All the Best New Christmas Movies You Can Watch in 2022 in Theaters And on TV, Streaming and More
Every year, it seems like we're given the gift of more and more new Christmas movies—and holiday lovers everywhere can’t get enough. But with so many new seasonal flicks, it can be hard to keep track of them all and where you can watch them: in theaters, on broadcast TV, via streaming or cable, etc. So, we’ve gathered all of 2022's new Christmas movies right here in one place to help you pick which one you’re in the mood for tonight. Consider this your one-stop holiday shop for all the best new Christmas movies of 2022!
The can’t-miss Christmas classics like It’s a Wonderful Life will always hold a special place in our hearts, but there’s also nothing like the cozy feeling you get when snuggling up to watch a holiday flick you’ve never seen before. Check out these highlights, plus links to full schedules. Merry Christmas-movie watching!
Related: These Are the 50 Best Kids Christmas Movies to Watch as a Family
New Christmas Movies 2022
New Christmas Movies In Theaters 2022
Violent Night
Universal Pictures
Release date: Friday, Dec. 2
David Harbour of Stranger Things trades in his sheriff's uniform for a Santa suit in Violent Night. This time, St. Nick slays when mercenaries, including John Leguizamo as Scrooge, attack a wealthy family and scare Santa's reindeer. This one is rated R and, as the title suggests, violent—so leave the kiddies at home for this one!
Related: The Best Christmas Horror Movies
New Christmas Movies on TV 2022
Fit for Christmas
CBS
Release date: Sunday, Dec. 4, 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Audrey (Amanda Kloots) is a fitness instructor who's obsessed with Christmas. She teaches at a small, struggling community center in Mistletoe, Montana, and finds herself enamored with a mysterious business (Paul Greene)—who has plans on buying the community center's property to turn it into a resort.
When Christmas Was Young
Release date: Sunday, Dec. 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Tyler Hilton stars as Luke, a music manager in dire need of a hit. He ends up falling for Melody (Karen David), the only client he has left.
Related: Every CBS Christmas Movie for 2022
New Christmas Movies on Hallmark
The network that started it all! Hallmark Channel Christmas rom-coms have become a yuletide tradition, and this year looks to have all the trimmings you need for a full season of holiday movie-watching. Look for Hallmark all-stars like Holly Robinson Peete, along with new faces.
Here are a few of our favorites from this year’s Hallmark offerings—you can check out the entire Hallmark lineup here.
A Big Fat Family Christmas
Hallmark
Release date: Friday, Dec. 2, 2022
Liv Chang (Shannon Chan-Kent) is a photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle and a social media influencer who goes by "Liv Rose" in an effort to appear more Americanized. When she gets assigned to cover the Chang family's annual legendary Christmas party with her cute coworker Henry (Shannon Kook), things get tricky ... because the Chang family is her family.
Related: Unconventional Christmas Movies
The Most Colorful Time of the Year
Hallmark
Release date: Friday, Dec. 9, 2022
Ryan (Christopher Russell) is a color-blind elementary school art teacher. His holiday season gets brighter and more vivid when he meets Michelle (30 Rock's Katrina Bowden), an optometrist and mom of one of his students.
Related: UPtv's 2022 Christmas Movie Schedule
The Holiday Sitter
Hallmark
Release date: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022
Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett is Sam, a bachelor and workaholic who babysits for his nephew and niece while their parents are away just before the holidays. It's there that he meets Jason (George Krissa), who helps him wrangle the kids—and maybe steals his heart, too.
Related: 14 Classic Christmas Movies to Watch This Year
Holiday Heritage
Hallmark
Release date: Dec. 16, 2022
Hallmark favorite Holly Robinson Peete is joined by Lyndie Greenwood and Brooks Darnell for Holiday Heritage. The movie focuses on Ella, a woman who turns to her ex-boyfriend to help her repair her relationship with her estranged family. In addition to having a Christmas element, it's also the first Hallmark movie to honor Kwanzaa.
Related: We Ranked the 35 Best Hallmark Holiday Movies of All Time
New Christmas Movies on Lifetime
You could say Lifetime copied Hallmark’s formula for Christmas movie success, but in the spirit of seasonal giving, let’s just accept them as a wonderful gift of more holiday fare. As with Hallmark, this year the network is presenting a more inclusive range of diverse actors, including Jodie Sweetin, Naturi Naughton and more.
Here are a few of the Lifetime Christmas movies we’re really looking forward to—see the full Lifetime Christmas schedule here.
Kirk Franklin's The Night Before Christmas
Lifetime
Release date: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022
If you're looking for good Christmas music in your Lifetime Christmas movies, Kirk Franklin delivers. Singer and actress Naturi Naughton (3LW) stars as a young woman estranged from her mother. They get stranded together during a snowstorm and take refuge in a church, where the choir is devastated that their annual Christmas concert is canceled due to the inclement weather—and the Christmas spirit eventually gets the best of all involved.
Related: The Best Lifetime Christmas Movies
A Christmas to Treasure
Lifetime
Release date: Fri., Dec. 16, 2022
Six estranged pals return to their hometown after their beloved Mrs. Marley (we see what they did there) passes away. They embark on a final holiday treasure hunt, but Austin Craig (Taylor Frey) and his former best friend Everett Matthews (Kyle Dean Massey) find more than just prizes.
Related: Freeform's 25 Days of Christmas 2022 Schedule
The Holiday Dating Guide
Lifetime
Release date: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022
Maria Menounos stars as the author of a dating advice book who needs to prove her wisdom works before her publisher will send it to print. While following her own Holiday Dating Guide, she meets the man of her dreams—and turns her world upside down.
Related: The Best Christmas Movies on Netflix
New Christmas Movies on Netflix
Netflix joined the Christmas movie fray a few years ago, and this year’s lineup is bigger and better than ever, with many much-anticipated original goodies for viewers to unwrap. Best of all? Since it’s streaming, you can watch them completely at your leisure.
Here are the flicks we’re most excited to watch while drinking a big mug of hot chocolate and wearing some fuzzy socks—you can find the full Netflix holiday lineup here.
Christmas With You
Netflix
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
Freddie Prinze Jr. is as much a heartthrob as ever in Christmas With You, in which he stars as a widower who woos a pop star with his songwriting skills.
Related: The Funniest Christmas Comedy Movies
Falling for Christmas
Netflix
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022
Lindsay Lohan stars as a spoiled hotel heiress who loses her memory after an accident. As she adjusts to her amnesia and learns more about her past, a hunk widower (Glee's Chord Overstreet) with an adorable child inspires her to look toward the future.
Related: Great American Family Christmas Movies 2022 Schedule
New Christmas Movies on Disney Plus
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Disney+
Release date: Friday, Nov. 25, 2022
Run DMC's Rev Run delivers a hip-hop take on the classic Christmas tale, this time set in New York City. The special is based on a show currently touring stages throughout the country.
Related: The Best Christmas Movies on Disney+
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Marvel Studios/Disney
Release date: Friday, Nov. 25, 2022
When Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Drax (Dave Bautista) learn that Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is feeling down, they conspire to give him the best Christmas ever—with the help of hostage Kevin Bacon.
Related: How to Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
New Christmas Movies on Apple TV+ 2022
Claire Folger/Apple TV+
Release date: Nov. 18, 2022
Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell team up in a modern-day musical re-telling of A Christmas Carol. Octavia Spencer dazzles, the songs will get stuck in your head and the jokes are just as great—but do note there are some suggestive themes and cursing, so this one is best suited for teens and adults.
Related: Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer Dish on Their Favorite Holiday Traditions and More
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock — "Night of the Lights" Holiday Special
Apple TV+
Release date: Nov. 18, 2022
Whether you have kids to introduce to Fraggle Rock or just want to feel some nostalgia for the kid you once were, this fun, festive special is a must-see.
Related: 200+ Best Christmas Songs Ever
New Christmas Movies on HBO Max 2022
A Christmas Story Christmas
Yana Blajeva/HBO Max
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
Peter Billingsley and the gang return for a sequel to the beloved Christmas comedy, set 30 years after the original. Ralphie takes his children back to his Cleveland hometown, mourns his father and reunites with old pals.
Related: Everything to Know About A Christmas Story Christmas
Santa Camp
HBO Max
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022
This documentary examines the sore lack of diversity among professional Santas through the lens of three Santas considered "unconventional": One Santa is trans, one has spina bifida and one is Black.
Related: Best A Christmas Carol Movies
Holiday Harmony
HBO Max
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022
A talented singer-songwriter who's down on her luck. When she's on her way to perform at a major Christmas concert in California, her van breaks down in a small Oklahoma town. Brooke Shields is among the stars of this sweet romance.
Related: The Best Christmas Episodes of Your Favorite TV Shows
A Christmas Mystery
HBO Max
Release date: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022
What do you get when you mix a hybrid of Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy, The Hardy Boys and Christmas cheer? HBO Max's wholesome, kid-friendly A Christmas Mystery.
Related: The Best Christmas Albums of All Time
A Hollywood Christmas
HBO
Release date: Dec. 1, 2022
They went and got meta! A Hollywood Christmas follows Christmas movie director Jessica (Jessika Van) who develops feelings for a network exec (Josh Swickard) who wants to can her next film.
Next, check out the best Christmas animated movies and specials.