Two Different Netflix "Christmas" Series Are Trending on Netflix (And One Will Totally Surprise You)

Two Christmas The series are trending on Netflix and they couldn't be more different. The Netflix library contains a wide variety of Christmas titles. While its slate includes an ever-widening array of acquired films and TV shows that come and go as licensing deals change, its holiday season offerings for 2024 include theatrical titles like A bad mother's Christmas and Trip to Belém as well as a huge slate of Hallmark Channel movies, including Remove the holly, Christmas with a kiss, Christmas in Notting Hill, A Biltmore Christmasand A Merry Scottish Christmas.

However, since the late 2010s, they've also created a huge slate of Netflix original Christmas movies, many of which take place in an interconnected universe. This includes the Princess Swap and A Christmas Prince trilogies, A castle for Christmasand The Knight Before Christmas. However, they also have lots of other holiday themed offerings including festive versions of cooking competition shows such as Nailed it! and Is it cake?as well as original series including Dash and Lilya YA romance starring Austin Abrams and Midori Francis, and Happy happy whatevera sitcom fronted by Dennis Quaid and Bridgit Mendler.

The Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 are trending on Netflix – What are these films about?

The franchise is led by Kurt Russell

The first series that is trending on Netflix is The Christmas Chronicles. The franchise is a duology of films starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus which began with the title of the same name in 2018, which was followed by the sequel The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020. None of the films are technically part of the Netflix holiday film universe, as they do not feature overlapping characters, do not reference any of the fictional European countries in which many of the films take place, and do not feature characters watching films from the franchise.

The 2018 film, directed by Clay Kaytis (The Angry Birds movie) from a script by Matt Lieberman (Free Guy), follows despondent 16-year-old Teddy (Judah Lewis) and his 11-year-old sister Kate (Darby Camp), who have recently lost their father and try to capture Santa Claus while their widowed mother, Claire (Kimberly Williams-Paisley ) is working, only to be swept away on a magical adventure. The sequel, directed by Chris Columbus (Alone at home, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone), who co-wrote the script with Lieberman, follows Kate helping Santa save the North Pole from bitter ex-elf Belsnickel.

The Christmas Chronicles Got Average Reviews - Why Netflix's Christmas Movies Are Still Beloved

Public and critics disagree about the Christmas franchise

General, Critics had a lukewarm reaction to both Christmas Chronicles films. While both films have Fresh scores on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, their ratings are just above the 60% threshold to be considered Fresh. In fact, if only the top critics' scores are included, they are both below the line and have rotten scores. See below for a breakdown of the film's critical reception:

However, the public had a stronger reaction The Christmas Chroniclesgiving it a much higher score of 76%, with many user reviews praising the film for Kurt Russell's performance, its Christmas cheer, and its ability to appeal to the whole family. The sequel has an audience score of 45%, with many users criticizing it for its uneven tone, but it seems that enthusiasm for the first film compelled many viewers this year to complete the marathon despite these misgivings.

The other popular "franchise" on Netflix during Christmas is Digital Fireplaces

Netflix's Yule Logs Are Dominating Streaming

The other series trending on Netflix is ​​not only not part of the Netflix holiday universe, it's surprisingly not even a Christmas movie franchise. It's actually the streamer's collection of festive fireplaces. Unlike 2022 Adult Swimming Yule Log and its follow-up in 2024 Adult Swimming Yule Log 2: Branchingthat tell disturbing horror stories around a roaring fireplace, these titles are simply still photos of fireplaces meant to add holiday comfort to the surrounding environment.

Although there are many other Christmas series available on Netflix, including the popular Christmas Prince and Princess Swap movies, the fact that these fireplaces are trending shows how The evolving landscape of digital media has changed the way many viewers interact with streaming services. In addition to expanding to include interactive storytelling, games, and more non-movie and show features, Netflix has added these audiovisual environment titles to its library, and it's clearly paid off in a unique way.