‘Tis the season for cocoa, warm blankets, mistletoe, and falling in love with a cuteholidayromantic comedy. Many acclaimed actors have set aside their iconic roles or meandered away from their respective genres and joined in on a holidayrom-comor two, so anyone and everyone can enjoy the fun films. Sure, many romantic comedies that deal with the winter holidays are a bit on the cheesy side, but with everyone in a good mood during the cold season, we can simply let some of the cringe-worthy lines and formulaic plots slide.
The films on this list all deal with couples getting together during the holidays, but as we all know, friends, family, and even expectations seem to put a strain on things as the year comes to an end. These little obstacles often make for some hilarious encounters, but in the end, heartfelt romance always triumphs.
Here are the 10 best holiday rom-coms to rewatch this season.
10The Princess Switch (2018)
The Princess Switch
Vanessa Hudgens stars in dual roles in the festive holiday film,The Princess Switch, first as Stacy De Novo, a baker from Chicago, as well as Lady Margaret Delacourt, a royal duchess. The two just so happen to run into one another in the Christmas-y Kingdom of Belgravia,a fictional country, and Lady Margaret pleads with Stacy to switch places for a short time to enjoy the feeling of normalcy. While the two are pretending to be one another, they find love not only for their temporary situations, but for a certain baker and prince as well.
Why It’s Great
After spending so many years known as the Disney darling fromHigh School Musical, Hudgens has become Netflix’s unofficial Christmas queen. She has held a few leading roles inThe Princess Switchtrilogy andThe Knight Before Christmas. All the movies are filled with twinkly lights and Christmas decor, but the originalPrincess Switchfeels warm and cozy as Hudgens’ two characters realize their passions.Stream on Netflix
9Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually
Why follow one cohesive storyline when you can watch 10 smaller stories intertwine and play out during the holiday season?Love Actuallyfollows anensemble star-studded castthroughout the holidays, as everyone either tries to get into a relationship, mend a relationship, or accept their feelings for someone they love.
There are a couple dozen prominent characters throughout the film, meaning everyone can identify with at least one of the storylines taking place. The fact that almost every character is someone intertwined with someone else reminds viewers that no matter what it is you are going through, everyone around you has their own story to tell. It’s a basic concept that is often forgotten, but it is a message worth hearing again during the busiest and most festive time of the year.Stream on Netflix
8Holidate (2020)
InHolidate, Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) are both tired of the expectations that come with the holidays. Sloane’s family always wants to know why she is single, and Jackson finds himself with too many women who want him to commit to an exclusive relationship. The two meet and decide to “date” only during the holidays to get everyone off their backs, but as romantic comedies thatuse the fake-dating tropego, they end up realizing they want to be together 365 days a year.
Holidateis the perfect Millennial holiday movie as many within this age range either find themselves in Sloane or Jackson’s shoes during the holidays. Roberts and Bracey have great chemistry on-set as they portray stubborn and very opinionated people who bond over vulnerable situations.Stream on Netflix
7Love Hard (2021)
After many failed dates with men she’s met on a dating app, Natalie (Nina Dobrev) finally finds herself an interesting, charming, and funny guy named Josh (Jimmy O. Yang). The problem, however, is that he lives across the country. Trying to be spontaneous, Natalie flies to see Josh, only to learn that she’s been catfished. The two reconcile as friends under the circumstances that Josh introduces Natalie to the guy she thought she was talking to, and Natalie pretends to be Josh’s girlfriend for the holidays in front of his family. What could ever go wrong?
The plot ofLove Hardis ridiculous yet cute, and the charm of Dobrev and Yang really draws people in. Though their friendship started on a rather deceitful note, their commitment to help and encourage one another to do great things is heartwarming. The lead performances alone make this a great feel-good film to watch this season.Stream on Netflix
Related:20 Best Christmas Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now
6Four Christmases (2008)
Four Christmases
Reese Witherspoon and romantic comediesgo hand in hand, like milk and cookies on a cold Christmas night. InFour Christmases, she stars alongside Vince Vaughn as Kate and Brad, a couple who like to avoid their families during the holidays and any “serious commitment” conversations. However, when their families find out they got stuck in town for Christmas, they are forced to visit everyone, and they discover more than they ever imagined about one another.
Dysfunctional families are a fun trope to throw into the holiday madness because they enhance a character’s embarrassment and tension. Secrets are usually spilled, and a relatable argument is often had. Seeing Witherspoon and Vaughn’s characters carefully navigate their own pasts while trying to keep up appearances with one another is as comical as it is cringe-worthy.Stream on Max and Hulu
5The Holiday Calendar (2018)
The Vampire Diariesactress Kat Graham stars in the Christmas romantic comedy,The Holiday Calendar, as a photographer named Abby. After Abby receives an Advent calendar from her grandfather, she quickly realizes that there is magic behind each little door. Josh (Quincy Brown), Abby’s best friend, comes back to town, and over the next few weeks, the pair begin to realize and accept their feelings for one another. There are plenty of moments that can be seen as coincidences, but where would the holiday fun be if we didn’t accept a little holiday magic?
Seeing best friends fall for one another with a little magic in the air is always warm and comforting. Graham gives a fantastic performance as she is able to be sassy in one moment and sweet in the next. Of course, adding in the generational gift of the Advent calendar is a nice touch, as people remember how important family and traditions are around the holidays.Stream on Netflix
4You’ve Got Mail (1998)
You’ve Got Mail
InYou’ve Got Mail, Kathleen (Meg Ryan) owns and runs a small and cozy bookstore in New York named The Shop Around the Corner. When it is announced that a big chain bookstore will be opening right down the street, Kathleen and her employees become nervous that the competition will ultimately force them to close their doors. She confronts Joe (Tom Hanks), the guy overseeing the chain store, and the two do not hit it off. Little do either know, they know more about one another than they think as they have been pen pals for quite some time without knowing the other’s true identity.
WhileYou’ve Got Mailis not the traditionalcheesy Christmas rom-com, it still deserves a place on this list as hearts simply melt along with the snow when Hanks and Ryan’s characters finally embrace their feelings for one another. No one wants to see a chain store outshine a mom-and-pop shop, but Ryan’s character learns to stand her ground and pursue her passion.Stream on Tubi
Related:You’ve Got Mail: Where the Cast is Today
3Holiday in Handcuffs (2007)
After having a nervous breakdown about spending yet another Christmas as a single woman with her judgmental family, Trudie (Melissa Joan Hart), inHoliday in Handcuffs, finds herself in a bit of a pickle. She kidnaps a customer from her job and forces him to pretend to be her boyfriend. David (Mario Lopez), believing Trudie is unhinged but seeing the gun in her hand, agrees to the plan. However, once he is with her family, he realizes they are all a bit kooky, too, and he has to truly go along with the ruse. When the two are able to be honest with one another, a real connection blossoms.
The plot ofHoliday in Handcuffsis absolutely ridiculous, but thequirky and cute chemistrybetween Hart and Lopez is enough to overlook the whole kidnapping storyline. This film will have you throwing your hands up in disbelief, but it will also make you happy that, in the end, everyone got or said what they needed.Stream on Prime Video and Hulu
2Christmas Inheritance (2017)
The 100actress Eliza Taylor has put away her weaponry and exchanged it for travel bags in the holiday rom-com,Christmas Inheritance. Taylor plays Ellen, a spoiled heiress who gets sent away to Snow Falls to conduct business for her father. There, instead of meeting with her father’s business partner, Ellen meets nearly everyone in the quaint little town as they prepare for the winter holiday. Without her credit cards, Ellen is forced to earn her keep, but she learns that doing the hard work and helping those around her is more rewarding than she ever imagined.
Christmas Inheritancehits on all the key themes of Christmas: the importance of family, helping those in need, and discovering that selflessness is the best trait a person can have. Taylor gives an excellent performance, deftly showing what it is like to go from a spoiled-rotten young adult to someone who cares for everyone around them without expecting anything in return. If that doesn’t epitomize holiday magic, nothing will.Stream on Netflix
1Last Holiday (2006)
Last Holiday
InLast Holiday, Queen Latifah stars as a humble woman named Georgia Byrd, who has always done what she needed to while secretly wishing for a more passionate and lively lifestyle. After receiving a fatal diagnosis just before Christmas, Georgia decides to enjoy the finer things in life. She travels, goes to the spa, eats incredible food, and meets great people. Most importantly, she keeps a cheerful and kind demeanor as she lives out the last few weeks of her life in the most extravagant fashion.
Queen Latifah is one of thefunniest women in Hollywood, and she always plays such down-to-earth and likable characters. While the reason her character goes on this incredible journey is a bit morbid, Queen Latifah is able to make it seem as if she is just the happiest and most accepting woman in the world. For those who are hesitant to watchLast Holidaydue to its premise, fear not; everything is better than ever in the end.Stream on Paramount+
