Your Official Christmas In August Watch List!

I’m tired of Summer. Like, sick of it. I’m ready for numbingly cold and cracked hands, Bath & Body Works winter candy apple candles, and Christmas music blasting on every station. I want to feel something. After taking a gander at all the newly added stuff on the usual streaming services for the month of August, I made the executive decision to get in the Holiday spirit by curating my own definitive Christmas In August Watch List. Is it a little too early for this? Yeah, probably. Do I care? No. Let me live my life. Consider this an early Holiday gift!

1. Fred Claus

Freshly added to Hulu as of August 1st, Fred Claus follows the family disappointment, Fred, as he works at the North Pole after his brother, Nicholas (AKA Santa Claus), bails him out of jail. Hijinks ensue, naturally. It’s one of the most underrated Christmas movies, in my humble opinion, features an all-star cast that includes Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Weisz, Elizabeth Banks, and Ludacris, and is a staple in my yearly holiday watch list.

2. "The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show"

If this doesn’t get you in the Holiday spirit, nothing will. Kacey Musgraves’s Christmas special on Amazon Prime Video has all the nostalgia of an old-timey country music Christmas spectacular with guest appearances from some of my favorite celebrities. Who doesn’t love Zooey Deschanel singing “Mele Kalikimaka” or Dan Levy and his signature narrating?

3. Die Hard

Yes, Die Hard is, in fact, a Christmas movie, and I will die on this hill (It literally takes place during a Holiday party, not to mention the soundtrack is packed with Christmas songs! I rest my case). The sequel Die Hard 2: Die Harder -- which also takes place over the Holidays -- was just added to Amazon Prime Video this month, so now’s the perfect time to catch up on the film franchise while mustering up Christmas cheer with help from Bruce Willis.

4. A New York Christmas Wedding

This is, hands down, one of my favorites of all time, and it’s only been on Netflix for one Christmas season. You’ll definitely want a box of tissues for this one -- an angel shows a soon-to-be bride what life would’ve been like had she told her best friend she had feelings for her. It’s a perfect bittersweet Christmas movie for when you’re wanting something a little more cheesy but still serious and heartfelt.

5. Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square

Is there nothing this angel of a woman can’t do? Before Miss Dolly Parton was singlehandedly concocting a cure for COVID through her donation towards the Moderna vaccine, she was producing and starring in her instant holiday classic Christmas on the Square. Miss/Saint/Queen Dolly instantly gives me a spike of dopamine every time I hear her voice, so naturally this Netflix movie makes the Christmas In August list for those who need a boost of the holiday spirit.