3 great Netflix Christmas movies to watch instead of Stranger Things 5

December 25 is Christmas, and families usually spend this special day together celebrating with festive meals, exchanging gifts, and enjoying holiday traditions. As the day reaches its end, it then becomes time for one of the best holiday rituals of all. Everyone gathers in the living room, snuggled under blankets, ready to press play on a heartwarming Christmas movie.

However, things might be different for most households this holiday season. The second batch of episodes of Stranger Things 5 drops on Christmas, so most families will be huddled around their TVs watching every single one.

But what about those who aren't quite in the mood for jump scares or the darker thrills of Hawkins’ Upside Down? What do they watch? Well, this is where Netflix really shines. The streaming giant has a whole lineup of great Christmas movies that capture the true magic of the season. In this article, we've put together a good list of three must-watch Netflix Christmas films that are perfect for anyone looking to skip the suspense and darkness of Stranger Things and instead dive into heartwarming, feel-good stories.

Our Little Secret

• Directed by: Stephen Herek
• Written by: Hailey DeDominicis
• Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell, Kristin Chenoweth

Don't you just love it when your favorite Disney stars make their way over to Netflix and star in their very own Christmas movies? Vanessa Hudgens did it with The Princess Switch trilogy, and now Lindsay Lohan is doing the same. She's already starred in two Netflix Christmas movies, and while I enjoyed both, one of them really takes the cake. It's none other than Our Little Secret, and this film is just as funny as it is heartwarming.

The plot will pique your interest right away. Imagine showing up to your boyfriend’s family Christmas gathering only to realize that your ex is also there and dating your boyfriend’s sister. Awkward, right? That’s exactly the setup for Our Little Secret. To avoid a full-blown holiday disaster, the two former flames decide to keep their past relationship under wraps. But of course, keeping a secret during the holidays is easier said than done.

Love Hard

• Directed by: Hernán Jiménez
• Written by: Danny Mackey and Rebecca Ewing
• Cast: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet

The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev got the chance to star in her own Netflix Christmas movie as well with Love Hard. In this film, she plays a relatable, funny, and totally charming character navigating the messy world of online dating just in time for the holidays. The movie is full of awkward moments, hilarious misunderstandings, and unexpected sparks, all set in a cozy, snow-covered town that instantly puts you in the Christmas spirit.

When LA-based dating column writer Natalie Bauer flies across the country to surprise her online crush, she quickly realizes she’s been catfished. Instead of the handsome man she imagined, she meets his friend Josh, who used his buddy’s pictures to lure her in. Josh then comes up with a plan to save face. He asks Natalie to pretend to be his girlfriend for the holidays so he won’t be embarrassed in front of his family, and in exchange, he promises to help her meet the real guy from the photos.

My Secret Santa

• Directed by: Mike Rohl
• Written by: Carley Smale and Ron Oliver
• Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Madison MacIsaac, Barry Levy, Adam Beauchesne, Diana Maria Riva, Tia Mowry

My Secret Santa is one of Netflix's newest Christmas movies. It was released this year, and it quickly rose up the streamer's top 10 movies list. Besides the hilariously funny plot, a big reason why this film is so popular is because of who's starring in it. You have Virgin River's Alexandra Breckenridge taking on the lead role of Taylor, a single mom who goes to outrageous and hilarious lengths to make her daughter's dreams come true.

Taylor's daughter Zoey is a talented snowboarder who has just been accepted into a prestigious academy at the Sun Peaks ski resort. However, Taylor can’t afford the tuition on her own. But this doesn't stop her from doing everything she can to make it happen. When she discovers that resort employees get a big discount on the academy, she seizes the opportunity even if it means taking the only available job. What's the job? The resort’s seasonal Santa Claus. But what she doesn't expect to happen is for her to fall for the resort's charming general manager along the way.