In case you hadn’t noticed, the new releases of Christmas movies and specials are upon us and competing for space in our streaming watchlist and cinema-going budget.

(If you have noticed and have crawled under a rock – presumably with ear plugs pushed in hard so you don’t have to hear Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas for the 300th time – well, enjoy your self-imposed silent night, and we look forward to seeing you again on December 26th.)

For the rest of us, we’re excited to see what the new Christmas offerings are from the big name streamers (plus one cinema release). But of course, the trick is sorting the good from the bad, much like Santa’s naughty and nice list for children the world over.

While Santa’s been busy making that list, we’ve been busy choosing our top picks for our sofa sessions.

So, give us a round of Santa-plause (haha) please, as we present 7 movies and specials that we think will keep you in the Christmas spirit until next year’s festivities roll around again.

Maybe some of these will even make it to the list of classics you rewatch each year.

1. Spirited

This isn’t your great great great great great great grandparents’ Christmas Carol (give or take). With Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, and Octavia Spencer, this musical take on the classic Charles Dickens tale is funnier and set to become the Christmas favourite.

Watch on AppleTV+

2. Violent Night

From the producers of movies like DeadPool 2, Bullet Train and Atomic Blonde comes an action comedy packed with heart.

When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus, played by David Harbour from Stranger Things.

Catch it at the cinemas

3. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

While you wait for the third Guardians of the Galaxy movie to hit our screens in 2023, check out the GOTG Christmas special. Peter is sad about Gamora being gone, so the crew head to Earth to find him some Christmas gifts to cheer him up. Like Kevin Bacon. 

Watch on Disney+

4. Falling for Christmas

Lindsey Lohan is back in her first lead role in almost 10 years! She plays a newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress who gets into a skiing accident and suffers from total amnesia. Luckily she finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner (Chord Overstreet) and his precocious daughter in the days leading up to Christmas.

Watch on Netflix

5. The Santa Clauses

If you loved Tim Allen in the three The Santa Clause movies, you’ll love this miniseries that continues the story.

Scott Calvin is back! After being Santa Claus for nearly 30 years, he’s as jolly as ever. But as Christmas declines in popularity, so does his Santa magic. Scott struggles to keep up with the demands of the job, as well as being there for his family. Upon discovering there is a way to retire from his post, Scott considers stepping down as Santa Claus and finding a worthy successor so that he can become a better father and husband.

Watch on Disney+

6. The Noel Diary

Cleaning out his childhood home at Christmas, a novelist meets a woman searching for her birth mother. Will an old diary unlock their pasts — and hearts? This romance stars Justin Hartley from This Is Us, and Barrett Doss from Station 19, who have plenty of chemistry, though the real heart-stopper is the gorgeous Aussie Shepherd called Ava.

Watch on Netflix

7. Christmas with You

Feeling career burn out, pop star Angelina escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in small town New York, where she not only finds the inspiration to revitalise her career but also a shot at true love with a widower with musical talents of his own (played by Freddie Prinze Jr).

Watch on Netflix