There was a post going around about how so many recent romantic comedies feel “simultaneously too self-aware and reductive about the genre.” The user went on to explain that the rom-coms of today are either too busy poking fun at the genre or trying so hard not to be a formulaic rom-com (the formula works, don’t mess with it) that they lose the magic of what makes romantic movies so great: a heavy dose of earnestness. These observations are astute, and they confirm our theory about why we all love a cozy, sometimes corny (in the best way) Christmas romance movie. You can’t get more earnest than an overly saccharine plot about a workaholic city woman who reluctantly goes to a small town — sometimes her hometown — during the holidays only to discover, also reluctantly, that the true meaning of the season is to fall in love with a man who works with his hands and usually wears plaid. Or the ones about discovering that there’s more to life than work. Of course, life is about family (where one parent is played by one of our collective Black celebrity aunties like Loretta Devine or Sheryl Lee Ralph), romantic love (the kind that grows over a tight one hour and 30 minute runtime and culminates in a chaste kiss), and Christmas!
Not only do most of these stories go against all our beliefs and values as workaholic women who live in big cities, but they also aren’t as horny as we typically prefer our movies to be. And yet, we all watch them at this time of year. For whatever reason, they hit the spot like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold, snowy, Christmas night. The thing is, there are so many of these movies that sifting through the really bad to get to the good (The Preacher’s Wife, Last Holiday) to the good-bad (let’s be honest, most Hallmark Holiday movies all fall on the so-bad-it’s-good spectrum) can be tough, and a lot of these Best Romantic Holiday Movies roundups are as white as the snow that falls at the most pivotal moments in said films. But as we know, the best Christmas movies are Black. There are the classics (like This Christmas and Best Man Holiday) and in the past few years, we’ve seen a new crop of corny rom-com queens emerge like Kat Graham, Christina Milian, Kelly Rowland, Tia and Tamara Mowry, and BRANDY (!!) just to name a few. So, here’s a breakdown of the best and the most earnest (read: corniest, most comforting, oddly calming) Black Christmas movies you should watch this season.
Where can you watch it? Netflix
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Christmas arrived early this year! Style Me For Christmas stars Raven Goodwin, Mario, and Pretty Vee in a romantic comedy with a refreshing spin. When a struggling boutique owner is on the brink of losing her business, she receives a life-changing opportunity to style a celebrity. Now, she must navigate the glamorous world of fashion, unexpected love, and the true meaning of Christmas.
Where can you watch it? BET+
Where can you watch it? Lifetime
Brewster’s Millions: Christmas captures the heart of the season, reminding us of its deeper meaning. The story centers on Morgan Brewster, portrayed by China Anne McClain, a wealthy heiress who has lost her way and must learn the true meaning of Christmas. As she sets out to secure her grandfather’s inheritance, she embarks on a transformative journey filled with love, faith, and the rediscovery of family bonds.
Where can you watch it? BET+
Where can you watch it? Hallmark
The Day Before Christmas is a feel-good movie about two single parents who accidentally swap phones and their children’s bookbags on Christmas Eve. They unexpectedly grow closer as they experience a Christmas Eve full of surprises. Starring Tristan Wilds and Candace Maxwell, this heartfelt tale is guaranteed to provide a dose of romance and joy.
Where can you watch it? BET+
Kendrick Sampson will steal your heart in Something From Tiffany’s. Zoey Deutch stars as Rachel Meyer, a young woman whose life is turned upside down when she mistakenly receives a wedding ring meant for someone else. As she discovers who the ring is from, things take an unexpected turn when her journey leads her to the person she’s destined to be with.
Where can you watch it? Prime Video
Hallmark has shaken up its traditional rotation of holiday classics by offering its first-ever holiday series with Holidazed. This soul-stirring show follows six diverse families navigating their unique challenges and celebrating the season. Holidazed explores the complexities of modern family life, from sibling rivalries to blended families. With a stellar cast, including Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, and Ser’Darius Blain, this series is sure to bring holiday cheer.
Where can you watch it? Hallmark
They had us at hello. And by “hello” we mean this tagline: “A woman returns home to help with her family’s Christmas Carnival and romance ignites.” Featuring three fine ass stars (Mishael Morgan, Ronnie Rowe Jr. and Jaime Callica), Christmas with a Kiss is the perfect addition to Hallmark’s corny Christmas movie canon. Morgan plays a social media brand ambassador who is trying to use her influence to garner attention for her family’s Christmas carnival. Of course, two handsome potential suitors come to her aid.
Where can you watch it? Hallmark
Photo: Courtesy of Hallmark.
Inspired by Black country music baddie Mickey Guyton’s song of the same name, Hallmark’s Heaven Down Here tells the story of four people who are stranded in a local diner on Christmas Eve after a snowstorm hits their town. All four (an overwhelmed waitress, a pastor, a hospice nurse, and a manager) are in desperate need of a Christmas miracle (aren’t we all) and they find it in each other. It stars Krystal Joy Brown, Tina Lifford, and thee Phylicia Rashad.
Where can you watch it? Hallmark Photo: Courtesy of Hallmark.
Don’t sleep on B-movie rom-com princess, Kat Graham! Arguably, the best of her rom-com filmography is The Holiday Calendar. The premise is pretty straightforward: “What if you could unwrap your future?” the trailer asks. Graham stars as Abby, a photographer who discovers an advent calendar that appears to predict the future. The calendar propels her into a love triangle with her best friend (the adorable Quincy Brown) and a charming single dad (Ethan Peck, because of course it does. The film also stars the late, and always wonderful, Ron Cephas Jones.
Where can you watch it? Netflix
One thing we’re going to do is defend Queen Latifah as rom-com royalty. In every list from white legacy media about the best romantic comedies of all time, Latifah is disrespected. Last Holiday is number 52 on Esquire’s best Christmas movies list. NUMBER FIFTY-TWO. Imagine thinking there are 51 better Christmas movies than one in which LL Cool J and Queen Latifah fall in love? Couldn’t be us. In the holiday classic, Latifah plays Georgia, a woman who finds out she has a terminal illness and realizes has led an overly cautious life. Naturally, she withdraws her life savings and jets off to Europe to live it up.
Where can you watch it? Apple TV
You can’t have a list of Black romantic movies without including The Best Man franchise — I don’t make the rules. The Best Man Holiday may be too much of an emotional rollercoaster (you will laugh out loud, and you will absolutely sob very loudly) for some to rewatch every Christmas, but if you like a cathartic cry and can’t get enough of this cast (the who’s who of Black romance), then this is a staple. The gang hasn’t been together in 15 years, and they reunite over the holidays only for old romances and rivals to reignite.
Where can you watch it? Peacock
Yes, one half of the leading men of Single All The Way is white, but since there aren’t a lot of Black gay Christmas romances, a swirl couple is going to have to do (for now — expecting more out of this genre aside from straight Black couples in the future!). Single All The Way is about Peter, played by Michael Urie, who is a perpetually single man attempting to avoid his family’s judgment during the holidays and convinces his best friend Nick to pretend to be his boyfriend. Newcomer and extremely handsome ass man Philemon Chambers plays his fake boyfriend (my favourite trope!), and I’m sure this isn’t the last we’re going to see of Chambers or his abs. When Peter’s mom sets him up on a blind date with a hot personal trainer (played by Luke Macfarlane), things don’t go exactly as planned.
Where can you watch it? Netflix
Stateside, the day after Christmas is reserved mostly for eating leftovers and responding to your heap of “Merry Christmas” texts, but in the UK, it’s a whole ‘nother holiday called Boxing Day. In this eponymous Black British rom-com, Lisa (Aja Naomi King) travels across the pond with her fiancé Melvin (Aml Ameen) to meet his family for the first time, but what should be a happy Boxing Day celebration quickly descends into drama when they run into his ex Georgia (Leigh-Anne Pinnock) — a global superstar who hasn’t quite moved on from their relationship.
Where can you watch it? Prime Video
Jacquie Liddle (Kelly Rowland) a type-A perfectionist who has her Christmas planned to the tee (down to temperature of the deep fried turkey, chile) when her historically chaotic family decides to drop in for the festivities. Between her house being turned inside out and her sisters meddling in her business, it’s almost enough to turn Jacquie into a Grinch, but the sudden appearance of a handsome new neighbor just might be enough to turn this nightmare holiday into a Christmas miracle.
Where can you watch it? Hallmark
Black Hollywood resident heartthrobs Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union star in this cute (and star-studded!) holiday flick about the real meaning of family. It’s got everything a good Christmas rom-com needs: two hotties, an adorable meet-cute, and two guardian angels (Queen Latifah and Terrence Howard) playing Cupid behind the scenes.
Where can you watch it? Prime Video
Another corny rom-com that doesn’t star two straight characters. It’s a Christmas miracle! Under The Christmas Tree is Lifetime’s first lesbian romance. It’s about Alma (Elise Bauman) and Charlie (Tattiawna Jones) who cross paths when Charlie finds the perfect tree for a holiday celebration in Alma’s backyard. Sparks fly instantly — just kidding, they hate each other at first, of course. (Enemies-to-lovers is another Christmas rom-com trope.) The animosity soon turns into affection and both learn to take a leap of faith for the sake of the season, and the magic of falling in love. At Christmas!
Where can you watch it? Lifetime
Is it really Christmas if you don’t cut on This Christmas, which, while more family drama than straight-up rom-com, is absolutely a Black holiday staple? This 2007 film tells the story of a matriarch (played by Hollywood’s mama, Loretta Devine) trying to bring her kids together under one roof for the most wonderful time of the year. But with so much unresolved trauma and legit beef between the Whitfield siblings, can this family survive Christmas?
Where can you watch it? Peacock
When Dudley (Denzel Washington at peak 90s fineness), an incredibly handsome angel sent from God Himself, drops down from heaven to NYC, he embarks on a mission to help Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) get his life in order. However, Dudley’s growing attraction to Henry’s beautiful and talented wife Julia (Whitney Houston) threatens to totally derail his divine operation.
Where can you watch it? Tubi
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Best Christmas Movies Are Black
35 Romantic Holiday Movies Streaming Right Now
Is Die Hard Really A Christmas Movie?
This article was originally published on refinery29.com.
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