MANILA, Philippines – It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
The holidays are a magical season, and Christmas is at the heart of it all. Beyond the grand decorations, vibrant lights, exchanging gifts and festive celebrations, it is a time to embrace love in all its forms, to share and feel it.
What better way to celebrate love and experience its warmth than through the magic of movies?
Put on your colorful cozy sweaters, grab your favorite snacks and get ready for some holiday magic! From romance and comedy to drama, here are 10 kilig-worthy Christmas movies to watch before Christmas Day.
While you were sleeping (1995) by Jon Turteltaub
Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven’t even spoken to?
While you were sleeping follows Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a hopelessly romantic ticket conductor who falls in love with a strange commuter, Peter (Peter Gallagher). After an accident where she had to drag Peter off the tracks, he ends up in a coma, and a misunderstanding leads his family to believe that Lucy is his fiancée.
Lucy has no choice but to go along with the lie and even celebrate the holiday with them. But things get more complicated when she falls for Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pullman) and when Peter wakes up from his coma. As the story unfolds, the film explores the complexities of love – how it can grow in unexpected places and timings, and how a family navigates life’s unpredictable journey, showing that sometimes the things you never plan for can turn out to be the most meaningful.
Actually love it (2003) by Richard Curtis
From secret crushes and colleagues falling for each other, to unspoken feelings and family bonds being tested, there love, actually. It’s everywhere.
Actually love it features an ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Andrew Lincoln and more, bringing to life a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking portrayal of love in all its forms. This ultimate rom-com weaves together the lives of eight different couples in England, each facing unique challenges and complexities, but all connected by a universal feeling, Love. Their stories unfold in funny, surprising and sometimes bittersweet ways.
The characters include a newly elected prime minister who falls for his co-worker, a graphic designer who struggles to balance love with family responsibilities, and a widow who helps her son navigate first love.
The holiday (2006) by Nancy Meyers
Would you swap houses with someone to enhance your holiday experience? No? But if you’re heartbroken… maybe yes!
IN The holiday, two women – Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet), switch homes for the holidays to escape their personal heartaches. Amanda, a successful movie trailer maker, is recovering from a breakup and seeks a fresh environment in the countryside. Meanwhile, Iris, a smitten lover, goes to London to Amanda’s luxurious LA home, perfect for what she’s always dreamed of.
What begins as a simple house swap soon blossoms into life-changing experiences as both women find love in unexpected ways and places. As the days pass, time ticks away. In just two weeks, will they be ready to embrace the new beginnings they’ve both been searching for, or will they return to the lives they’ve tried so hard to escape?
A Christmas prince (2017) by Alexx Zamm
Don’t we all just dream of our prince charming, especially during this season? But wait… where’s the prince?!
IN A Christmas prince, Ambitious junior editor and aspiring journalist Amber (Rose McIver) is assigned to travel to Aldovia to cover a story about Prince Richard (Ben Lamb), a “playboy” prince about to be crowned king. Known for his rebellious reputation and indifference to the duties of the crown, his carefree and irresponsible lifestyle has made him a controversial figure.
Caught in a tricky situation, Amber had to pretend to be the prince’s little sister’s teacher, hiding her true identity while trying to uncover the story behind Prince Richard. As Amber digs deeper into his life, she uncovers more than she bargained for, causing her to question not only the prince’s readiness to rule, but also her growing feelings for him.
If you can’t get enough of Amber and Prince Richard, the story continues A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.
The Princess Switch (2018) by Michael Rohl
If you were given a tryout card to be a soon-to-be married princess with a prince charming, would you take the royal plunge or leave it behind?
The Princess Switch is a charming holiday rom-com in which Stacy DeNovo, a talented baker from Chicago, gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she meets Duchess Margaret Delacourt during a baking competition in the kingdom of Belgravia.
Taking advantage of their strikingly similar faces, and in a hasty decision, they switch places. Stacy steps into the role of Duchess Margaret to experience royal life, while Margaret enjoys the freedom of a simpler life as a baker. But the switch leads to unexpected complications and sparks a romantic interest in both of their lives. As the two women navigate their new worlds, each finds the other’s life more fulfilling, but must decide whether to continue living each other’s lives or return to their own paths, knowing that love and happiness may lie in the choices they make.
This movie becomes an instant holiday classic just proving itself, even with sequels like The Princess Switch: Switched Again and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Stareach one adds more heartwarming adventures to the royal swap saga.
Holiday (2020) by John Whitesell
Surrounded by couples and feeling extra single, especially during the high season of love? Why not find yourself a vacation! But remember, no limits!
Holiday is another rom-com charmer that follows the story of Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) who are both tired of being single, especially during the holiday season. Tired of dealing with awkward family get-togethers and constantly talking about their love lines, they come to an agreement to become each other’s “holiday” – to be each other’s plus to attend holiday events without the pressure of commitment.
But what if it grows into something more complicated, deep and serious? Will they be able to handle it?
Happiest season (2020) by Clea Duvall
Let’s be real, almost every Christmas family gathering is filled with secrets, family affairs, past and drama, right?
Happiest season is a queer film that offers a refreshing take on the holiday rom-com genre. Out of the closet, Abby (Kristen Stewart) plans to propose to her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) during a Christmas visit to Harper’s family. But things take a sudden turn when Abby discovers that Harper has yet to come out to her conservative parents with a reputation to protect.
The film beautifully explores themes of family, acceptance, and the realities queer individuals face when coming out to their families, all while maintaining a comedic and heartfelt tone. As Abby and Harper face challenges, a series of events lead to unexpected revelations, forcing both women to confront their fears and the complexities of love within a family dynamic.
Single all the way (2021) by Michael Mayer
For the fake dating trope enthusiasts, we’ve got you covered for your holiday movie marathon!
Another queer Christmas film that feels like a warm embrace during this cold season is Single all the way. The story follows Peter (Michael Urie) as he convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to pretend to be his boyfriend while visiting his family over the holidays. When they arrive at Peter’s family home, the whole family, starting with his matchy-matchy mom who even sets him up with a gym instructor, his funny sisters, and his supportive dad, encourage him to find love even if it means stepping in to help with his love life.
As Peter and Nick spend more time together, the undeniable chemistry between them becomes apparent, leading Peter’s family to notice how perfectly they click.
Love hard (2021) by Hernan Jimènez
Keep swiping right! You never know, they might not be a catfisherman after all… or maybe, just maybe, they’re romantic!
With Nina Dobrev as Natalie, Love hard follows a dating columnist who, after falling for a man she meets on a dating app, travels to her hometown to surprise him for Christmas. But things take a turn when she discovers that the man she’s been talking to, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang), was using her friend’s photos all along. Josh offers to meet her with the real man she thought she was talking to, Tag (Darren Barnet), if she pretends to be his girlfriend during the holidays.
Our little secret (2024) by Stephen Herek
What if your boyfriend’s sister’s boyfriend turns out to be your ex? Confused? It turns out it’s a small world after all!
Another romantic comedy from Netflix, Our little secret stars Lindsay Lohan as Avery, a woman who reunites with her ex Logan (Ian Harding) after years apart, in the most unexpected and unimaginable way. The film follows Avery and Logan when they find out that their new partners are siblings, forcing them to spend Christmas under the same roof. The couple agree to keep their past, theirs little secret, but will it really remain a secret?
This Christmas, it’s worth realizing that while movies are often celebrated as cinematic masterpieces, sometimes what we need most is a film that radiates warmth, captures the spirit of Christmas and offers a feel-good experience. Movies like these are perfect for cozy nights in and invite us to celebrate the season in a way that is deeply personal yet universally relatable. – Rappler.com
Zach Dayrit is a Rappler intern studying BS Psychology at Ateneo de Manila University.
