Netflix’s steamy Christmas romance movie,The Merry Gentlemen, is already turning heads with itsMagic Mike-inspired Christmas-themed male revue. The movie brings together romance and dancing with more heartfelt scenes of characters spending the holidays with their family. EvenThe Merry Gentlemen’s castitself boasts several recognizable faces that will draw fans in, including the former teen star Chad Michael Murray as the reluctant dancer-turned-love interest.
Whilecritics' reviews of the movie are lackluster, audiences are enjoying the dance sequences and the romance between main characters Ashley and Luke.The Merry Gentlemenperfectly combines more adult scenes and themes with the heartfelt Christmas spiritthat appears in many holiday rom-coms, creating something unique.The Merry Gentlemenis the most recent addition toNetflix’s Christmas movie lineup, an impressively large catalog of holiday films that all seem to reference each other. This means that audiences can always find a perfect follow-up movie.
A Bad Moms Christmas
Cast
A BAD MOMS CHRISTMAS follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: 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. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.
A Bad Moms Christmasis a sequel to 2016’sBad Momsthat combines the first movie’s irreverent humor with a Christmas setting and more family troubles. Plot-wise,A Bad Moms Christmasis pretty different toThe Merry Gentlemen, butits more adult tone makes the two a perfect fit.
The former packs in lots of fun, but it also still leaves room for the titular Bad Moms and their own moms to reconcile for Christmas. DespiteA Bad Moms Christmasreceiving negative reviews, it was fairly successful at the box office.
Where Was The Merry Gentlemen Filmed? Chad Michael Murray Christmas Movie’s Filming Locations Explained
With a few key locations, The Merry Gentlemen creates a cozy and familiar setting perfect for lovers of a small-town Christmas romance.
The movie’s humor is never subtle but entertaining nonetheless, and the addition of their mothers brought another layer to the friendship dynamics in the first movie. Though the characters withinA Bad Moms Christmasare not very similar to Ashley and her family inThe Merry Gentlemen, nor is it a romance, the two pair well together fora perfect girls' night double feature.
Bad Santa
Bad Santa revolves around Willie T. Stokes and Marcus Skidmore, professional thieves who disguise themselves as a mall Santa Claus and his elf during the holiday season with the plan to rob them at the end of the shopping season. Their latest job becomes complicated when Willie, already struggling from alcoholism, sex addiction and frequently swearing, begins forming an odd friendship with dimwitted Thurman Merman, dating local bartender Sue and coming under the watchful eye of the latest target mall’s head of security, Gin Slagel.
Bad Santa’s 78% Rotten Tomatoes score and positive audience response proves that adult Christmas movies, when done right, can be the perfect holiday treat.Billy Bob Thornton stars as Willie Soke, a mall Santa and thief. Willie is unreliable throughout the movie but good at heart, befriending a boy named Thurman and attempting to get him the Christmas present he desires.
In the same way that a Christmas-themed male dance show may sound like an unusual part of a Christmas movie at first, rooting for Willie’s version of Santa seems strange.
Bad Santais a fun and entertaining dark comedy that will switch up audience’s favorite Christmas movies.In the same way that a Christmas-themed male dance show may sound like an unusual part of a Christmas movie at first, rooting for Willie’s version of Santa seems strange.
But bothThe Merry GentlemenandBad Santawork.Bad Santaless similarities toThe Merry Gentlementhan others, but their mature tones go well together, and, like most Christmas movies, the main characters are kind-hearted, even if they have strange ideas for solving their Christmas problems.
Falling for Christmas
Falling For Christmas is a romantic comedy Christmas-themed film starring Lindsay Lohan as Sierra Belmont, a spoiled heiress, and Chord Overstreet as Jake, a kind-hearted lodge-keeper. When Sierra heads on holiday to a lodge and gets in a skiing accident, she somehow gets selective amnesia. She can’t remember her name or background, but her personality remains intact. Despite this, the lodge keeper, Jake, does his best to care for her as the two begin to fall for one another while she tries to regain her memories.
Falling for Christmasis a match made in heaven forThe Merry Gentlemenfans who like their holiday romantic comedies a little lighter and cheesier. WhereThe Merry Gentlemenhas the added twist of its semi-scandalous performances,Falling for Christmasis pure sweetness and something that fans of Hallmark Christmas movies will certainly enjoy.
Falling for Christmasis the ideal dose of romantic fun that sees Lohan’s memory-wiped Sierra getting to know B&B owner Jake over the holidays. While the movie only garnered average reviews,Falling for Christmasis among the best performances in Lindsay Lohan’s career, and a revitalizing one at that. The movie takes the best parts of Ashley and Luke’s dynamic inThe Merry Gentlemenand expands on them, making something magical.
Love Hard
Love Hard is a holiday romantic comedy that follows the hopelessly romantic but eternally single LA journalist Natalie who begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel when she begins a long-distance relationship with a man on the east coast. Deciding to take the jump, Natalie flies to her crush for the holidays, only to learn that she’s been catfished by Tag’s childhood friend, who is equally unlucky in love, Josh. What follows is a story of two lovelorn fools who may find what they’re looking for in each other.
Like Ashley inThe Merry Gentlemen, Love Hard’s Natalie is perennially single. However, unlike Ashley,Natalie is looking for love on a dating app where she meets the perfect man for her: Josh.Love Hardturns the classic romantic comedy on its head when Natalie flies to meet Josh only to realize that she has been catfished by a man who looks nothing like the pictures she saw online. Funny and charming chaos ensues.
ThoughLove Hardstill relies on many of the classic tropes fromChristmas-themed romantic comedies, it is infused with a modern approach to dating and love, just likeThe Merry Gentlemen. Fans ofThe Merry Gentlemenwho enjoy Ashley’s personality and goals will appreciate Nina Dobrev’s Natalie because both are very independent and career-driven women who ultimately take the time to find love.
Holidate
Holidate is a Netflix original rom-com starring Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey. Roberts and Bracey play Sloane and Jackson, two single adults who agree to be each other’s platonic dates for all of the year’s biggest holidays. But things get complicated when they actually start to have feelings for each other.
The Merry Gentlemen’s Ashley and Luke are initially skeptical of each other, but grow closer as the film progresses.Holidate,starring Emma Roberts as Sloane and Luke Bracey as Jacksonfeatures a similar dynamic. While at a family Christmas party, Sloane is berated by her family for never bringing home a date, leading her aunt to suggest a holidate: someone who can be a fake date for holiday events.
When Sloane meets Jackson by chance, the two become each other’s holidates throughout the year, leading to laughs and, later, romantic tension.ThoughHolidatereceived mixed reviewsfrom critics due to including more mature content than many holiday rom-coms, it is an undeniably fun watch.
The characters Sloane and Jackson are funny and have believable chemistry as they get into various trouble throughout the year. LikeThe Merry Gentlemen,Holidatealso takes a more adult approach to the genre,so while this might not be the right movie for younger audiences, it is perfect for adults who want a little bit more edge in their holiday movies.
Single All The Way
Single All The Way is a 2021 romantic comedy directed by Michael Mayer. The film centers around Peter (Michael Urie), who persuades his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to accompany him home for the holidays to avoid judgment from his family for being single. The storyline evolves as family dynamics and personal relationships come into play, highlighting themes of love and acceptance.
Netflix’s 2021 Christmas rom-comSingle All the Wayis a new take on the well-known and loved fake dating trope.Single All the Wayfollows Peter as he journeys home to his family’s house for Christmas accompanied by his best friend Nick. Fearing judgment from his family, Peter convinces Nick to pretend to be dating, but Peter’s mother still insists on setting him up on a blind date.
However, similar to Ashley and Luke’s slow realization of their feelings inThe Merry Gentlemen, Peter and Nick gradually begin to see what was in front of them all along.Single All the Wayreceived praise from critics over its depiction of a gay couple in a rom-com scenario typically reserved for straight characters and for the performances of the cast.
Single All the Wayhas a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
It was also one of the most popular movies to air on Netflixand entered the top 10 charts in 42 countries (viaNetflix).Single All the Wayfeatures a similar comforting tone toThe Merry Gentlemenand creates a relationship that viewers can’t help but root for.Single All the Wayalso features performances by Kathy Najimy and Jennifer Coolidge, who can always be relied on to provide some good laughs.
Meet Me Next Christmas
A woman, driven by romance, frantically searches New York City for a way into a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas show, believing it may help her meet her ideal partner.
For audiences who loved the music and dancing inThe Merry Gentlemen,Meet Me Next Christmasis a great musical follow-up.Meet Me Next Christmascenters on Layla as she attempts to find a Pentatonix concert ticket on Christmas Eve with the help of a concierge named Teddy. The two scour New York City, causing trouble and having fun along the way, andPentatonix themselves make appearances throughout the movie.
The lighthearted tone and casual humor ofMeet Me Next Christmasare similar to those ofThe Merry Gentlemen, and the musical performance adds a little something special.Meet Me Next Christmasis one of Netflix’s most recent Christmas additions, and has already made an impact.
Pentatonix play funny and mocking versions of themselves as they follow along with Layla’s search on social media, making their own guesses at which love interest she will end up with and adding a self-referential layer to the movie.
The movie is currently sitting at 69% on Rotten Tomatoes with audiences enjoying the chemistry between the leads and the guest appearance by Pentatonix. LikeThe Merry Gentlemen,Meet Me Next Christmasis a fun watch that will keep audiences waiting for the next dance or musical scene.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The third installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, father of the Griswold family whose intentions to have a good Christmas with his family face several setbacks. Between his arguing parents, the uncooperative decorations, and the unexpected arrival of some unwanted distant relatives, Clark’s dreams for a wonderful Christmas seem to be fading, forcing him to take some comedically drastic measures.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacationisa holiday comedy classic that goes well on any list, but when paired withThe Merry Gentlemen, the two are the perfect double feature for the comedy fan who wants something family centered but not strictly family friendly.
The Merry Gentlemen’s Ashley is trying to help out her family when their money gets tight, and, in his own way, so isChristmas Vacation’s Clark Griswold. The two movies are silly and entertaining throughout, and the family dynamics are reminiscent of things that could happen at anyone’s home, though very over-dramatized.
Over the years since its 1989 release,National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacationhas become a classic Christmas comedy, but it was even financially successful and popular right off the bat. The movie holds a solid70% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it continues to be one of the most watched holiday films each season. Overall, Christmas Vacation is a must-watch for any fans ofThe Merry Gentlemen.
Happiest Season
Directed by Clea DuVall, Happiest Season follows Abby Holland and Harper Caldwell, a lesbian couple in New York City whose relationship is tested when they spend Christmas with Harper’s family. Wary of coming out to her conservative parents, Harper forces a very out Abby back into the closet for the visit, leading to both hilarious and disastrous consequences. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Dan Levy, Alison Brie, Victor Garber, Mary Steenburgen, and Aubrey Plaza.
Hulu’s Christmas movieHappiest Seasonexplores thethemes of family relationships and finding one’s own identity.Happiest Seasoncenters on Abby and Harper, who plan to go home to Harper’s parent’s house for Christmas though she has not come out as a lesbian to her family.
Throughout the movie, Harper struggles to be open with her family about her relationship, leading to her almost losing Abby during the movie’s climax. The main cast members give great performances throughout the film and the characters are very realistic, giving the movie a familiar quality.Happiest Seasonwas a critical success upon its release and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%.
Both movies celebrate the value of families and communities coming together and finding happiness during the holidays.
The movie was also awarded the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film forits portrayal of realistic LGBTQ+ characters in 2021. WhileHappiest Seasonis a little more serious thanThe Merry Gentlemen, it truly is a heartwarming movie that is worthy of a watch. Both movies celebrate the value of families and communities coming together and finding happiness during the holidays.
Hot Frosty
Hot Frosty is a heartwarming holiday film where a young widow’s magic scarf brings a charming snowman to life. Together, they embark on a journey filled with romance and laughter, as she rediscovers joy and holiday spirit with his help before he melts away.
While all the movies on this list have certain similarities toThe Merry Gentlemen, Hot Frostyis overall the most similar in its tone and themes.These two Netflix movies were released just one week apart, and both combine holiday cheer with a little bit of unique sexiness.Hot Frostystars Lacey Chabert as Kathy, a grieving widow who accidentally brings a muscular snowman to life with a magic scarf.
While Jack immediately starts gaining attention for his attractiveness, the townspeople also fall in love with him because of his selflessness and kindness during the Christmas season. Much likeThe Merry Gentlemen’s slightly unusual choice to make hot men the focus of a Christmas movie,Hot Frostysimilarly focuses just as much attention on Jack’s muscular appearance as it does his kind heart.
10 Exciting New Christmas Movies Releasing In 2024
The year is coming to an end, but there are still plenty of fun Christmas-themed movies coming out to get into the holiday spirit.
The resulting two movies create a balance between heartfelt Christmas spirit and entertaining shirtless men. If that’s not enough,Hot Frostyis also the highest rated movie on this list, currently holding an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the perfect movie to watch afterThe Merry Gentlemen.
The Merry Gentlemen
The Merry Gentlemen follows a Broadway dancer as she endeavors to rescue her parents' ailing small-town nightclub. By organizing a Christmas-themed revue, she encounters a captivating dancer, leading to unexpected connections amidst the holiday festivities.
