Top 10 Things To Watch On Netflix This Holiday Season

If you can’t make it to The Big Apple for the latest edition of this live musical featuring the high-steppin’ Rockettes, then why not enjoy it from the comfort of your own home? For decades, the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” has been a holiday tradition, mixing dance, music and family-friendly comedy. With its energy and festive production design, the Spectacular ensures that you won’t get sleepy after too much eggnog and sticky puddings. Just don’t try to imitate the Rockettes’ dance moves when you have a belly full of turkey…

Homeless and seemingly helpless, Hector McAdam is a grizzled Scottish vagabond. Every Christmas, he travels to London, and his backstory is the central mystery of Jake Gavin’s emotional drama. This holiday film is all about life’s (sometimes brutal) ups and downs, along with the relationships that mold our perspectives. In “Hector,” some plot points are more cryptic than others, making it a film that requires some viewing patience. But if you’re willing to take this journey with Hector, you’ll be rewarded with an ultimately touching and inspiring story, one that’s filled with holiday hope for the future.

Here’s a low-budget indie comedy-drama that will expand your mind and might warm your heart. Shot entirely on three iPhone 5s phones, Sean Baker’s “Tangerine” is a unique holiday film with a timely premise. Set in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, it explores relationships, friendships and betrayal, centering around a trans sex worker dealing with the revelation that her pimp boyfriend has not been faithful. It’s certainly not for all ages, but for adult viewers,“Tangerine” is a poignant holiday Netflix movie that will spark discussions about modern societal issues and filmmaking in general.

#7: “Black Mirror” (2011-) “White Christmas” (2014)

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In this special holiday episode of Charlie Brooker’s thought-provoking series, Jon Hamm plays a futuristic man with a secret plan. This holiday narrative is divided in three parts, all of which are connected to the mysterious opening sequence. Like other “Black Mirror” episodes, “White Christmas” explores digital and moral concepts, leading viewers to question the characters’ intent, along with the subtext of each scene. This Christmas special will most definitely blow your mind, and it will also make you think about all the little things that can be taken for granted during the holidays.

#6: “A Very Murray Christmas” (2015)

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For Bill Murray fans, this holiday special is a must-watch. But for those not familiar with the comedy icon, it’s the perfect way to familiarize yourself with his decidedly oddball brand of humor (and crooning). For decades, Murray has managed to stay relevant in pop culture, and “A Very Murray Christmas” showcases his charm and appeal. It’s directed by Sofia Coppola, and features memorable appearances from stars like Miley Cyrus and George Clooney, along with numerous A-list comedians. This meta-comedy special about Murray performing a Christmas holiday special is worth an hour of your holiday time, and maybe even multiple viewings as well.

#5: “Bad Santa” (2003)

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Don’t let the festive costume design fool you, because this Christmas film is anything but 100 % jolly. In Terry Zwigoff’s R-rated comedy, Billy Bob Thornton plays one very crude thief who poses as a department store Santa. Despite Santa’s gruff demeanor, a young boy still believes in his Saint Nick potential, and therein lies the beauty of this laugh-out-loud Christmas flick. If you’re a fan of profanity, then pour an adult beverage and kick back to watch a truly Bad Santa at work. You may even want to pour an extra glass and check out the sequel, “Bad Santa 2.”

#4: “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)

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With Jim Carrey in the leading role, this blockbuster builds upon the original animated 1966 adaptation of the beloved children’s book. In this version, the production design is bigger and better, with live action bringing Whoville fully to life. It’s faithful to the original themes, but the dialogue and pacing are revamped and updated for a new generation of Dr. Seuss fans. If you need a heavy jolt of nostalgic holiday fun, Ron Howard’s film gets the job done. Carrey is delightfully over-the-top (as usual) and the production values pull you into an incredible world.

#3: “White Christmas” (1954)

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While this classic Hollywood film may be a little (or a lot) dated, it’s most definitely loaded up with holiday spirit. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play World War II vets who fall in love with a sister act, played by Vera-Ellen and George Clooney’s famous singing aunt, Rosemary Clooney. The musical numbers are quite charming (including a new version of the title track), and are complemented wonderfully by the romantic storyline which centers around, naturally, putting on a Christmas show. If you’re a holiday movie buff, there’s “snow doubt” you need to find time for the enduring classic that is “White Christmas.”

There’s something strange going in Kingston Falls, and it has nothing to do with Santa or mischievous elves. Truly an ‘80s classic, “Gremlins” is a dark comedy about little monsters that ruin everybody’s Christmas chill. After Billy Peltzer receives a bizarre pet creature called a mogwai, an inadvertent breaking of the rules of how to care for it leads to the spawning of evil mogwai gremlins, who continue to replicate. This not-exactly-typical holiday movie features much shocking violence, so it’s not exavctly suitable for kids. But for mature viewers that are looking for an original Christmas-themed flick, this one has plenty of holiday flair (and blood). Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Trading Places” (1983) “Happy Christmas” (2014) “A Christmas Horror Story” (2015)

#1: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)

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This fantastical holiday film is dark, yet still fairly family-friendly. (Well, maybe family-friendly adjacent.) What happens when the “Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town ventures into Christmas Town in search of new meaning in his life? Well, in this cinematic world, pure chaos ensues, as Yuletide values don’t exactly agree with the ghoulish, scary habits of the Halloween Town locals. With a story from visionary Tim Burton, this modern classic, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, will draw you in with stunning and innovative stop-motion that still thrills over two decades after the film’s creation.