How to stream 'Elf,' 'Almost Christmas,' 'Christmas with the Kranks,' and more
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, many of us have an appetite for Christmas movies.
Whether the count down to the big day means you’ll be cramming in all your favorite holiday films or you’re just craving a nostalgic watch party, there are plenty of Christmas flicks to go around.
To give you more time to enjoy your holiday favorites instead of switching between every streaming service trying to find them, here’s a list of 23 Christmas movies and where you can stream them this year, including Christmas classics, kid-friendly holiday films and the Christmas-adjacent.
Oh, and there’s also some holiday horror in store if that’s your vibe.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (2000)
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) is a yearly repeat for many households.
This live-action reimagining of the 1996 animated classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” and Dr. Suess’ 1957 children’s book of the same name follows the Grinch as he tries to make Christmas as miserable as possible for everyone in Whoville by stealing all the presents.
Played by Jim Carrey, the Grinch is filled with comedic twists and turns as Cindy Lou Who, her dog Max and the rest of Whoville’s occupants slowly change the Grinch’s grouchy attitude about the holiday.
Watch the 1966 version on Amazon Prime or Peacock. Watch the 2000 version on Amazon Prime or YouTube.
'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'
In this stop-motion film from 1964, viewers follow Rudolph as he crushes on Clarice, the reindeer girl next door, and takes a journey to the Island of Misfit Toys with an elf named Hermey.
Not only is it a blast to watch, but it also features plenty of sing-a-long opportunities with Christmas songs like “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” performed throughout the film.
Watch the movie on Amazon Prime Video and for free on Freeform with a cable subscription.
'Elf'
Nothing says quality Christmas time quite laugh sharing a laugh around the TV. If that’s your goal, “Elf” is a top choice.
The film follows Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves and played by Will Ferrell, as he outgrows the world he knows and winds up in New York searching for his biological dad.
The Big Apple is quite a change from the North Pole, and it takes Buddy many mishaps and lots of confusion to realize that.
Watch “Elf” on Hulu, on Max and on YouTube.
'Almost Christmas'
In “Almost Christmas,” the Meyer family comes together for the first Christmas celebration after the matriach of the family dies.
Walter Meyer, the family patriarch played by Danny Glover, invites his four adult children home for the holiday in hopes of having a joyous holiday celebration, but he soon realizes that the family bickering and annoyance is a bit more than he bargained for.
Now, he just hopes to make it out of the holiday alive.
Stream the movie on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Peacock.
'Christmas with the Kranks'
Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen star in “Christmas with the Kranks” as Nora and Luther Krank, empty nesters who plan to ditch the holidays for an island cruise now that they’re alone.
Despite having their sights set on a sweet getaway, much to the dismay of their neighbors, the Kranks must quickly scrap their plans after their daughter turns up for a surprise Christmas visit.
Watch the movie on Amazon Prime.
'The Polar Express'
“The Polar Express” is a family-friendly movie that takes place on Christmas Eve in snowy Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As a boy spends the night before Christmas questioning whether Santa Claus is real, he suddenly gets the opportunity to ride the Polar Express, a magical train filled with other pajama-clad children as they barrel toward to the North Pole to Santa’s workshop.
With whimsical quests in store and catchy original songs, “The Polar Express” quickly became a hit upon its release in 2004.
Watch “The Polar Express” on Hulu, on Max, on YouTube and for free on TBS or TNT with a cable subscription.
'National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation'
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a 1989 film that has long been a Christmas staple for many households.
As patriarch Clark Griswold obsesses over trying to create the best Christmas display on the block, it ends up spreading more madness than holiday cheer.
To add a few cherries on top, he can’t seem to get a break from local snobs, his stingy boss and his disdainful extended family. And of course, some power outages are in store, too.
Watch “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on Hulu, on Max, on YouTube, for free on Sling TV and for free on TBS or TNT with a cable subscription.
'Gremlins'
They’re cute and fuzzy! Until they rip your face off.
“Gremlins” follows a gaggle of mischievous creatures as they turn the holidays upside down, from dead townspeople to grotesque pranks to all the horrifying antics between, after their instructions for care are disregarded by a young boy.
If the 1984 classic has yet to make it off your watch list, now’s the time turn it on. If you love it, you can indulge in the sequels.
Stream “Gremlins” on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
'Little Women,' 1994 and 2019 editions
"Little Women" (1994) and "Little Women" (2019) are both adaptations of the classic novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott.
Bursting with cozy seasonal settings and family vibes, the film’s storyline takes place in the weeks leading up the Christmas as the March sisters deal with personal changes, growing up and family trouble.
Watch “Little Women” (1994) on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime and for free on YouTube. Watch “Little Women” (2019) on Starz.
'A Christmas Story'
Bob Clark’s “A Christmas Story” debuted on Nov. 18, 1983, and follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his antics through the holidays in 1940s Cleveland, Ohio, including dodging a bully, longing for a Red Ryder model air rifle and navigating the juxtaposition of his coddling mother and cranky father.
And there might be some broken glasses in store for Ralphie, too …
Known as a classic Christmas movie and heavily referenced in pop culture, you’d have to be living under a leg lamp to not be familiar with this widely popular film
Stream the film on Max, on YouTube, for free on Sling TV or for free on TNT and TBS with a cable subscription.
‘Bad Santa’
For those wanting a kid-friendly Christmas movie, this is not it.
“Bad Santa” follows a bad-mannered, profanity-spewing, alcoholic mall Santa who would rather be doing anything else than pretending to be the Jolly Old Elf for a bunch of kids. He plans to rob the mall he works at on Christmas Eve, with his elf sidekick, but the plan does not turn out how they hoped.
Especially when Santa, played by Billy Bob Thornton, meets a young boy who becomes fascinated by the prospect of having a new friend, albeit a grouchy and depressed one. The rest of the all-star cast pokes plenty of fun at the holidays, too.
Catch “Bad Santa” on Paramount+.
‘Frozen’
“Frozen” is one of Disney’s animated movies and was met with immense critical acclaim in 2013 for its original soundtrack.
Following the death of their parents, princesses Anna and Elsa spend the film in a winter wonderland dealing with the tragedy until a handsome prince comes to their remote kingdom.
As the sisters battle loneliness, play with magic and grapple with newfound power, their relationship transforms along the way. There’s also a cute snowman.
“Frozen” is sure to be a hit with younger audiences, but we all know how addicting the song “Let it Go” from the film is, so play it for your kids at your own risk.
Watch the movie on Disney+, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
'The Best Man Holiday’
“The Best Man Holiday” brings back the cast of “The Best Man’ to show how the gang of old college friends fares during a Christmas reunion.
Secrets are revealed, drama ensues, and a heaping of holiday fun occurs.
With a cast featuring Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut and other Hollywood A-listers, who hasn’t seen this yet?
Watch “The Best Man Holiday” on Amazon Prime, YouTube and Peacock.
'It’s a Wonderful Life'
In Frank Capra’s 1946 classic, released a year after the end of World War II, themes of hope and the spirit of the holidays mesh to create this beloved movie.
George Bailey, a despair-filled man, encounters a guardian angel named Clarence who shows him how different the world would be if he were never in it. As Bailey grapples with how his family and community would change without his presence, his journey with Clarence helps share just how loved and important he is to all around him.
Depending on your mood, you can choose to watch the film in black-and-white or the colorized version.
Stream the movie on Amazon Prime, on YouTube, for free on The Roku Channel and for free on Sling TV.
'A Christmas Carol' (2009)
“A Christmas Carol” (2009) follows the grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Jim Carrey, as he goes on a journey to transform his pessimistic attitude.
While the rest of London eagerly awaits the arrival of Christmas, Scrooge would rather do away with all the holiday cheer and instead prefers to berate others for indulging the festivities. Although Scrooge is intent to continue ruining the holidays for all he encounters, three spirits who take show him his past, present and future hop to transform his attitude and turn him into a cheery man.
Watch the movie on Disney+ and YouTube.
‘Krampus’
If you want to skip out on all the cutesy and heart-warming holiday movies out there, a horror flick might be just what you need.
“Krampus” tells the story of a goat-like beast from European myths that terrorizes naughty children. In the movie, he comes to town to visit one unlucky family, complete with evil gingerbread men, diabolical elves and living toys in tow.
Watch “Krampus” on Peacock, YouTube, Amazon Prime and for free on TBS and TNT with a cable subscription.
'Miracle on 34th Street'
The 1947 and 1994 versions of “Miracle on 34th Street” take place between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and follows a department store Santa Claus who pretends to be the real deal.
Stream the 1947 version on Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime. Stream the 1994 version on Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.
'Home Alone’
As the McCallister family prepares for a Christmas vacation to Paris, they accidentally leave eight-year-old Kevin, the youngest of five siblings, behind.
Now that Kevin has his family home to himself for the holiday, he enjoys his newfound freedom in all the ways you’d expect an eight-year-old would. Until two robbers try to ransack his house, that is, and he uses his kid wit to outsmart the criminals and attempt to save his home.
The best part about watching “Home Alone” is that when you’re done, you have “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and “Home Alone 3” to binge.
Watch the “Home Alone” movies on Disney+ and Starz.
‘Die Hard’
Don’t let the name fool you, this action-packed film is definitely a Christmas staple.
As NYPD detective John McClane hopes to make up with his wife at her holiday Christmas party, his plans take a detour when a terrorist takes the building hostage.
The film follows his quest to save the day –and his marriage – and features a carol-filled soundtrack, Christmas décor aplenty and a particularly jarring rendition of “Let it Snow.”
Watch “Die Hard” for free on YouTube, for free on Tubi and on MGM+.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
The “Peanuts” gang is back with whimsical fun, this time for the holidays.
In this special installment, Charlie Brown feels depressed during the holiday season and becomes increasingly discouraged by the commercialization of Christmas. To cheer him up, Lucy suggests that he direct the group’s annual Christmas play.
Audiences can enjoy Snoopy decorating his doghouse, letters to Santa from the “Peanuts” cast and, of course, the Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
Stream the movie exclusively on Apple TV+.
‘Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town’
In this 1970 animated feature, a postman voiced by Fred Astaire dives into the hard-hitting details of Christmas.
Follow along as the postman explains why the Santa Claus lives at the North Pile, details how he pulls of his present-giving feat each year and share why Santa has whiskers.
Because that’s what we all want to know.
Stream the movie on Amazon Prime.
‘Violent Night’
You might recognize him from Netflix’s “Stranger Things” as Sheriff Jim Hopper, but in “Violent Night,” David Harbour puts a twist on the Santa Claus we all know.
After a team of elite mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve and takes everyone hostage, Harbour’s character, none other than Santa, puts up a fight good enough to show why St. Nick might not always live up to his jolly moniker.
Watch the “Violent Night” on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
‘Love Actually’
You think you know rom-coms? Not until you’ve seen “Love Actually”
This Christmas romantic comedy from 2003 is set in London during the holidays and tells nine separate stories that come together in various ways.
From a writer connecting with his Portuguese cottage-cleaner to a graphic designer whose love life is perpetually derailed by her sick brother, there’s enough charm and wit in this film to immediately have you opting for a second viewing.
Watch the movie on Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Where to stream 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' more holiday movies
