Listing Nearly Every Straight-to-Streaming Christmas Movies of 2022 in Order of Excellence
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In the spirit of the season, let's take a look at some of the Christmas movies currently streaming and available on demand, featuring a mix of new adaptations, original stories, and familiar faces.
Netflix
I Believe in Santa is a thought-provoking film that delves into themes of faith and the existence of God. While it may not capture the acerbic wit of previous Christmas movies, it offers a slow-burn gem with a ludicrously charismatic performance by Alfred Enoch.
In a different vein, Falling for Christmas brings back Lindsay Lohan to the holiday movie scene. The film, directed by Philippe Martinez, tells the story of a global popstar stranded in a nowhere town in upstate New York.
The Noel Diary is a deceptively Christmassy road trip flick that features an all-time great setup and a wonderfully sharp script.
Sky Cinema/NOW
This is Christmas is a Christmas film that stars Kaya Scodelario. Despite some conventional elements, it is backed by a cast of great British character actors, with Cora Kirk delivering a stand-out performance. The film has a Broadway sensibility and a penchant for tap.
Apple TV
Spirited is an original musical retelling of A Christmas Carol. The film is praised for its charismatic leads, Justin Hartley and Barrett Doss, and their great chemistry. However, it is criticized for its uninspired animation and songs that are considered dreadful.
3D Animated Adaptations
In 2022, Netflix is streaming a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol titled "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol." Unfortunately, the film is criticized for missing the point of Dickens' original story. Similarly, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol is a 3D animated film that faces similar criticisms.
Forgettable but Serviceable
Your Christmas or Mine is a Christmas movie on Amazon Prime Video. The film is marred by a genuinely painful tragedy and has a forgettable name. Christmas in the Caribbean is another film available on Video on Demand. Shot like a standard Hallmark-level fare, it is praised for its good jokes, decent performances, and classic Christmas movie plot.
A Standout Performance
Last but not least, Christmas with You is a Netflix film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr. The film is noted for its decent soundtrack, which includes drops from Nina Simone. Despite the script might not being the sharpest, and the whole thing feeling a little manufactured at times, the charismatic leads and their great chemistry make it a worthwhile watch.
