Holiday movies are an escapist bunch, but this season, reality has a way of peeking through the cracks. Of course, the stories continue to have happy resolutions — don’t worry, the Grinch still doesn’t win — but instead of glittery princesses, mindless consumption and oblivious displays of wealth, we see people who struggle to live up to expectations or throw themselves into ludicrous schemes to pay their bills. It’s not like the British master of misery Mike Leigh is lurking around, but the tinsel feels a little more earned.

Below you will find most of the new movies available on major streamers at the time of publication, in alphabetical order.

‘Champagne Problems’

Stream it on Netflix.

The France in Netflix movies and series tends to be as fantastical as the imaginary Aldovia and Montenaro, and so it goes in this surprisingly pleasant rom-com. Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) has been dispatched to Paris to finalize the purchase of a legacy Champagne house. On her very first day she falls for a dashing local, Henri (Tom Wozniczka), then learns that he is the heir of the family brand she’s trying to buy. “What are the chances?” Sydney’s sister (Maeve Courtier-Lilley) wonders, voicing viewers’ thoughts. Kelly is a little on the bland side but the French cast picks up the slack and helps turn the movie into a bubbly bauble. The money scene, however, comes courtesy of a German potential buyer (Flula Borg) who passionately argues on behalf of his countryman Hans Gruber in “Die Hard.”

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