Best New Christmas Movies of 2024

1 week ago 6

(Photo by Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Collection. THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER.)

Here at Rotten Tomatoes, we deck our halls year-round with reds and greens, and now the season aligns with us as we unwrap the best new Christmas movies of 2024! The list begins with Certified Fresh films, including famous last names shindig Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point (On Spielberg! On Scorsese! On…Turkington?), and sordid stocking stuffer Terrifier 3.

Frothy Fresh films march in next, like Netflix’s Hot Frosty and Meet Me Next Christmas, Disney+’s detailed animation An Almost Christmas Story, and new favorite The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Rotten movies round out the guide, including Ben Stiller’s Nutcrackers, Jack Black’s Dear Santa, and Red One. That Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans action/comedy may have ended up on the critics’ naughty list, but audiences were pleased with what they received, smacking it with a Verified Hot award.

And the best new Christmas movies list is the gift that keeps on giving as we extend back through 2023’s holiday movies, including Eddie Murphy’s Candy Cane Lane, and specials for Batman, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Bad Guys. Just like with the 2024 entries, it’s Certified Fresh films first, and we’re also including movies with Popcornmeter scores, but nothing yet on the Tomatometer.

Adjusted Score: 81534%

Synopsis: In CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT, a rambunctious extended family descends upon their small Long Island hometown for the holidays.... [More]

Adjusted Score: 84305%

Synopsis: After surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the... [More]

Adjusted Score: 55866%

Synopsis: "An Almost Christmas Story" follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined... [More]

Adjusted Score: 94048%

Synopsis: The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully... and... [More]

Adjusted Score: 89262%

Synopsis: When true-crime podcaster and sleuth transwoman Lola visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and... [More]

Adjusted Score: 85397%

Synopsis: Two strangers meet on a fateful Christmas Eve, but a night of romance soon becomes a nightmare.... [More]

Adjusted Score: 82235%

Synopsis: Two years after losing her husband, Kathy magically brings a handsome snowman to life! Through his naïveté, the snowman helps... [More]

Adjusted Score: 48854%

Synopsis: Christmas at a roadkill collection company gets bloody as employees are killed off one by one by an evil reindeer... [More]

Adjusted Score: 62601%

Synopsis: In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to... [More]

#10

Adjusted Score: 64442%

Synopsis: Based on the charming trilogy of children's books by beloved multi award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral,... [More]

#11

Adjusted Score: 62468%

Synopsis: Two college freshmen make a pact to break up with their high school sweethearts over Thanksgiving break, leading them on... [More]

#12

Adjusted Score: 44116%

Synopsis: To save her parents' small-town performing venue, a former big-city dancer decides to stage an all-male, Christmas-themed revue.... [More]

#13

Adjusted Score: 39234%

Synopsis: Two resentful exes are forced to spend Christmas under the same roof after discovering that their current partners are siblings.... [More]

#14

Adjusted Score: 45557%

Synopsis: A strait-laced man finds his life suddenly upended when he becomes the caregiver for his rambunctious, orphaned nephews.... [More]

#15

Adjusted Score: 40511%

Synopsis: After Santa Claus -- Code Name: RED ONE -- is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must... [More]

#16

Adjusted Score: 21327%

Synopsis: When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black... [More]

Adjusted Score: 96683%

Synopsis: This Christmas, Damian Wayne wants to be a superhero like his dad--the one and only Batman. When Damian is left... [More]

Adjusted Score: 36082%

Synopsis: The winter holidays are turning out to be especially stressful for Greg Heffley this year. After accidentally damaging a snowplow... [More]

Adjusted Score: 65389%

Critics Consensus: Silent Night reaffirms that an action movie doesn't need much dialogue if the set pieces are solid enough -- and that even second-tier John Woo can be worth the price of admission.

Synopsis: A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire... [More]

Adjusted Score: 24030%

Synopsis: It’s the most wonderful time of the year … but will it be for James and Hayley? James’ father has... [More]

Adjusted Score: 49325%

Critics Consensus: Candy Cane Lane gets credit for its willingness to get weird, but in most other respects, this Eddie Murphy-led holiday comedy is a dead end.

Synopsis: Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood's annual Christmas... [More]

Adjusted Score: 45744%

Synopsis: Jess and Bill Walker are doing their best to keep their family connected as their children grow older, more independent,... [More]

Directed By: McG

Adjusted Score: 41022%

Synopsis: When Graham decides to surprise his family by traveling home for Christmas, he is shocked to discover them already celebrating... [More]

Adjusted Score: -1%

Synopsis: Overwhelmed by Christmas events and a surprise visit from her parents, photographer Dani asks lawyer Amelia for help. Pretending to... [More]

Adjusted Score: -1%

Synopsis: An overwhelmed waitress, along with a pastor, a hospice nurse, and a manager, all desperately in need of a Christmas... [More]

Adjusted Score: -1%

Synopsis: HOLIDAY TWIST centers on a high-powered female executive and Grinchy workaholic CEO (Kelly Stables), whose whole world comes crashing down... [More]

#10