The Christmas Movie 3: Home for the Holidays

The Christmas Movie 3: Home for the Holidays is a 2031 American animated Christmas musical fantasy film loosley based on the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. It is the sequel to The Christmas Movie 2 (2025), the third main installment, and the fourth installment overall in the The Christmas Movie franchise. Directed by Brandon Greene, written by Chris Columbus and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Sergio Pablos Animation Studios, the film is narrated by Mariah Carey and stars J.K. Simmons, Justin Bieber, Becky G, Jeremy Maguire, Alessia Cara, Eddie Izzard, Oliver Hudson, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Abbi Jacobson, Selena Gomez, Maya Rudolph, Michael Keaton, Jason Schwartzman, Chris Pratt, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele and David Cross.

The Christmas Movie 3: Home for the Holidays was released on Netflix on November 27, 2031 and received positive reviews from critics. The film has received three Annie Award nominations, including an Oscar for Cara's song "Make It To Christmas".

Plot
Six years after the last film, Ben Hopeful is now a troublemaking 18-year old and is looking after his little sister Shane. their older brother Patrick and his older sister Lisa came home from college. Ben hasn't seen Patrick since he went to college with Teddy. Ben and Patrick celebrate with their parents and sisters. One night, Shane hears a mysterious voice calling her. She follows it, unintentionally awakening the elemental spirits and she wakes up Ben and they are unexpectedly transported to the North Pole by Belsnickel, a nefarious folklore.

Ben and Shane are discovered and saved by Santa Claus who brings them back to his house and Mrs. Claus. Ben introduces Shane to his old friends and the Clauses and elves give the kids a grand tour of their village and all it has to offer. The four of them go back to the house for dinner. Ben and Shane go to bed as Belsnickel and his follower elf Matches begin an attempt to destroy the village. Mrs. Claus tells the kids the origin story of Santa in Turkey and how he saved the elves from extinction, and received the Star of Bethlehem, a magical artifact that stops time in and provides power to Santa's Village. Belsnickel used to be a former apprentice of Krampus as he tried to punish naughty kids by making scary toys that attack. Santa was distraught to learn about this, thus removing him from his job. Belsnickel vowed revenge on Santa and everyone.

Dave wanted Patrick and Teddy to see this, so Kevin, Dave and two coal mining elves names Ken and Donny travel to New York City to see Patrick and Teddy. Later back in New York City, Patrick finds out Ben and Shane are missing and he calls Teddy and help him go search for them. the four elves have several misadventures throughout the film, eventually landing in jail. Patrick and Teddy find out about this and even lands them in a portal to the North Pole.

The two run into Ben and Shane and they went out to see Santa. As they traveling to the village, they encounter a tribe of yetis and they take them to Yetisburg. The fire spirit appears and Patrick attempts to stop its fire from spreading. Patrick discovers that the spirit is in the form of an agitated magical mouse. He calms it down by creating a small snow flurry, ceasing its flames. Ben and Patrick form a truce with the Yetis to stop Belsnickel before he causes anymore naughty deeds. Later, at the camp, the group encounters the yeti princess named Frostina. Ben and Patrick talks to Frostina, learning that Santa's shawl is decorated with a traditional Yeti pattern. Teddy talks with King Blizzer and Shane is rearranged by a group of Yeti children. The kids seeing Kevin, Dave, Ken, and Donny in jail on TV performing "Merry Christmas Baby" with Christina Aguilera. Ben later learns of Belsnickel's plan to steal the Star of Bethelem and rid Christmas forever, so the four must head to Santa's village to stop him.

They made it to the village and tells Santa about what will happen. Belsnickel releases Jola, a yule cat, into the reindeer pen, injuring Dasher. Belsnickel releases a potion into the village that causes the elves and yetis to go insane. He steals the Star of Bethlehem on top of the village's Christmas tree. Santa and the others confront him. Santa attempts to take the star back and in the struggle between him and Belsnickel, it is accidentally destroyed, causing the power to go out in the village. The maddened elves and yetis start a snowball fight that gives Belsnickel time to escape. Kevin, Dave, Ken, and Donny having escaped jail, reunite with their old friends. Santa, Ben, Patrick and Teddy leave for Turkey in order to get the forest elves led by Clarence to build a new star. Jack leaves to get a root to cure the crazed yetis and elves while Mrs. Claus stays behind to tend to Dasher. Ben, Patrick, Teddy, and Santa find the elves as Earl leads them into building a casing for a new star and Santa captures the power of the Star of Bethlehem inside it.

While flying back to the village, Belsnickel catches up to them on a sleigh pulled by his army of evil snowmen which he created, turns Ben into a mouse, and steals the star so he can stop himself from aging long enough to figure out how to replace Santa and transports them back to 1991 Boston via a time-travel device he planted on Santa's sleigh. Shane finds the root and brings it back to Mrs Claus. Ben attempts to buy AAA batteries for Belsnickel's time travel device, which he and Santa now possess, at the Boston airport to transport the kids and Santa back to the future. However, he is detained by an airport security member and is taken to a mouse hole. Ben meets Grant who is also a human turned into a mouse and helps him escape the room. Ben and Grant are turned back to normal and before they leave, Teddy sees a kid named Robert and comforts him. After Teddy joins the rest, she realizes Robert Darby is her late father. With help from a worker named Angel, Santa gets Patrick and Shane singing a Christmas song as the weather clears up. With Christmas spirit high enough for the sleigh to fly, Santa puts the batteries in and they transport back and recover the star.

Mrs. Claus makes the root into a powder. Shane fights his way to the snow cannons, places the powder inside, and shoots it onto the elves, curing them. Santa, Ben, Patrick, and Teddy race back to the village evading Belsnickel as he chases them. Mrs. Claus throws an explosive gingerbread cookie in between both sleighs before they can collide in a game of chicken. Dasher recovers and assists Santa in defeating Jola, the latter hurling the yule cat out of the village. Ben places the star on top of the tree, restoring power to the village and Belsnickel is arrested. Santa convinces Ben to let Shane via a snow globe he had given her earlier of her warmly hugging a snowman, to give Belsnickel a "magic hug" to warm his heart and reform him. It works, the star unfreezes and Belsnickel becomes a new person.

Ben, Patrick, Teddy, and Shane say goodbye to Mrs. Claus, the yetis and elves and Santa flies them back to New York where they inform an excited Clark about their adventure and Teddy accepts Patrick's marriage proposal. At the end the Hopefuls and Darbys come together for Christmas as Lisa plays on a piano with everyone singing.

In a mid-credits scene, an adult Shane tells the story to her children and Patrick is taking her and the kids to see Ben for Christmas

Voice cast

 * J.K. Simmons as Santa Claus, A magical figure who brings presents for people at Christmas night, when they are asleep.
 * Jeremy Maguire as Benjamin "Ben" Hopeful, a teenage boy who is Santa's biggest fan.
 * Kingston James PenaVega as Young Ben
 * Maguire also voices Young Ben (Ahtohallan/archive recording)
 * Justin Bieber as Patrick Hopeful, Ben's older brother.
 * Michael Bublé as Adult Patrick
 * Becky G as Theodora "Teddy" Darby, Patrick's girlfriend, later fiancée.
 * Alessia Cara as Shane Hopeful, Ben and Patrick's cheeful little sister with a passion for singing.
 * Mariah Carey as Adult Shane, the narrator.
 * Eddie Izzard as Belsnickel, a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas figure and the main antagonist of the film. His goal is to cancel Christmas forever.
 * Oliver Hudson as Clark Hopeful, the father of Ben, Patrick and Shane.
 * Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Elizabeth "Liz" Hopeful, the mother of Ben, Patrick and Shane.
 * Abbi Jacobson as Lisa Hopeful, the older sister of Ben, Patrick and Shane.
 * Selena Gomez as Frostina, a yeti princess of Yetisburg.
 * Maya Rudolph as Mrs. Claus, the wife of Santa Claus.
 * Michael Keaton as King Blizzer, the father of Frostina and ruler of Yetisburg.
 * Jason Schwartzman as Kevin, one of Santa's scout elves, and Dave’s best friend.
 * Chris Pratt as Dave, one of Santa's scout elves and Kevin’s best friend.
 * Keegan-Michael Key as Ken, one of Santa's coal mining elves and Donny's best friend.
 * Jordan Peele as Donny, one of Santa's coal mining elves and Ken's best friend.
 * David Cross as Clarence, a forest elf in Turkey.
 * Kelly Clarkson as Roxy, one of Santa's elves and Kevin's girlfriend.
 * Patrick Stump as Stuart, one of Santa's elves.
 * Jack McBrayer as Hermey, a dentist elf.
 * Jason Sudeikis as Jingle Bells, a grumpy elf and Jangle's best friend.
 * Kevin Hart as Jangle Bells, one of Santa's elves and Jingle's best friend.
 * Elijah Eldrige as Bob, a young elf and Kevin and Dave's student and friend.
 * Tara Strong as Katherine Darby, the mother of Teddy.
 * Phil LaMarr as Edward Brooks, Katherine's new husband and Teddy's stepfather.
 * Blake Shelton as Earl, the head elf.
 * James Corden as Carl, a a dim-witted elf.
 * Janelle Monáe as Mindy, one of Santa's elves and Dave's girlfriend.
 * Amy Poehler as Nellie, one of Santa's prepper elves.
 * Ariel Winter as Elfie,one of Santa's prepper elves.
 * Gina Rodriguez as Trixie, one of Santa's prepper elves.
 * Wanda Sykes as Sugarplum Mary, the chief assistant to Mrs. Claus in the Kitchen.
 * Pitbull as José, a slick party animal elf and Roxy's closest/best friend.
 * Bebe Rexha as Tinsel, one of santa's spy elves and Stuart’s love interest.
 * Charli XCX as Kat, one of the spy elves and Carl's love interest.
 * Lizzo as Lilia, one of Santa's spy elves, and Jangle's love interest.
 * Olivia Olson as Nova, Dave's niece.
 * Corey Burton as Shinny Upatree, Santa's oldest friend and Village co-founder.
 * Austin Mahone as Tundra, Frostina's older brother.
 * Daniel MK Cohen as Cole, one of Frostina's brothers.
 * Jake T. Austin as Guster, one of Frostina's brothers.
 * Finn Wolfhard as Artie, one of Frostina's brothers.
 * Malcolm McDowell as Azun, a wise old yeti.
 * Quinn Copeland as Holly Coleman, Ben's girlfriend and classmate.
 * Maisy Joanne Stocklin as Young Holly
 * Gaten Matarazzo as Troy Burnes, the school bully in Ben's school.
 * Olivia Holt as Bethany, Patrick and Teddy's former rival-turned friend who appeared in a flashback at the beginning of the film.
 * Christian Slater as Sam, a bartender elf.
 * Patrick Warburton as Grant, a man turned into a mouse.
 * Christina Aguilera as herself
 * Eric Bauza as:
 * Carlo, a prisoner who befriends Dave and Kevin and helped them to escape from jail.
 * Cop #2
 * Rob Paulsen as Roger, one of Santa's scout elves.
 * Kari Wahlgren as Marie, one of Santa's elves.
 * Wahlgren also voices a female Yeti.
 * Dee Bradley Baker as:
 * Ethan, one of Santa's coal mining elves.
 * Jorge, one of the elves in Turkey.
 * A Yeti soldier
 * The prisoners
 * Jennifer Hale as Grace, one of Santa's scout elves.
 * Yuri Lowenthal as Sparky, one of Santa's elves.
 * Rita Moreno as Brrronica, Frostina's aunt.
 * Pierce Gagnon as Dougie, Ben's friend and classmate.
 * Pamela Adlon as Young Robert Darby, the younger version of Teddy's late father who she encounters in 1991.
 * Brandon Greene as:
 * Bonor, a Yeti soldier.
 * Buster, one of the forest elves in Turkey.
 * Cop #1
 * Kimberly Brooks as Jill, a Boston airport worker in 1991.
 * Sergio Pablos as Mass State Police Trooper in 1991.
 * Moroccan Scott Cannon as Shane's son
 * Monroe Cannon as Shane's daughter

Soundtrack
Music from and Inspired by The Christmas Movie, the soundtrack of the film, it will be released on December 1, 2031. Alessia Cara contributed the song "Make It To Christmas", which is playing at the film's credits along with a cover song of The Zippers' "GO Christmas!". Matthew West also contributed the song "We Need Christmas".

No. Title.......................................................................Music


 * 1) "GO Christmas!"....................................Justin Bieber, Becky G, Jeremy Maguire, Alessia Cara
 * 2) "Make It To Christmas"....................................Alessia Cara
 * 3) "We Need Christmas"....................................Matthew West
 * 4) "Home for the Holidays"....................................Cyndi Lauper, Norah Jones
 * 5) "The Christmas Song"....................................Alessia Cara
 * 6) "Jingle Bells"....................................The Brian Setzer Orchestra
 * 7) "Santa Baby"....................................The Pussycat Dolls
 * 8) "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)"....................................Elvis Presley
 * 9) "Jingle Bell Rock"....................................Brenda Lee
 * 10) "Baby, It's Cold Outside"....................................Dean Martin
 * 11) "Silver Bells"....................................Bing Crosby, Carol Richards
 * 12) "White Christmas"....................................The Drifters
 * 13) "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"....................................Johnny Mathis
 * 14) "Merry Christmas, Baby (feat. Dr. John)....................................Christina Aguilera, Dr. John
 * 15) "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"....................................The Jackson 5
 * 16) "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer"....................................Ella Fitzgerald
 * 17) "Frosty The Snowman"....................................Gene Autry, Cass Country Boys
 * 18) "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"....................................Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters
 * 19) "Silent Night"....................................Justin Bieber, Alessia Cara
 * 20) "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"....................................Alvin & The Chipmunks, Dave Seville
 * 21) "All I Want For Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)"...................................Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey
 * 22) "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"...................................Matthew West

Development
Netflix and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer confirmed in September 2025 that a third film in The Christmas Movie series was in development. Brandon Greene, the director of the first two films, announced that he would return for the film, with Chris Columbus replacing Greene as the writer for the film.

Casting
In April 2027, J.K. Simmons was reported to reprise his role as Santa Claus, while Eddie Izzard was cast for the film as Belsnickel. In September 2030, Jeremy Maguire, Justin Bieber and Becky G were reported to reprise their roles as Ben, Patrick and Teddy, respectively with Alessia Cara as Shane, Selena Gomez as Frostina, Michael Keaton as King Blizzer, Keegan-Michael Key as Ken, Jordan Peele as Donny, and David Cross as Clarence joing the cast. Mariah Carey would be narrating the film.

Marketing
The digital campaign of The Christmas Movie 3: Home for the Holidays have been promoted before its release, which included activations, such as the star ratings being replaced with the Elves during the Amazon's "Elf Day", and BuzzFeed's "character takeover" badges. In New York City, 600 taxicabs had the sculpted Elves atop of them, of which had a Elvish greeting.

Additional marketing partners for the film included 23 & Me, Chiquita, Ferrero, M&M's, Procter & Gamble, Topps, and Yummy Spoonfuls.

Release
The film was released on Netflix on November 27, 2031.

The film was released 2 years later on November 23, 2033 on Freeform during 25 Days of Christmas as part of The Christmas Movie 's 10th Anniversary.

Critical Response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 70% based on 75 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Christmas Movie 3: Home for the Holidays celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message and humor." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Accolades
The Christmas Movie 3 was nominated for Annie Awards, including an Oscar for Alessia Cara's song "Make It To Christmas".

Sequel
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer CEO Michael De Luca revealed in an interview in February 2031 that a fourth Christmas Movie film is in development.

Trivia

 * The 27th animated triquel after Pokémon 3: The Movie (2000), Rugrats Go Wild (2003), Shrek the Third (2007), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010), Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), Cars 3 (2017), Despicable Me 3 (2017), Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020), Trolls 3 (2023), Wreck-It Ralph 3 (2024), Finding Marlin (2025), Frozen III (2025), The LEGO Movie 3 (2026), Rio 3 (2026), Hoodwinked 3! (2026), Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs 3 (2027), The Croods 3 (2027), The Secret Life of Pets 3 (2028), The Angry Birds Movie 3 (2028), Monsters, Inc. 3 (2029), The Nut Job 3 (2029) and Happy Feet 3 (2029).
 * The Yeti characters were borrowed from the comic series, NorthStars.
 * The scene where Dave, Kevin, Ken, and Donny sing in prison is a reference to the scene from The Christmas Chronicles (2018).
 * It is the second Christmas film series to be a trilogy, the first being Father Christmas.