Christmas has come early this year! Meet Me Next Christmas has arrived on Netflix, with Falling Inn Love and Resort to Love star Christina Milian at the center of another heartwarming holiday rom-com. Milian also executive produces the film, which promises to bring joy to the world, Pentatonix style. Intrigued? Wondering how the entire festive love story ends? Read on.

What is Meet Me Next Christmas about?

In pursuit of a fairy-tale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla (Milian) must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold-out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert. At the show, she hopes to reconnect with the dashing James (Kofi Siriboe), a love interest so charming, he’s the only present Layla wants under her tree this Christmas. 

Milian describes Meet Me Next Christmas as a “treasure hunt for love” as Layla dashes through the Big Apple accompanied by an unexpected ally, professional concierge Teddy (Devale Ellis). “There’s a sense of magic, love, and anticipation that’s happening through the whole movie,” she tells Tudum. “You just never know who they’re going to run into or what’s going to happen next.”  

Whatever yuletide surprises lay ahead, expect Layla to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true. Milian calls her a “motivated woman.” “Layla is a girl that knows what she wants,” the actor says. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and when she knows she wants something, she goes for it. She doesn’t let anything stop her. She needs to find this man, and she’s going to find him at the Pentatonix show.” 

Marni Grossman

Big-hearted Teddy is ready to help Layla along the way. He’s someone defined by his selflessness and dedication. “You’ll see the sacrifices he makes for his mom. He’s willing to do anything for his cousin. But most importantly, he’s willing to do anything for Layla because he takes his job seriously,” Ellis tells Tudum. “And he’s the best cook.” 

Meet Me Next Christmas is directed by Rusty Cundieff from a script by Molly Haldeman and Camilla Rubis.

When is the Meet Me Next Christmas release date?

Meet Me Next Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.

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Who’s in the cast of Meet Me Next Christmas?

What’s a Pentatonix movie without harmonies? The a cappella gang’s all here:

• Christina Milian as Layla
• Devale Ellis as Teddy
• Kofi Siriboe as James
• Tymika Tafari as Roxy
• Mitch Grassi as himself
• Scott Hoying as himself
• Kirstin Maldonado as herself
• Kevin Olusola as himself
• Matt Sallee as himself
• Kalen Allen as Jordy
• Nikki Duval as Becca
• Wesley French as Javier
• Brendan Morgan as Tanner  

Does Christina Milian perform in Meet Me Next Christmas? 

The five members of Pentatonix aren’t the only ones hitting the stage in Meet Me Next Christmas. Milian also displays her pop-star sparkle during a rousing lip-sync performance of “Santa Baby” during the film’s Snow Ball. In a bid to win tickets to the Pentatonix concert, Layla and Teddy enter the competition under the tutelage of the latter’s cousin, Jordy.  

While Milian says her co-star learned the choreography “faster” than she did, Ellis tells a different story about rehearsal. “She was like, ‘Don’t mind me. I haven’t danced in a long time, so we’re just going to get through this,’ ” he says. Suddenly Milian was hitting her allegedly “simple” steps, turns, and pliés with ease. “She’s a professional dancer and singer. I had to keep up with that. But I held my own!” Ellis continues proudly. 

Milian is delighted with the final product of all their hard work. “I pushed myself harder because Devale learned the moves so fast,” she says. “Now it’s one of the cutest, sweetest numbers that you’ll see in a Christmas film.” 

What happens in Meet Me Next Christmas? 

Although Layla focuses on her meet cute with James in the airport lounge, she actually stumbles into Teddy there first. The duo banter over the buffet, and Teddy gives Layla a hot tip about the tarts. (Always add sriracha!) Their conversation ends, but not before Teddy accidentally drops one of his Christmas ceramics into Layla’s purse. Layla, who has a boyfriend, is then free to get to know James. She agrees to meet him the following Christmas if they’re both single. 

A year later, Layla gets the push she needs when she finds her partner, Tanner, cheating on her in her own house. Layla puts all of her brokenhearted energy into finding a ticket to the sold-out Pentatonix concert and reconnecting with James. As Milian says, “This girl has a serious breakup. But she already knows what she wants and where to find it.” Layla’s hunt brings her to Teddy, although neither remembers the other from the airport lounge the year before. They’re both far too focused on Layla’s supposed love story with James to think about their own possible relationship. 

All of that changes by the end of Meet Me Next Christmas. After a whirlwind few days in New York City, both Layla and Teddy realize their deep attraction to each other.

 “What makes Layla and Teddy such a good match is that it happens right under their nose,” Milian says. “Sometimes you have this vision for exactly what something is going to be. And then you realize it’s actually been standing right next to you that whole time. That’s what true love is all about.”  

The couple’s love story crescendos at the Pentatonix concert: As Teddy prepares his speech, Layla runs through the snow trying to get to him. The scene is Milian’s favorite in the movie. “It’s everything that you dream of in any rom-com. And that red dress really seals the deal,” she says. In the final scene of the movie, Teddy and Layla passionately kiss, much to the joy of Pentatonix. Up until that moment, Ellis says Teddy was “unsure” if Layla shared his emotions. “The movie’s about faith. When he jumps off the stage, he thinks that he’s putting everything out there — he’s embarrassed,” Ellis explains. “When Teddy goes from being worried to smiling, that’s the moment he knows this was meant to be.” 

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Are Pentatonix really in Meet Me Next Christmas? 

They sure are — and they had a jolly good time portraying a fictional version of themselves. 

Band member Hoying explains Meet Me Next Christmas producer Mark Roberts initially got the group involved in the project. “We were very excited. We’ve always talked about how we wanted to explore other creative areas like film,” his bandmate Maldonado says. “It was fun to be silly, and we had a great time on set and watching the magic happen.” 

Pentatonix spent multiple days filming, and the members leaned on each other for support. As Grassi says, “Thankfully, we had each other as a nice little cushion every day. Our chemistry is just so real with each other that it made the scenes very realistic. We could become more ourselves as we were playing ourselves.”

Hoying was “surprised” by how much freedom they had on set. “We got to play with the lines and apply them to our natural humor that we have together in everyday life. That made it really fun,” he says. 

Now, the band is excited for fans to see their part in Layla and Teddy’s romance. After all, Pentatonix has a front-row seat for the lovers’ big, movie-ending smooch. “When they kiss — and the camera is circling them — I was like, ‘This is magic,’ ” Sallee says. “If I was feeling it there on set, I can only imagine how people are going to receive it.”

Can I see any Meet Me Next Christmas photos? 

Yes — but only if you’re ready to fall in love with Layla’s swoon-worthy journey. Not only is there a peek at her connection with James, but also a few glimpses at Layla’s relationship with Teddy. Who knew you could feel so much heat during the holidays? 

Marni Grossman

Marni Grossman

Marni Grossman

What should I watch next?

If it’s romance you crave, make your way through this list of rom-coms currently streaming on Netflix. Then prepare for all the other holiday love stories coming your way in 2024, including Our Little Secret, The Merry Gentlemen, and Hot Frosty. 

Romantic Comedies To Stream NowFrom Always Be My Maybe to All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, fall in love with these movies.