The Christmas Chronicles 2 might not have a special appearance quite as magical and impressive as Goldie Hawn's cameo at the end of the first movie, but it does have some recognizable faces in there. Directed by Chris Columbus, the 2020 holiday sequel includes some cameos from well-known people in key roles, along with a lead supporting performance from Deadpool 2's Julian Dennison. However, it's the brief cameos that give new meaning to The Christmas Chronicles 2, whether it's a traditional on-camera appearance or a voice performance.
The Christmas Chronicles 2 follows Kate Pierce (Darby Camp), who reprises her role from the original 2018 film. As a True Believer, she catches the attention of Belsnickel (Dennison), a former elf who tricks the girl into helping him gain access to the North Pole. After Belsnickel wreaks havoc at Santa's Village, Mr. Claus (Kurt Russell) and company take a fantastic voyage across the globe in order to save Christmas as they know it. Along the way, Kate and her friend Jack (Jahzir Bruno) learn some important life lessons about holiday spirit. Released in November 2020, The Christmas Chronicles 2 co-stars Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus, Tyrese Gibson as Bob, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Claire, and Judah Lewis as Teddy.
The four main cameos in The Christmas Chronicles 2 are wildly different. One actress receives a chance to shine during a performance sequence, while a famous British actor appears in a voice role only. Beyond that, the other cameos are harder to spot - one following a trend by Christopher Columbus and the other paying homage to a great voice acting talent. Here's every cameo in The Christmas Chronicles 2 on Netflix.
Darlene Love
Musician Darlene Love makes a cameo as Grace in The Christmas Chronicles 2. After they are sent back in time to Boston in 1990, Santa tells Kate that Christmas spirit is down to seven percent at Logan International Airport. It's later revealed that Santa somehow confusingly planned the side-trip to give Kate a chance to meet the 1990 version of her late father, which ultimately allows her to say goodbye and have closure. Meanwhile, Santa plans to change the overall mood after all flights are canceled. He uses his magic by having an airport worker named Grace sing a lively rendition of "Shout," which then transitions into "The Spirit of Christmas." It's a standout sequence in The Christmas Chronicles 2, one that thematically parallels a jailhouse performance in the original Netflix film.
In pop culture, Love is best known for her festive song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", which would have been a great fit for the movie but seems to have been overlooked. She's also known for her string of R&B hits during the '60s, including the #1 single "He's a Rebel." She was also part of the group The Blossoms, which contributed back-up vocals on many iconic tracks, with "Be My Baby" being one of the most famous productions. Love has also portrayed Trish Murtaugh in four Lethal Weapon movies, and she's featured in the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. In 2011, Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Malcolm McDowell
Actor Malcolm McDowell makes a cameo as magical elf elder Hakan in The Christmas Chronicles 2 on Netflix. After Belsnickel destroys the Christmas Star, Santa reveals that he needs to travel all the way to Turkey to meet with the Forest Elves for assistance. Santa subsequently arrives in a remote part of Turkey with Kate for the first time in 522 years and reunites with his old friend Hakan, who agrees to build a new container to kickstart the Christmas magic again. From there, Santa successfully harnesses the power from the Star of Bethlehem, and a new Christmas Star is taken back to Santa's Village.
Veteran actor McDowell is best known for starring as Alex in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 classic A Clockwork Orange. He also portrayed Soran in Star Trek: Generations and Dr. Samuel Loomis in Rob Zombie's 2007 Halloween re-make. In recent years, McDowell has appeared as Thomas Pembridge in Mozart in the Jungle, Minister Hydan in Star Wars Rebels (voice role), Rupert Murdoch in Bombshell, and Nick Frost's father Richard in Truth Seekers.
Violet Columbus
Actress Violet Columbus makes a brief appearance as a cashier in The Christmas Chronicles 2. During the aforementioned airport sequence, Santa and Kate realize that Belsnickel powered a time machine with now-defunct AAA batteries, prompting the young girl to visit a gift shop for more. As Santa plans a way to raise the collective Christmas spirit at Logan International Airport, Kate grabs a pack of $3 Duracell batteries and catches the cashier's attention by paying with a $20 bill with the year 2020 marked on it. Columbus appears again during the performance sequence in The Christmas Chronicles 2 on Netflix.
Violet Columbus is the daughter of The Christmas Chronicles 2 director Chris Columbus. As an actress, she made her debut as a child in her father's 1995 film Nine Months starring Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore. Violet Columbus later portrayed "Girl with Flowers" in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with the former being directed by her father and the latter helmed by Alfonso Cuarón. After appearing in I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009) and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), she didn't appear in another movie until The Christmas Chronicles 2.
Debi Derryberry
Actress Debi Derryberry makes dual cameos in The Christmas Chronicles 2 as the elves Speck and Fleck. When the Netflix film begins, Speck brings a video to Belsnickel that shows Kate proudly speaking about being a True Believer. "She's your ticket back into the North Pole," the little character says in Elvish, to which Belsnickel responds with a vague threat. Later, during a flashback sequence about Belsnickel's naughty behavior, Fleck appears as an elf who accidentally sits on a whoopee cushion.
Derryberry is best known for voicing Jimmy Neutron in the 2001 Nickelodeon film Jimmy Neutron-Boy Genius. She currently voices Maureen Murphy, Philip Bonfiglio, and Bridget Fitzsimmons in F Is for Family, along with other characters. Derryberry has also voiced characters in Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Mulan, and Ice Age: The Meltdown.