Snowflakes, cheerful music, fairy lights, and the thrill of a weekend with nowhere to be. Few things pair well with the holiday season than a well-crafted miniseries. Not a sprawling multi-season epic that you have to stick with after Christmas, or a one-off movie that’s relatively too short, but that sweet spot in between. A compact, bingeable story that wraps itself up just as your free time runs out.
Miniseries are genuinely perfect for holiday viewing. And when miniseries are also holiday-themed? It brings an equal amount of comfort and chaos. These aren’t stories with a little bit of snow in the background, but tales built around the emotional weight of the seasons. Some lean into the magic and romance, while others dig deep and use Christmas as a backdrop for family reunions or even supernatural showdowns.
So, if you’re looking for something festive but substantial, here are 10 Christmas-themed miniseries that can be called masterpieces.
10
‘A Moody Christmas’ (2012)
Dan Moody flies home from London to Sydney every year for Christmas, and each episode of this six-part Australian comedy captures a different December 25th with his wildly dysfunctional family. Created by Trent O’Donnell and Phil Lloyd, A Moody Christmas cleverly skips a year between episodes and lets viewers witness the falling apart and healing of a family dynamic over time. From passive-aggressive gift exchanges to backyard cricket, Dan navigates it all.
What’s interesting is that the show’s structure, where each episode is set on Christmas Day, turns the holiday into a recurring emotional checkpoint. On the same day every year, grudges simmer, secrets are spilled, and traditions go sideways. Ian Meadows leads the cast with a dry charm, while Patrick Brammall and Tina Bursill steal scenes with their pitch-perfect timing. It even spawned an American version titled The Moodys, but the original miniseries is better.
9
‘Christmas Flow’ (2021)
A charming French miniseries, Christmas Flow is set in the bustling streets of Paris, and it opens with a meet-cute that’s not exactly cute. Marcus, a famous rapper with a controversial past, literally collides with Lila, a fiercely principled journalist. Their meeting at the department store sets the tone for a three-episode arc that explores fame, feminism, and forgiveness, all wrapped in the soft glow of holiday lights.
Created by Henri Debeurme, Marianne Levy, and Victor Rodenbach, Christmas Flow stars Tayc and Shirine Boutella, whose chemistry carries the show through its sharp shifts. The fact that it is not trying to be a Hallmark card and willing to be imperfect is what makes this one a masterpiece. As the leads flirt and fumble through Christmas markets and snowy rooftops, the series tackles media ethics, activism, and public redemption with refreshing nuance.
8
‘Over Christmas’ (2020)
Over Christmas, originally titled ÜberWeihnachten, follows Bastian, a struggling musician working at a call center. He returns to his German hometown for the holidays only to find his brother dating his ex-girlfriend. And that’s just the beginning. The miniseries unfolds over three episodes, each steeped in awkward reunions, family secrets, and existential dread.
As Bastian stumbles through Christmas traditions, he reconnects with old friends, meets a new love interest, and slowly begins to accept the messy beauty of his life. Luke Mockridge leads the cast with a performance that’s equal parts self-deprecating and sincere, supported by Seyneb Saleh and Cristina do Rego. The reason it’s perfect is that it doesn’t sugarcoat the holidays, but instead embraces the discomfort around them by capturing the bittersweet reality of going home.
7
‘The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe’ (1988)
In this BBC adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s classic, four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) are plucked from wartime London and sent to a countryside manor, where a wardrobe becomes a portal to Narnia. The land is locked in eternal winter and ruled by the icy White Witch, until the arrival of Aslan, a noble lion who leads the resistance.
Directed by Marilyn Fox and starring Richard Dempsey and Sophie Cook, this version of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe focuses on the mythic roots with a theatrical, dreamlike tone, ultimately teaching lessons about bravery and destiny. It is a holiday masterpiece because it captures winter and its essence, which is about longing, wonder, and transformation. Geoffrey Burgon’s score adds a layer of melancholy, and the practical effects, while modest, evoke a charm that’s unmatched.
6
‘A Storm for Christmas’ (2022)
Oslo Airport becomes a microcosm of holiday chaos in A Storm for Christmas, a Norwegian ensemble drama. On December 23rd, a snowstorm strands travelers from all walks of life (there are musicians, doctors, estranged parents, and even runaway teens) and forces them into unexpected proximity. Over six episodes, we see relationships form and mend in the space between gates and terminals.
Directed by Per-Olav Sørensen, A Storm for Christmas is brilliant because it refuses to rush things. It lets the characters break and collide in ways that feel organic. The holiday elements, like gift bags, carolers, and twinkling lights, are present, but they’re never overpowering. Instead, it’s the tension of missed fights and missed chances that takes over. Overall, watch it for the warmth, refreshing performances, and quiet revelations.
5
‘Dash & Lily’ (2020)
Netflix’s Dash & Lily holds an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and it’s still so criminally underrated. Set in the city of dreams and romance, it centers on Dash, a cynical teen who loathes Christmas. He finds a red notebook tucked between books at The Strand, and inside are challenges from Lily, an optimist who adores the season. As they trade challenges across iconic NYC spots, they begin to fall for each other without ever meeting.
Created by Joe Tracz and based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, it stars Austin Abrams and Midori Francis, whose chemistry crackles even through scribbled notes and scavenger hunts. The show’s pacing is breezy, its tone is effervescent, and the visuals are pure holiday magic. The soundtrack, curated by Dan the Automator, thrives in its playfulness. It’s the kind of show that makes you want to believe in love and write your own dare in a notebook and leave it behind for someone to find.
4
‘Three Days of Christmas’ (2019)
Three Days of Christmas, or Días de Navidad, is set in a remote mountain home in post-Spanish Civil War Catalonia, and it unfolds across three distinct time periods – childhood, adulthood, and old age. It follows four sisters whose lives are shaped by a secret they share from their youth. As the years pass, the consequences of this decision ripple through their relationships.
Unlike other holiday-themed miniseries on the list, this Spanish-language Netflix project is heartbreaking because it structures three Christmases to mirror each other. The cast, including Victoria Abril and Elena Anaya, delivers layered performances. And the direction by Pau Freixas turns the snow-dusted landscapes and candlelit dinners into a prop. A gem worth treasuring, this one treats memory into a living, breathing character.
3
‘Hawkeye’ (2021)
Clint Barton just wants to get home in time for Christmas. But when a masked vigilante appears wearing his old Ronin suit, he is pulled back into the past. That vigilante turns out to be Kate Bishop, a whip-smart archer and diehard fan of Hawkeye himself. The two team up to unravel a conspiracy involving the Tracksuit Mafia, a shady auction, and a very suspicious stepfather.
Set against the festive backdrop of New York City during the Christmas season, Hawkeye blends superhero action, holiday cheer, and heartwarming character development, which makes it a must-see for fans of the MCU. Moments like the Rockefeller tree showdown and a LARPing sequence are standouts. Plus, the whole setting is central to Clint’s motivations. Jeremy Renner is excellent as always, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop is a revelation, and Florence Pugh’s surprise return as Yelena brings humor.
2
‘Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather’ (2006)
A true two-part miniseries adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel, produced by The Mob Film Company, Hogfather takes you to the Discworld, where Hogswatch is the equivalent of Christmas. But when the Hogfather vanishes and the collapse of belief itself needs to be prevented, Death puts on a red robe and climbs on the sleigh to deliver presents, leaving his granddaughter, Susan, to investigate the disappearance.
Directed by Vadim Jean, the miniseries features David Jason, Michelle Dockery, and Marc Warren. It is a holiday story for skeptics and dreamers alike. It is not cozy, but it is clever. The Discworld’s version of Christmas is laced with existential stakes, and Death’s earnest attempt to take on holiday cheer is equal parts hilarious and moving. It’s praised for its faithfulness and its ambitious visual effects.
1
‘A Christmas Carol’ (2019)
A Christmas Carol is a BBC/FX adaptation of Dickens’ classic. Guy Pearce plays Scrooge not as a caricature, but as a haunted, morally complex man. Over three episodes, the familiar ghosts of past, present, and future guide him through memories and visions that are more disturbing than comforting.
Taking a darker, more psychological approach to Ebenezer Scrooge’s redemption, this miniseries leans into horror and trauma. The Victorian setting is bleak and atmospheric, with flickering candles and a sense of dread that always lingers. Andy Serkis and Stephen Graham’s performances elevate the material. And while the reception was mixed, A Christmas Carol was greatly praised by many for daring to reframe a well-worn story.