45 Funny Christmas Movies to Keep You Laughing this Holiday Season
There are plenty of reasons to look forward to the holiday season, from dazzling Christmas lights to festive desserts (don’t even get us started on these chocolate peppermint cookies). But one of the best holiday traditions is watching a slew of funny Christmas movies during a cozy night in.
Whether you’re up for an old classic or a feel-good romance, we compiled a list of 45 funny Christmas movies, including favorites like Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Home Alone.
RELATED: 68 Best Family Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Kids This Holiday Season
1. ‘Elf’ (2003)
Who’s in it? Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen
What’s it about? After growing up with Santa and his elves, a man named Buddy (Will Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his biological father. Even if you’ve seen it a million times, nothing beats watching Ferrell devour plates full of spaghetti, syrup and candy.
2. ‘Noelle’ (2019)
Who’s in it? Anna Kendrick, Shirley MacLaine, Bill Hader
What’s it about? As Nick Kringle (Bill Hader), son of the late Santa Claus, goes through training to replace his father, he gets so overwhelmed that he runs away from the North Pole. Now, it’s up to his sister, Noelle (Anna Kendrick), to find her brother and get him back in time for Christmas.
3. ‘The Santa Clause’ (1994)
Who’s in it? Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd
What’s it about? Single dad and toy salesman Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is in for the surprise of a lifetime when he accidentally causes the death of Santa Claus. It’s delightfully cheesy, full of charm and loaded with humor.
4. ‘The Christmas Chronicles’ (2018)
Who’s in it? Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
What’s it about? When Saint Nick comes to their home for a visit, two siblings manage to sneak onto his sleigh. But when they lose all the presents due to a mechanical issue, the children and Santa must team up to get them delivered in time for Christmas.
5. ‘Four Christmases’ (2008)
Who’s in it? Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Kristin Chenoweth, Robert Duvall
What’s it about? When their plans to vacation abroad for the holidays fall through, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are forced to stay home and celebrate with their families. Can they survive one Christmas with their dysfunctional relatives?
6. ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)
Who’s in it? Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Juliette Lewis
What’s it about? All Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants is to host the perfect family Christmas. That proves nearly impossible when a relative shows up uninvited and, worse yet, Clark misses out on his holiday bonus.
7. ‘Jingle All the Way’ (1996)
Who’s in it? Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson
What’s it about? How far would you go to get your child a Christmas gift? Would you risk getting trampled by a crowd, chasing after a car and getting into a fight with Santa Claus? Well, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Howard Langston does all the above and more as he desperately tries to get a Turbo-Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve.
8. ‘Arthur Christmas’ (2011)
Who’s in it? James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent
What’s it about? This clever animated comedy follows Santa Claus’s quirky son, Arthur Claus (James McAvoy), as he embarks on a special mission to save Christmas by delivering one last gift with the help of his grandfather, an elf and a team of eight untrained reindeer. This heartwarming flick will appeal to kids and adults alike.
9. ‘Surviving Christmas’ (2004)
Who’s in it? Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate
What’s it about? Ben Affleck stars as a rich businessman, who goes to great lengths to avoid spending Christmas alone. After getting dumped by his girlfriend, he revisits his childhood home and bribes the new family so he can spend the holidays with them. The only catch? They must pretend to be his real family.
10. ‘Mixed Nuts’ (1994)
Who’s in it? Steve Martin, Caroline Aaron, Rob Reiner, Juliette Lewis
What’s it about? Philip (Steve Martin) is having a rather stressful holiday. Not only is he struggling to keep his suicide-prevention hotline afloat, but he’s also dealing with a recent breakup.
11. ‘A Bad Moms Christmas’ (2017)
Who’s in it? Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn
What’s it about? Our favorite trio of down-to-earth mamas are back at it again in this festive sequel to Bad Moms. This time, Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell) and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) make a pact to "take Christmas back" as they deal with their own mothers during the holidays.
12. ‘Get Santa’ (2015)
Who’s in it? Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Kit Connor
What’s it about? When Santa crashes his sleigh and lands in jail, he enlists the help of a father-son duo to help him escape and return home for Christmas. If you need a family-friendly option that’s got laughs and a thoughtful storyline, then Get Santa is your best bet.
13. ‘Ernest Saves Christmas’ (1988)
Who’s in it? Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker
What’s it about? While working his day job as a cab driver, Ernest (Jim Varney) embarks on a thrilling journey to help Santa Claus search for his successor. As always, Ernest is a hoot.
14. ‘The Princess Switch’ (2018)
Who’s in it? Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar
What’s it about? Think of it as The Parent Trap…but with a more mature and festive twist. Vanessa Hudgens stars as doppelgängers Stacy De Novo and Lady Margaret Delacourt, who swap places and wind up falling in love. Cheesy rom-coms, FTW.
15. ‘Jack Frost’ (1998)
Who’s in it? Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Joseph Cross, Mark Addy
What’s it about? When a rock musician slash father passes away, he gets resurrected as a life-sized snowman, thanks to a magical harmonica. Can he repair his relationship with his son before winter comes to an end?
16. ‘Home Alone’ (1990)
Who’s in it? Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Catherine O'Hara
What’s it about? If there’s one Christmas movie that can bring out your inner child, it’s this one. Revisit Kevin McCallister's adventures as he outsmarts two bumbling criminals, who are trying to rob his home.
17. ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ (1992)
Who’s in it? Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
What’s it about? In this follow-up to Home Alone, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is stuck in New York for the holidays with plenty of money to buy himself a room at an upscale hotel. His fun comes to a screeching halt when his old foes try to find him again.
18. ‘Christmas With the Kranks’ (2004)
Who’s in it? Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd
What’s it about? Excited to take advantage of their alone time, Luther (Time Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to skip out on the holidays, opting for a romantic cruise in the Caribbean instead. But their Christmas-obsessed neighbors don’t appreciate this news—especially since they’re determined to win the "best decorated street" competition.
19. ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)
Who’s in it? Jim Carrey, Molly Shannon, Anthony Hopkins
What’s it about? Jim Carrey shines as the Grinch, a cynical creature who tries to put an end to holiday cheer by stealing everyone’s presents on Christmas Eve. He's a mean one, indeed.
20. ‘A Christmas Story’ (1983)
Who’s in it? Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley
What’s it about? Arguably one of the best Christmas movies of all time, A Christmas Story follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who's determined to get a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas. With its clever narration and heartwarming depiction of childhood, it's no wonder so many stations keep the film on heavy rotation during the holidays.
21. ‘Best Man Holiday’ (2013)
Who’s in it? Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan
What’s it about? Old drama and rivalries resurface as Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs) and the rest of the gang reunite to celebrate the holidays in this fun sequel. (P.S. If this is up your alley, look out for Peacock's upcoming Best Man limited series.)
22. ‘This Christmas’ (2007)
Who’s in it? Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Chris Brown
What’s it about? In this special ode to awkward family Christmas dinners everywhere, a beloved matriarch invites the entire family over for their first reunion in years. But the happy occasion quickly goes south when family secrets are revealed.
23. ‘I'll Be Home for Christmas’ (1998)
Who’s in it? Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna, Sean O'Bryan
What’s it about? When a group of bullies leave Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) stranded in the middle of nowhere with a Santa suit and no money, he must find a way to make it home in time for Christmas—and more importantly, get to the Porsche that his dad promised him.
24. ‘Christmas Cupid’ (2010)
Who’s in it? Christina Milian, Ashley Benson, Chad Michael Murray
What’s it about? A hard-working PR executive learns that one of her biggest clients has passed away. When he returns as a ghost and takes her on a journey through her ex-boyfriends, she soon realizes who she’s meant to be with.
25. ‘Love Actually’ (2003)
Who’s in it? Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney
What’s it about? Well, who can say no to a dazzling all-star cast and eight fascinating stories that explore the complexities of love? Watch for the laughs and Andrew Lincoln's epic cue-card scene.
26. ‘The Night Before’ (2015)
Who's in it? Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie
What's it about? Three tight-knit friends have established a years-long tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve together, but when one of them becomes a father, they realize that their annual celebration is coming to an end. For their last hurrah, they decide to go all out. Naturally, chaos (and hilarity) ensues.
27. ‘A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas’ (2011)
Who's in it? John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris
What's it about? Two old pals embark on a wild Christmas Eve adventure after Kumar (Kal Penn) accidentally burns down Harold's (John Cho) family Christmas tree. While it delivers in terms of humor and holiday cheer, it's also quite vulgar, so probably not the best choice for a family movie night.
28. ‘Office Christmas Party’ (2016)
Who's in it? Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T. J. Miller, Courtney B. Vance, Jennifer Aniston
What's it about? When his sister, CEO of Zenotek, threatens to shut down his branch in Chicago and cancel their Christmas party, Clay Vanstone (T.J. Miller), head of the branch, joins forces with his chief technical officer and plans a huge office Christmas party to save everyone’s jobs. If you think teen party scenes are wild, you haven't seen anything yet.
29. ‘Deck the Halls’ (2006)
Who's in it? Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoweth
What's it about? A suburban dad’s life is turned upside-down when he meets his obnoxious new neighbor. To top it off, he seems determined to outshine everyone else with his holiday lights.
30. ‘Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas’ (2013)
Who's in it? Tyler Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively
What's it about? In the spirit of Christmas, Madea agrees to join her niece to surprise her daughter, Lacey (Tika Sumpter)—not knowing that she secretly got married. To cover up her secret, Lacey claims that her husband is actually her coworker, but the lie quickly starts to unravel.
31. ‘Almost Christmas’ (2016)
Who's in it? Kimberly Elise, Mo'Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover
What's it about? Walter Meyer (Danny Glover), a retired mechanic, invites his children to celebrate Christmas for the first time since his wife’s death. Can the bickering siblings put their differences aside and make it a happy occasion?
32. ‘The Holiday’ (2006)
Who's in it? Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet Jude Law, Jack Black,
What's it about? Cameron Diaz and Kaye Winslet play two women living on opposite sides of the world. After going through major heartbreaks, they agree to swap homes and escape for the holidays, giving them both another chance at love.
33. ‘Last Holiday’ (2006)
Who's in it? Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton, Gérard Depardieu
What's it about? Queen Latifah steals the show as Georgia, a soft-spoken department store worker who decides to go on a luxury holiday after learning that she’s dying in a few weeks. Although certain parts are predictable, it’s hard not to swoon at the chemistry between Latifah and LL Cool J’s characters.
34. ‘Snowglobe’ (2007)
Who's in it? Jason Schombing, Hilda Doherty, Christina Milian
What's it about? Can you imagine getting a snow globe that magically transports you to a Winter Wonderland? That’s what happens to Angela (Christina Milian), who’s thrilled to experience a snowy town where everyone celebrates Christmas. But when one snow globe inhabitant follows her back into the real world, trouble ensues.
35. ‘Friday After Next’ (2002)
Who's in it? Ice Cube, Mike Epps, John Witherspoon, Terry Crews
What's it about? In this underrated Friday sequel, Craig (Ice Cube) and his slacker cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) are enjoying their newfound freedom in their own apartment. But when a criminal dressed as Santa Claus breaks in and steals all their valuables, they’re forced to take jobs as security guards to avoid getting evicted.
36. ‘Happiest Season’ (2020)
Who's in it? Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie
What's it about? Happiest Season follows Harper (Mackenzie Davis), a young woman who struggles to come out to her conservative family when she brings her girlfriend to meet them for the holidays. (Fun fact: The story is inspired by director Clea DuVall’s real-life experiences with her family.)
37. ‘Scrooged’ (1988)
Who's in it? Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover
What's it about? In this dark, comedic version of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a heartless and cranky TV executive who fires one of his staff members on Christmas Eve. When he’s visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, he starts to rethink his actions and the true meaning of Christmas.
38. ‘The Family Stone’ (2005)
Who's in it? Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker
What's it about? A high-strung businesswoman struggles to fit in with her boyfriend’s eccentric family when she visits during the holiday season. *Cue the awkward family drama*
39. ‘A Very Merry Mix-Up’ (2013)
Who's in it? Alicia Witt, Mark Wiebe
What's it about? What holiday is complete without at least one cheesy Hallmark romance? This one follows a young woman who travels to meet her fiancé's family on Christmas day…but ends up at the wrong house. By the time she discovers her mistake, however, she finds herself falling for another eligible bachelor.
40. ‘Holidate’ (2020)
Who's in it? Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Jake Manley, Jessica Capshaw, Manish Dayal, Kristin Chenoweth
What's it about? Desperate to avoid judgment from her family for being single, Sloane teams up with a stranger to play his girlfriend. But things get complicated when they develop real feelings for each other.
41. ‘THE PRINCESS SWITCH: SWITCHED AGAIN’ (2020)
Who's in it? Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Suanne Braun
What's it about? In this follow-up to The Princess Switch, Hudgens returns as Margaret, whose Christmas coronation is fast approaching. She and her look-alike, Stacy (also Hudgens) swap places once again in an attempt to salvage Maragaret's love life, but things get quite messy when a third, evil doppelgänger enters their lives.
42. ‘Father Christmas is Back’ (2021)
Who's in it? Elizabeth Hurley, Nathalie Cox, John Cleese
What's it about? The British holiday comedy follows four siblings who reunite to celebrate Christmas at their Yorkshire mansion. But when their estranged father shows up unannounced, family secrets come to light and chaos ensues.
43. ‘48 Christmas Wishes’ (2017)
Who's in it? Madeline Leon, Lauraas Laura, Liam MacDonald, Blakeas Blake
What's it about? If you need a family-friendly option that'll have everyone laughing, look no further than this wholesome flick. The movie follows the misadventures of two elves as they try to retrieve a number of lost letters to Santa.
44. 'LAST CHRISTMAS' (2019)
Who's in it? Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
What's it about? Clarke stars as Kate, an aspiring singer and Christmas store worker who meets and falls for charming, mysterious guy named Tom (Henry Golding).
45. ‘Midnight at the Magnolia’ (2020)
Who's in it? Natalie Hall, Evan Williams, John Andrews, Alison Brooks
What's it about? When two good friends and radio co-hosts get dumped by their romantic partners during the holidays, they decide to fake a romantic relationship in order for their show to take off. But will their plan succeed?
RELATED: 40 Romantic Christmas Movies to Get You in the Holiday Spirit (And Give You All the Feels)
