10 of the best Christmas movies on Netflix to learn English with

‘Tis the season to Netflix and… learn? Yes, learn! If you needed any more reasons to binge Netflix’s festive offerings, then here’s a Christmas gift for you: Watching movies in a language that you’re learning can help you progress faster.

You can sharpen your conversation-following skills and perfect your accent, all from the comfort of your sofa. So, prepare your snacks, sit back, and stream our top picks.

1. The Holidate

Tired of being alone at seasonal parties, two strangers decide to be each other’s friend-date during each holiday, for a year. Do they catch feelings? Of course, they do. Is it still worth watching even though you’ve guessed the ending? Absolutely. Plus, with the lead actors sporting American and Australian accents, you’ll get to hear the two side by side.

2. Bad Moms at Christmas

While you’re laughing so hard you spit out your popcorn, you’ll pick up modern slang and some more complicated language in this one thanks to the fast-paced, witty conversations. You can’t go wrong with Mila Kunis, even in a Christmas movie. Did you know she learned English as a second language?

3. Bridget Jones

This might not specifically be a Christmas movie, but it starts and ends at Christmas so it deserves a place on the list. Plus, it’s one of the most British films of all time – very useful if you’re learning English. Super-eloquent Hugh Grant and Colin Firth will help you master a classic English accent, and the film is a fantastic example of awkward and sarcastic British humor.

4. A Christmas Prince

This one has become a surprisingly popular guilty pleasure. Snowball fights in a winter wonderland, ancient castles, and royal balls; if you’re looking for a festive fairytale and don’t mind a heavy sprinkling of cheesiness, this film is for you. And the best part? If you enjoy it, there are two more movies in the trilogy – both also set at Christmas, of course.

5. Dash and Lily

Technically, this one is a Christmas TV show, but that means you’re able to spend longer getting to know characters and watching their different uses of language develop. It’s whimsical, it’s feel-good, and who doesn’t love a good series binge – especially when it’s set in New York?

6. Let it snow

Watch a series of young characters grapple with their emotions as their different relationships blossom. This serving of yuletide teenage angst is heartfelt, funny, and at times, a little bit beautiful. If you’re keen to pick up phrases not in your textbook, this is for you. Favourite quote? “Snow hides a lot, it’s like the spanx of weather.”

7. The Holiday

Christmas is about tradition, and you can’t beat the classics. Kate Winslet trades her charming English countryside cottage for Cameron Diaz’s swanky Californian mansion over the festive season, and they each conveniently meet an attractive man. In this film, American and English accents and ‘isms’ sit side by side for you to compare.

8. Arthur Christmas

This charming and magical animated film is packed full of holiday cheer and is guaranteed to warm the corners of any cold, dark heart. The very easy-to-follow language and storyline (Santa’s son Arthur must deliver gifts to the only child Santa missed) is great for beginners learning English.

9. Christmas In the Wild

Refreshingly, there’s almost no snow in this one. It’s still packed with festive clichés, of course, but it’s a love story set to a stunning backdrop of remote Zambian landscapes, and there are adorable baby elephants to get you through.

10. The Holiday Calendar

The story follows a predictable format (spoiler alert: childhood best friends reconnect and fall in love at Christmas), but that also makes it easy to follow the dialogue. Oh, and there’s a magical advent calendar which can predict the future. Enjoy!