The Ultimate 2025 Holiday Streaming Guide: Best New Movies & TV Shows to Watch This Holiday Season

December 13, 20251239 words

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Discover the best holiday movies and TV shows of 2025. From Netflix Christmas releases to blockbuster films and binge-worthy series, here’s your ultimate holiday streaming guide.

Looking for the best new movies and TV series to stream this holiday season? From festive romantic comedies and high-stakes thrillers to family-friendly favorites, this is the ultimate 2025 holiday watchlist. After all, the holidays are all about cozy nights, twinkling lights, and endless binge-watching.

This winter brings major theatrical releases and highly anticipated streaming premieres, making it the perfect time to cozy up with loved ones and dive into binge-worthy holiday entertainment. Whether it's new Christmas movies to watch, the best Netflix holiday releases, or the most talked-about new TV shows of 2025, this guide covers it all.

This year’s holiday lineup is packed with must-see entertainment. After the gifts are unwrapped and the dinner is gone, here are the best holiday movies and series to stream in 2025.

The Must-Watch Series' to Stream During the Holidays

The holiday season is prime time for catching up on new shows, and 2025’s TV lineup delivers big moments and bigger stars.

Sterling K. Brown continues his reign as one of television’s most gripping performers. After moving audiences for years with This Is Us, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the political thriller Paradise. Season 2, arriving on Hulu in early 2026, adds Shailene Woodley to the cast, promising even higher stakes and sharper twists. For viewers who like substance with their suspense, this one is worth the wait.

For longtime fans, Stranger Things Season 5 is the ultimate holiday gift. The highly anticipated final season of the global phenomenon lands on Netflix in a dramatic, multi-part rollout:

First four episodes: November 26
Next three episodes: December 25
Final episode: December 31

It’s a nostalgic, supernatural farewell that’s guaranteed to dominate holiday conversations and search trends.

Best New Holiday Movies Coming to Theatres & Streaming

Nothing says “holiday break” like a movie marathon, and this year’s new film releases offer everything from cozy family fun to explosive blockbusters.

Avatar: Fire and Ash (In Theatres, December 19, 2025)

James Cameron returns to Pandora with Avatar: Fire and Ash, one of the most anticipated theatrical releases of the year. Perfect for families and fan

s of visually stunning adventure films, this installment delivers action, heart, and cinematic spectacle. Grab the kids and head to the theatres f

or a very good afternoon out.

Red One (Amazon Prime Video)

If you’re looking for a blockbuster Christmas movie packed with action and comedy, Red One delivers. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, this over-the-top holiday adventure blends explosive action with festive fun. Think: wild chases, reimagined North Pole chaos, and a high-energy twist on saving Christmas. Neither Johnson or Evans are strangers to the Hollywood holiday movies extravaganza and shouldn’t leave families disappointed in front of their televisions this season.

Best. Christmas. Ever! (Netflix)

For viewers craving a feel-good holiday rom-com with adult humor, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham and Brandy Norwood. It’s warm, messy, and made for streaming while wrapping gifts or sipping cocoa. Best. Christmas. Ever. is a heartwarming piece that captures all things lovable about the season: friendship, forgiveness, and the occasional festive crash out. Not to mention, a fair share of ugly sweaters. Early reviews indicate this Netflix VOD may not be the most appropriate for those of a delicate age, but the adults should appreciate it. Imagine: a Hallmark Christmas special with a side of raunch. It’s the perfect film to stream while wrapping gifts or sipping hot cocoa.

The Housemaid (In Theatres, December 19, 2025)

Based on the bestselling novel by Freida McFadden, The Housemaid stars Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in a psychological thriller about secrets, power, and obsession. Directed by Paul Feig, this dark holiday release should add suspense to the season, but sadly, there isn’t much fanfare for the new flick, where a struggling young woman named Millie (Sweeney) takes a live-in housemaid position for a wealthy couple, and soon discovers their seemingly perfect life is filled with dark secrets.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Square Pants (Paramount Pictures)

Perfect for younger viewers, this animated adventure brings SpongeBob SquarePants (Tom Kenny) back to the big screen. Featuring Mark Hamill as The Flying Dutchman, the film promises laughs, heart, and holiday-friendly fun. Based on the very popular children’s animated series, this iteration is highly rated by critics and is anticipated to bring in major holiday bank for Paramount Pictures as SpongeBob going on a seafaring adventure to the deepest depths of the ocean is sure to be a hit with the kiddos.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

Arriving on December 12, this new installment in the Knives Out universe stars Daniel Craig, Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, and Jeremy Renner. Expect clever twists, star power, and a mystery perfect for family viewing nights. The next installment of Knives Out movies series is sure to brighten up the holidays because Knives Out mysteries are made up of all the good things that make movies and the holidays memorable and enjoyable.

Horror & Thriller Picks for Winter 2025–2026

Horror is big. Like huggeee. For the fans of darker holiday viewing, this season delivers major franchise returns:

Scream 7 (In theatres February 27, 2026) brings back the iconic slasher franchise for another bloody chapter. No slasher-comedy-horror flick franchise was bigger in recent years than Scream. It revived careers and gave audiences an iconic Halloween mask recognizable the world over, on par with Jason, Freddie, or Pennywise.

Return to Silent Hill (January 2026), based on the legendary video game, is a gothic horror romance starring Jeremy Irvine. The third installment of the psychological horror film is giving jump scares and dark, twisted fantasy.

These releases extend spooky season deep into winter for horror fans searching for the best new horror movies of 2025 and 2026.

Classic Holiday Comfort Movies Worth Rewatching

Even with all the new releases, no holiday season is complete without revisiting fan favorites. Some traditions deserve a rewatch, and there are a few holiday comfort classics that never miss. These are timeless, binge-worthy holiday classics:

Love Actually – A go-to holiday romantic comedy
The Holiday – A festive comfort classic
Klaus (Netflix) – A modern animated Christmas favorite
Knives Out and Glass Onion – Perfect family mystery nights
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – A must-watch family tradition
The Shining – For those who like their holidays with a darker edge

Final Thoughts: What to Watch This Christmas

From heartfelt romances and family-friendly animations to psychological thrillers and action-packed blockbusters, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best years for holiday movies and TV shows. From heartfelt musicals to thrilling dramas, this holiday season offers something for every mood.

Whether it’s streaming at home or heading to the theatre, this is the time to discover the best holiday movies and new series’ of 2025. There are holiday blockbusters and new series’, and the lineup has something for every mood. It could be a solo binge or a marathon with family and friends; in any event, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for holiday entertainment. Grab a blanket, pour a mug of cocoa (or something stronger), and press play — the holiday streaming guide 2025 starts now!

The 2025 holiday streaming guide makes it easy to find what to watch.