The short answer
The biggest new Christmas movies 2026 has to offer are Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer (theaters, Nov. 13), Arnold Schwarzenegger as Santa in The Man with the Bag (Prime Video, Dec. 2) and Violent Night 2 (theaters, Dec. 4). Meanwhile, Netflix has five holiday originals, and Hallmark is premiering a record 34 TV movies through Dec. 20.
- In theaters: Christmas at the Kringles (Oct. 30), Drummer Boy (Nov. 6), Ebenezer (Nov. 13), Violent Night 2 (Dec. 4).
- Netflix: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Nov. 4), Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas (Nov. 11), The Christmas Switch (Nov. 12), Guarding Stars (Nov. 18), In a Holidaze (Dec. 2).
- Other streamers: The Man with the Bag on Prime Video (Dec. 2), Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Getaway on Disney+ (Dec. 4), plus Apple TV’s Snoopy and Fraggle Rock specials.
- Hallmark: Countdown to Christmas runs Oct. 16 to Dec. 20, with new movies every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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New Hallmark Christmas movies
5
Netflix holiday originals
Nov. 13
Ebenezer opens in theaters
Dec. 2
The Man with the Bag on Prime Video
In this article
Christmas movie season starts earlier every year, and 2026 is no exception. In fact, Hallmark Channel, the cable network best known for cozy made-for-TV holiday romances, began its marathon on Oct. 16, while Netflix starts its slate on Nov. 4. So whether you want a theater outing, a streaming night or a weekly cable ritual, there is plenty to plan around.
Below, you’ll find all the new Christmas movies 2026 has confirmed so far, sorted by release date and platform. We only list titles with official dates from the studio, the streamer or the network, as reported by trade outlets. Also, we flag anything that is still unannounced, so you won’t chase a rumor. For older favorites, see our guide to the best Christmas movies of all time and where to stream them.
New Christmas Movies 2026: Full Release Calendar
Here is the complete calendar of major new Christmas movies 2026 viewers can plan around, from late October through mid-December. First, the theatrical and streaming films are listed by date; then, the TV networks follow in their own sections further down.
| Date (2026) | Movie | Where to watch | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 30 | Christmas at the Kringles | Theaters | Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, Rob Riggle |
| Nov. 4 | A Dog’s Perfect Christmas | Netflix | Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Mary Steenburgen |
| Nov. 6 | Drummer Boy | Theaters (Angel Studios) | Joel and Luke Smallbone, Charles Esten |
| Nov. 11 | Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas | Netflix | Tank, Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Yolanda Adams |
| Nov. 12 | The Christmas Switch (Swedish) | Netflix | Felice Jankell, Happy Jankell |
| Nov. 13 | Ebenezer | Theaters (Paramount) | Johnny Depp, Ian McKellen, Rupert Grint |
| Nov. 13 | Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy (special) | Apple TV | Peanuts gang |
| Nov. 18 | Guarding Stars | Netflix | Leighton Meester, Jared Padalecki |
| Nov. 27 | Mickey’s Home Alone (special) | Disney+, Disney Jr., Disney Channel | Mickey Mouse and friends |
| Dec. 2 | In a Holidaze | Netflix | Maddie Ziegler, Rob Lowe |
| Dec. 2 | The Man with the Bag | Prime Video | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Ritchson |
| Dec. 4 | Violent Night 2 | Theaters (Universal) | David Harbour, Kristen Bell |
| Dec. 4 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Getaway | Disney+ | Animated |
| Dec. 4 | Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift (special) | Apple TV | The Fraggles, Nicole Scherzinger |
Watch out. Release dates can still move. So before you buy tickets or plan a watch party, check the studio’s or streamer’s own listing the week of release.
What Christmas Movies Are in Theaters in 2026?
Four of the new Christmas movies 2026 is bringing to the big screen have wide theatrical dates: Christmas at the Kringles on Oct. 30, Drummer Boy on Nov. 6, Ebenezer on Nov. 13 and Violent Night 2 on Dec. 4. However, the four could not be more different, from gothic Dickens to a blood-soaked Santa sequel.
1. Ebenezer — Best for a classic retold
Paramount lists Ebenezer for Nov. 13, 2026, on its official release schedule. Ti West, the horror director behind X and Pearl, directs this darker take on Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, with Johnny Depp as Scrooge. As a result, expect something closer to a ghost story than a family musical.
- Release: Nov. 13, 2026, in US theaters
- Cast: Johnny Depp, Ian McKellen (Jacob Marley), Rupert Grint (Bob Cratchit), Andrea Riseborough, Tramell Tillman, Daisy Ridley, Sam Claflin
- Director: Ti West; screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern
- Streaming: no date announced yet, so plan on theaters first
2. Violent Night 2 — Best for action fans
Universal’s official Violent Night site lists the sequel for Dec. 4, 2026. This time, Santa (David Harbour) lands on the naughty list, loses his powers and takes a mall job, so he calls in Mrs. Claus (Kristen Bell) when criminals take over, according to Slashfilm’s trailer report. Like the 2022 original, it is a violent action comedy, not a family pick.
- Release: Dec. 4, 2026, in theaters
- Cast: David Harbour, Kristen Bell, Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano
- Director: Tommy Wirkola, returning from the first film
3. Christmas at the Kringles — Best for horror-comedy fans
Since this horror-comedy opens Oct. 30, 2026, it is a Halloween-into-Christmas crossover. A family moves next door to the Kringles, neighbors who celebrate Christmas all year, and things turn sinister when the Kringles try to hypnotize them, according to Bloody Disgusting.
- Release: Oct. 30, 2026, in theaters
- Cast: Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, Rob Riggle (as Santa), Beverly D’Angelo, Donald Faison
- Director: Kevin Lewis (Willy’s Wonderland)
4. Drummer Boy — Best for music lovers
Angel Studios opens Drummer Boy nationwide on Nov. 6, 2026. Inspired by the Christmas classic “The Little Drummer Boy,” it is an action-musical from the Grammy-winning band for KING + COUNTRY, set during the American Revolutionary War. Still, note that it is rated PG-13 for war violence, according to ChurchLeaders.
- Release: Nov. 6, 2026, in theaters
- Cast: Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone, Charles Esten, Ioan Gruffudd, Melora Hardin, Iain Glen
- Rating: PG-13
What Are the New Netflix Christmas Movies in 2026?
Netflix has five new holiday movies in 2026: four English-language films and one Swedish rom-com, according to What’s on Netflix’s 2026 lineup tracker (updated Oct. 15). They arrive weekly from Nov. 4 to Dec. 2, and Netflix also teased returning favorites such as Falling for Christmas, Family Switch and Hot Frosty in its holiday trailer.
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Nov. 4)
From A Dog’s Purpose author W. Bruce Cameron, this family drama follows a widowed grandfather (Dennis Quaid) and his teenage granddaughter, who reconnect with help from a corgi puppy. It is the safest Netflix pick for a multigenerational movie night.
- Cast: Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Mary Steenburgen, Jennifer Tilly
- Director: Cathryn Michon
Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas (Nov. 11)
In this film, a struggling pastor inherits his family’s church in a troubled New York neighborhood and must rediscover his faith to save it. Because it is music-driven, the cast is packed with gospel stars.
- Cast: Tank, Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, The Clark Sisters
- Writer and director: Tyler Perry
The Christmas Switch (Nov. 12)
Then, in this Swedish rom-com, twin sisters with opposite personalities swap lives in the weeks before Christmas. Notably, the leads are real-life twins Felice and Happy Jankell.
- Language: Swedish (Netflix usually offers dubs and subtitles)
- Director: Adam Pålsson
Guarding Stars (Nov. 18)
Next, based on Katherine Center’s novel The Bodyguard, this rom-com stars Leighton Meester as a security agent who poses as an action star’s girlfriend at his family’s Montana ranch. Jared Padalecki plays the star.
- Cast: Leighton Meester, Jared Padalecki, Andie MacDowell
- Director: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
In a Holidaze (Dec. 2)
Finally, adapted from the 2020 Christina Lauren novel, this time-loop rom-com follows a directionless young woman who relives the same Christmas until she figures out what will make her happy.
- Cast: Maddie Ziegler, Graham Phillips, Rob Lowe, Patton Oswalt
- Director: Tiffany Paulsen
In addition, the reality special Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday arrives Dec. 9 in the US. For year-round picks beyond the holidays, see our list of the best movies on Netflix right now.
New Christmas Movies on Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV
Among streaming services, Prime Video’s big holiday original is The Man with the Bag on Dec. 2, while Disney+ and Apple TV focus on family titles. By contrast, Hulu, Peacock and Paramount+ had not announced a new original Christmas movie for 2026 as of Oct. 23.
The Man with the Bag — Prime Video, Dec. 2
According to Amazon’s announcement, a rogue elf steals Santa’s red bag, so Santa (Arnold Schwarzenegger) recruits a thief from his naughty list (Alan Ritchson) to pull off a heist and win it back. It premieres globally and is included with Prime membership. Fittingly, it lands about 30 years after Schwarzenegger’s Jingle All the Way.
- Release: Dec. 2, 2026, worldwide on Prime Video
- Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alan Ritchson, Awkwafina, Jane Krakowski, Ken Jeong, Liza Koshy, Kyle Mooney
- Director: Adam Shankman; written by Allan Rice
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Getaway — Disney+, Dec. 4
Because it is based on Jeff Kinney’s 12th book, this animated movie will feel familiar: it sends Greg Heffley’s family to a tropical resort for Christmas, only to find it caters mostly to adults. Laughing Place and other outlets report the Dec. 4 Disney+ debut.
- Release: Dec. 4, 2026, on Disney+
- Best for: kids who have read the books
Mickey’s Home Alone — Disney+, Nov. 27
Meanwhile, this full-length special is a Home Alone homage: Mickey and Pluto get left behind on a rushed trip to an ice palace, so they must defend their house and Christmas dinner from a raccoon and a weasel. Disney Food Blog reports the Nov. 27 premiere on Disney+, Disney Jr. and Disney Channel.
- Release: Nov. 27, 2026 (the day after Thanksgiving)
- Director: Shane Prigmore
Apple TV holiday specials — Nov. 13 and Dec. 4
According to Apple TV Press, Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy premieres Nov. 13, with Snoopy trying to get off Santa’s naughty list. Then Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift follows on Dec. 4, with an appearance by Nicole Scherzinger.
- Snoopy music: John Legend, Kamasi Washington, Leon Bridges and Laufey
- Format: both are specials rather than feature films
Hallmark Christmas Movies 2026: Countdown to Christmas Schedule
For Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 fans, the 17th Countdown to Christmas runs from Friday, Oct. 16, to Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026, with 34 new original movies, the most it has ever made. Plus, new films premiere every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, usually at 8 p.m. ET, and each one streams on Hallmark+, the network’s subscription service, the next day.
When do Hallmark Christmas movies start in 2026?
First, they started on Friday, Oct. 16, with ’Tis the Season for Setups, according to TVLine’s full Hallmark schedule. Also, Thanksgiving weekend brings extra premieres from Nov. 26 to 29, including double features. The three marquee “tentpole” movies are Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story (NFL), Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True with Lacey Chabert, and A Grand Biltmore Christmas.
| Date (2026) | Hallmark movie | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct. 16 | ’Tis the Season for Setups | Amanda Schull, Victor Webster |
| Sat, Oct. 17 | Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story | Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley |
| Sun, Oct. 18 | Mr. & Mrs. Christmas | Brendan Penny, Pascale Hutton |
| Fri, Oct. 23 | Winter Wonderlanes | Ashley Newbrough, Franco Lo Presti |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Forgotten Holiday | Janel Parrish, Daniel Lissing |
| Sun, Oct. 25 | What If Christmas | Lori Loughlin, Tom Cavanagh |
| Fri, Oct. 30 | Who’s Coming for Christmas? | Rhiannon Fish, Jake Foy |
| Sat, Oct. 31 | Adopting St. Nick | Amy Groening, Michael Rady |
| Sun, Nov. 1 | A Danish Christmas | Emilie Ullerup, Corey Sevier |
| Fri, Nov. 6 | Merry Memories | Lindura, Brendan Morgan |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | Holiday Unplugged | Nikki DeLoach, Juan Pablo Di Pace |
| Sun, Nov. 8 | A Season of Promises | Brooke D’Orsay, Ali Liebert, James Denton |
| Fri, Nov. 13 | My Christmas Cowboy | Amy Acker, Luke Macfarlane |
| Sat, Nov. 14 | The Nights Before Christmas | Tyler Hynes, Laci J Mailey |
| Sun, Nov. 15 | Mistletoe and Mimosas | Tamera Mowry-Housley, Kristoffer Polaha |
| Fri, Nov. 20 | Our Holiday Playbook | Taylor Cole, Charles Michael Davis |
| Sat, Nov. 21 | Christmas in Blue Dog Valley | Erin Cahill, Andrew Walker |
| Sun, Nov. 22 | Double Booked for the Holidays | Rachael Leigh Cook, Owain Yeoman |
| Thu, Nov. 26 | Christmas Delivered | Autumn Reeser, Wes Brown |
| Fri, Nov. 27 (6 p.m.) | The Christmas Eve Feast | Daniella Monet, Kevin McGarry |
| Fri, Nov. 27 | Return to Santa | Paul Campbell, Rachel Boston |
| Sat, Nov. 28 (6 p.m.) | The Most Wonderful Secret | Tammin Sursok, Peter Porte |
| Sat, Nov. 28 | Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True | Lacey Chabert, Travis Van Winkle |
| Sun, Nov. 29 (6 p.m.) | Eight Nights for Love | Hunter King, Dan Jeannotte |
| Sun, Nov. 29 | Miles to Christmas | Ashley Williams, Alison Sweeney |
| Fri, Dec. 4 | The Snowflake Effect | Heather Hemmens, Mark Ghanimé |
| Sat, Dec. 5 | A Grand Biltmore Christmas | Holland Roden, Niall Matter |
| Sun, Dec. 6 | An Angel in My Stocking | Fiona Gubelmann, Marco Grazzini |
| Fri, Dec. 11 | Christmas in Canterbury | Jessy Schram, Will Kemp |
| Sat, Dec. 12 | Snow Globe Town | Kimberley Sustad, Scott Michael Foster |
| Sun, Dec. 13 | Noelle Nomads | Torrey DeVitto, Benjamin Ayres |
| Fri, Dec. 18 | Hearts All Aglow | Mishael Morgan, B.J. Britt |
| Sat, Dec. 19 | Barking All the Way | Tori Anderson, Ian Harding |
| Sun, Dec. 20 | Save the Date for Christmas | Italia Ricci, Jonathan Bennett |
Beyond the movies, the mystery series Mistletoe Murders returns for Season 3 on Thursday, Nov. 5. Then, on Dec. 5, the special The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday offers a first look at the 2027 slate.
Pro tip. Missed a premiere? Every Countdown to Christmas title streams on Hallmark+ the day after it airs, so you can catch up without a cable package.
Lifetime, Great American Family and Other TV Christmas Movies
If Hallmark isn’t enough, Great American Family has 18 new Christmas movies, Lifetime has 11, and UPtv has 8, according to TVLine’s cross-network holiday schedule (updated Oct. 16). Great American Family started first, on Oct. 10, while Lifetime waits until Thanksgiving weekend.
| Network | New movies | Start date | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great American Family | 18 | Sat, Oct. 10 | Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring (Nov. 7), An Ozark Mountain Christmas (Nov. 8) |
| Lifetime | 11 | Sat, Nov. 28 | Christmas Everyday: Married and Bright (Nov. 28), Mistletoe in Mexico (Dec. 12) |
| UPtv | 8 | Thu, Nov. 5 | Snowbody Like You (Nov. 5), The Christmas Treehouse (Dec. 17) |
| OWN | 2 | Sat, Nov. 28 | A Christmas Showdown 2 (Nov. 28), Tapping into Christmas (Dec. 5) |
| The Roku Channel | 1 | Mon, Nov. 2 | The Holiday Spark |
| AspireTV | 1 | Fri, Dec. 4 | A Memorable Christmas |
Which New Christmas Movies Are Best for Kids?
For young kids, the safest new Christmas movies 2026 offers are Mickey’s Home Alone (Disney+, Nov. 27), Snoopy Presents: 12 Days of Snoopy (Apple TV, Nov. 13) and Fraggle Rock: A Holiday Gift (Apple TV, Dec. 4). For tweens, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Getaway and Netflix’s A Dog’s Perfect Christmas are the best bets.
Which new Christmas movies 2026 should families skip with young kids?
Skip Violent Night 2 and Christmas at the Kringles with little ones, because both are violent horror-action comedies. Similarly, Ebenezer comes from a horror director and looks far darker than the Muppet version, while Drummer Boy is rated PG-13 for war violence. Instead, check each film’s official rating once it is posted before you go.
Where Can You Stream Classic Christmas Movies?
However, if you want older favorites, most classics are split across Disney+, Prime Video and Peacock in 2026, and a few are rent-only. For example, Home Alone is on Disney+, while Elf is currently rent-or-buy only, according to JustWatch, the streaming search engine.
| Classic | Subscription streaming (US) | Free with ads |
|---|---|---|
| Home Alone (1990) | Disney+ | None listed |
| Elf (2003) | None (rent or buy) | None listed |
| It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) | Prime Video | The Roku Channel, Hoopla |
| National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | None (rent or buy) | Plex |
| The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) | Disney+ | None listed |
| How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) | Peacock | None listed |
Then, to set the mood between movies, queue up our best Christmas songs and party playlist, or plan the whole season with our Christmas 2026 guide.
Our verdict
If you only see one new Christmas movie in theaters, make it Ebenezer for something prestige and spooky, or Violent Night 2 if you want pure popcorn chaos. At home, The Man with the Bag is the biggest streaming event, while A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is the easiest family pick on Netflix.
Meanwhile, Hallmark fans have the deepest bench of all, with 34 premieres through Dec. 20. Overall, the new Christmas movies 2026 lineup leans toward comedy and action, so pair it with a classic or two for balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new Christmas movies are coming out in 2026?
The main new Christmas movies of 2026 are Ebenezer (theaters, Nov. 13), Violent Night 2 (theaters, Dec. 4), The Man with the Bag (Prime Video, Dec. 2) and Netflix’s A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, Guarding Stars and In a Holidaze. In addition, Disney+ has Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: The Getaway on Dec. 4, and Hallmark is airing 34 new TV movies through Dec. 20.
When do Hallmark Christmas movies start in 2026?
Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas started on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 20. New movies premiere every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, usually at 8 p.m. ET, with extra premieres over Thanksgiving weekend. All 34 movies then stream on Hallmark+ the day after they air.
What are the new Netflix Christmas movies for 2026?
Netflix has five new holiday movies for 2026: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas on Nov. 4, Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas on Nov. 11, the Swedish rom-com The Christmas Switch on Nov. 12, Guarding Stars on Nov. 18 and In a Holidaze on Dec. 2. Also, a Gabby’s Dollhouse holiday special arrives Dec. 9 in the US.
When does The Man with the Bag come out?
The Man with the Bag premieres worldwide on Prime Video on Dec. 2, 2026, according to Amazon. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Santa, who recruits a thief played by Alan Ritchson to recover his stolen magic bag. The movie is included with a Prime membership, and Adam Shankman directs.
Is Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer in theaters or streaming?
Ebenezer is a theatrical release. Paramount opens it in US theaters on Nov. 13, 2026, and no streaming date has been announced yet. Johnny Depp plays Scrooge in this darker take on A Christmas Carol from horror director Ti West, with Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit.
Is Violent Night 2 a kids movie?
No. Violent Night 2 is a violent action comedy, like the 2022 original, so it is not meant for young children. It opens in theaters on Dec. 4, 2026, from Universal, with David Harbour back as Santa and Kristen Bell joining as Mrs. Claus. For families, Mickey’s Home Alone or the Snoopy special are better picks.
