Black Christmas Movies You Haven't Seen... Yet!
Christmas movies go hand in hand with feeling the Christmas spirit and embodying the holidays. Television networks like Hallmark broadcast these feel good movies for weeks before Christmas hits giving families a reason to connect and come together. So this season we wanted to highlight the Christmas movies that highlight diverse families, specifically black families. Of course Hallmark channel takes the cake with the most black Christmas movies premiering in 2020 but Netflix hits us with Jingle Jangle which is sure to be a holiday favorite for generations to come. Take a look at our list of black Christmas movies that you can enjoy with your family this holiday season.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey - Netflix
The most anticipated movie on this list is definitely Jingle Jangle. This movie was a 10 year endeavor from creator David E. Talbert who wrote the film focused on bringing a new kind of black holiday movie to the world. Jingle Jangle stars Forrest Whitaker as Jeronicus Jangle, a brilliant toy maker that loses his magic after his apprentice betrays him and Jangle doesn't find it again until granddaughter lands on his doorstep unexpectedly.
Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding - Lifetime
Lifetime's first Christmas sequel stars Kelly Rowland as Jacquie Liddle and Thomas Cadrot as Tyler as they try to plan the perfect destination Christmas wedding. Of course it's not a Christmas movie without some mishaps along the way to the Liddle's perfect day.
Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special - Apple TV
Christmas isn't whole without a Mariah Carey Christmas special filled with elegance, beauty, and Mariah's joyful voice. The Queen of Christmas is sought after by Santa Claus to bring some holiday cheer to the world with special guest performances by Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande, and cameos by Tiffany Haddish, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, and more.
Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker - Netflix
Highlighting the groundbreaking career of dancer, actress, and philanthropist, Debbie Allen takes us behind the scenes of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy's annual Christmas show. In this documentary we get to witness Debbie Allen and her students prepare for their award winning holiday version of The Nutcracker that Debbie Allen wrote and choreographed 20 years ago.
Operation Christmas Drop - Netflix
Congressional aide Erica (Kat Graham) travels to Hawaii at her bosses request to investigate how the Air Force base accesses funds to operate a yearly Christmas drop for the locals. Erica butts heads with Captain Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig) while trying to do her job of finding reasons to defund the facility but by the end of the movie she finds her Christmas spirit.
The Christmas Aunt - Lifetime, Hulu, Amazon
Starring Keisha Knight Pulliam as Rebecca Miller who comes to take care of her niece and nephew two weeks before Christmas and is reunited with her childhood best friend Drew (Jared Joseph). During this two week visit Rebecca sets out to bring holiday spirit to her niece and nephew along with rediscovering her favorite childhood tradition, 12 days of Christmas.
Christmas on Wheels - Lifetime, Hulu
Ashley (Tiya Sircar) returns to her small hometown to find that her uncle sold her most priced possession, her mothers red convertible car. Ashley, along with the help of her uncle's lawyer Duncan (Michael Xavier), finds a way to get the car back and bring holiday joy to her small town just like her mother did before she passed.
Let's Meet Again On Christmas Eve - Lifetime, Amazon Prime, Hulu
Two college sweethearts Corinne (Kyla Pratt) and Rob (Brooks Darnell) find themselves reuniting after separating to pursue their dreams on two different sides of the world. The two meet on Christmas Eve to see if they are truly meant to be but when one doesn't show up it seems that their futures will never be. Until, they are both randomly hired to plan a Christmas Eve wedding, with many unanswered questions we get to follow them on this holiday maybe love story.
Jingle Bell Bride - Hallmark
A wedding planner travels to a remote town in Alaska to find the perfect flower for her celebrity client's wedding. Along the journey she finds friendship and love with a local nursery owner. The film stars Julie Gonzalo and Ronnie Rowe Jr.
The Christmas Doctor - Hallmark
Starring one of Hallmarks favorite's Holly Robinson Pete plays a traveling doctor that is assigned to a small town clinic for the holidays she is surprised when she finds more love and comfort than she expected.
A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado - Hallmark
Starring Rochelle Aytes as Erin and Mark Taylor as Kevin. Erin works for the Mayors office and she is tasked with finding the perfect Christmas Tree for the towns annual Christmas celebration. Unfortunately, this tree is planted in firefighter Kevin's front yard and he isn't cooperating until the Mayor gives his fire department more funding.
Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing - Hallmark
This film is Holly Robinson Pete's second Hallmark Christmas movie this year and she plays the character Michelle, who is planning her wedding to Elliot (Colin Lawrence) but it looks like Michelle is catching some cold feet.
Christmas Comes Twice - Hallmark
Tamera Mowry-Housley plays two roles as the star and executive producer of this Hallmark Christmas movie. She plays Cheryl, an astrophysicist who accidentally travels back in time, five years in the past, after enjoying a holiday carousel ride. While in the past Cheryl decides to change her career and also finds herself reconnecting with her junior high science teacher, Ms. Nelson (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and high school frenemy George (Michael Xavier)
Deliver By Christmas - Hallmark
Molly (Alvina August) is a bakery owner who finds herself smug on new town transplant Josh (Eion Bailey) but also becomes torn between interests in a mysterious client that she has never met before.
A lot of these movies are Christmas stories that just happen to have black actors which is the point of having more representation in movies. Black people are not monolithic and our holiday traditions may be similar in values but not always hold the same traditions. Definitely take a look at as many of these movies as you can!