The film stars Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Lamorne Morris, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Oliver Hudson.

In December 2018, in Lowell, Massachusetts, widow Claire Pierce struggles to keep her family together around Christmas after her husband, Doug, who was a firefighter, died in a fire.

Their son Teddy has lost much of his Christmas spirit, while their younger daughter Kate keeps it alive and continues to believe in Santa Claus.

On the ground, Santa introduces himself and tells the kids he has to locate his reindeer, hat, and bag of presents, which were lost in the crash, in order to resume deliveries and prevent Christmas spirit from declining.

Going inside the bag to find help, Kate is teleported to the North Pole, where she encounters Santa's elves, who agree to help after discovering that she comes from a "long line of true believers."

When he reveals his knowledge of the officer's wish to reconcile with his ex-wife, Lisa, who shares that wish, he is taken aback, but still refuses to believe him, and locks him in the holding cell.

Development for what would become The Christmas Chronicles began in June 2013, when it was announced Chris Columbus' 1492 Pictures had acquired a Found Footage spec script titled 12/24 written by Matt Lieberman and based on a story by Lieberman and David Guggenheim wherein two brothers set out to prove that Santa Claus is real, using their home video camera and inadvertently cause Santa’s sleigh to crash after stowing away with the brothers trying to work together to save Christmas.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Viewers seeking a fresh holiday viewing option – or those simply in the mood for Santa Kurt Russell – should find The Christmas Chronicles well worth a yuletide stream.

[8] Melanie McFarland of Salon said: "The film's no great shakes, but Russell's star power in 'The Christmas Chronicles' is a gift anyone should be happy to claim.

Club wrote: "The film doesn't know how to get out of its own way and foreground what's working, namely the dynamo of screen presence placed more prominently in the advertising than the feature itself.

"[10] Writing for Vox Magazine, Jenna Allen said: "Above all, it’s clear that Netflix has subverted the holiday movie blueprint – Hallmark, I'm looking at you – by giving us novelty, thrill and humor.

"[12] The film features a cover of Elvis Presley's Santa Claus Is Back in Town, performed by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, with actor Kurt Russell on lead vocals.

Stars Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Darby Camp, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Judah Lewis were all confirmed to reprise their roles, while Julian Dennison and Jahzir Bruno were cast to appear in the sequel.