TELEVISION: Streaming services are ready for the holidays

“Spirited” stars Ryan Reynolds (left) and Will Ferrell and debuts Friday on Apple TV+. (Courtesy of Apple TV+/TNS)
“Spirited” stars Ryan Reynolds (left) and Will Ferrell and debuts Friday on Apple TV+. (Courtesy of Apple TV+/TNS)


Streamers like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and more are getting into the holiday spirit early this season, with merry and bright new movies releasing now through the end of the year.

Apple TV+

"Spirited": This musical upending of "A Christmas Carol" finds the Ghost of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) finding the wrong Scrooge in Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds) who instead ends up re-examining his own past, present and future. Streaming Friday.

Discovery+

"A Christmas Open House": Sparks fly when Atlanta property stager Melissa Norwood (Katie Stevens) reconnects with her old high school crush, real estate agent David Phelps (Victor Rasuk), to sell her mom's old home before the holidays. However, complications arise and with the Christmas deadline looming, will these two find their happily ever after in time for the holidays? Now streaming.

"Designing Christmas": Interior designer Stella (Jessica Szohr) harbors complicated feelings for contractor Pablo (Marco Grazzini) who co-hosts a popular home renovation show with her. Although Stella is planning her wedding with fiance Jack (Mykee Selkin), Stella is having second thoughts. Now streaming.

"A Gingerbread Christmas": Hazel Stanley (Tiya Sircar) is hoping to save the family bakery by winning $100,000 in a gingerbread house competition led by food celebrity Mark Clemmons (Duff Goldman). However, will an unexpected romance with local contractor James Meadows (Marc Bendavid) tear everything apart? Now streaming.

"One Delicious Christmas": Abby Richmond (Vanessa Marano) inherits a struggling restaurant and needs to secure an investment from restaurant mogul Alexandra Grandfield (Kathy Maloney) to keep it going in the wake of a bad review by Tom Kingsley (Bobby Flay). In response, Abby hires hot-shot chef Preston Weaver (Alex Mallari Jr.) to shake up the menu, and finds love burning in the kitchen. Now streaming.

Disney+

"The Santa Clauses": The fan favorite series starring Tim Allen as Scott Calvin returns, with Calvin realizing that he can't be Santa forever, setting out to find a suitable replacement while preparing his family for a new adventure in a life south of the pole. Now streaming.

"The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special": The Guardians of the Galaxy get into holiday high jinks, which include getting Star-Lord the perfect gift. Streaming Nov. 25

HBO Max

"A Christmas Story Christmas": Peter Billingsley returns as Ralphie, who returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up. Now streaming.

"A Christmas Mystery": Magical Christmas bells, which have protected a small Oregon town for a century, are missing, and it's up to a group of intrepid kids to solve the case, find the bells and restore the Christmas magic. Streaming Nov. 24

"Holiday Harmony": Singer-songwriter Gail is on her way to compete in an iHeartRadio Christmas competition but then her car gets stuck in Oklahoma. While there, she meets local jack-of-all-trades Jeremy and mentors a group of misfit kids hoping to perform in a Christmas Eve gala of their own. Gail and Jeremy grow close, and Gail wonders if she can leave this new town behind to pursue her dream. Streaming Nov. 24

"A Hollywood Christmas": Up-and-coming filmmaker Jessica has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies, but when network executive Christopher shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica's assistant Reena points out the irony: Jessica isn't just trying to save her Christmas movie, she's actually living in one. Streaming Dec. 1

Netflix

"Falling for Christmas": Lindsay Lohan stars as a hotel heiress who suffers total amnesia after a skiing accident and finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar lodge owner (Chord Overstreet) and his young daughter in the days leading up to Christmas. Now streaming.

"Christmas With You": Feeling career burnout, pop star Angelina (Aimee Garcia) escapes to grant a young fan's wish in small town New York, where she not only finds the inspiration to revitalize her career but also a shot at true love with a local music teacher (Freddie Prinze Jr.). Now streaming.

"The Noel Diary": Bestselling author Jake Turner (Justin Hartley) discovers a diary in his mother's old house at Christmas that may hold secrets to his own past and that of Rachel (Barrett Doss), an intriguing young woman on a mission of her own. Streaming Nov. 24

"Scrooge: A Christmas Carol": An animated, musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless tale starring Luke Evans, Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Jonathan Pryce. Streaming Dec. 2

Peacock

"Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas": A modern-day movie musical about the making of a network TV special, this special finds Parton taking a private journey into her past, guided by the mysterious appearances of her personal Three Wise Men. Streaming Dec. 2.

Prime Video

"Something From Tiffany's": Rachel and Gary (Zoey Deutch, Ray Nicholson) are a happy New York couple not quite ready for that big commitment. However, when a gift mix-up with another couple causes all of their paths to cross, it sets off a series of twists and unexpected discoveries. Streaming Dec. 9.


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