If You Watch One Holiday Movie This Weekend: Netflix's Meet Me Next Christmas Is Our Pick

With Hallmark Channel's annual Countdown to Christmas and Great American Family's Great American Christmas now in full swing, and Lifetime and other networks loading their sleighs, we're here once again to help you choose between the season's many offerings. Each Thursday, we'll spotlight the original holiday movie that should be at the top of your weekend list and preview why other debuts will make you merry.

THE ONE TO WATCH

Meet Me Next Christmas
(Streaming now on Netflix)

Netflix rings in its festive season with this escapist charmer, the first of five premieres for the streamer. Christina Milian stars as Layla, who vibes with dashing stranger James (Kofi Siriboe) in an airport lounge during a lengthy delay. Because she's happy in her current relationship, they don't exchange last names or numbers (how very Serendipity of them). Instead, they agree to meet at Pentatonix's Christmas Eve concert next year if they're both single. Fast-forward to Layla discovering her boyfriend cheating days before Christmas, deciding she'll do whatever it takes to score a ticket to that now sold-out show, and enlisting the help of a personal concierge, Teddy (Devale Ellis), who's frantic enough to try DMing the a cappella group to ask them to "help make an Xmas miracle happen."

As Layla and Teddy, who have their own brief history, chase down leads across New York City — a shady scalper, a filthy rich couple who only wants them to pick up a limited edition Chanel purse in exchange, and a lip-synching contest with tickets for the prize — the members of Pentatonix become invested in the drama from afar. While not quite as great as Celine Dion being instrumental in 2023's Love Again, their game involvement makes for plenty of fun jokes and a swoonworthy ending.

Kalen Allen emerges as a scene-stealer as Teddy's cousin Jordy, who choreographs the pair's naughty lip synch in a training montage not to be missed. And, as you'd expect, Pentatonix features heavily on the soundtrack. Remember that, so you're not like my friend, who, upon hearing a gorgeous rendition of "Hallelujah" in the background, asked, "Who's singing this version? Because it's good." I legitimately had to press pause for laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdGiO-zZC_o

Fans of Hallmark's destination movies will likely agree that our runner-up pick, 'Tis the Season to Be Irish (premieres Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel), is one of the best at transporting you abroad. The scenery is stunning and plentiful, the hearts are open and warm. Traveling house flipper Rose (The Good Doctor's Fiona Gubelmann), whose late mother used to say Ireland is the place dreams come true, chooses a seaside cottage as her next job. When she arrives, she sees it needs way more work than expected and that realtor Sean (Eoin Macken, of La Brea and The Night Shift) is also the preservationist who'll be overseeing her renovations. Conversations run deep between Rose and Sean about what keeps her moving and why he stays put, and between Rose and the women she befriends (a welcome layer that rings true). You can also expect: a charming plot point involving a rogue sheep, the requisite fairy lore and pub outing, a total disregard for the number of coats Rose could have packed in her one suitcase, and a commendable awareness of how handsome Macken looks in blue.

The Best of the Rest...

Santa Tell Me (premieres Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel)
When Calls the Heart's Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing get a second chance at on-screen love in this mini all-star rom-com. She plays interior designer Olivia, who thinks her biggest worry this Christmas will be filming a live home makeover TV special with new producer Chris (Lissing)... until she finds a letter from Santa saying she'll meet her soulmate, named Nick, by Christmas. Cue three meet-cutes with pediatric neurosurgeon Nick A. (Benjamin Ayres), furniture designer Nick B. (Christopher Russell) and firefighter Nick C. (Kurt Szarka) — and the letter updating to warn her that if she chooses the wrong guy, she'll lose her true love forever. Harsh, Santa!

Trivia at St. Nick's (premieres Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel)
Pretty Little Liars costars Tammin Sursok and Brant Daugherty reunite for this opposites-attract tale for the Taylor Swift Era. Astronomy professor Celeste isn't thrilled when she's forced to add Max, the football team's new offensive coordinator, to her team for the annual Christmas-themed bar trivia tournament she's desperate to finally win. But it turns out his sports knowledge, bonding exercises, curiosity about the arctic, and sexy sweater collection are exactly what she needed all along. 

Christmas Under the Northern Lights (premieres Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 pm on Great American Family)
Here's a timely flick for anyone who's been aurora hunting in their backyard this year. Urban historian Erin (Jill Wagner) goes in search of the northern lights — and her next book idea — on a holiday trip with her father Doug (Bruce Boxleitner) to potentially sell his childhood home in Aurora, Canada. While Dad reconnects with old friends (including realtor Lori, played by Lauren Holly), eager Erin learns the value of unique experiences and patience from private tour guide Trevor (Jesse Hutch, who has a lovely way of making you think he's playing an angel even when he isn't).

Unwrapping Christmas: Tina's Miracle (Streaming now on Hallmark+)
You'll just have to accept that four friends could keep a gift-wrapping store afloat in today's economy. In the opening installment of a four-film collection (dropping weekly), perfectionist Tina (Natalie Hall) takes lead on the shop's sponsorship of St. Paul's annual Christmas Gala. The problem, aside from everyone needing a date, is that they're about to lose their historic venue unless Tina can convince the estate's owner, businessman Michael (Alec Santos), not to sell the property. Of course, widower dad Michael is far from the Scrooge he seems, and Tina, who has trust issues from her ex-fiancé, is reminded some risks are worth taking.

Five Gold Rings (premiering Thursday, Nov. 7 at 8 pm and repeating Sunday, Nov. 10 at 6 pm on Hallmark Mystery)
Blocked painter Audrey (Holland Roden) heads back to her Minnesota hometown for the holidays and receives one last present from her late beloved Grandma, a beachcombing antique store owner: a quest to return five gold rings (rather, various forms of circular jewelry) to their owners by Christmas morning with the help of pun-loving private eye Finn (Nolan Gerard Funk). The sentimental journey comes with its share of sweet tissue moments and the opportunity for Finn to catch the one who got away. 

A Christmas Miracle (streaming now on BET+)
When the budget for the annual holiday jubilee is slashed, and the community center where it's hosted is threatened by a proposed commercial district, Roz (Noree Victoria) rallies her family and friends to save both. Along the way, long lost loves (played by Aaron D. Spears and Michelle Lamb) reconnect as adults; Roz's lusty sister Lisa (Tiffany M. Snow) fights, then flirts with stoic James (Kenneth Okolie); and the siblings discover their mother (Victoria Rowell) isn't as lonely as they think. You'll be chanting "Mama got a man! Mama got a man!" with them.