Chad Michael Murray New Christmas Movie: What Really Happened with Joy to the World

If you’ve been on the internet lately, you know the drill. Every November, like clockwork, a former teen heartthrob emerges from the snowy mist to save a small-town gazebo or a failing bakery. But things took a weirdly "spicy" turn recently. We need to talk about the Chad Michael Murray new Christmas movie trajectory because it has shifted from Hallmark-adjacent sweetness to something... well, a lot more muscular.

Honestly, if you missed the chaos of The Merry Gentlemen on Netflix, you missed a cultural reset in the holiday rom-com world. But as we move deeper into 2026, the conversation has shifted toward his latest Hulu project, Joy to the World. People are confused. Is he still doing the "Magic Mike" thing? Is he back to being the sensitive guy from One Tree Hill?

The truth is a bit of both.

Why The Merry Gentlemen Changed Everything

Let’s be real. Nobody expected Lucas Scott to spend a holiday movie doing body rolls. When The Merry Gentlemen dropped in late 2024, it basically broke the "cozy" formula. The plot was simple: Britt Robertson plays Ashley, a dancer who returns home to save her parents’ venue, The Rhythm Room. To pay off a $30,000 debt, she stages an all-male Christmas revue.

Chad played Luke. He was a contractor. He was also, apparently, shredded.

It wasn't just another cheesy flick; it was a self-aware riff on the genre. Critics weren't exactly kind—Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 44%—but the audience didn't care. They weren't there for the script. They were there for the spectacle. It proved that Chad Michael Murray has moved into a new phase of his career: the "Legacy Heartthrob" who isn't afraid to poke fun at his own image.

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Joy to the World: The 2025/2026 Pivot

Fast forward to his most recent release, Joy to the World, which hit Hulu and Disney+ late last year. If you haven't seen it yet, it’s a total 180 from the stripping contractor vibe.

In this one, he stars alongside Emmanuelle Chriqui (best known from Entourage). The premise is actually kind of wild. Chriqui plays Joy Edwards, a lifestyle guru who built an entire empire on a lie. She’s supposed to be this "perfect" family woman, but she’s actually single and childless. When she has to host a live TV special on Christmas Eve, she panics.

Enter Chad’s character. He’s her ex-boyfriend who ends up posing as her husband.

• The Fake Dating Trope: It’s a classic for a reason.
• The Chemistry: Fans on X (formerly Twitter) have been losing it over the sparks between Chad and Emmanuelle.
• The Cast: You’ve also got Ayesha Curry in the mix, adding some extra star power.

It feels more like a traditional rom-com than the Netflix "Magic Mike" experiment, but it keeps that biting, modern edge. It’s funny. It’s a little cynical. Basically, it’s the perfect evolution for an actor who has been doing this since 1999.

What Most People Get Wrong About His Holiday "Run"

There is a huge misconception that Chad Michael Murray just recently started doing Christmas movies to pay the bills. That’s just not true. He’s actually a veteran of the genre.

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Most people don't realize that The Merry Gentlemen was actually his eighth holiday film since 2019. He has been building this empire for years with titles like Too Close for Christmas, Angel Falls Christmas, and Write Before Christmas. He’s not a guest in this genre; he’s the king of it.

The difference now is the budget and the platform. He’s moved from "low-budget cable movie" to "major streaming tentpole."

What’s Next: Freakier Friday and Beyond

So, what are we looking at for the rest of 2026?

First off, the "nostalgia tour" is in full swing. He’s been busy filming Freakier Friday (the Freaky Friday sequel) with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. He’s reprising his role as Jake. He even described the set as a "high school reunion."

There have also been massive rumors—mostly fueled by Chad himself—about a Christmas movie specifically starring him and Lindsay Lohan. He’s gone on record saying he wants to make it happen. Given how well Netflix’s Our Little Secret did for Lindsay, a CMM/Lohan holiday collab would probably break the internet.

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Actionable Ways to Catch Up

If you want to dive into the Chad Michael Murray holiday cinematic universe, don't just watch whatever is on the home screen. Follow this path:

1. Watch "The Merry Gentlemen" (Netflix): Do this if you want the high-energy, shirtless-dancing, "I can't believe they made this" experience.
2. Stream "Joy to the World" (Hulu/Disney+): Watch this for the actual romantic chemistry and the fake-dating plotline.
3. Go Retro with "Write Before Christmas": This is a Hallmark classic that shows his more traditional "sweetheart" side.

Basically, the Chad Michael Murray new Christmas movie isn't just a single film anymore—it's an annual event. Whether he's a contractor in a santa hat or a fake husband for a lifestyle guru, he's found a way to stay relevant while everyone else from the 2000s is fading away.

Check the Hulu "Holiday" hub for Joy to the World if you want to see if he and Emmanuelle Chriqui actually end up together (no spoilers, but come on, it's Christmas).

Next Step: You should check your Hulu subscription status, as Joy to the World is currently featured in their "Best of 2025" winter recap section. If you're looking for the Netflix side of things, The Merry Gentlemen remains one of their most-watched seasonal titles.