Hollywood cranks out holiday programming as fast as toys are made in Santa's workshop with broadcast networks, cable channels and streaming services offering
This year's options include three sequels to the 2023 Hallmark Channel hit 鈥淐hristmas on Cherry Lane,鈥� a docuseries following what happens when a letter to Santa is dropped in the mail, and the stop-motion classic 鈥淩udolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.鈥�
Below are 10 options to get you in the Christmas spirit:
鈥� stars in a new holiday rom-com for Netflix called out Wednesday. Lohan and Ian Harding ("Pretty Little Liars"), play exes who find themselves spending Christmas together after discovering they're now dating siblings. 鈥淚t has a lot of heart and it鈥檚 very funny and I think that's what we need in film these days,鈥� Lohan told The Associated Press in an interview. Kristin Chenoweth is in it too.
鈥� 鈥淒ear Santa, The Series鈥� will warm the soul like a cup of hot chocolate. Now in its second season, the show highlights the program where children write letters to Santa and a team of Elves help to grant their holiday wishes. The new season streams on Hulu beginning Friday.
鈥� Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison star in 鈥淗ome Sweet Christmas鈥� as former childhood friends who reunite after the death of a family member who leaves his maple sugar farm to them both. It premieres Sunday on Great American Family.
鈥� Remember the 1985 film 鈥淏rewster's Millions鈥� starring and John Candy? The comedy classic has been updated with a holiday twist. 鈥淏rewster's Millions: Christmas鈥� stars China Anne McClain as Morgan Brewster, a wealthy heiress who will lose her family's fortune unless she completes a series of tasks in time for Christmas. It premieres Dec. 5 on BET+. The film also stars Romeo Miller and two of Pryor鈥檚 children, Richard Pryor Jr. and Rain Pryor.
鈥� The 2023 Hallmark movie 鈥淐hristmas on Cherry Lane鈥� was a big hit for the network. It followed three families on Christmas Eve who live in the same home in different time periods. Three sequels will stream on Hallmark+, spanning from 1951 to present day. Jonathan Bennett, Vincent Rodriguez III star in the first sequel, 鈥淪eason's Greetings from Cherry Lane,鈥� debuting Dec. 5. 鈥淗appy Holidays from Cherry Lane鈥� premieres Dec. 12 starring Catherine Bell and James Denton. The third film, 'Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane" arrives Dec. 19 with Erin Cahill and Brooke D鈥橭rsay.
鈥� An original holiday romance movie called 鈥淎 Season to Remember鈥� airs Dec. 7 on OWN. Michele Weaver plays a sports reporter who works hard to prove herself in a male-dominated industry but still sometimes gets overlooked for opportunities. The pressure is on to find a compelling story the week before Christmas. Weaver teams up with a freelance photographer (Nathan Owens) who helps her find romance, confidence and the right path.
鈥� Freeform has designated its December programming, 鈥�25 Days of Christmas鈥� with holiday fare airing from morning to midnight. Dec. 8 is a highlight with Tim Allen鈥檚 鈥漈he Santa Clause鈥� franchise and the 1964 stop motion classic 鈥淩udolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer鈥� and 1969鈥檚 鈥淔rosty the Snowman.鈥�
鈥� and Halle Bailey host NBC 鈥淎 Motown Christmas Special鈥� on Dec. 11 (streaming next day on Peacock). Motown legends including Robinson, Gladys Knight and the Temptations sing some of their best-known songs as well as Christmas tunes. Bailey will perform a medley of music by Diana Ross and the Supremes, while Jamie Foxx will lead a Stevie Wonder tribute featuring Andra Day, Bebe Winans and Jordin Sparks. An 11-piece live band will accompany the performances.
鈥�- A new double-episode Christmas edition of called 鈥淥 C鈥檓on All Ye Faithful" streams on Disney+ on Dec. 17. A famous mentalist arrives in Springfield and uses his mind tricks to boost holiday spirits. When Homer gets hypnotized and believes he's Santa Claus, it causes the rest of the town to question their own Christmas beliefs and the meaning of the word miracle. The special also has music from Patti LaBelle and Pentatonix.
鈥� Netflix will stream two NFL games on Christmas Day. First, Super Bowl LVII champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers followed by the Baltimore Ravens facing the Houston Texans. this holiday season 鈥� as the superstar will perform at halftime during the game featuring her hometown team, the Texans. The Netflix Christmas Day games will also be available on broadcast TV in the competing team cities.
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Video journalist Gina Abdy contributed to this report.
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This story first moved Nov. 25, 2024. It was updated Dec. 19, 2024 to fix a typo in the 鈥淪impson鈥� special item.
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
