8 New Christmas Movies to Check Out in 2023
Whether you're someone who is ready for the holidays as soon as the -ber months hit or you're struggling to get into the spirit of the winter season, watching a Christmas movie can be the perfect move. If you don't have snow on the ground where you live, a movie can transport you to a winter wonderland. If you're having a stressful holiday season, a film can be the escape you need. Or, in the case of one of this year's new movies, you can also take in a slasher movie with a holiday spin, if that's more your taste.
Read on to find out about eight new Christmas movies that are coming out this year, and to learn when and where you can watch them.
Candy Cane Lane
On Amazon Prime Video December 1
Candy Cane Lane stars Eddie Murphy as a man who makes a deal with an elf (Jillian Bell) to help him win his neighborhood's house decorating contest. Unfortunately, the elf also brings to life the "12 Days of Christmas," which causes problems for the whole town. (Sounds like it's overtaken by a lot of birds, if the lyrics to the holiday classic are anything to go by...) Co-stars include Tracee Ellis Ross, Ken Marino, and Nick Offerman.
Silent Night
In theaters December 1
Well, this one isn't a typical cozy Christmas movie, but it is Christmas-related. Silent Night is an action thriller about a man (Joel Kinnaman) who avenges his son's death after he is killed due to gang activity on Christmas Eve. The film's title refers to both the Christmas setting and the fact that the movie has no dialogue. The cast features Catalina Sandino Moreno, Harold Torres, and Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi).
Best. Christmas. Ever!
On Netflix November 15
Brandy Norwood and Heather Graham star in Netflix's Best. Christmas. Ever! as two college friends, Jackie and Charlotte, who unintentionally end up spending Christmas together. Charlotte has long been jealous of Jackie's Christmas newsletters, which make her life sound perfect, so she sets out to prove that everything can't really be so great for her old friend.
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Dashing Through the Snow
On Disney+ November 17
Ludacris stars in Dashing Through the Snow as a single father, Eddie, who comes across a man dressed as Santa Claus (Lil Rel Howery)—perhaps the real Santa Claus?—with his daughter (Madison Skye). Together, they set off on a Christmas adventure that could change Eddie's negative feelings toward the holiday. Co-stars include Oscar Nunez and Teyonah Parris.
It's a Wonderful Knife
In theaters November 10; on Shudder TBD
If this title sounds like a Christmas-themed horror movie to you, you're exactly right. The movie is described as It's a Wonderful Life meets Scream, and is about a woman (Jane Widdop) who saves her town from a killer, but a year later goes into a different reality where she finds out what life in the town would be like without her. In a word: Worse. The cast also includes Joel McHale and Justin Long.
What Happens Later
In theaters November 3
Meg Ryan makes her rom-com return in What Happens Later, which she also directs. Ryan co-stars with David Duchovny as two exes who end up stuck in an airport together when their flights are delayed. This one isn't explicitly Christmas-y, but they are stuck because of a snow storm, so, ya know, winter.
Meet Me Next Christmas
On Netflix TBD
Christina Milian stars in Meet Me Next Christmas, about a woman who is both trying to find love with her dream man and score tickets to a sold-out Pentatonix concert. Romance and a cappella, I suppose?
Red One
On Amazon Prime Video TBD
Not much is known about Red One yet—including its plot and when it will be released, but at least at some point it was expected for this year. What we do know is that it's an action-adventure-comedy-holiday movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, and more.
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