CoverZoe Kosovic as Clementine, Henrik Bosovich as Wyatt, Leighton Meester as Hannah and Jared Padalecki as Jack in Guarding Stars, highly anticipated of Netflix Christmas movies (Photo: Chris Large/Netflix
Looking for something festive to watch? These Christmas movies are coming to Netflix in November and December 2026
Netflix is adding several festive titles to its November and December 2026 release schedule, with stories centred on family, romance, holiday traditions and the occasional Christmas complication. Among the upcoming releases are A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, The Gospel of Christmas and The Christmas Switch, followed by Guarding Stars and In a Holidaze in December.
For viewers planning their festive watchlists, these Christmas movies offer a range of seasonal stories to look out for as the year draws to a close. This guide covers their Netflix release dates, available plot details and principal cast members. Where official synopses or casting information have yet to be confirmed, those details are identified rather than filled in with speculation.
1. A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (November 4)
AboveA determined basset hound sets out to reunite his family after a medical emergency threatens to disrupt their Christmas celebrations
Release date: November 4, 2026
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Brooke Lena Johnson, Mary Steenburgen and Thomas Haden Church
A family emergency threatens to disrupt Christmas in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, a festive film inspired by the bestselling author of A Dog’s Purpose. When a medical emergency pulls the Goss family apart, their determined basset hound, Winstead, takes it upon himself to bring everyone back together before Christmas Eve.
The story follows the family through a difficult holiday season, with Winstead and a corgi puppy named Ruby playing an important role in bringing the household closer. Dennis Quaid stars alongside Milo Ventimiglia and Brooke Lena Johnson, while Mary Steenburgen, Jennifer Tilly and Kathleen Rose Perkins also appear. Thomas Haden Church provides the voice of Winstead.
The film combines a family story with a canine-led Christmas adventure, making it one of the more family-oriented Christmas movies on Netflix’s November schedule.
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2. The Gospel of Christmas (November 11)
AboveA struggling pastor fights to save his family’s church and restore his faith in a New York neighbourhood before Christmas
Release date: November 11, 2026
Starring: Tank, Fantasia Barrino, Fred Hammond, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams and Hezekiah Walker
Directed and The Gospel of Christmas follows Isaac, a struggling pastor who inherits his family’s church in a troubled New York neighbourhood. He and his wife, Rebecca, move to the area with their family, hoping to restore the church and rebuild its place in the community
The challenge proves more complicated than expected. As Isaac confronts financial difficulties, personal doubts, temptation and a sinister adversary, he must rediscover his faith and the power of prayer to save the church, his family and the people who depend on it before Christmas.
Singer and actor Tank plays Isaac, with Fantasia Barrino as his wife, Rebecca. The cast also features several prominent gospel performers, including Fred Hammond, Shirley Caesar, Ann Nesby, Hezekiah Walker, Yolanda Adams, CeCe Winans and the Clark Sisters. Kirk Franklin is responsible for producing the film’s soundtrack, which draws on gospel, rap and Christmas music.
The film brings a faith-centred story to Netflix’s holiday line-up, with music playing a significant role in its narrative.
3. The Christmas Switch (November 12)
AboveTwo sisters with contrasting lifestyles unexpectedly swap lives, leading to new experiences, romantic possibilities and a fresh perspective on family
Release date: November 12, 2026
Starring: Felice Jankell, Happy Jankell, Christian Fandango, Celie Sparre and Anastasios Soulis
This Swedish Christmas romantic comedy follows two sisters whose contrasting personalities lead them to experience an unexpected change of circumstances just weeks before the holiday.
Mathilda is a homebody who has spent her life in a small village, while her sister Freddie is a city girl with a more adventurous, work-hard-play-hard approach to life. When an unexpected twist forces them to swap lives, both must adjust to unfamiliar surroundings and the responsibilities that come with them. Along the way, they begin reconsidering their choices and discover romantic possibilities in unexpected places.
Real-life sisters Felice Jankell and Happy Jankell take the lead roles, with Christian Fandango, Celie Sparre and Anastasios Soulis rounding out the principal cast.
The Christmas Switch is based on Eleonor Sager’s audiobook Christmas in St. Anna and marks the feature directorial debut of actor and filmmaker Adam Pålsson. The story uses the familiar life-swap premise to explore sisterhood, relationships and the different paths people take.
4. Guarding Stars (November 18)
AboveA no-nonsense bodyguard finds her professional boundaries tested when she is assigned to protect a charming action star over the festive season
Release date: November 18, 2026
Starring: Leighton Meester, Jared Padalecki, Andie MacDowell, Walker Hayes and Noah LaLonde
A holiday assignment becomes complicated when a professional bodyguard is tasked with protecting a film star in Guarding Stars. Leighton Meester plays Hannah Brooks, a no-nonsense security professional assigned to look after Jack Stapleton, a charming action star portrayed by Jared Padalecki.
The job requires Hannah to stay close to Jack throughout the festive season. As the two spend more time together, their professional relationship becomes increasingly complicated, with romantic sparks, unexpected secrets and the pressures of celebrity life entering the picture.
Inspired by Katherine Center’s 2022 novel The Bodyguard, the film adapts the original story into a Christmas setting. The supporting cast includes Andie MacDowell, Noah LaLonde, Walker Hayes, Toby Sandeman, Rachael Ancheril, Phil Brooks, Ava Max and Shaun Johnston.
Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, whose previous directing credits include Purple Hearts and Ginny & Georgia, directs the film. The screenplay is Richard Keith, Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo
For viewers who enjoy romantic stories involving celebrity culture and workplace relationships, this is another title to add to their November Christmas movies watchlist.
5. In a Holidaze (December 2)
AboveA young woman gets caught in a Christmas time loop, giving her repeated chances to rethink her choices, relationships and what makes her happy
Release date: December 2, 2026
Starring: Maddie Ziegler, Rob Lowe, Graham Phillips, Elias Kacavas, Jackie Sandler and Patton Oswalt
Based on the holiday romance novel by Christina Lauren, In a Holidaze follows Maelyn Jones, a young woman who feels increasingly dissatisfied with her life. She is unhappy with her job, still lives with her parents and has recently made a romantic mistake. Matters become more complicated when she learns that her family’s annual Christmas gathering at their Utah cabin may be their last.
After making a wish for the universe to show her what would make her happy, Mae finds herself caught in a time loop. She repeatedly relives the same Christmas holiday with her family, giving her opportunities to reconsider her decisions and work out what she really wants.
Maddie Ziegler stars as Mae, with Graham Phillips and Elias Kacavas playing key roles in the romantic storyline. Rob Lowe also features, alongside Jackie Sandler, Patton Oswalt and Andrea Anders.
Directed by Tiffany Paulsen, the film adapts the novel by Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, who write together under the name Christina Lauren. Its combination of romance, family traditions and a time-loop premise makes it a December addition to Netflix’s Christmas movies line-up.
These five Christmas movies cover a variety of festive themes, from family relationships and faith to romantic complications and unexpected changes of circumstance. With releases scheduled throughout November and one arriving in early December, Netflix’s 2026 holiday selection offers several new stories to add to the seasonal viewing list.
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