You’ve probably noticed it. Every December, there's this weird, unspoken tug-of-war between Netflix's endless conveyor belt of small-town bakery romances and the polished, almost "prestige" vibe of Apple TV Christmas movies. It’s a different energy. Honestly, while other platforms go for quantity, Apple seems to be betting on the idea that you’d rather watch one Ryan Reynolds musical ten times than scroll through fifty movies about a prince in disguise.
But let’s be real. Finding the good stuff on the Apple TV+ interface can sometimes feel like trying to find a specific ornament in a box of tangled lights.
The Weird, Wonderful World of Apple TV Christmas Movies
If we’re talking about the heavy hitters, we have to start with Spirited. It’s basically the flagship of Apple TV Christmas movies. When it first dropped in 2022, people were skeptical. Do we really need another A Christmas Carol adaptation? Probably not. But then you see Will Ferrell as the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ryan Reynolds as a cynical PR exec, and suddenly, it works.
What’s interesting is that it’s a full-blown musical. Not just "actors humming a tune," but massive, Broadway-style production numbers choreographed by Chloe Arnold. It’s loud, it’s chaotic, and it’s surprisingly self-aware about how annoying Christmas can be. If you haven’t seen the "Good Afternoon" sequence, you're missing out on the most polite way to tell someone to go jump in a lake. It’s the kind of movie that feels expensive because it was—reports put the budget somewhere north of $75 million.
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The Animated Gems You Probably Missed
Then there’s the short-form stuff. If you want to actually cry into your cocoa, you watch The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. It’s only about 30 minutes long, but it won an Oscar for a reason. The animation looks like a sketchbook come to life. It isn't a "Christmas movie" in the traditional sense of Santa and reindeer, but it’s become a staple of the Apple holiday lineup because it hits those themes of kindness and home that feel right in December.
And we can't ignore the Peanuts. Apple basically has a monopoly on Charlie Brown now.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas: The 1965 GOAT. For a few years, people were mad it left broadcast TV, but Apple usually opens a "free window" for a weekend in mid-December so everyone can watch it without a subscription.
- I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown: A deeper cut focusing on Linus and Lucy's little brother, Rerun.
- For Auld Lang Syne: A newer special that deals with New Year's Eve and the crushing realization that sometimes the holidays don't live up to the hype.
What’s New for the 2025-2026 Season?
Apple just doubled down on its holiday slate. They’ve realized that people want "event" television. This year, the big noise is around The Family Plan 2. The first one was a massive hit for them (even if the critics weren't exactly over the moon), and the sequel is a full-blown holiday road trip to Europe. Mark Wahlberg’s retired assassin character is just trying to have a nice Christmas in the Alps while, you know, not getting murdered. It’s basically Christmas Vacation meets Bourne Identity.
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We also got The First Snow of Fraggle Rock in late 2025. For the Gen X parents out there, this is pure nostalgia bait. It’s got the Jim Henson puppets, big musical numbers, and a cameo by Lele Pons. It’s colorful and weird in the best way possible.
The Musical Specials (The Waddingham Effect)
I have to mention Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas. If you loved Ted Lasso, this is basically a reunion. She’s got a voice that could shatter glass in the best way, and she brings out Leslie Odom Jr. and Phil Dunster for these huge, glitzy performances at the London Coliseum. It feels like an old-school variety show from the 70s but with a much higher wardrobe budget.
It’s a better pick than the Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special from a few years ago, which—let’s be honest—was a little bit of a fever dream. Mariah’s special is still there if you want to see Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson do a "Mean Girls" style whistle-note battle, but Waddingham feels more like a warm hug.
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Why People Choose Apple Over the Competition
A big misconception is that Apple doesn't have enough content. People say, "Oh, I'll just get it for a month, watch Spirited, and cancel." But the quality-to-noise ratio is actually pretty high. You don't have to wade through the "Christmas in the Rockies" or "A Gingerbread Romance" filler that clogs up other services.
Everything on Apple TV+ looks incredible. They use high-bitrate 4K and Dolby Vision for almost everything. When you're watching the lights twinkle in a movie like The Velveteen Rabbit (the 2023 version), it actually looks like a movie, not a filmed stage play.
Practical Steps for Your Holiday Binge
If you’re planning to dive into the world of Apple TV Christmas movies this week, here is the move:
- Check for the Free Windows: Apple usually makes the Peanuts classics free for a 48-hour window around mid-December. Keep an eye on the Apple TV app banner; you don't even need a credit card sometimes, just an Apple ID.
- The "Ted Lasso" Holiday Hack: If you want a "movie" experience without a 2-hour commitment, watch the Ted Lasso episode "Carol of the Bells" (Season 2, Episode 4). It’s 30 minutes of pure serotonin and works perfectly as a standalone film.
- Bundle Up: If you already pay for iCloud storage or Apple Music, look into Apple One. It usually makes the TV subscription essentially free, which is the best way to justify the $9.99 price tag just for some holiday cheer.
- Set the Mood: If you have an Apple TV 4K box, use the "Snoopy" screensaver. It changes based on the time of day and the season, and it’s basically a living Christmas card for your living room.
The landscape is shifting. We’re moving away from the era of "any holiday movie will do" to a space where we actually want something that sticks. Whether it's the snarky songs of Spirited or the quiet, hand-drawn beauty of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Apple has carved out a niche that’s less about the "baking contest" trope and more about the actual feeling of the season.
Start with the Waddingham special for the vibes, hit Spirited for the laughs, and finish with Charlie Brown to keep the tradition alive. It’s a solid rotation that covers all the bases without making you feel like you’ve eaten too much tinsel.