit.

TV networks and streaming platforms like OWN, BET+, and Lifetime have a packed slate of titles counting down the days to Christmas.

OWN’s annual “OWN for the Holidays” event is back with new films focused on love, friendship, and Black families.

Lifetime’s “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” slate returns with 12 original premieres, including several films featuring Black leads. Hulu and Netflix are also rolling out holiday releases for every mood.

Related: ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ Delivers ‘Cringe’ and Comedy, Star Etienne Maurice Says

Brandy and her daughter Sy’Rai Smith team up in Lifetime’s Christmas Everyday. Earlier this month, Sy’Rai shared with Urban Hollywood 411 what it was like in her first movie role.

“I loved everything about it,” she said. “It was a really good experience to work with mom and so many other amazing actors and actresses. I was nervous as crap though, I’m not going to lie!”

R&B singer Shanice Wilson returns this season with a new role and new music after a major health journey.

“I don’t want to give too much away,” she told us on a recent red carpet. “But I know everybody sees me as like, the ‘I Love Your Smile [singer].’ But in the movie, you’re gonna see a whole other side of me.”

Kiki Layne and Etienne Maurice star in OWN’s Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, about a college professor whose little white lie leads her back to the man she’s always loved.

“You’re gonna cringe a little bit, you’re gonna wonder to yourself, why is this girl lying so much through this movie? But you’re going to see that it’s a wonderfully crafted film,” Etienne told us in a recent interview.

Check out our list of holiday offerings below:

BET+
Now Streaming
Christmas by Design
The movie centers on a handbag designer whose secret charity line is stolen in a data breach. She hires an IT expert to help her recover the files, only to realize he’s the same man she kissed at a Christmas party a year earlier. The cast includes Danielle LaRoach, Lamon Archey, Celeste Seda, and Moaning Dugar.

Thursday, Nov. 27
Son of the Preacher
Beauty entrepreneur Jasmine dreams of launching her own haircare brand, but can’t seem to catch a break. Enter Caleb Samuel — an internet-famous preacher’s kid with millions of followers, a fast car, and complicated family expectations. What starts as a strategic business move quickly becomes a connection that challenges them both to face love, purpose, and legacy in ways they never expected. The film features Gabrielle Graham, Chris LeBlanc, Darren Herbert, Rachel Crawford, Ronnie Rowe, Tkaia Green, and Karen Burthwright.

Thursday, Dec. 4
Love After Holidays
A talk show host battling addiction and personal demons loses everything she holds dear—her faith, career, and custody of her daughter. On a journey of self-discovery, she must confront her past, rebuild her relationships, and transform her pain into purpose to find healing and redemption. The film stars Jacinth Headlam Janeen, Jeremy Meeks, Trina, Amia Brock, and Malik Yoba.

Thursday, Dec. 11
Never Alone for Christmas: Memphis
Two Memphis women with big hearts — a dating coach and a once-great blues singer — find themselves unexpectedly alone for Christmas. Determined not to spend the holidays in heartbreak, they form an unlikely friendship and help each other take bold steps toward love, healing, and second chances — all set to the rhythm of Memphis soul. Featuring Melissa L. Williams, Juhahn Jones, K. Michelle, Chris Sakyi, Tom Arnold, Danielle Renee Houston, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Eric Lane, Timothy Tinker Sr., Kat Smith, Maurice Smith, Harold Dennis, Martel “TZ” Shaw, Sharyn Michele Grose, Walter Harris, Shelle Alycee Coleman, and Kenny Young.

Thursday, Dec. 18
Vera’s Holiday Flop
When a woman’s 20-year high school reunion collides with the holiday season, she braces herself for a weekend filled with awkward encounters, old flames, and plenty of bad decisions. But what starts as chaos may just lead to closure, laughter, and the kind of joy that only comes from reconnecting. Starring Charity Jordan, Terri J. Vaughn, Griff, Chrissy McDaniel, Tyler Chronicles, Algebra Blessett, Jelani Akil, Scotty ATL, and Saycon Sengbloh

Thursday, Dec. 25
A Soulful Christmas
The children of two legendary, and feuding, R&B artists are forced to collaborate on a holiday song remake. Their rivalry turns into romance as they race toward a Christmas Eve deadline that could heal two families. The cast includes Shanice Wilson, Kaci Walfall, Myles Truitt, Kenny Lattimore, Taylor Symone, E. Roger Mitchell, Towanda Braxton, KB Holland, Kyler Chavis, Gail Everett-Smith, Gerard Catus, and Ryan James. The film features original music performed by Kenny Lattimore and Shanice.

LIFETIME
Saturday, Nov. 29 – 9 p.m. ET/PT
Christmas Everyday
The film follows fashion designer Francine “Fancy” Ballantine (Brandy), who is juggling her career and family obligations. After her father dies and her mother Evelyn (Morgan) begins to lose her sight, Fancy remains determined to continue her father’s Christmas traditions. But she faces challenges, including from her bridezilla baby sister Belle (Sy’rai Smith).

Saturday, Nov. 29 – 10 p.m. ET/PT
The Christmas Campaign
Vivica A. Fox plays Monique, an executive who pairs up two digital ad rivals, Kayleigh (Chelsea Rose Brooks) and Darren (Austen Jaye), to create a cheerful holiday campaign. Sparks fly as rivalry, romance, and family surprises collide at work and at home.

Saturday, Dec. 6 — 8 p.m. ET/PT
Deck the Hallways
Follows Loretta Devine as Agnes, a grandmother shaking up old traditions with a fresh, adventurous spirit. When her granddaughter Zoe (Naika Toussaint) returns to Chicago and learns Agnes canceled the family’s beloved holiday party, she’s determined to bring it back. The film is produced by Front Street Pictures, with Charles Cooper producing and Jason James directing from a story by Meyer Shwarzstein and Gregory R. Anderson, with a teleplay by Anderson.

Friday, Dec. 12 — 8 p.m. ET/PT
A Runaway Bride for Christmas
Follows Emma (played by Entertainment Tonight host Nischelle Turner) as she seeks refuge in her hometown and unexpectedly reconnects with a high school crush. But an ex with unfinished business threatens to upend her holiday romance.

OWN
Saturday, Nov. 29 – 9 p.m. ET/PT
Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Kiki Layne stars as Maya, a reserved college professor who makes up a story about dating an unconscious stranger — only to get pulled into his family’s holiday plans. Things get complicated when she develops chemistry with the stranger’s doctor Daniel (Etienne Maurice), who also happens to be her ex.

Saturday, Dec. 6 – 9 p.m. ET/PT
The Christmas Showdown
Amber Stevens West and Corbin Reid star as estranged childhood best friends April and Chastity, who end up competing for the same event design job. To impress producer Hen (Loretta Devine), they’ll need to mend their fractured friendship, but rivalry threatens to turn it into an all-out holiday showdown.

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 9 p.m. ET/PT
Very Merry Mystery
Ashleigh Murray stars as Bea, a beloved Georgia beauty shop owner attending a Christmas murder mystery party gone wrong. When the host disappears, Bea teams up with her detective boyfriend Troy (Tristan Mack Wilds) to crack the case.

HULU/DISNEY+
Now streaming
Joy to the World
The film follows a lifestyle guru (Emmanuelle Chriqui) whose fictional “perfect family” is suddenly expected to appear on a live Christmas Eve special. She recruits friends and neighbors to pose as her family — including her best friend (Chad Michael Murray), who still has feelings for her. Ayesha Curry co-stars as a TV show host with Christmas on her mind.

NETFLIX
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Not a movie, but With Love, Meghan — Holiday Celebration is another festive offering. The streamimg special features Meghan Markle inviting viewers into her Montecito home for a holiday focused on decor, recipes, gift-making, and meaningful traditions. Friends and family join her as she shows how to craft a memorable Christmas at home.