Top 10 Movies To Watch This Week on Netflix | December 19–25, 2025 |
Christmas week is here — the house is loud, the fridge is raided, and someone’s already lost the remote. You need something to glue the chaos together before boredom sets in. Netflix, bless its sweet little heart, has the cure. Here are the top ten movies that’ll keep the lights low, the snacks flowing, and the family glued to the screen while mom finally sits down with her coffee that’s been reheated three times.
“My Secret Santa” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Holiday Romance / Comedy
Director: Mike Rohl
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Tia Mowry
Office parties are awkward enough, but when a secret Santa gift outs a crush, things get messy fast. Alexandra Breckenridge plays the single mom caught in the mix, Ryan Eggold brings the charm, and Tia Mowry adds comedic spark. It’s sweet, funny, and just chaotic enough to feel like your own family’s holiday drama — minus the HR complaints. This one’s perfect for when you want romance without needing to explain plot holes to the kids. It’s light, it’s cozy, and it’s the kind of movie you can half‑watch while untangling Christmas lights and still feel satisfied.
“Train Dreams” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG‑13
Genre: Drama / Adventure
Director: Clint Bentley
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, William H. Macy
Snow, steel, and ghosts of the past. A father running from grief meets a runaway teen on a frozen rail line. Joel Edgerton brings quiet heartbreak, Felicity Jones adds fire, and William H. Macy grounds the story with grit. Sparse landscapes, heavy silences, and emotional thaw make this a gut‑punch journey. It’s moody, reflective, and a perfect palate cleanser between sugar‑rush comedies. Watch it when the house finally quiets, the dishwasher hums, and you’ve got a blanket and a glass of wine. It’s not background noise — it’s the kind of film that sneaks up on you and makes you feel something real in the middle of all the wrapping paper.
“Lali: Time to Step Up” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: December 18, 2025
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Music Documentary
Director: Lautaro Espósito
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Lali Espósito
Dance shoes on, excuses off. Argentine pop star Lali Espósito lets cameras into her creative rebirth. Stadium lights, backstage nerves, and the grind of keeping art alive all pulse through this doc. It’s vibrant, heartfelt, and perfect for families who want rhythm with their holiday chaos. Throw it on when the kids are bouncing off the walls — let the beat do the babysitting. It’s also a sneaky way to remind everyone that passion and persistence matter, even when the laundry pile is taller than the tree.
“Plankton: The Movie” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation / Comedy
Director: Dave Needham
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Voices: Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Tom Kenny
Tiny critters, oversized chaos. Plankton finally gets his own spotlight in this SpongeBob spin‑off. Candy‑colored gags, quick jokes for adults, and a breezy pace keep kids glued while you reset the snack table. Perfect for mid‑afternoon when everyone’s sugared up and you just need twenty minutes of peace. It’s silly, it’s loud, and it’s exactly the kind of movie that buys you time to sneak a cookie in the kitchen without anyone noticing.
“Jingle Bell Heist” (2025)
TeaShop Films/Netflix
Release Date on Netflix: December 19, 2025
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG‑13
Genre: Holiday Rom‑Com / Heist
Director: Michael Fimognari
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells, Lucy Punch
Santa’s sleigh, but make it chaotic. Two strangers team up to rob a London department store, only to find themselves tangled in romance and glitter bombs. Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells bring charm, Lucy Punch adds bite, and Michael Fimognari keeps it stylish. Loud, ridiculous, and perfect for a living room that refuses to calm down. This is the one you throw on when everyone’s too wired to nap and you need the TV to absorb the chaos.
“Stolen: Heist of the Century” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: R
Genre: True Crime Documentary
Director: Mark Lewis
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Real‑life experts, archival footage
Forget cookies — this crew wanted millions. The Antwerp diamond heist of 2003 gets the Netflix treatment. Interviews, reenactments, and cold facts make this a slick, tense watch. It’s sharp, stylish, and unapologetically dark — the kind of movie you watch after the kids crash, when you’re ready for something with teeth. It’s the perfect antidote to too much sugar and too many jingles.
“Frankenstein” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG‑13
Genre: Gothic Horror / Drama
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz
The monster’s back, and he’s beautiful. Guillermo del Toro breathes eerie life into Shelley’s classic. Oscar Isaac plays the obsessed scientist, Mia Goth the haunting creation, and Christoph Waltz adds menace. Candlelit labs, snow‑quiet streets, and a creature who turns fear into empathy. For families who like goosebumps with their gingerbread, it’s a perfect off‑beat holiday pick. It’s also a reminder that sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the monster — it’s the mess we make ourselves.
“In Your Dreams” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: December 20, 2025
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Animated Adventure / Comedy
Director: Alex Woo, Erik Benson
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, Jolie Hoang‑Rappaport
Love doesn’t wait for reality. Two kids journey through dreamscapes to fix their family, meeting wild characters voiced by Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti. Craig Robinson adds comic punch. It’s dreamy, weird, and exactly the kind of escapism you want when the house feels too crowded. It’s also a sneaky way to remind everyone that imagination is still the best escape hatch when the living room feels like a zoo.
“A Merry Little Ex‑Mas” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: Available Now
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Holiday Comedy / Romance
Director: Steve Carr
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Oliver Hudson, Jameela Jamil, Melissa Joan Hart
Divorce papers meet mistletoe. Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson star as exes stuck together for one last Christmas. Jameela Jamil and Melissa Joan Hart bring comic chaos. Messy, funny, and painfully relatable in the way holidays tend to be. Plenty of charm to keep the peace between cookie rounds. It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh while you side‑eye your own family drama and think, “Yep, that tracks.”
“The Night My Dad Saved Christmas 2” (2025)
Release Date on Netflix: December 21, 2025
Original Release Date: 2025
Rating: PG
Genre: Family / Comedy
Director: Joaquín Mazón
Lead Stars / Notable Cast: Santiago Segura, Ernesto Sevilla, Unax Hayden
Dad’s back, chaos doubled. The Spanish sequel leans into bigger gags and softer heart. Slapstick lands, family bonds tighten, and the living room becomes a cheering section. Put this on when everyone needs a reset and a good belly laugh. It’s goofy, it’s warm, and it’s exactly the kind of film that makes you forget the wrapping paper explosion in the corner.
Fireplace Features on Netflix
Not every holiday moment needs dialogue — sometimes you just want the crackle. Netflix’s fireplace lineup this week goes beyond the standard log burn:
- “Wednesday Fireplace”: Moody, gothic flames with a hint of Addams‑family mischief. Perfect for when the house feels a little too cheery and you want some edge.
- “Stranger Things Fireplace”: Cozy glow with an eerie undertone, like the Upside Down is flickering just out of sight. Great for late‑night cocoa when the kids are still buzzing.
- “K‑Pop Demon Hunters Fireplace”: Bright, stylized embers with a pop‑culture twist. It’s flashy, fun, and keeps the room humming like a concert backdrop.
Together, these aren’t just background noise — they’re mood setters. Whether you’re wrapping gifts, sneaking leftovers, or just letting the chaos breathe, Netflix’s fireplaces keep the vibe alive without stealing the spotlight.
The Christmas Wrap
That’s the week: ten movies to keep the family glued together, plus a fireplace glow for the downtime. Keep the lights low, keep the snacks coming, and let Netflix carry the chaos. Christmas is loud, messy, and perfect — and your watchlist should be too.
