That Christmasis a new animated film that’s released on Netflix just in time for the holiday season, centering around a small town during the festive period whose lives are all interconnected by the unexpected arrival of Santa Claus. The film features a brilliant voice performance from the ever-reliable Brian Cox as the iconic figure, alongside many other recognizable actors who bring this charming and sentimental story to life.That Christmasis a great movie for childrento enjoy over the Christmas vacation, and it’s reminiscent of many others that preceded it.

Netflix has released several great Christmas movies over the years, but there’s something aboutThat Christmasthat stands out among the crowd.Its story is extremely creative and nostalgic in all the ways you’d expect from a holiday adventure, but there’s also some very strong storytelling that binds all of these characters' lives together in a way that feels extremely natural and authentic.That Christmas’endingis also very moving and brings together all the key holiday themes of family and friendship — like another heartwarming Netflix Christmas movie.

A cutout of Bernadette McNutt (voiced by India Brown) in Netflix’s That Christmas against a purple & blue background with white music notes, animated turkeys, and an animated reindeer.

Klaus Is One Of The Best Santa Movies Ever Made - What The Movie Is About

Netflix’s Holiday Drama Is A Christmas Classic

One of the most obvious comparisons to draw fromThat Christmasis Netflix’s other great animated Christmas movie,Klaus. The 2019 hit follows an unsuccessful postman who’s stationed in a remote town in the North Pole during the holiday season, where he encounters an enigmatic figure named Klaus and quickly learns about the power of Christmas.It’s a very sweet and charming film that’s quickly become a family classic in the five years since its release.

That Christmas Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play In Netflix’s Animated Movie

Netflix’s new animated film, That Christmas, features an upbeat and exciting soundtrack with several recognizable songs playing throughout the movie.

What’s most noteworthy aboutKlausis its gorgeous animation style,which is totally unlike anything else in the genre. It ditches the attempts at realism that are seen in most children’s films in exchange for a much more whimsical, artistic style that’s more engaging in almost every way.Klausis one of the best modern Christmas movies, and it’s shocking that more filmmakers haven’t attempted to replicate its visual style in the years since.

That Christmas - Poster

How That Christmas Compares To Klaus

The Two Films Have Many Themes & Ideas In Common

Netflix’s latest outingThat Christmasbears many similarities toKlaus,and not just in their animated medium. Both films are about the power of friendship and togetherness; whether it’s the postman getting to know his new neighbors inKlaus, or the small town coming together to rally around Santa Claus inThat Christmas, there’s a real celebration of community in both films that’s central to their Christmas spirit.

That Christmasmay not be the instant classic thatKlauswas, but it certainly feels like a worthy successor to the film. It’s one of the first Christmas movies that Netflix has released that feels genuinely new and boundary-pushing, which is exactly what family movies should be striving for.

Klaus Movie Poster

That Christmas

Cast

That Christmas, directed by Simon Otto, weaves a series of interconnected stories exploring themes of love, loneliness, and family. The narrative unfolds with Santa Claus making a significant error, amidst a backdrop of numerous turkeys, capturing the essence of holiday spirit and relationships.

Klaus

With story and direction from Sergio Pablos, Klaus is an animated Christmas and Holiday film starring the voices of Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, and J. K. Simmons. This release tells its own origins of Santa Claus, pointing to a sheltered toymaker who becomes friends with a mail carrier.