Those who just can’t wait for the Christmas season need look no further than Netflix which has announced its “Here for the Holidays” 2021 event with a wealth of holiday movies and TV series to look forward to. The event is set to pick up right where their Halloween event “Netflix and Chills” leaves off with the first releases coming on November 1. With growing competition from Disney+, Paramount+, and HBO Max event releases, “Here for the Holidays” helps to set Netflix apart from the rest of the pack.
Netflix's Christmas movies such as The Princess Switch and The Knight Before Christmas have become a strong niche for the streaming service in recent years. After the success of A Christmas Prince in 2017, which tells the story of an undercover journalist falling in love with the supposed prince of a fictional country, the platform has been leaning into their seasonal programming. This year will be no different as Netflix has announced that their “Here for the Holidays” plan includes an incredible 28 releases covering romantic comedies, films for the family, Christmas series, and a healthy dose of Vanessa Hudgens.
While it might seem early for Netflix’s event to start at the beginning of November, the line of when the holiday season starts has been getting blurrier every year. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the opportunity to be shut up inside with a blanket and some holiday cheer on the TV seems like the perfect escape. Here’s every TV series and movie coming to Netflix before Christmas 2021.
The Claus Family – November 1
To kick off the Christmas season, Netflix’s first release of “Here for the Holidays” is the Dutch Santa Claus film The Claus Family. Suzanne has had to move her children, Jules and Noor, from The Netherlands to Belgium for work. While Jules hates the holidays, he learns that his family has a special legacy when his grandfather falls ill and he must work to help and save Christmas.
Love Hard – November 5
Coming on November 5, Love Hard is Netflix’s first holiday rom-com of the season. Starring Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, and Darren Barnet, the movie follows an LA journalist who hops on a plane to give her online crush a special surprise for the holidays. But when she arrives on the East Coast, she finds she has been catfished, only for the catfisher to offer to set her up with the real crush if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays.
Father Christmas Is Back – November 7
A Christmas-themed family comedy, Father Christmas is Back sees four extremely different sisters reunited for the holidays in their ancestral mansion as one tries to plan the perfect Christmas to make up for their father abandoning them on Christmas many years before. The plan comes to a halt when their long-lost father, James, returns and mishaps and misunderstandings ensue. The film stars Nathalie Cox, Elizabeth Hurley, Talulah Riley, Amelie Prescott, John Cleese, Charming The Hearts Of Men's Kelsey Grammer, and April Bowlby.
Christmas Flow – November 17
Netflix’s first holiday TV series of “Here for the Holidays” lands on November 17 with Christmas Flow. The French series is a romantic comedy from director Nadège Loiseau and sees opposites attract. When Rapper Tayc meets the tenacious journalist Shirine Boutella the two start an improbable romance but work to figure out their relationship despite their differences.
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star – November 18
Netflix’s own The Princess Switch returns for a third outing this year as Queen Margaret and Princess Stacy of Belgravia, both played by Vanessa Hudgens, seek to recover a stolen priceless relic. In this quest, they enlist the help of Margaret’s cousin, Fiona, the antagonist in The Princess Switch sequel, who is also played by Vanessa Hudgens. When a mysterious man from her past reappears, Fiona finds herself amidst a rekindled romance and an unexpected new switch.
Blown Away: Christmas – November 19
Netflix will be adding a special Christmas season of the Canadian reality glassblowing competition TV show, Blown Away. Host Bobby Berk returns for the special alongside the regular evaluator Katherine Gray. As it is the holiday season, as well as competing in Christmas-themed challenges to win $10,000, contestants will also be vying to win an additional $10,000 for a charity of their choice.
Waffles + Mochi’s Holiday Feast – November 23
Waffles + Mochi return for their family-friendly holiday special Waffles + Mochi Holiday Feast. The Netflix original children’s cooking series follows the puppets Waffles and Mochi as they explore the world of food and stars Michelle Zamora, Piotr Michael, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. When Steve the Mop calls to ask Waffles and Mochi about their holiday traditions, Waffles makes some things up and claims it’s all about the food but as hijinks ensue they all learn that the holidays are about a lot more than food.
A Boy Called Christmas – November 24
A Boy Called Christmas is Netflix’s adaptation of the bestselling children’s book of the same name by Matt Haig. Nikolas’ father has set out on a quest to find the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. When Nikolas decides to search for him he takes a reindeer called Blitzen and his loyal pet mouse and soon discovers his magical destiny. The cast includes Henry Lawfull, Jim Broadbent, Sally Hawkins, Toby Jones, Maggie Smith, Kristen Wiig, and Logan's Stephen Merchant.
Robin Robin – November 24
Perfect for kids and adults alike, Robin Robin is a stop motion holiday musical from the British animation studio Aardman, who are the minds behind Wallace & Gromit. When Robin’s egg rolled into a trash heap, she was raised by a family of mice. As she grows older her differences become apparent she sets out on a heist to prove that she can be a real mouse but learns about her origins along the way.
A Castle For Christmas – November 26
Because Christmas wouldn’t be complete without more romantic comedies, A Castle for Christmas provides just that. Famed American author, Sophie Brown, has come to Scotland in the hopes of buying a castle to live in. However, the owner, Duke Myles, is hesitant to sell to a foreigner. While the two struggle to find a compromise in the deal and consistently butt heads, they both get more than they had bargained for. The film stars Brooke Shields and Saw's Cary Elwes.
