My Secret Santa

My Secret Santa is a 2025 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mike Rohl and starring Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold and Tia Mowry.

After losing her job, desperate single mother, Taylor, resorts to disguising herself as an elderly man to get hired as a local ski resort's Santa Claus for the holidays. Things become complicated when the resort manager begins to suspect her and she falls in love with the owner's handsome son.

The film was released on Netflix on December 3, 2025.

Taylor Jacobson becomes unemployed just before Christmas. Overdue on rent, she also wants her daughter Zoey to take a snowboarding class at the local ski resort. Her brother Eric's partner Kenny discovers the course is inexpensive for resort employees.

A desperate single mother, Taylor seeks employment at the resort. Although not hiring, she overhears marketing VP Natasha talking about their dire need for a Santa. Taylor gets Eric and Kenny to disguise her as an elderly man to become the resort's Santa Claus.

Matthew Layne, the resort owner Robert's playboy son, is forced to act as general manager to compensate for going wild in Italy. Both he and Taylor arrive late to the interview. As noone else satisfied Natasha, she pushes Matthew to OK 'Hugh', whose disguise fooled them.

Afterwards, speaking privately with 'Hugh', Matthew is convinced they have met before. Taylor had met him earlier in a used record shop. Matthew tried to ask her out, after recognizing her from her high school rock band.

Taylor's landlord and neighbor Doralee is suddenly friendly and forgiving of the late rent. She hopes to get on her good side. Lonely, Doralee had met 'Hugh' the evening before, and plans to seduce the unmarried, older man.

At the resort, Matthew reprimands 'Hugh' about his interaction with kids. He is getting negative buzz for discouraging kids from requesting expensive gifts. 'Hugh' explains he is helping the parents. After, Matthew asks for advice about Taylor, who he cannot stop thinking about.

'Hugh' asks the 15 y.o. Zoey what she wants for Christmas. Not believing in Santa, nonetheless she wishes her mother would start dating, as she is too focused on her. Zoey googled her high school band 'The Screaming Kittens', and suspects she used to be fun.

Later, as 'Hugh' interacts with the kids, he tries to connect with them. Soon, the word gets out, and suddenly the public responds positively. A viral video of 'Hugh' helping a girl with a stutter gets him an invite to the resort's annual Christmas party.

Before the invite is given, Zoey coaxes Taylor into meeting Matthew for hot chocolate. Getting to know each other, she reveals her pregnancy by her rocker boyfriend forced her to quit college, but he continued pursuing music. Matthew admits to being unruly since his mom died when he was 15.

During the day, Matthew reteaches Taylor to ski, as she has not been for years. They further connect, as when she falls, he helps her up. Then Matthew invites Taylor to the resort's Christmas party.

Suspicious of 'Hugh', Natasha cannot find him on google with his name or image, but his social security number shows Taylor. At the party, with Eric and Kenny's help, Taylor switches back and forth between the disguise and her red dress until Natasha calls 'Hugh' a fake. Before she can respond, news of Zoey getting hurt on the slope comes out, so she uses her natural voice and hurries to the ambulance.

Ava, a snobby girl from Zoey's snowboarding course and Natasha's daughter, explains what happened. In front of the crowd, Taylor comes clean by removing the disguise. Afterwards, as Natasha lists ways they can retaliate, Robert prefers not to, but wants to blame someone, so Matthew steps forward.

Ava asks Natalie about Zoey's condition. When she praises Taylor, her mother calls her a fraud. Ava defends her, especially for her listening skills. So, the mother and daughter have a heart to heart.

At home, Taylor and Zoe talk about what happened. The teen mentions the unmasking video has gone viral. Taylor apologizes for embarrassing her, but Zoey is proud. Talking about Matthew, Taylor mentions he has not called.

Later on, talking to Matthew about the resort's closing Christmas concert, Natasha suggests he give the official remarks. Matthew quite skillfully apologizes for the resort's now lack of Santa and the confusion surrounding it. He reminds everyone the concept of Santa is really kindness, generosity and love.

Taylor appears, joining Matthew on the stage. She apologizes to everyone for what happened. She explains she had needed a job and wanted to help Zoey, so when the opportunity to embody Santa emerged, she took it. Both Taylor and Matthew admit their feelings for each other, so kiss, agreeing to spend Christmas together.

• Alexandra Breckenridge:
  • Taylor Jacobson
  • Hugh Mann
  • Santa Claus
• Ryan Eggold as Matthew Layne
• Madison MacIsaac as Zoey
• Barry Levy as Robert
• Adam Beauchesne as Kenny
• Diana Maria Riva as Doralee
• Tia Mowry as Natasha Burton
• Dominic Fox as Jimmy
• Nathan Kay as Connor
• William C. Vaughan as Eric

The film is directed by Mike Rohl, and written by Carley Smale and Ron Oliver. It is produced by Howard and Alexander Braunstein.^[2][3]

The cast is led by Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Tia Mowry, Madison MacIsaac, and Diana Maria Riva.^[4]

Principal photography took place in Kamloops, British Columbia in February 2025.^[5]

Music is composed by Matthew Rogers,^[6] and features, among other tracks, Run Rudolph Run.^[7]

The film was released on Netflix on December 3, 2025.^[8]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 15 critics' reviews are positive.^[9]

• My Secret Santa at IMDb