100 Best Christmas Movies to Watch This Holiday Season

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'Tis the season for Christmas! December is when you start hearing Christmas songs everywhere you go and the sweet scent of homemade cookies fills the air. And that means you only have so many days left to watch all of your favorite Christmas movies.

We're willing to bet that you and your family have some holiday flicks that you rewatch year after year: Home Alone, A Christmas Story, or funny Christmas movies like Elf, which just so happens to be one of Ree Drummond's favorites. But to make your bucket list and check it twice, look no further than our list of the best Christmas movies ever made.

Here, you'll find all of the classic Christmas movies whether you want to watch timeless films like Miracle on 34th Street, romantic Christmas movies like Love Actually, or family Christmas movies like The Grinch. We've included a few new Christmas movies for the 2023 season. If you're looking for a movie available for streaming, check out the Christmas movies on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Max, and Disney+. (Don't sleep on one of the best Christmas movies on Netflix: The Christmas Chronicles!) And if you have cable, this list also includes the best Christmas movies on both Hallmark and Lifetime channels. They all have one thing in common: they're sure to put you and your family in a holly, jolly mood. So, what are you waiting for? Slip into your matching Christmas pajamas and press "play." Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments!

Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas

It's the holiday season and Jane wakes up in the hospital to learn that she has amnesia. Now she's on a quest to reunite with her family by Christmas with only one clue to go on—and one handsome nurse to help her find her way.

You've Got Mail

Although it's not a traditional Christmas movie, You've Got Mail remakes the classic Christmas film The Shop Around the Corner, and still has its fair share of holiday fun and romance.

Surviving Christmas

Millionaire Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has one Christmas wish: to spend the holidays at his childhood home. The only problem? Another family lives there now! When he offers to pay the residents to spend the holidays with him, things take a hilarious turn.

Christmas in the Heartland

Teenagers Kara and Jessie are on a plane headed for the heartland when they devise a plan to switch places for the holidays. Talk about a merry mix-up!

The Perfect Holiday

In this heartwarming holiday film, a little girl asks a department store Santa Claus to send her divorced mom the man of her dreams for Christmas. Little does she know that the man of her mom's dreams is none other than the department store Santa himself!

Elf Me

This quirky holiday adventure follows Trip, an elf working in Santa's factory who would rather make unusual weapons than traditional toys. When he meets a peculiar young boy, the two unlikely friends embark on a mission to save Christmas from a ruthless businessman.

Falling for Christmas

A spoiled heiress who's suffering from amnesia after a skiing accident turns over a new leaf when she meets a handsome cabin owner and his daughter.

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two

Two years after the events of the first film, Kate Pierce is now a cynical teenager who's less than thrilled about spending the holidays with her mom and her new boyfriend. But when she's magically transported to the North Pole, she must set aside her own problems to save Christmas once again.

Dashing Through the Snow

Social worker Eddie Garrick no longer believes in the magic of Christmas. Can his 9-year-old daughter and a mysterious man in a red suit named Nick change his heart for the holidays?

Best. Christmas. Ever!

Charlotte is convinced that her old friend Jackie's life is not quite as perfect as she's portraying it to be. When a twist of fate brings them together for the holidays, Charlotte sets out to confirm her suspicions.

Santa Buddies

You've heard of Santa Claus, but have you heard of his trusty four-legged friend, Santa Paws? When some villains hatch a plot to ruin Christmas, it's up to the adorable pup and his furry pals to save the day!

Something From Tiffany's

A young woman from New York City is overjoyed when she finds an engagement ring in her boyfriend's belongings. But she soon discovers that the ring was meant for someone else, leading her on a life-changing journey to her actual true love.

Christmas in the Smokies

This feel-good holiday film takes place in the Smoky Mountains and follows a family on a mission to save their beloved berry farm before Christmas.

A Madea Christmas

Madea and her niece Eileen decide to pay a surprise Christmas visit to Eileen's daughter and soon discover the real reason she was hiding out for the holidays.

Home Sweet Home Alone

It's bad enough that Max's family accidentally left him behind when they traveled to Japan for the holidays. But things go from bad to worse when a pair of thieves try to break into Max's home!

Christmas at Pemberly Manor

An event planner convinces a high-profile billionaire to let her throw a holiday festival on his charming estate. As they plan the party together, the unlikely pair end up falling for each other.

A Very Murray Christmas

If you're looking for a fun holiday comedy, you can count on this Bill Murray special that includes loads of celebrity appearances and plenty of singing and dancing.

Christmas in Connecticut

This cute, classic story follows a writer who falls in love with a war hero while on a holiday trip. But the writer has some explaining to do when her little white lies become exposed!

Let It Snow

A snow storm is no match for these high school seniors! In fact, it's exactly what helps them grow closer, making this Christmas their best one yet.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

A jaded toymaker finds his love for Christmas restored when his young granddaughter comes into his life at the holidays.

Hotel for the Holidays

Working at a prestigious hotel during the holidays just means you're bound to run into some high-profile figures at some point! Though, engaging in a love triangle with them usually isn't on the itinerary!

8-Bit Christmas

All this 10-year-old boy wants for Christmas is the newest and trendiest video game. Then again, so does every other kid! What measures will this spunky crew go to in order to retrieve the game?

A Christmas Story Christmas

Anyone who loved the original A Christmas Story will appreciate the continuation of the plot all these years later! Ralph has a family of his own, and this sequel is all about reminiscing on the past.

Spirited

You've seen the story of Scrooge told in many different ways, but we guarantee that you have never seen it executed in the way that Will Ferrel and Ryan Reynolds have! Prepare for lots of laughs, appearances from some of our favorite Hollywood names, and a surprisingly musical masterpiece!

'Twas the Fight Before Christmas

People generally shouldn't fight with their neighbors during the holidays. But for these two households, that task proves to be impossible. So much so, they end up having to battle it out in court!

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Here's a Christmas flick the whole family can watch! This wholesome movie will warm your heart and remind you why the Christmas season is so wonderful.

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square

If you're looking for something cheerful and campy, this one is your best bet. Dolly knows how to put a smile on just about anyone's face, and her performance in this flick is no exception!

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Meet the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future—Muppet style. This film is a sweet take on a classic we all know and love.

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Everyone loves a Christmas present. But when Harold and Kumar receive a package they weren't expecting, their holiday season takes a surprising turn.

Silent Night

Shake things up a little bit with this horror-comedy Christmas movie. Keira Knightley plays a mother whose family is handed the worst luck on Christmas morning.

Elf

This might just be the best Christmas movie of all time. We could all learn a lesson in kindness and holiday spirit from Buddy (Will Ferrell), a lovable, grown-up orphan who believes he's one of Santa's elves.

A Christmas Story

You'll shoot your eye out! Join Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) as he tries to convince the adults in his life—and Santa himself—that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift for a young boy.

It's A Wonderful Life

George Bailey (James Stewart) is having a tough time around the holidays until an angel arrives to show him what life would have been like if he never existed. Break out the tissues for this one!

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

All Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants is a "fun old-fashioned family Christmas." Unfortunately, his boss, his family, and fate seem determined to work against him. Prepare to laugh out loud at Clark's misadventures!

Home Alone

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals! When 8-year-old Kevin McCallister's (Macaulay Culkin) family accidentally leaves him home alone while they go away for the holidays, he's left to defend his house from a couple of amateur burglars.

Miracle on 34th Street

This Christmas classic tells the story of an old man named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) who fills in for Santa in Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. He claims to be the real thing, and everyone swears he's insane—until a young lawyer decides to defend Kris in court.

Love Actually

After watching this feel-good rom-com, you might find that love actually is all around. Come for the star-studded cast, stay for the happy endings!

The Santa Clause

When a divorced dad (Tim Allen) accidentally knocks the man in the big red suit off his roof on Christmas Eve, he magically becomes the new Santa—whether he likes it or not.

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The beloved 1966 cartoon gets the live-action treatment in this fun remake! You and your family will love re-watching the story of how the Grinch's heart grew three sizes at Christmas.

Polar Express

All aboard! One of the most magical Christmas kids' movies from the past two decades follows a skeptical young boy on a train ride to the North Pole.

White Christmas

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this 1954 musical as singing partners who team up with two sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to help their former Army commander save his rural Vermont lodge.

When Harry Met Sally

While it's not technically a Christmas movie, When Harry Met Sally shows off New York in all its holiday season glory—and it's one of Ree's all-time faves. (You might recognize a lot of the real-life filming locations!)

Last Christmas

A Christmas store elf who's down on her luck meets a handsome man who seems too good to be true in this sweet and funny holiday rom-com. Just remember: Things aren't always as they seem, especially at Christmas.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

If it's always a struggle for you to make it home for the holidays, John Candy and Steve Martin's laugh-out-loud film will make you feel way better about your difficult travel situation.

Single All the Way

Tired of going home alone for the holidays, a single guy asks his best friend to pose as his boyfriend. It starts as a joke—until his family gets involved and plays matchmaker!

Love Hard

This Netflix original Christmas movie is not your average rom-com. You'll never see the ending coming!

Candy Coated Christmas

Watch Ree Drummond guest star in this Christmas story about two very different souls who find each other during the holiday season. Learning to balance each other out has been one of the greatest gifts for them.

A Castle for Christmas

A bestselling author ships off to Scotland for the holidays to escape a scandal and reconnect with her roots. Once there, she quickly falls in love with an old castle—and possibly the man who lives inside of it!

A Boy Called Christmas

This unexpected Santa Claus origin story is based on the beloved book by the same name. Watching it with your family might just become a new Christmas tradition!

Almost Christmas

A loving father only wants one thing for Christmas: for his family to get along. You'll definitely relate to this fun comedy!

Babes In Toyland

A classic Christmas tale gets a Technicolor revamp in this beloved 1961 Disney musical.

Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

It's tough to beat the original, but this reimagination of Miracle On 34th Street is definitely worth a watch.

Mixed Nuts

This Nora Ephron dramedy from the early '90s will definitely get some laughs (and a few tears!).

Happiest Season

Hulu's newest holiday movie has everything you could hope for in a Christmas rom-com: true love, family drama, and a proposal gone awry.

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Get to know the story behind the story in this magical film about how the characters from A Christmas Carol came to be.

It Happened on 5th Avenue

A homeless man and his friends take up residence in a 5th Avenue mansion while the owners are away for Christmas in this black-and-white classic.

The Night Before

Put the kids to bed and prepare to laugh out loud at this R-rated Christmas comedy starring funnyman Seth Rogen.

Holiday Affair

Who would you choose: The boring, successful businessman or the romantic layabout? That's the problem one woman faces in this classic Christmas rom-com!

Trading Places

A wealthy investor and a con artist trade places to see how the other half lives in this beloved '80s flick.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Ultimate Edition

There are so many different versions of The Grinch, but you can't beat the original! Your kids will love this remastered edition of the 1966 classic.

Holidate

This hilarious romantic comedy spans an entire year. While it covers all of the holidays, it begins and ends with the same two people at Christmastime.

The Year Without A Santa Claus

This stop-motion special by Rankin/Bass Productions holds a special place in the hearts of everyone who used to eagerly wait for Christmas movies to appear on television.

Jack Frost

After the tragic death of his father, a young boy befriends a magical snowman who turns out to be someone very special.

A Christmas Carol

Based on the 1843 story by Charles Dickens, Disney's animated version of this Christmas classic will delight your entire family.

Gremlins

This is certainly not your typical holiday movie, but Steven Spielberg's fantasy-horror film still deserves recognition as a Christmas classic.

The Apartment

A man tries to get promoted by letting its executives use his apartment for their affairs—until he discovers that his boss's mistress is the woman he wants for himself.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is this a Halloween movie or a Christmas cartoon? No one can ever decide, but everyone agrees it's a must-see!

Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

Kevin McCallister gets lost in yet another Christmas mix-up that lands him in New York City while the rest of his family flies to Florida. After arriving in the Big Apple, the cunning young boy cons his way into a room at The Plaza and begins his usual antics.

Christmas with the Kranks

Finally alone for the holidays, the Kranks decide to skip Christmas altogether. Unfortunately, their relaxing vacation doesn't go as planned.

Jingle All The Way

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a workaholic dad whose annual Christmas shopping spree turns out to be more than he bargained for.

Klaus

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A selfish young postman is stationed at a frozen town up North where he discovers a reclusive toy maker is hiding out. Could it be...? Turn on this animated Netflix original and find out!

Meet Me in St. Louis

Watching Judy Garland sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in this 1944 musical is a must around the holidays.

Scrooged

A greedy TV executive (Billy Murray) is planning to stage a live production of A Christmas Carol, but ends up living out a version of that very story himself.

The Santa Clause 2

One of the rare cases where the sequel is just as good as the original, Tim Allen returns as Santa, who's facing his biggest challenge yet. If he doesn't get married by Christmas Eve, he must forfeit his red suit forever.

Four Christmases

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn will keep the whole family laughing in this charming Christmas rom-com.

The Christmas Chronicles

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You've never seen Santa like this before. Kurt Russell stars as a guitar-playing, car-stealing Mr. Claus in this Netflix original Christmas movie. His real-life wife, Goldie Hawn, even makes an appearance!

The Holiday

Two women switch homes for the holidays in hopes of spending time alone, only to find being with someone new is what they really needed.

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

The latest version of the beloved Dr. Seuss story features a modern soundtrack and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the grouchy (but lovable!) Grinch.

Prancer

When a young girl discovers a wounded reindeer who she believes is one of Santa's own, she enlists the help of a sympathetic veterinarian to take care of the animal.

Deck the Halls

Two totally opposite neighbors (Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito) decide to see who can put up more elaborate Christmas decorations. The contest gets predictably out of hand.

Edward Scissorhands

Pale, scissor-handed Edward (Johnny Depp) doesn't seem to belong in suburbia at Christmastime. But isn't being open-hearted what the holidays are all about?

A Christmas Prince

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A young journalist sets off to find dirt on a dashing prince poised to become the king, but her undercover investigation abroad quickly becomes more complicated than she expected.

The Last Holiday

After finding out she has a terminal illness, an introverted saleswoman decides to finally start living.

Bridget Jones's Diary

This isn't a full-blown Christmas movie, but much of Bridget Jones's (Renée Zellweger) year-long quest to improve herself takes place around the holidays—and it's all too relatable.

The Family Stone

An uptight career woman from New York City spends Christmas with her boyfriend's free-spirited family, and quickly discovers she's in over head.

A Christmas Prince 2: The Royal Wedding

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A year after Amber helped King Richard secure the crown, the unlikely lovebirds are planning to get married. However, Amber begins to doubt whether she's really fit to be a queen.

Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

The third and final installment in the Santa Clause series takes a chaotic turn when Jack Frost tries to stop Christmas.

Die Hard

The star of this action-packed thriller is adamant that it's not a Christmas film. However, the majority of the world disagrees. Sorry, Bruce!

Fred Claus

Santa's brother Fred (Vince Vaughn) couldn't be more different than the jolly king of Christmas. Hilarity between the siblings ensues when Fred must come to the North Pole to pay off his debt by building toys.

Noelle

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One of the first original Christmas movies on Disney+ proved to be a massive hit. Every little girl will love this unique tale that puts Kris Kringle's daughter (Anna Kendrick) at the head of the holidays.

I'll Be Home For Christmas

A college student is left stranded in the desert with no money and only a few days left until Christmas. Can he make it home in time?

The Princess Switch

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When an introverted baker from Chicago and a haughty soon-to-be princess discover they look identical, they decide to trade places for the holidays.

Groundhog Day

While this 1993 classic actually takes place in February, the abundance of snow and its feel-good message make it just as good as any true Christmas film.

Bad Santa

A conman and his partner usually pose as Santa and his elf to rip off department stores on Christmas Eve. That is, until they befriend a young boy who makes them think twice about the scheme.

12 Dates of Christmas

A heartbroken young woman is set up on Christmas Eve and forced to relive the same date over and over in this rom-com.

Arthur Christmas

Everyone knows that Santa delivers all of his presents around the world in one night, but no one knows about the genius behind the not-so-magical operation.

The Best Man Holiday

A group of college friends reunites for Christmas after 15 years apart, reigniting old rivalries and romances in the process.

Office Christmas Party

An epic office Christmas party gets way out of hand in this laugh-out-loud holiday comedy.

While You Were Sleeping

A mix-up at the hospital lands a lonely young woman (Sandra Bullock) in the home of her longtime crush on Christmas.

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