Netflix essentially changed the game for holiday cinema. They did it by leaning into the cheese. When you sit down to watch the Falling for Christmas movie, you aren't looking for Citizen Kane. You're looking for comfort food. You want a wealthy heiress with amnesia, a rugged lodge owner who definitely owns too many flannels, and a sprinkle of magic that somehow fixes a traumatic brain injury in time for a Christmas gala.
It worked.
In late 2022, this movie didn't just trend; it signaled the "Lohanance." Lindsay Lohan hadn't led a major production in years. People were skeptical. Then, the trailer dropped with a cover of "Jingle Bell Rock," a deliberate nod to her Mean Girls days, and the internet collectively decided to give it a shot. It turns out that we really missed her comedic timing. She has this specific way of playing "clueless rich girl" that feels charming rather than grating.
The Plot That We've Seen a Million Times (and Loved Anyway)
Let's be real about the script. Sierra Belmont is a spoiled heiress—the "Vice President of Atmosphere" at her father's luxury resort. Her boyfriend, Tad, is a social media influencer who cares more about his signal than his partner. During a mountaintop proposal that goes horribly wrong, Sierra falls off a cliff.
She wakes up with no memory.
Enter Jake Russell. He’s played by Chord Overstreet, whom you probably remember from Glee. He’s a widower. He runs North Star Lodge, a struggling, cozy inn that stands in stark contrast to the corporate gloss of the Belmont hotels. He finds Sierra, takes her in because the hospital is full or something (classic holiday movie logic), and nicknames her "Sarah."
📖 Related: Why The Band Perry All Your Life is the Most Underrated Love Song of the 2010s
What follows is the standard "fish out of water" trope. She doesn't know how to use a vacuum. She fails at flipping pancakes. She learns that life isn't about caviar and champagne, but about community and chores. It’s predictable. Honestly, if it weren’t predictable, it wouldn't be a Christmas movie. We watch these because we know exactly how they end. We want the safety of the happy ending.
Why Falling for Christmas Actually Ranks High in Holiday Rewatches
There is a specific science to why some Netflix Christmas movies fail and others become annual staples. A lot of it comes down to the lead's charisma. Lohan carries this film on her back. Without her, it’s a Hallmark derivative. With her, it feels like a comeback story.
Critics at Variety and The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film succeeds because it doesn't take itself too seriously. It knows it's campy. The costumes are bright, the sets look like they were decorated by a professional elf, and the physical comedy is dialed up to eleven.
The Supporting Cast and the Tad Factor
George Young, who plays Tad, is the unsung hero of the Falling for Christmas movie. His subplot—getting lost in the woods with a local woodsman named Ralph—is genuinely funny. It parodies the influencer lifestyle without being too mean-spirited. Most holiday films have a "villain" fiancé who is just a jerk. Tad isn't a jerk; he's just an idiot. It makes the stakes feel lighter.
Then there’s the lodge. North Star Lodge represents the "small business vs. big corporation" conflict that dominates this genre. It’s a trope as old as You’ve Got Mail. We root for the little guy. We want the hand-carved ornaments to win over the mass-produced plastic ones.
The Cultural Impact of the Lohanance
When Netflix signed Lohan for a multi-picture deal, it was a business masterstroke. They tapped into Millennial nostalgia. People who grew up with The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday are now the primary demographic for streaming holiday content. Seeing her healthy, happy, and doing what she does best—physical comedy—felt like a win for the audience too.
The movie broke records for Netflix’s holiday slate. It spent weeks in the Global Top 10.
But it’s not just about nostalgia. The film fits into the "Comfort TV" trend that exploded post-2020. We’re tired. The world is loud. Sometimes you just want to see a woman in a $5,000 ski suit trip over a bucket of soapy water while a handsome man looks on with mild amusement.
🔗 Read more: Why the Red Ranger Jungle Fury Actually Changed Power Rangers Forever
Specific Details You Might Have Missed
Look closely at the "Jingle Bell Rock" scene. It’s during the credits. It isn't a full dance number like in Mean Girls, but it’s a clear "thank you" to the fans.
Also, the filming location wasn't some remote Alpine village. It was Utah. Specifically, Goldener Hirsch in Deer Valley and the Blue Boar Inn in Midway. These places are real, and yes, they are just as expensive as they look on screen. The cinematography makes great use of the Wasatch Range, giving the film a scale that feels slightly higher-budget than your average made-for-TV flick.
The soundtrack is another layer. It’s sugary. It’s bright. It features Lindsay’s sister, Aliana Lohan, who also has a small role in the film. It’s a family affair, which adds to that "cozy" vibe the producers were clearly chasing.
Is It Actually a "Good" Movie?
Nuance matters here. If you’re judging it against The Bear or Succession, it’s terrible. The dialogue is cheesy. The plot holes are large enough to drive a snowmobile through. For instance, how does a billionaire's daughter go missing for days without a massive FBI search? Why does nobody recognize her in a small town nearby?
It doesn't matter.
In the context of the "Holiday Cinematic Universe," Falling for Christmas is a top-tier entry. It’s better than The Knight Before Christmas but maybe not as iconic as the first Christmas Prince. It sits in that sweet spot of being high-quality enough to look good on a 4K TV but simple enough that you can fold laundry while watching it.
💡 You might also like: The Marty McFly Casio Watch: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Takeaways for Your Holiday Watchlist
If you're planning a movie marathon, don't just stop at this one. To get the most out of the experience, you should pair it with the right vibe.
- Watch the Lohan Trilogy: Netflix followed up with Irish Wish and Our Little Secret. Watching them in order shows the evolution of this new era of her career.
- Look for the "Christmas Magic" Guy: There is a mysterious bearded man in the movie who seems to cause the wind to blow and things to happen. He’s the unofficial "Santa" figure. Every Netflix Christmas movie has one. Spotting him is a fun drinking game (with hot cocoa, obviously).
- Check out the Utah Locations: If you’re a travel nerd, look up Midway, Utah. It’s basically a Swiss village in the middle of the Rockies and is worth a visit if you want that "Sarah" lifestyle without the amnesia.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: It’s actually decent for a holiday party playlist. The covers are upbeat and keep the energy high.
The real lesson of the Falling for Christmas movie isn't that you need to lose your memory to find yourself. It's that we all need a break from reality sometimes. We need to believe that a billionaire can become a housekeeper and that a struggling widower can save his business with a single fundraiser. It’s a fairy tale in Ugg boots.
If you haven't seen it yet, or if you're due for a rewatch, pay attention to the lighting. Everything is warm. Everything is amber and red. It’s designed to trigger a dopamine response. And honestly? It works every single time.
Grab some popcorn, put your phone on "Do Not Disturb," and let the Lohanance wash over you. It’s exactly what the holidays are for.
Next Steps for Holiday Movie Fans:
- Verify your streaming settings: Ensure your Netflix is set to High Quality; the Utah mountain shots in this film are genuinely stunning in 4K.
- Compare the tropes: Watch Overboard (1987) right after. It’s the original "rich person with amnesia" story and makes for a great double feature to see how the genre has shifted toward a softer, more festive tone in the modern era.
- Update your playlist: Add the 2022 version of "Jingle Bell Rock" to your Spotify library to hear the subtle differences in Lohan’s vocal delivery twenty years later.