Movies like Hostage for Christmas (2017)
The best movies like Hostage for Christmas (2017) are Santa's Little Helpers (2019), Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020). If Hostage for Christmas hooked you with its comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThe Holdovers (2023)7.6/10 from 2,777 votes
- NewestThe Most Normal Dude (2025)Released 2025
Santa's Little Helpers (2019)
After being accidentally stranded at the North Pole, the Minions decide to embrace their new surroundings by taking on the role of Santa's helpers. Chaos and hilarity ensue as they attempt to prove their worth as elves, bringing their signature mischief to the workshop in this festive, lighthearted holiday adventure.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMerry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008)
Step brothers Drake and Josh must give a foster family the best Christmas ever or face years in jail for a Christmas party gone wrong.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOnce Upon a Snowman (2020)
The previously untold origins of Olaf, the innocent and insightful, summer-loving snowman are revealed as we follow Olaf’s first steps as he comes to life and searches for his identity in the snowy mountains outside Arendelle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Garfield Christmas (1987)
Garfield, Jon and Odie go to Jon's family farm for Christmas, where Garfield finds a present for Grandma.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBeethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011)
A Christmas elf accidentally takes off in Santa's sleigh, crash lands in a small town, and loses the magic toy bag. Beethoven must rescue the elf, recover the bag from greedy crooks, and return the sleigh to Santa in time to save Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMickey's Orphans (1931)
At Christmas time, Mickey Mouse, Minnie and Pluto are beset by an enormous litter of bratty orphan cats.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCandy Cane Lane (2023)
Determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest, family man Chris makes a pact with an elf to help him out-do the competition. However, the elf casts a spell bringing the twelve days of Christmas to life, unleashing chaos on the small unsuspecting town.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCharlie Brown's Christmas Tales (2002)
Tis the season for the cheer and charm of the Peanuts kids - and this delight special offers five segments full of unforgettable moments. Snoopy works as a bell-ringer to raise money and tries making peace with the ferocious cat next door. Linus strives to strike the right tone in his letter to Santa - and his friendship with an indecisive girl at school. Sally's idea about gift giving and the identity of Santa may be unusual - but her strange notion about how to obtain a Christmas tree surprisingly does the job. Lucy tries awfully hard to be nice...and still coax everyone around her to buy her presents. Charlie Brown and Sally wait up for Santa (a surprisingly short man), who spreads Christmas gift cheer further than they had thought. Make merry!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisA Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Amy, Kiki and Carla – three under-appreciated and over-burdened women – rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for mothers: Christmas. And if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn’t hard enough, they have to do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisOlaf's Frozen Adventure (2017)
Olaf is on a mission to harness the best holiday traditions for Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2022)
When Brian Conway, a successful businessman whose family relationships have suffered, gets in a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to redo the day and repair the relationships in his life, including with his daughter Michelle.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSanta's Workshop (1932)
Santa's little helpers must hurry to finish the toys before Christmas Day.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Best Man Holiday (2013)
When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTrolls Holiday in Harmony (2021)
Queen Poppy plans the first annual Trolls Kingdom Secret Holiday Gift Swap, but things don't go quite as expected.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Smurfs: A Christmas Carol (2011)
When Grouchy Smurf behaves badly to everyone and refuses to celebrate Christmas, the Smurfs of Christmas Past, Present and Future teach him to appreciate Christmas.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisKristin's Christmas Past (2013)
Kristin, a cynical 34-year-old, drinks a mysterious champagne on Christmas Eve and wakes up seventeen years in the past, sharing a room with her 17-year-old self. Given the chance to change the worst Christmas of her life, she attempts to fix past mistakes, only to discover surprising truths about her family that may help her mend her present-day relationships.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisOlive, the Other Reindeer (1999)
After mis-hearing a radio broadcast about Santa canceling his Christmas trip due to an injured reindeer, Olive the dog decides to travel to the North Pole and volunteer to be a replacement. Unfortunately, Olive must deal with an evil postman who's tired of handling all the extra Christmas mail. Will Martini the penguin be able to help Olive realize her dream?
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIt's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (1992)
As the holiday season rolls around and all the Peanuts gang are getting ready for it. Whether it be Charlie Brown struggling to raise money for his girlfriend or Sally and Peppermint Patty struggling to rehearse and memorize their one word lines for the Christmas pageant, these kids try to keep with the Christmas spirit while Snoopy has his mischief to do.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
When a huge snowstorm leaves everyone stranded, Mickey and all of his guests at the House of Mouse, including Pooh, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel and many more of his old and new friends, break out the cookies and hot chocolate to help Donald mend his tattered Christmas spirit.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisShrek the Halls (2007)
The Christmas tree isn't the only thing green in this new holiday classic. Shrek is back and trying to get into the spirit of the season. After promising Fiona and the kids a Christmas they'll remember, he is forced to take a crash course in the holiday. But just when he thinks he has everything for their quiet family Christmas just right, there is a knock at the door.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYOYO (2017)
Caroline can't stand that she is a virgin...and then the world ends. In post-apocalyptic LA, after a dust storm has wiped out the planet, she is convinced that Francis was sent as the man to pop her cherry. YOYO is a heartfelt, dark comedy about finding meaning in life, even when life ceases to exist.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Thousand Year Sleep (2007)
Samantha, Lydia, Isabella, and Lisa. These four young women are about to learn that humanity is just an irrelevant flame burning nowhere in the vastness of space. Their dreams will be shattered and one man will marvel at the evil he has committed.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Rules of Reduction (2015)
Billy is a man child who has developed 'The Pedo Instant', a product that acts as a repellent to those unsuspecting individuals who might invade his personal space. He calls his mom to boast about the product's effectiveness and the ensuing riches that are sure to follow. His mother displays grave concern and attempts to explain to her son why this might not be the best idea.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
I Was a Teenage Werebear (2011)
A repressed gay teen transforms into a beast after being bitten by a hunky classmate.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
A Joke on Jane (1914)
The roots of modern television situatuation comedy can be seen in this Beauty brand film. As American grew the Beauty brand was developed to feature actress Margarita Fisher. Her husband, Haryy Pollard, directed the Beauty films and occasionally acted in them. He plays the husband in this one.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Not Your Average Joe (2016)
When a recently separated Dad attempts to go into a gay club for the first time pandemonium ensues.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Holdovers (2023)
A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisYou're Next (1927)
The three fat boys make the discovery that they are late for the barber school. There they ply their trade on various interesting customers.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
The Most Normal Dude (2025)
A story about a young man named Joonatan, who seeks closeness and practical physical touch from doctors.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Monique Will Not Save the World (2024)
Observations on the life of a boring Belgian transwoman.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both comedy
Like Hostage for Christmas and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Hostage for Christmas?
The closest matches to Hostage for Christmas are Santa's Little Helpers (2019), Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Hostage for Christmas?
Start with Santa's Little Helpers (2019), the closest match to Hostage for Christmas.
What is the highest-rated movie like Hostage for Christmas?
The Holdovers (2023), rated 7.6/10 by 2,777 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Hostage for Christmas?
The Most Normal Dude (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Hostage for Christmas?
Yes: Santa's Little Helpers (2019), Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008) and Once Upon a Snowman (2020).
How are movies similar to Hostage for Christmas chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Hostage for Christmas, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.