If you’re looking for movies to stream, solo or with the family, this holiday season, then look no further than this list. Here are 10 new holiday movies featuring Black actors in prominent roles that you should be streaming as soon as you can.
1. High on the Hog 2
Netflix
Nov 22
High on the Hog 2 is the follow up to Stephen Statterfield’s award-winning 2021 documentary about the origins and impact of African American cuisine. In season two, Satterfield takes a deeper look at how African American cuisine has transformed communities by fueling social justice movements, creative movements and inspiring culinary ingenuity in the United States.
2. Dashing Through the Snow
Disney Plus
Nov 22
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges plays Eddie Garrick, a man who doesn’t believe in Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. His estranged wife (Teyonah Parris) requests that he take their 8-year-old daughter out on Christmas Eve. From there, they meet a man named Nick (Lil Rel Howery), who is very reminiscent of Santa Claus and that’s when the magical journey begins to restore Eddie’s faith.
3. Best Christmas Ever!
Netflix
Nov 16
Charlotte (Heather Graham) and her family accidentally end up at her old college friend Jackie’s (Brandy Norwood) home just a few days before Christmas when GPS sends them to the wrong address. Jackie and Charlotte haven’t spoken in years, but Jacky welcoming Charlotte and her family to her home brings up some self-doubt for Charlotte, who has always felt that Jackie lived a perfect life. Jackie’s life does seem pretty sweet but in the middle of this fiasco is a lesson for Charlotte in honoring her own life’s journey and rekindling friendship.
4. Yes, Chef! Christmas
Lifetime
Dec 10
https://play.mylifetime.com/movies/yes-chef-christmas/preview-yes-chef-christmas
Yes, Chef! Christmas centers around Alicia (Tia Mowry), a culinary school instructor who had to put her career goals on pause because life be lifing. However, when she’s invited to compete in the city’s annual cook-off, she discovers a family secret that could change the trajectory of her career and make her seemingly lost dreams come true.
5. The Christmas Ringer
BET +
Nov 30
You know we love a good Christmas musical, and that’s what you’re going to get here. Tyler Lepley, Tamika Scott (of Xscape), Chrisette Michele, Kelly Price and more come together for The Christmas Ringer. This film centers around the life of a singer who was once on top of the world, known as the “Princess of Christmas.” However, when her career falls off after being derailed by her manager/fiance, she heads to her family’s home for the holidays where her mother convinces her to help their church choir win a Christmas Choir Competition. Obviously, there will be a lot of lessons learned about faith and restoration along the way.
6. Candy Cane Lane
Prime Video
Dec 1
Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross star in this holiday movie with a light-weight horror twist as a man who falls for the scheme of an evil elf and literally signs his life away. The elf promises that he’ll win the neighborhood Christmas light competition for a price he doesn’t read in the fine print – she will eventually turn him into a living Christmas toy. Now the other living toys, who fell for the elf’s machinations, plus the man’s family have to help him keep his body and soul intact.
7. A Royal Surprise Christmas
Hallmark
Nov 30
An engaged couple living in Los Angeles have to navigate tension between the matriarchs of their respective families over the holiday season, while planning their engagement party and trying to figure out how to help their families overcome cultural differences. Things get even more complicated when another “royal surprise” puts the couple’s future in question.
8. Genie
Peacock
Nov 22
Melissa McCarthy is a genie who comes to the aid of Bernie (Paapa Essiedu), a depressed and down on his luck man who has all but given up on life. The pair develop an unexpected friendship as the genie helps Bernie find that spark of life again in the pursuit to win his family back for the holiday season.
9. A Wesley Christmas Wedding
BET+
Nov 3
Jasmine Guy and Dorien Wilson star in this tale about family members reuniting for the holidays and shenanigans ensue. There’s a controlling mother, crazy exes, outcasts reconciling with not being accepted and more as everyone learns the true meaning and importance of family.
10. Sworn Justice, Taken Before Christmas
BET+
Nov 16
This movie is perfect for people who get sick of all the warm fuzzy content around this time of year. It’s a Christmas mystery thriller about a detective and her boyfriend, who is a DA on a mission to save a kidnapped person just before the holidays. Things get tense when they’re locked out of their phones and other devices and must follow the demands of a deranged, anonymous person giving them instructions.
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