There is just something about winter that makes everything feel a little softer. From those last few weeks of November, the world sort of slows down. Maybe it’s the fairy lights in people’s windows, maybe it’s the smell of hot chocolate everywhere, maybe it’s watching all boyfriends gently drape their jackets over their girl, or maybe it’s the fact that every year, around this time, we all turn into hopeless romantics again.
Suddenly, we’re craving cozy nights in, a fuzzy blanket, and a rom-com that makes us believe in love just enough to survive finals season and hold onto hope for our own love story (hopefully by the time this season rolls around again next year).
So if you’re in your “curl-up and feel things era,” here’s your list of Christmas movies to rewatch this winter.
- LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
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This movie isn’t just a classic; it’s a whole experience. Every love story they show is different. Here, love gets messy, awkward, raw, and brutally honest. From secret crushes and wild confessions to last-minute desperate sprints through the airport, this film is packing it all. It’s a reminder that love isn’t perfect, but it always shows up.
- THE HOLIDAY (2006)
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Two countries. Two houses. Two love stories. This movie is about two women who decide to switch homes for the holidays and step into relationships they would’ve never expected. With its cottage-core vibes, the soft piano music, and snow, this movie feels like permission to start over. Watching it will make you believe that new chapters truly begin when we least expect them, so have hope and be open to new experiences.
- LAST CHRISTMAS (2019)
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When you press play, this may seem like another typical light-hearted rom-com full of cliches and predictable plotlines, but it’s so much more. This movie teaches you how to heal after you feel like your heart has been shattered, and how to let people in, even though you fear being vulnerable again. Memories of this movie will stay with you long after the credits roll.
- SERENDIPITY (2001)
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For all of us who still yearn for a “meant to be” kind of situation, this movie will make you believe that the universe has a plan for you. It’s about wrong timings, missed connections, and fate working as Santa’s secret elves. This is the kind of film that makes you stare dramatically (and wistfully) outside a window afterward.
- A CHRISTMAS PRINCE (2017)
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A prince. A journalist. A fake-but-not-fake relationship. This is one for my hopeless romantics to feast on. It’s predictable and dramatic, but that’s honestly part of its charm. Sometimes you don’t want a realistic love story; you want royalty and a Christmas miracle.
- SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY’S (2022)
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This movie is chaos wrapped in romance. A mix-up at Tiffany’s suddenly sends everyone’s heart in the wrong direction — until the right one weaves its path through. It’s fate with a sparkly filter, reminding us that even a relationship that feels permanent may not be the right one. You haven’t yet met everyone who’s going to love you.
- HOLIDATE (2020)
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This one is for the girls who, like me, are obsessed with the fake-dating-to-lovers trope. It’s funny, chaotic, and low-pressure. But behind the jokes, there is a story about choosing someone even when it’s scary. It’s proof that sometimes love can grow in the most unexpected ways. This film is perfectly tied together with a rom-com fan favorite: the grand gesture.
So here’s your sign to romanticize your life this winter. Open your laptop and let someone else fall in love first.
Then, believe that it can happen for you too!
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