10 Spanish Films About Christmas on Netflix
What hits the sweet spot for you when you think of the holiday season? If you’re like me, you want to spend time with your friends or family, drink hot chocolate and watch Spanish films about Christmas!
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned Spanish learner, watching films in Spanish dramatically improves your listening skills as you tune your ear to different accents and you broaden your vocabulary.
‘Tis the season to kick back, cuddle up with a warm beverage, and watch these 10 amazing Spanish films that will fill you with the holiday spirit!
Don’t Just Watch Spanish Films—Improve Your Skills!
Movies are a fantastic way to engage in Spanish because they pull your attention deep into the storyline, igniting your emotions and wrapping up your hopes and dreams along with the characters’. With all of this dedicated attention to the film, you can shift your focus to the language the characters use, focusing on their accent, word choice, and sentence structure as they speak.
Due to the simple fact that we learn to perfect the pronunciation of any language by actually hearing and mimicking it, we can use Spanish films as a source of this rich, auditory experience of hearing authentic Spanish from native speakers.
To support your auditory comprehension as you listen to the Spanish film, you can put on the Spanish subtitles—but by all means, do your best to avoid English subtitles and translations! They will only slow you down.
Here are 10 Spanish films about the holidays on Netflix that you don’t want to miss!
1. El Expreso Polar (The Polar Express) – 2004
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Original language: English
“El Expreso Polar” is an animated movie about a young boy who embarks on a magical journey on The Polar Express to the North Pole. During his journey, the boy transforms his doubt and fear into belief and is reminded of the spirit of Christmas.
The Spanish dubbed version is excellent practice for any Spanish learner.
It’s a beautiful movie for children and adults! If you’ve already seen it in English, test your skills and watch it in Spanish to see how much of it you understand.
If you haven’t watched it yet, try to watch it in Spanish without subtitles to see how you feel. If you find this too difficult, try it out with Spanish subtitles. It’s great practice!
2. El Caballero de la Navidad (The Knight Before Christmas) – 2019
Director: Monika Mitchell
Original language: English
In this enchanting movie, Brooke is a science teacher from the US that unexpectedly runs into a medieval knight who’s been banished by a sorceress. The sorceress tells Sir Cole that he must go to a faraway land and fulfill his destiny and become a true knight. But he has until midnight on Christmas Eve to do this.
Meanwhile in 2019, Brooke befriends Sir Cole and helps him figure out the modern world life and how to find a way home. As they grow closer, Cole wonders if he wants to go back or not. This is a fairytale favorite when it comes to Spanish films and a magical way to practice your skills.
3. ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad! (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) – 2000
Director: Ron Howard
Original language: English
This is a classic movie based on Dr. Seuss’ book of the same name should be one of the Spanish films you watch every holiday season!
While everyone in Whoville loves celebrating Christmas, the Grinch decides he wants to steal it. But suddenly, six-year-old Cindy Lou takes an interest in him, and the little-hearted Grinch starts to understand the true meaning of the holiday season.
It’s a classic story that reminds us how much joy the holiday season can bring no matter how difficult life seems to be.
4. La Leyenda de Klaus (Klaus) – 2019
Director: Sergio Pablos
Original language: English
In this animated Christmas movie, Jesper Johansson is a rich and spoiled postmaster whose father sends him to a remote and inhospitable location where he is forced to learn to become a responsible young man.
In this new and unfamiliar post, he meets a white bearded woodsman who loves making toys. Jesper’s life begins to transform as he learns much more than he expected to!
This retelling of the story of Santa Claus has quickly become a holiday favorite. It has many touching moments and heartwarming messages and was also nominated for an Academy Award. It is sure to become a Christmas classic and a family favorite when it comes to Spanish films to practice your skills.
5. El Calendario de Navidad (The Holiday Calendar) – 2018
Director: Bradley Walsh
Original language: English
In this Netflix original film, Abby is a struggling photographer who can’t seem to find her way. But when her grandfather gifts her an antique advent calendar that predicts the future, Abby’s luck starts to change. While she is reluctant at first to believe in magic, she begins to realize the calendar´s power to manifest her desires. Her life starts to slowly and steadily get better.
Sometimes what we want can be right in front of us but we have to believe to see it. It’s a must watch for this holiday season and it’ll have you believing in magic once again!
6. Cambio de Princesa (The Princess Switch) – 2018
Director: Michael Rohl
Original language: English
This feel-good holiday movie features Vanessa Hudgens who plays Stacy and her twin in this enchanting Netflix original. Stacy is a baker from Chicago who decides to go to a Christmas baking contest in Belgharia where she discovers a twin sister, Margaret! If that’s not wild enough, her long-lost twin sister is the Duchess of Montenaro.
Funny complications ensue as the two switch places and a regular girl from Chicago ends up falling in love with a duke while the Duchess falls for a humble baker. This fairy tale story is full of surprises and magic.
7. Las Crónicas de Navidad (The Christmas Chronicles) – 2018
Director: Clay Kaytis
Original language: English
This Netflix original film is full of action and fun. It follows two siblings who are determined to capture Santa Claus but end up embarking on a night of adventure with Mr. Claus himself. The mission takes an unexpected turn and suddenly the children must save Christmas!
Kurt Russell plays the jolly Mr. Claus whose love for reindeer, elves, and all the classic elements of Christmas overflows in every comical scene, making it one of the Spanish films you won’t want to miss.
And with a sequel on the way, it’s a film you want to watch in time before the next adventure!
8. Operación Feliz Navidad (Operation Christmas Drop) – 2020
Director: Martin Wood
Original language: English
In Operation Christmas Drop, a new film on Netflix, Erica Miller, a legislative aide, goes to Guam to evaluate the efficiency of a U.S. Air Force base. She meets Andrew, an Air Force captain who’s in charge of Operation Christmas Drop. It’s an operation that parachutes gifts to people in neighboring islands that need the help.
While Erica’s boss sends her to find out more about the base and shut it down, she finds herself warming up to the captain and the mission. It’s a fun way to travel while staying home during the holidays and when it comes to Spanish films on Netflix, this is the newest release.
9. Navidad en Secreto (Christmas Under Wraps) – 2014
Director: Peter Sullivan
Original language: English
Dr. Lauren Brunell is a surgery resident who plans every single detail about her life. Certain that she’ll follow in her father’s footsteps after the most prestigious fellowship program accepts her, Lauren fails to see the point in applying for any other fellowships. But life has a different plan and the doctor’s world is flipped upside down as she’s put on a waiting list for her planned life path and offered a fellowship in a small town in Alaska.
While she’s reluctant to accept this unconventional position, her mom encourages her to try something new and inspires Lauren to take a leap of faith. The doctor convinces herself that it’s only temporary and she moves to Garland, Alaska.
Everything is beyond her expectations—the overpacked hospital, the lack of online shopping options, and even a handsome local who teaches her some valuable life lessons. As Lauren warms up the warm and lovely town, she suspects the locals are hiding something only to find that Christmas will never be the same.
10. Una Navidad en Alaska (My Christmas Inn) – 2018
Director: Peter Sullivan
Original language: English
With the holiday season upon us, this one is light and warm when it comes to Spanish films. An advertising agent is working full speed and creating Christmas ads that are sure to be a hit. She unexpectedly receives several calls from a lawyer who explains that she’s inherited her great aunt’s inn. In hopes of selling it, she ventures out to a small town in Alaska to sign the legal documents and take photos.
As the story unfolds, the small town charms her after she gets to know the inspiring local lawyer who reminds her of the importance of living her own life outside of simply marketing the idea of Christmas to consumers.
Fill Your Holiday with Spanish Films
These holiday favorites are going to be the perfect Spanish films for you to watch this Christmas season! Whenever you feel like practicing your Spanish skills and getting into the holiday spirit, check them out on Netflix and take your Spanish to the next level. Have you already seen any of these films in Spanish? Leave me a comment and let me know what you loved (or didn’t love!) about these films and feel free to share any new Spanish words you learned!
Want free and fun Spanish content? Learn Spanish with us! Check out these lessons:
- All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish
- Top 20 Guatemalan Words and Slang Expressions You Should Know
- The Ultimate Guide to the Differences Between ‘Pero’ and ‘Sino’ in Spanish
- A Guide to Double Negatives in Spanish
- Ver Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF
- Common Irregular Informal Commands in Spanish
- Dialect vs Accent: Is It a Language, Dialect, or Accent?
- Bien vs Bueno: How Good is Your Spanish?
- Top 20 Guatemalan Words and Slang Expressions You Should Know - January 2, 2025
- How to Immerse Yourself in Spanish While at Home - December 12, 2024
- 13 Famous Hispanic Women in History Who Made Enormous Impact - January 23, 2023
