Here is a list of 10 of the many new holiday movies of 2021 that have come out and will come out this season. There’s a little horror, a little comedy, some family content, and lots of holiday spirit. Be aware that a few of these movies are not for children. Luckily, these 10 new holiday movies fit different tastes. Even if you don’t feel particularly festive this holiday season, there’s a wide enough range that something could work. The holiday movies not suitable for children have sexual content, violence, language, sexual innuendos, and gore. You can watch these festive films alone, or you can watch them with your family and friends.
Spice up your 2021 holiday season with some movies that differ from others that are considered classics. This list includes more people of color, inclusive stories, people within the LGBTQ+ community, and cute creatures. So sit back, and enjoy these 10 new holiday movies of 2021.
1.) Love Hard
Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev and Crazy Rich Asians star Jimmy O. Yang come together for a very backward love story to start off the 10 new holiday movies. Dobrev plays column writer Natalie Bauer that has made a career out of her terrible love life. Natalie thinks she has found her “perfect guy” in Josh Lin. Well, Josh lured Natalie in by using Tag’s photos, played by Darren Charles Barnet (Never Have I Ever). Wanting to surprise her loverboy for Christmas, she flies over to his neck of the woods where she discovers this truth. Don’t feel sorry for Natalie though; this movie does a great job of giving both main characters very few redeeming qualities. They have their flaws but they mesh well. Their dynamic makes for a fun watch for one of the 2021 holiday movies.
Love Hard is available to stream on Netflix.
2.)The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night
Do you have a lot of holiday spirit in 2021 but not enough time for long movies? You’re in luck, The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night may be for you. Not only does it have a whole cast with people of color, but it also has an LGBTQ+ couple! A queer Muslim woman brings her Puerto Rican girlfriend to her family’s holiday shenanigans. It’s written by Kausar Mohammed (East of La Brea), Fawzia Mirza directed the short film (Signature Move). On top of showcasing a uniquely beautiful holiday experience, the film is only 11 minutes long. This is one of the family-friendly movies of the 10 new holiday movies featured. The short film on the 10 new holiday movies list premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11.
The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night is making the festival circuit now, but will surely be scooped up by a streaming service in no time!
3.) Single All the Way
Presenting Netflix’s first LGBTQ+ holiday love story for the 10 new holiday movies list! Peter played by Michael Urie, is the black sheep of his family because of his notorious single status. He persuades his friend Nick played by Philemon Chambers to act as his boyfriend for a holiday family visit. Peter meets the handsome James played by Luke Macfarlane on a blind date. Only, is it just a platonic relationship between Peter and Nick? Yes, this kind of story has been in countless movies. This time the story is between Peter and Nick, and the chemistry between these two is palpable. It’s movies like this that normalize LGBTQ+ love stories, especially for 2021 holiday movies. Hulu was a trailblazer with the holiday romance movie Happiest Season with Kristen Stewart and MacKenzie Davis. It’s a cute, heartwarmingly predictable movie on the 10 new holiday movies list.
You can stream Single All the Way on Netflix.
4.) Home Sweet Home Alone 
This is not a remake of Chris Colombus’ classic 1990 movie Home Alone. There is a lot of misunderstandings and unfortunate situations. Home Sweet Home Alone will have you sympathizing with the home intruders! That’s definitely different from the other five Home Alone movies. Max Mercer, played by Archie Yates, is mistakenly left home after his whole family has left on their vacation to Japan. The McKenzies (played by Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney) believe that Max stole a valuable family heirloom and break into his home to retrieve it. Max thinks they want to sell his body to old ladies and chaos ensues. There are many references to the original Home Alone and Devin D. Ratray (who played Buzz McCallister in the original Home Alone) makes an appearance. It’s a family-friendly watch for 2021 holiday movies. It’s a family-friendly watch on the 10 new holiday movies list.
Home Sweet Home Alone is available for streaming on Disney+.
5.) Silent Night
Camille Griffin makes their directorial debut with Silent Night. It has many big-name stars: Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Annabelle Wallis, Kirby Howell-Baptiste. This 2021 film is not one of your typical family drama holiday movies. This family comes together and tries to remain merry while trying not to think too hard about the impending environmental apocalypse coming their way. You’ll have the drama the world faces and family drama on top of it all. It’s a black comedy in the way, something the British have been perfecting for decades. It may not give you the warm and fuzzies like other films on this list but it will be shocking. So this is the black comedy film of the 10 new holiday movies.
Silent Night can be viewed on AMC+.
6.) The Bitch Who Stole Christmas
If you watch RuPaul’s Drag Race then you’ll love this movie. If you have never seen an episode in your life you’ll probably still really like this movie. This deserves its own category as one of those off-the-wall holiday movies of 2021. It knows how ridiculous it is and how very little of it makes sense. The Bitch Who Stole Christmas is if a bunch of fans made an entire fanfiction screenplay to show their love for RuPaul’s Drag Race. It’s a hot mess in the most loving way possible. This is one of those movies that are not appropriate for children out of the 10 new holiday movies. There are many piping jokes and the town is called Tuckerville for goodness sake! Every line is some sort of sexual innuendo and the mayor’s security has a chronic lost shirt problem.
It plays on the cliches and tropes of classic holiday movies to make this an absolute gem. Don’t think too hard, take it for the ridiculous rollercoaster that it is and enjoy the ride. You can stream The Bitch Who Stole Christmas on Fubo or Philo.
7.) 8-Bit Christmas
This is one of the most surprisingly wholesome movies for the list of 10 new holiday movies of 2021. Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) plays adult Jake Doyle that recounts his journey to getting a Nintendo Entertainment System to his young daughter Annie. Jake and his friends are very resilient and strategic for elementary schoolers. Jake’s efforts are endearing as well as the family dynamic between him and his family. This is a movie that could make you laugh and tear up a bit. It’s a charming movie that captures a child’s imagination much like the 1983 movie A Christmas Story did. This film is family-friendly but will have references and jokes that adults and children can collectively enjoy. Add it to your list of 2021 holiday movies.
8-Bit Christmas can be streamed on HBO Max.
8.) A Boy Called Christmas
This has many of the things a kid would want for 2021 holiday movies. It has a talking mouse with lots of sass, a literal manic pixie dreamgirl that can make heads explode, and a very determined child on an adventure. It starts with Maggie Smith who plays Aunt Carlotta telling a story of a boy named Nikolas to three grieving children. Nikolas played by Henry Lawfull, leaves his abusive aunt to find his father who hasn’t returned on his mission to find hope. Nikolas stumbles upon Elfhelm, a place his late mother told him stories about growing up. Only Elfhelm is not the happy place he thought it would be, due to Nikolas’ father’s part in the kidnapping of an Elfhelm child. Enjoy this adventure-filled story on the 10 new holiday movies list.
It’s a whirlwind of emotion as Nikolas tries to make things right. This film is wholesome with many delightful surprises. You can stream A Boy Called Christmas on Netflix.
9.) Robin Robin
This short film of the 2021 holiday movies revolves around Robin raised by mice. Yes, it’s the second film with mice in it, they are holiday favorites it seems. Robin is not a very sneaky mouse-like their family members, due to the fact that they are a bird. Robin tries to make their place in an unfamiliar environment. This is a cute movie for the whole family and great for those with short attention spans. It also may make you double-check whether your house is properly sealed off from outside pests. The singing is not over the top and the animation is spectacular! It only takes this movie 32 minutes to warm your heart. The film is a quirky adventure with a creepy cat on the 10 new holiday movies list.
Robin Robin is a great watch for the whole family. It’s available for streaming on Netflix.
10.) Black Friday
This is the sprinkling of horror for the 10 new holiday movies for 2021. It’s more silly than anything but with lots of gore and violence. The Evil Dead legend Bruce Campbell plays the stickler store manager that loves his job a little too much. Some strange creatures crash land on Earth and transform people into violent monsters. The prosthetics and special effects are pretty good. The dynamics between the store employees really make the movie. Everyone plays their role well and the snappy lines add a good source of comedy. Black Friday doesn’t have people constantly making bad decisions to the point where you wish they were eaten. The main characters make good decisions and put up a valiant fight against the alien parasite creatures. Even if you have a low horror tolerance, this movie has enough comedy to water down the violence.
Mix up your watch list by adding this film to your choices of 2021 holiday movies. Black Friday is available on AppleTV+. YouTube, and Google Play Movies & TV.
