Netflix's Christmas Universe: A Factory Line to Nowhere?
Ten years ago, Netflix was just starting its foray into original holiday content. What began as a small collection of films and shows has since ballooned into a behemoth of overproduced, formulaic fare that promises much but delivers little.
One can't help but wonder how it's come to this. What once held promise with "A Christmas Prince," the 2017 film about a young reporter who falls for the prince of a small European country, has devolved into a never-ending cycle of cheesy romances and predictable plots. The Netflix Christmas Universe (NCU) has become a watered-down version of its former self, churning out movies with an ever-so-slight degradation in quality.
The problem isn't that holiday movies can't be fun and silly; it's that the NCU has forgotten how to make them. Gone are the days of "Dear Santa," "The Spirit of Christmas," and "Christmas Ranch," which knew exactly what they were and didn't take themselves too seriously. Instead, we're left with movies like "Hot Frosty" and "The Merry Gentlemen," which promise much with their sexy snowman and washboard abs but deliver little in terms of actual storytelling or substance.
Even the network competitors that Netflix used to surpass โ Hallmark and Lifetime โ seem more genuine in their approach. Their Christmas films may look low-budget, but they have a certain charm and heart that's been lost on the NCU. It's almost as if Netflix has become so focused on churning out content that it's forgotten how to make good holiday movies.
The fact is, even sex appeal alone isn't enough to carry a Christmas movie. The NCU needs to shake things up in a meaningful way if it wants to stand out from the crowd. But for now, it seems like we're stuck with more of the same formulaic drivel that promises little but delivers disappointment.
So, where does the NCU go from here? Is there still joy to be found in Netflix holiday movies, or are we just stuck in a rut? It's time for Netflix to take a step back and reevaluate its approach to holiday content. We deserve better than to simply watch one last roll of manure before the new year.
Ten years ago, Netflix was just starting its foray into original holiday content. What began as a small collection of films and shows has since ballooned into a behemoth of overproduced, formulaic fare that promises much but delivers little.
One can't help but wonder how it's come to this. What once held promise with "A Christmas Prince," the 2017 film about a young reporter who falls for the prince of a small European country, has devolved into a never-ending cycle of cheesy romances and predictable plots. The Netflix Christmas Universe (NCU) has become a watered-down version of its former self, churning out movies with an ever-so-slight degradation in quality.
The problem isn't that holiday movies can't be fun and silly; it's that the NCU has forgotten how to make them. Gone are the days of "Dear Santa," "The Spirit of Christmas," and "Christmas Ranch," which knew exactly what they were and didn't take themselves too seriously. Instead, we're left with movies like "Hot Frosty" and "The Merry Gentlemen," which promise much with their sexy snowman and washboard abs but deliver little in terms of actual storytelling or substance.
Even the network competitors that Netflix used to surpass โ Hallmark and Lifetime โ seem more genuine in their approach. Their Christmas films may look low-budget, but they have a certain charm and heart that's been lost on the NCU. It's almost as if Netflix has become so focused on churning out content that it's forgotten how to make good holiday movies.
The fact is, even sex appeal alone isn't enough to carry a Christmas movie. The NCU needs to shake things up in a meaningful way if it wants to stand out from the crowd. But for now, it seems like we're stuck with more of the same formulaic drivel that promises little but delivers disappointment.
So, where does the NCU go from here? Is there still joy to be found in Netflix holiday movies, or are we just stuck in a rut? It's time for Netflix to take a step back and reevaluate its approach to holiday content. We deserve better than to simply watch one last roll of manure before the new year.