Though movies like Holidate are quite common, their continued popularity has proven that the holiday-themed romantic comedy is a go-to favorite. Released on Netflix in 2020, the film concerns two people who are fed up with being single every holiday season and pretend to be each other's plus one. Naturally, the arrangement blossoms into a real romance, and audiences were drawn in by the film's lovable holiday vibes and low-stakes plot. Though not terribly original, Holidate, and movies like it, capture the essence of winter and capture hearts with their beautiful tales of love and romance.

Holiday romantic comedies have been around since the early days of cinema, and some of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time feature strong undercurrents of romance and romantic comedy. The sub-genre was kicked into high gear by blockbuster movies like Love Actually in the early 2000s, and the holiday romantic comedy has become...