There are few things I love more about the holidays than watching cheesy Christmas movies all season long. Like a Netflix advent calendar, I cross off a list of old classics. Popcorn and soda are replaced with cutout cookies and cocoa, and the fireplace burns despite California’s warmth. 

I originally wanted to write a comprehensive “12 days of Netflix Christmas” for this piece, but let’s face it: with a week to spare before finals, two family birthdays in December and early Christmas present shopping, I only had time for so many movies. This is the best I could do; isn’t that what we all are trying to do this year? 

Here is my condensed ranked list – the four best Netflix Christmas movies that will make the holiday season a little brighter.   

4. “A Christmas Prince” (2017)

When an eager young journalist travels to Aldovia to cover the prince’s crowning, she finds herself more wrapped up in the royal family than she intended. Mistaken for a tutor at the palace, she gets closer to the source than she ever thought possible. And given that the handsome Prince is both her age and single, romance is bound to ensue. 

If you like royalty and rom-coms, this one's for you. You’ll try to make fun of it and laugh at the cheesiest moments, but let’s face it; deep down, you’ll get so into the story that you’ll inevitably binge the rest of the franchise: “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding” and “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.”

3. “The Princess Switch” (2018)

 This is yet another royal-themed Christmas movie, but this one combines “Freaky Friday” with a hint of “Great British Bake Off.” It’s everything you could possibly want from a holiday movie. When Chicago native Stacey De Novo (Vanessa Hudgens) enters a baking contest in the Kingdom of Belgravia, she meets her look-alike Lady Margaret (Hudgens), the Princess of Belgravia. They decide to switch places and Christmas chaos ensues. I’ll be honest, watching these two characters switch lives and lie about who they are stressed me out, but that’s what you sign up for.

If the first movie left you wanting more, don’t worry, “The Princess Switch: Switched Again” came out this November. And you guessed it – they switched places again, but with a twist: one more Vanessa Hudgens character is thrown into the mix for some more holiday mayhem. Watch this over Zoom or Netflix Party because you will need to frantically chat with your girlfriends about this one.

2. “The Christmas Chronicles 2” (2020)

All I ever wanted was to see Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and it looks like my Christmas wish has come true. “The Christmas Chronicles 2” follows Kate Pierce (Darby Camp) as she goes on yet another journey to save Christmas as a mysterious force tries to destroy it. Man, there are always too many people trying to ruin Christmas, but if you want to see Kurt Russell perform a musical number, this is the film for you. Plus, I watched this movie for Goldie Hawn and she did not disappoint, as usual.

1. “The Holiday Calendar” (2018)

Abby Reilly (Kat Graham), an aspiring photographer, receives a mysterious antique advent calendar from her grandfather. She realizes the calendar is magic, as it sends her on a journey that predicts her love life leading up to Christmas. From the snowy setting to a warm family gathering to the “we’re just friends” trope, this feel-good movie will have you believing in the magic of Christmas. It’s sweet, cozy and is best watched with a cup of hot chocolate.