Netflix has plenty of hidden gems worth watching this festive season
As the festive period rapidly draws near, Netflix subscribers will shortly be scouring the streaming platform’s catalogue for comforting Christmas movies. Whilst classics such as Home Alone and Elf inevitably feature on everybody’s December viewing lists, there are numerous lesser-known treasures definitely worth watching this season.
However, given that the platform offers everything from emotional romantic comedies to family-orientated features, it can prove challenging to identify those genuinely deserving of your attention. Below, we’ve compiled three ‘heart-warming’ films to watch this year, including a ‘magical’ family picture written by Love Actually and Bridget Jones scribe Richard Curtis, reports the Mirror.
The Noel Diary
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A hidden treasure featuring This Is Us star Justin Hartley, The Noel Diary chronicles bestselling novelist Jake Turner (Hartley), who travels back to his hometown after his mother’s passing.
Whilst attempting to sort out her estate, he uncovers a diary that might contain secrets regarding his and local resident Rachel’s (Barrett Doss) history. The pair team up to “confront their pasts and discover a future that’s totally unexpected”.
Their quest naturally creates a bond between the two, which audiences completely adored.
Writing on Rotten Tomatoes, one viewer commented: “I watched this movie, and it had me sobbing-it was such a wholesome, sweet love story. I truly enjoyed it so much. The chemistry between the characters was incredible; I could feel the love through the screen.”
Holidate
Holidate Another treat for romance enthusiasts, Holidate stars American Horror Story’s Emma Roberts as Sloane, a woman approaching 30 who’s tired of being alone during festive seasons.
She appears to discover the ideal answer when she encounters Jackson, an Australian stranger portrayed by Luke Bracey, who faces identical challenges.
The duo agree to serve as each other’s companions for every occasion throughout the year, though genuine emotions soon develop.
Despite critics giving the film a disappointing 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, numerous Netflix audiences have praised it as a ‘classic romcom’.
“I thought this movie was a classic romcom at its finest,” raved one fan, before adding, “My husband and I were laughing hysterically. Highly recommend watching with your spouse or girlfriends.”
That Christmas
For those who prefer animated features, That Christmas might be exactly what you need.
Penned by Love Actually’s Richard Curtis alongside Peter Souter and Andrew Dawson, the film draws from Curtis’ cherished children’s tales.
Audiences witness multiple interconnected storylines from a small community confronting a catastrophic Christmas blizzard that ruins everybody’s arrangements – including Father Christmas’s.
Stars Brian Cox, Jodie Whittaker and Bill Nighy provide voices for the lead roles, whilst renowned animation director Simon Otto helms the production.
Achieving a remarkable 74% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, That Christmas has been branded ‘unmissable’ by social media users. Meanwhile, one cinema enthusiast commented: “Surprisingly funny yet heart-warming. I think the runtime of the film is perfect and the little jokes fit right in without losing the ‘Christmas magic.’”
All films listed in this article are available to stream on Netflix.
