46 Classic Christmas Movies That Never Get Old
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We’re total suckers for classic Christmas movies. (You know, the ones that can be watched year after year and never get old.) And as the weather gets colder, there's nothing we want more than to curl up inside with a holiday cocktail and a few Christmas cookies, thenc click play on our comfort flicks.
In honor of the holiday season, we rounded up a list of 46 classic Christmas movies that everyone should add to their streaming queue. Kids (and grown-ups too) will love the silly antics and booby traps inHome Alone, while gems like Love Actually and The Holiday are sure to give you all the feels. Still not sure what to stream? Keep reading for 46 classic Christmas movies and where to watch them, from Prime Video to Netflix.
53 Romantic Christmas Movies to Get You in the Holiday Spirit (And Give You All the Feels)
1. The Family Stone (2005)
Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker
Rating: PG-13
Everett Stone brings his uptight, career-focused girlfriend home for Christmas and little do they know what chaos will ensue in this star-studded flick that also features Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Diane Keaton and more.
2. Klaus (2019)
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones
Rating: PG
Earning its place among a pantheon of animated Christmas classics, Klaus depicts the unlikely friendship between a disgruntled postman and a reclusive toymaker and their efforts to bring joy to a gloomy town.
3. Bad Santa (2003)
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox
Rating: R
In this crass Christmas comedy, Willie T. Stokes and his pal Marcus dress up as Santa Claus and an elf every year to steal money from shopping malls on Christmas Eve. But when Willie befriends a young boy, he begins to wonder if he's such a grinch after all.
4. A Christmas Story (1983)
Cast: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Rating: PG
A young boy named Ralphie attempts (and fails numerous times) to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa to get him the “perfect” Christmas gift: a Red Ryder BB gun. This is his story.
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Cast: Ann Altieri, Chris Doran, Sally Dryer
Rating: G
Charlie Brown is practically the guru of calming end-of-year anxiety. Join the Peanuts gang as they take on the holidays in this classic film about the commercialization of Christmas.
6. Home Alone (1990)
Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard
Rating: PG
When Kevin acts out the night before a family vacation to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. One thing leads to another, and he’s accidentally left home alone by his family the next day. Can Kevin protect the house from a pair of evil (and clumsy) burglars?
7. The Polar Express (2004)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye
Rating: G
Based on Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book, it follows a young boy who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. That is, until he takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole.
8. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)
Cast: Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, Robie Lester, Joan Gardner
Rating: G
The movie is told from the perspective of a mailman, who narrates the tale of a small baby named Kris who was left on the doorstep of the Kringle family (yes, those Kringles). Now that he’s grown up, he must handle obstacles that make the holidays (nearly) impossible.
9. Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer (1964)
Cast: Larry D. Mann, Billie Mae Richards
Rating: G
Narrated by Sam the Snowman, it introduces viewers to a young red-nosed reindeer who’s looking for a place that will accept him for who he is. When he stumbles upon a whole island of misfit toys, he asks Santa for help.
10. Elf (2003)
Cast: Leon Redbone, Will Ferrell, James Caan
Rating: PG
When Buddy was a baby, he was mysteriously transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. As a grown up, he knows he’s very different from his peers. So, he embarks on a mission to New York City to find his real dad, Walter Hobbs, who just so happens to be on the naughty list.
11. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Cast: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd
Rating: PG
The Kranks are facing their first Christmas without their daughter, so they decide to opt out of the holiday altogether. When she decides to come home at the last minute, they’re forced to change their plans.
12. Jack Frost (1998)
Cast: Michael Keaton, Kelly Preston, Mark Addy
Rating: PG
A family is grief-stricken when their father dies in a car accident. So, they undergo a series of “lasts” before the dad disappears…forever. *Wipes tear*
13. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Cast: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page
Rating: PG
Jack Skellington is the pumpkin king of Halloween Town. After stumbling upon Christmas Town, he tries to shake things up by creating his own version. Cue the confusion.
14. Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
Cast: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn
Rating: PG
When Kris Kringle replaces a drunken Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, he becomes the talk of the town. That is, until he starts going around claiming to be the real deal. After being institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer is forced to defend him in court.
15. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
Rating: PG
George Bailey wishes aloud that he had never been born…and instantly regrets it. When an angel appears, she shows him exactly how life would be without him.
16. A Christmas Carol (2009)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins
Rating: PG
Ebenezer Scrooge is a grumpy fellow, who’s awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits. When they take him through his past memories, he soon realizes that his miserable way of living is no way to live at all.
17. Jingle All the Way (1996)
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman
Rating: PG
It’s a classic movie that’s bound to motivate early holiday shopping, since it follows a father who promises to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. The problem? The toy is sold out everywhere. Panic (and comedy) ensues.
18. The Preacher's Wife (1996)
Cast: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance
Rating: PG
A neglected preacher’s wife gets spiritual guidance from a charming guardian angel.
19. White Christmas (1954)
Cast: Bing Crosby Danny Kaye Rosemary Clooney
Rating: NR
Bing Crosby. Rosemary Clooney (aka George Clooney’s aunt). A Christmas show in Vermont. Need we say more?
20. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Cast: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire
Rating: G
Think of it as a reimagined version of A Christmas Carol, featuring the Muppets performing original songs that will be stuck in your (and your family’s) head all day long.
21. The Santa Clause (1994)
Cast: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson
Rating: PG
On Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin accidentally scares Santa, who falls off the roof and disappears. Scott and his son, Charlie, are transported to the North Pole, where he must assume the role before next Christmas.
22. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Cast: Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark
Rating: PG
Due to a Christmas emergency, Santa Claus needs to appoint a successor. Unfortunately, the only man who’s up for the job is the accident-prone Ernest.
23. I'll Be Home For Christmas (1998)
Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jessica Biel, Adam LaVorgna, Sean O'Bryan
Rating: PG
A teenager finds himself in a pickle when he’s kidnapped by a group of high school bullies while on his way home for Christmas. Cheesy storylines FTW.
24. The Snowman (1982)
Cast: Raymond Briggs, David Bowie, Mel Smith
Rating: G
Based on the book by Raymond Briggs, it follows a boy who builds a snowman—that comes to life—after the family pet passes away. With a running time of just 26 minutes, it’s ideal to watch with the younger kiddies.
25. Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Cast: Jimmy Durante, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon
Rating: G
A little girl is faced with an impossible task: Get a snowman (which magically came to life) to a safe climate before the spring weather melts him away.
26. Scrooged (1988)
Cast: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait
Rating: PG-13
A TV exec feels no qualms firing a staffer right before the holidays—until he’s visited by a series of ghosts.
27. Frozen (2013)
Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff
Rating: PG
Elsa is a newly crowned queen who’s struggling to control her powers, which accidentally caused an infinite winter. Cue her sister, Anna, who teams up with a man, his playful reindeer and a snowman to save their home. Sure, it’s not an official Christmas movie, but it’s close enough.
28. A Christmas Prince (2017)
Cast: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Tom Knight, Sarah Douglas
Rating: PG
In an attempt to get the inside scoop for a story on a prince who’s poised to be king, an aspiring journalist sneaks her way into a castle. When she’s caught, she pretends to be the young princess’s new tutor, which fuels a spiderweb of lies.
29. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (2000)
Cast: Elmo Shropshire, Michele Lee, Sue Blu
Rating: G
Jake’s Christmas Eve takes a turn for the worst when his grandmother gets lost in the cold. When he’s sent out to find her, he discovers that she’s become the victim of an atypical hit-and-run.
30. Last Christmas (2019)
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh
Rating: PG-13
Kate is less-than-thrilled about her job working as an elf year-round. When she meets Tom, she soon learns the true meaning of Christmas.
31. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Cast: Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin
Rating: PG
In an attempt to ruin Christmas, the bitter and antisocial Grinch embarks on a mission to stop the festivities. This includes stealing holiday gifts and décor alongside his four-legged sidekick, Max.
32. Eloise At Christmastime (2003)
Cast: Julie Andrews Sofia Vassilieva Kenneth Welsh
Rating: G
Eloise is a spunky 6-year-old, who’s determined to reunite young adults in love. As a result, she makes her nanny chase her around the busy streets of NYC.
33. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Cast: Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Lamorne Morris, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Rating: PG
Two siblings are trying to catch Santa Claus in action. However, their mission soon turns into a wild adventure that includes the threat of a canceled Christmas.
34. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid
Rating: PG-13
The third edition of the National Lampoon series documents the Griswold’s holiday vacation gone awry. Not only does it provide a barrel of laughs, but it also offers ample Christmas decoration inspiration. (Sorry, neighbors.)
35. Tree Man (2015)
Cast: Francois
Rating: PG-13
New Yorkers are greeted with Christmas tree-lined streets every holiday season. This documentary follows Francois (aka the Tree Man) and the fascinating journey he takes every season to spread holiday cheer.
36. Love Actually (2003)
Cast: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney
Rating: R
It examines nine intertwining stories, all of which pay tribute to one overarching theme: love.
37. The Holiday (2006)
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Rating: PG-13
Amanda is overworked and needs to get away. So, she agrees to switch homes for the holidays with a similarly unlucky British woman. (Two words: Jude Law.)
38. Gremlins (1984)
Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton
Rating: PG-13
Let's face it: Seeing hordes of evil little creatures wreak havoc on a small town on Christmas Eve will never get old. Follow Billy and his pals as they set out to stop the monsters from ruining the holidays for everyone.
39. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
Cast: Victor Moore, Ann Harding, Don DeFore, Charles Ruggles
Rating: NR
If you need a good laugh, then you'll appreciate this timeless comedy. The movie follows the adventures of Aloysius and his pals as they take up residence in a rich couple's Fifth Avenue mansion during the holidays.
40. Trolls Holiday (2017)
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel
Rating: NR
To help her best friend appreciate the holidays, Poppy (AKA the queen of the Trolls) teams up with Branch and the Snack Pack to prove it’s worth celebrating.
41. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Cast: Burl Ives, Larry Mann, Billie Mae Richards
Rating: NR
If you don’t already know the story, let Burl Ives tell you in this classic stop-motion TV special. Misfits Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius set out to find their place on the North Pole, and end up saving Christmas in the process.
42. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!(1966)
Cast: Boris Karloff, June Foray
Rating: NR
Based on the 1957 children’s book of the same name, this perennial favorite follows the Grinch as he tries to ruin Christmas for the townfolk of Whoville from his mountainous abode.
43. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Cast: Billie Mae Richards, Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann
Rating: G
Rudolph, a young reindeer with a bright red nose, joins forces with an elf and a prospector to help an island of misfit toys.
44. Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (1999)
Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Wayne Allwine, Russi Taylor
Rating: NR
Join Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Scrooge McDuck as they learn the true meaning of Christmas in this sweet, family-friendly holiday flick.
45. Holiday Affair (1949)
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey
Rating: G
In this classic rom-com, Leigh stars as a young war widow who falls head over heels for a businessman after he catches wind of her fraudulent shopping scheme and decides not to turn her in. It may seem like an unusual premise for a Christmas movie, but this warm and nostalgic film hits all the right (holiday) notes.
46. Holiday Inn (1942)
Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds
Rating: G
A talented singer and a suave dancer are determined to win the heart of beautiful Linda while they all stay at the Holiday Inn. This love triangle musical is a holiday classic, in no small part thanks to several iconic Christmas tunes, like "White Christmas" and "Happy Holiday."
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