Let’s set the stage. It’s been a long day. While the offices are closed, the errands and shopping that needed to get done felt like a job in itself. It’s time to unwind and all you want is a new cozy program. Perhaps something festive to the season. The type of program that leaves you warm and fuzzy, smiling from ear to ear. However, there’s over 100 new holiday titles. What to do?!
The age of streaming has brought with it a surplus of new films and TV shows. This year alone there’s over 100 new holiday titles! Deciding which new holiday program to watch can be overwhelming. That’s where the High Voltage yearly guide comes in. We watch them all so casual viewers can focus on the best. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, curl up under a blanket and get ready to embrace the spirit of the season with our top 10 holiday originals of 2024.
#10
JACK IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
Synopsis: Jack Whitehall finds himself stranded in the USA with just four days to make it back to the UK for Christmas. With time ticking away, Jack embarks on an incredible journey involving planes, trains, huskies, and bobsleighs. Along the way, some of his famous friends join the fun, lending a hand (or hoof!) as Jack navigates the chaos of Christmas and tries to make it home in time.
Reasons To Watch: It’s an unconventional holiday special featuring appearances from Jimmy Fallon, Dave Bautista, Michael Bublé and many more. Sometimes holiday magic involves a ridiculous tale, and this special provides the right combination of implausibility, humor and holiday miracles to keep audiences laughing through the night.
Where to watch: Stream it on Prime Video beginning December 3rd, 2024.
#9
JINGLE BELL LOVE
Synopsis: Jack Cooper (Joey McIntyre) visits his late wife’s hometown for Christmas and gets more than he bargained for when his ten-year-old daughter matches him up with a local shop owner.
Reasons To Watch: New Kids On The Block fans will rejoice because not only is heartthrob Joey McIntyre starring in this holiday movie, but the film brings with it a brand new Joey McIntyre holiday single. Plus the film has all the charm of a Hallmark movie all the while packing much more soul.
Where To Watch: Streaming now on The Roku Channel.
#8
SCOUTING FOR CHRISTMAS
Synopsis: Angela (Tamera Mowry-Housley) helps her daughter Brooklyn (Audrey Wise Alvarez) prepare for the scout troop’s annual holiday ball. Brooklyn suggests that Angela and William (Carlo Marks), the owner of their favorite bakery, team up to bake treats for the event. Things get more complicated when Angela’s ex-husband, Dakota (James Paladino), shows up to spend Christmas with Brooklyn.
Reasons To Watch: The holiday bakery story line is not new, but it’s incredibly charming and become a bit of a staple in cozy holiday rom coms. Sprinkle in some Sunny Scout drama among the troop’s parents and it’s a recipe for success.
Where To Watch: Now Playing on The Hallmark Channel.
#7
DEAR SANTA
Synopsis: A young boy accidentally mixes up his spelling and sends his Christmas list to Satan instead of Santa.
Reasons To Watch: Jack Black is Santa, nay Satan, nay Santa Satan, nay, uh, whatever he is, he’s wonderful. Then again, Black brings so much joy and fun to all of his roles. Need we say more?
Where To Watch: Streaming now on Paramount+.
#6
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN WONDERLAND
Synopsis: When St Nick (Gerard Butler) receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts, he and his reindeer set off to Wonderland where they’re greeted by the mean and miserable Queen of Hearts (Emilia Clarke) who hates all things Christmas… especially presents! Can St Nick, aided by Alice (Simone Ashley), the Mad Hatter (Mawaan Rizwan) and March Hare (Asim Chaudhry), show the Queen the true meaning of Christmas and save the day before it’s too late?
Reasons To Watch: A brilliant musical that combines two classic tales into an altogether new, yet familiar, adventure featuring delightful rhymes and nonstop humor. Additionally, Guy Chambers is behind all the music. For those unfamiliar, Chambers is a fantastic songwriter and producer best known for his work with Robbie Williams.
Where To Watch: Streaming now on Hulu.
#5
HOLIDAZED
Synopsis: Holidazed follows six families from different backgrounds, cultures and generations, all living on the same cul-de-sac, as they gather for the holiday season. During a time when emotions are amplified, each family comes together to celebrate their unique, rich traditions and navigate family eccentricities that ultimately help them discover what they do have in common: LOVE in all its different forms.
Reasons To Watch: Hallmark movies can often feel very formulaic, predictable, repetitive, and even rushed. That’s not a negative, that often leads to the perfect cozy watch. However, Holidazed provides these classic holiday tropes more time to tell the story, which in turn allows viewers to get more invested in each of the six families. It’s Hallmark’s first ever limited holiday series (yes, a TV series!) and we sincerely hope it’s not their last.
Where To Watch: Streaming now on Hallmark+ (Hallmark’s new streaming service).
#4
JINGLE BELL RUN
Synopsis: Self-described bookworm Avery (Ashley Williams) is paired with retired hockey star Wes (Andrew W. Walker) to compete in a holiday race across America. The team struggles through themed challenges until romance runs its course.
Reasons To Watch: A film about an unscripted holiday reality competition series that results in audiences (that’s us) getting a scripted made for TV movie masterpiece. Kudos to the writers on this one! Jingle Bell Run is witty, fun, fast paced, and a step above the normal Hallmark cheese.
Where To Watch: Now playing on Hallmark Channel.
#3
A DISNEY HOLIDAY SHORT: THE BOY & THE OCTOPUS
Synopsis: A warm and emotional story about an octopus who gets to experience life on land through an unlikely friendship with a boy.
Reasons To Watch: Taika Waititi is a much more than simply a director, an actor, or any of his fancy titles. Waititi is a storyteller and this story, even though it’s only four minutes, is quite the roller coaster of emotions. Its got heart, and it perfectly captures both the spirit of Disney and the spirit of the holiday season. A must watch!
Where To Watch: Click play on the YouTube video above to watch the entire short!
#2
MEET ME NEXT CHRISTMAS
Synopsis: In pursuit of a fairytale romance, Layla (Christina Milian) must race through New York City with the help of a handsome and friendly ticket concierge (Devale Ellis) to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.
Reasons To Watch: Meet Me Next Christmas grabs your attention within the first few moments of the film. The love story is sweeter than a toothache, Jordy (Kalen Allen) teaching choreography is the moment, and the Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert is not just a story vehicle, but the group also have several acting bits in the film. If there’s only one holiday rom com to watch this season, it’s this one.
Where To Watch: Streaming now on Netflix.
#1
THAT CHRISTMAS
Synopsis: Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books, That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!
Reasons To Watch: Richard Curtis. That’s the reason. Richard Curtis has a knack for quality writing. Especially about the holidays. Besides writing the iconic holiday film Love Actually, Curtis is also the author of the children’s books That Christmas is based off of. That alone should tell audiences this story is going to be good. Then add an incredible voice cast (Bill Nighy! Rhys Darby! Jodie Whittaker!) and this already endearing and hilarious holiday animation teaching the importance of community is taken to the next level. But remember, as the film says, “a real community is for life, not just for Christmas.”
Where To Watch: Stream it on Netflix beginning December 4th, 2024.