Watch these 22 TV specials, movies and cultural events this holiday season

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We often say Christmas comes once a year, but now the holiday season seems to start earlier and last much longer. Decorations like inflatable Halloween monsters are quickly replaced with Christmas snowmen. The festive period is now in full swing, even before we’ve finished enjoying Thanksgiving and its pumpkin pie.

Growing up in Southern California, the idea of winter was mostly shaped by what we saw on TV – classic movies showed snowy scenes and Christmas traditions that were very different from our warm-weather reality. Back when there were only a few TV channels, it was easy to enjoy holiday specials without being overwhelmed. But now, with so many streaming services and endless reruns, it’s easy to get lost in the holiday content. That’s why we’ve created this guide – think of us as your reliable source to help you navigate the overwhelming amount of holiday entertainment, just like Santa delivers gifts!

Just a quick note: I haven’t been able to see many of this year’s new shows yet, as they aren’t widely available. (Trailers gave me a glimpse, though!) Also, some networks haven’t shared much detail about their programs. However, based on my experience, I think the shows listed here are likely to be enjoyable, depending on your tastes and holiday spirit. Happy watching!

Musical events to match the season

‘The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular’ (ABC, Dec. 1)

Disney consistently promotes its properties during the holiday season, and this year is no different as they celebrate a decade of festive events. Expect musical performances from Derek Hough, Aloe Blacc, Good Charlotte, Gwen Stefani, and Trisha Yearwood, all filmed at Disney’s parks in Florida, Hawaii, and California. You can find even more Disney holiday cheer in the “40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.”

‘CMA Country Christmas’ (ABC, Dec. 2)

This year’s special, filmed in Nashville at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, is hosted by popular Christian artist Lauren Daigle and country star Jordan Davis. It features performances by Riley Green, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and BeBe Winans.

‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ and ‘Christmas in Nashville’ (NBC, Dec. 3)

Reba McEntire is going to New York City to host a two-hour special featuring the lighting of a large Christmas tree right outside the network headquarters. Then, the show will move to Nashville, but it’s currently unknown who will be featured there.

‘A Motown Christmas’ (NBC, Dec. 9)

Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey are your hosts. Expect something old, something new(er).

‘iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025’ (ABC, Dec. 17)

As Ed Sullivan would say, here’s something for the younger audience. We know who’s on tour, but the artists appearing in this special haven’t been revealed yet. You might recognize some, all, or even none of them!

‘40th Anniversary Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade’ (ABC, Dec. 25)

The event will be broadcast live from Disney’s parks in Orlando, Anaheim, and Hawaii, starting at 5 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern). There will be celebrity guests, and I’m confident John Stamos will be one of them – I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t!

Cultural performances that enlighten

‘Great Performances: Twelfth Night’ (Now streaming on PBS.org and PBS app)

This funny Shakespearean comedy, known for its playful mix-ups and disguises (and originally performed around the twelfth night after Christmas), was filmed during a summer performance in Central Park as part of the Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park series. Lupita Nyong’o and her brother, Junior Nyong’o, brilliantly play twin siblings who are separated at sea, and the cast also includes popular actors like Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Sandra Oh, and Daphne Rubin-Vega.

‘Great Performances: The Nutcracker’ (PBS, PBS.org and PBS app, Dec. 16)

Even people who don’t usually enjoy classical music or ballet likely know Tchaikovsky’s famous 1892 Christmas ballet, thanks to its popular music and the iconic Sugarplum Fairy. This performance by the English National Ballet features beautiful sets inspired by the Edwardian era in the first act and a colorful, fantastical Candyland in the second.

Family friendly viewing

‘A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice’ (Nickelodeon, Nov. 21)

Okay, so this is a full-length special based on ‘The Loud House,’ that really fun, chaotic cartoon. The story revolves around Lincoln Loud – you know, the kid with ten sisters – and he accidentally messes with Santa’s Naughty or Nice list! It’s total chaos, switching everything around, even Santa himself gets flipped! It’s a wild premise, and the special is all about trying to fix the mess he’s made.

‘A Chuck E. Cheese Christmas’ (Prime Video and YouTube, Nov. 27)

Christmas isn’t very cheerful this year, and even Santa is feeling down. Luckily, the animated characters from a popular pizza chain are planning a surprise party to lift his spirits. However, a grumpy elf—who looks a bit like Legolas from the movies—is determined to ruin the fun. This short could be the start of a new cartoon series, and there’s definitely potential for an audience.

‘A Paw Patrol Christmas’ (CBS and Paramount+, Nov. 28)

This holiday episode of the beloved kids’ show features adorable, computer-animated puppies wearing sweaters. When Santa catches a cold and can’t deliver presents, the puppies must save Christmas and remind everyone what the holiday is truly about.

Disney’s ‘Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol’ (Disney, Nov. 27; ABC, Nov. 30)

I really enjoy this clever show, which is surprisingly unique for television. It centers around elves Wayne and Lanny, who are responsible for coordinating Santa’s public appearances. This third installment is a collection of funny stories about things going wrong after Christmas. It’s full of physical comedy, a fantastic musical number reminiscent of Busby Berkeley, a spoof of spa culture, relatable office humor, and a running gag with amusing slogans on coffee mugs like “It’s Nog or Never” and “Nice List or Bust!” I’ve seen this show and highly recommend it.

‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’ (Netflix, Dec. 3)

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is sharing a glimpse into her Christmas preparations! She’s inviting everyone to join in the festive fun with easy-to-follow instructions for cooking, crafting, and decorating.

‘The First Snow of Fraggle Rock’ (Apple TV, Dec. 5)

The beloved puppets from Jim Henson Co. are back in a new holiday special! When a single snowflake falls on Fraggle Rock (which is underground, so it’s not a huge shock), Gobo struggles to finish his holiday song. He ventures into the human world and meets popular YouTuber Lele Pons. Back at home, the Gorgs are busy with a new baby.

Streaming holiday films for (almost) everyone

‘A Merry Little Ex-Mas’ (Netflix, now streaming)

Alicia Silverstone plays an architect who’s recently divorced and planning to sell her home. She decides to host one final holiday party, which gets complicated when her ex-husband (Oliver Hudson) shows up with a new girlfriend, Jameela Jamil, causing some awkwardness. The movie also stars Melissa Joan Hart, who’s always a welcome addition to any project.

Television

Oliver Hudson and Jameela Jamil were drawn to the Netflix holiday movie because of its cast, which included popular stars from the 1990s like Alicia Silverstone and Melissa Joan Hart.

‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’ (Disney+, now streaming)

I don’t know any Jonas Brothers songs, but I really enjoyed this funny and chaotic movie about the band trying to get home for Christmas from Europe. Something strange is happening to keep them from getting there, and Santa might be part of it! It’s the second movie I’ve watched recently.

Review

With its self-deprecating humor, ‘A Very Jonas Christmas Movie’ is good company

The Jonas Brothers star in a new Disney+ holiday movie where they race against the clock – using every mode of transportation imaginable – to make it home for Christmas, and learn to get along while doing so.

‘Champagne Problems’ (Netflix, Nov. 19)

Minka Kelly stars as a successful but unhappy businesswoman who travels to France with the goal of buying a champagne vineyard. While briefly stopping in Paris, she has a romantic encounter with a charming local man named Henri (Tom Wozniczka). Complicating things, Henri turns out to be the son of the vineyard owner (Thibault de Montalembert, known from “Call My Agent”) – the very man she’s trying to make a deal with.

‘Jingle Bell Heist’ (Netflix, Nov. 26)

Olivia Holt plays a clever shop worker and Connor Swindells plays a struggling handyman, and both secretly plan to rob the same London department store on Christmas Eve. (It reminds me of how I met my wife, actually!) The addition of Peter Serafinowicz and Lucy Punch to the cast is a delightful bonus.

‘The Merchants of Joy’ (Prime Video, Dec. 1)

This unusual documentary explores the surprisingly competitive world of New York City Christmas tree vendors, following five families as they compete to thrive in the business. And, despite the title, it seems to be a straightforward look at the industry, not a satire.

‘Oh. What. Fun.’ (Prime Video, Dec. 3)

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as a highly organized mom named Clauster—a nod to Kris Kringle—who decides to skip Christmas after her family unexpectedly leaves her behind. The movie features a strong supporting cast including Denis Leary, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, and Jason Schwartzman. It also includes a new song by Gwen Stefani, called “Shake the Snow Globe.”

‘My Secret Santa’ (Netflix, Dec. 3)

Taylor, a single mother played by Alexandra Breckenridge, goes to surprising lengths to afford snowboard lessons for her daughter – she dresses up as an elderly man to work as Santa at a ski resort. Things get interesting when she meets Ryan Eggold, the attractive manager of the hotel.

‘Merv’ (Prime Video, Dec. 10)

After Anna (played by Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) break up, their cute terrier gets really sad. It’s also Christmastime, making everything more complicated. They all decide to escape the snow and head to Florida, but it’s unclear what will happen next.

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2025-11-18 14:33