25 Best Classic Christmas Movies For The Holiday Season

James Stewart in the Christmas classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Getty Images

When the holidays draw near, watching classic Christmas movies is a given. But which ones to view? There are loads of choices, from old Christmas movies like It’s a Wonderful Life and Holiday Inn to comedy classics such as Home Alone and Elf to more recent fare including Spirited and The Holdovers. Whatever type of film you’re in the mood for, you can find something to suit your taste from this list of great Christmas films. So, grab a mug of hot chocolate, slip under your coziest blanket, and find the right flick to enjoy, whether it’s a remake of a Christmas Carol or a rom-com.

Classic Christmas Movies

Christmas movies are pictures set during the holiday season, with classics enduring because they speak to universal themes like the desire for connection and redemption at this time of year. They often explore the “reason for the season.” Rom-coms, comedies and musicals are among the most popular Christmas movie genres.

This list is based on movies’ critical acclaim, box office performance, enduring popularity over the years, star power and originality. They include action movies and family comedy films, often with romantic elements. Not all found success in theaters during their initial run. Some gained a cult following over time. You can find all of these films on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and more.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, PG)

• Genre: Fantasy drama
• Star Power: Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed
• Vibe: Gut-punching tearjerker
• Why You’ll Like It: The film beautifully answers the universal worry, “Do I matter?”
• Where To Watch: It’s a Wonderful Life
• Watch the Trailer: It’s a Wonderful Life

Frank Capra’s moving story of a small-town man who lives a surprisingly big-time life was a box office flop in the ‘40s, but when TV stations began airing it at Christmastime in the 1970s, it became a hit. Just try not to cry as Stewart’s community rallies around him, and he realizes he’s “the richest man in town.”

2. White Christmas (1954, Not Rated)

• Musical
• Star Power: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney
• Vibe: Wholesome Christmas Eve romp
• Why You’ll Like It: No one sings “White Christmas” better than Crosby.
• Where To Watch: White Christmas
• Watch the Trailer: White Christmas

Crosby and Kaye play war buddies who reunite to put on a show with a pair of sisters who—surprise, surprise—they fall for. One of the highlights of this feel-good film is when the male duo performs “Sisters,” an entirely unscripted scene that came out of their horsing around on-set (Crosby’s belly laughs are genuine).

3. Miracle on 34th Street (1947, Not Rated)

• Family drama
• Star Power: Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara
• Vibe: Just believe (in Santa)
• Why You’ll Like It: Because it’s an ode to the simple joys of the season.
• Where To Watch: Miracle on 34th Street
• Watch the Trailer: Miracle on 34th Street

A skeptical girl (Wood) learns to believe in miracles after a mysterious man named Kris Kringle becomes the new Macy’s Santa Claus. Wood later appeared in the real Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade because of the film’s success.

4. Holiday Inn (1942, Not Rated)

• Musical
• Star Power: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire
• Vibe: Holiday song-and-dance
• Why You’ll Like It: The uber-talented Crosby and Astaire are at the top of their game playing romantic rivals.
• Where To Watch: Holiday Inn
• Watch the Trailer: Holiday Inn

The paper-thin plot—former performers run a country inn and croon their way through a love triangle—offers the perfect setup for Crosby and Astaire to do what they do best, sing and dance. Crosby debuts “White Christmas” in this film, though many people mistakenly think it originated in the movie of the same name.

5. The Shop Around the Corner (1940, Not Rated)

Romantic comedy

• Star Power: Jimmy Stewart
• Vibe: The original rom-com
• Why You’ll Like It: The characters’ plight has bite—the movie’s cynical undercurrent feels refreshingly contemporary.
• Where To Watch: The Shop Around the Corner
• Watch the Trailer: The Shop Around the Corner

One of the most beloved romantic movies of all time, 1998’s You’ve Got Mail, was inspired by this enemies-to-lovers tale, in which Stewart and Margaret Sullavan play co-workers who hate each other. Unbeknownst to them, they’ve been corresponding under pseudonyms and falling in love in the weeks before Christmas.

6. The Bishop’s Wife (1947, Not Rated)

• Romance
• Star Power: Cary Grant
• Vibe: Sublime holiday heartache
• Why You’ll Like It: Grant is at his swoony best playing a suave Christmas angel.
• Where To Watch: The Bishop’s Wife
• Watch the Trailer: The Bishop’s Wife

A bishop prays for a way to finance a cathedral, but the angel who appears to help the cause seems more interested in fixing the clergyman’s marriage than organizing church bake sales. Grant was initially slated for the bishop’s role, but he felt he was miscast and convinced producers to switch him to the angel.

7. A Christmas Story (1983, PG)

• Family
• Vibe: Earnest heart warmer
• Why You’ll Like It: The repeated refrain of “you’ll shoot your eye out” and the Chinese Christmas dinner.
• Where To Watch: A Christmas Story
• Watch the Trailer: A Christmas Story

Root for Ralphie to realize his dream of receiving a Red Ryder Carbine-Action, 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle on Christmas morning, despite his parents’ misgivings. Story, which airs for 24 hours straight on TBS on Christmas Eve, is based on the book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. Author Jean Shepherd makes a cameo in the department store Santa scene.

8. Scrooged (1988, PG-13)

• Comedy
• Star Power: Bill Murray, Carol Kane, Alfre Woodard
• Vibe: Modern A Christmas Carol
• Why You’ll Like It: One of the cleverest Charles Dickens adaptations in the past, present or future.
• Where To Watch: Scrooged
• Watch the Trailer: Scrooged

Murray plays a cynical, money-loving TV executive visited by three ghosts to help him rediscover his Christmas joy. In addition to featuring the iconic line “Bitch hit me with a toaster,” Scrooged also features all three of Murray’s brothers in bit parts.

9. Elf (2003, PG)

• Family comedy
• Star Power: Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan
• Vibe: High-energy holiday fable
• Why You’ll Like It: Ferrell’s guileless Buddy the Elf is one of the most beloved characters in Christmas family movies.
• Where To Watch: Elf
• Watch the Trailer: Elf

Elf-through-adoption Buddy (Ferrell) exits the North Pole and his toy-making duties to find his real dad in New York City, and hilarity ensues. One of the great Christmas classics at the movies, Elf was a box office smash, ranking as the seventh-highest-grossing film in the United States in 2003, according to Box Office Mojo.

10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, PG-13)

The Griswolds’ third big-screen adventure sees them invite the entire extended family for a classic holiday experience, which fizzles into the biggest disaster imaginable. Aunt Bethany in the film is played by Mae Questel, who provided the voice for the cartoon character Betty Boop.

11. Home Alone (1990, PG)

• Family comedy
• Star Power: Macaulay Culkin, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Pesci
• Vibe: Physical comedy masterpiece
• Why You’ll Like It: Kevin lives out every child’s fantasy with no parents and no rules.
• Where To Watch: Home Alone
• Watch the Trailer: Home Alone

The McAllister family flies to Paris for the holiday and accidentally leaves 8-year-old Kevin behind. He learns to buy groceries, fix a decent meal and rig a flamethrower to create bodily harm in their absence. Culkin’s younger brother Kieran, who went on to win Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe awards, made his acting debut in the film.

12. The Santa Clause (1994, PG)

• Family comedy
• Star Power: Tim Allen
• Vibe: Cheery holiday adventure
• Why You’ll Like It: Divorced workaholic dad Allen’s exasperation at his “St. Nick situation” is relatable.
• Where To Watch: The Santa Clause
• Watch the Trailer: The Santa Clause

Scott accidentally kills Santa, which means he must now become the new Kris Kringle. Like any Christmas holidays film, Clause imaginatively exploits classic tropes, such as Scott repeatedly trying and failing to shave Santa’s beard. The week the movie came out, Allen was No. 1 at the box office, No. 1 on TV (with Home Improvement) and No. 1 in book sales (autobiographic musings of Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man).

13. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992, G)

Family Comedy

Star Power: Michael Caine

Vibe: Muppety Dickens adaptation

Why You’ll Like It: It’s the Muppets!

Where To Watch: The Muppet Christmas Carol

Watch the Trailer: The Muppet Christmas Carol

Ebenezer Scrooge (Caine) has greater problems than his decidedly drafty pajamas. He’s about to be visited by three ghosts and an all-star cast of Muppets hoping to shame him into better behavior. It performed modestly at the box office, but the first Muppet movie produced by Disney grew a cult following over the years.

14. Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2013, PG-13)

When Madea’s friend’s daughter refuses to come home for the holidays, the friends travel to her—and discover she’s been hiding a big secret. Perry’s Madea films have grossed more than a quarter-billion dollars, according to Box Office Mojo, and this marked the eighth film in the lucrative series.

15. The Family Stone (2005, PG-13)

• Family drama
• Star Power: Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker
• Vibe: Big family, big feelings
• Why You’ll Like It: The hyper-critical Stones make your crazy family feel normal by comparison.
• Where To Watch: The Family Stone
• Watch the Trailer: The Family Stone

Uptight Meredith (Parker) wants to impress her new boyfriend’s tight-knit, competitive family, which seems about as likely as finding a string of Christmas lights that never tangle. Several cast members use American Sign Language in the film, which they learned before shooting.

16. The Holdovers (2023, R)

• Dramedy
• Star Power: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph
• Vibe: Prep school holiday gone awry
• Why You’ll Like It: Exceptional acting elevates some sad storylines.
• Where To Watch: The Holdovers
• Watch the Trailer: The Holdovers

A classics teacher unexpectedly connects with a student and a staff member forced to spend the holidays at their New England prep school. Randolph won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her nuanced turn as a grieving mother. The film also has a great soundtrack mixing Christmas songs with 1970s hits.

17. This Christmas (2007, PG-13)

• Dramedy
• Star Power: Idris Elba, Regina King
• Vibe: Juicy holiday intrigue
• Why You’ll Like It: The talented cast elevates a family holiday reunion.
• Where To Watch: This Christmas
• Watch the Trailer: This Christmas

It’s been years since the Whitfields gathered for Christmas, and they return with secrets that threaten to derail relationships and destroy family harmony. Despite its A-list cast, This Christmas cost only $13 million to make, and it earned more than three times that amount at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo.

18. The Preacher’s Wife (1996, PG)

• Romance
• Star Power: Whitney Houston, Denzel Washington
• Vibe: Otherworldly romance
• Why You’ll Like It: Two hot men like one hot woman at Christmastime.
• Where To Watch: The Preacher’s Wife
• Watch the Trailer: The Preacher’s Wife

Remaking old Christmas movies rarely works, but this endearing film proves the exception. Washington is a charming heir to Cary Grant in assuming the angel role in this The Bishop’s Wife remake, while Houston embodies elegance as the titular character. The Houston-heavy soundtrack is the bestselling gospel album of all time.

19. Last Holiday (2006, PG-13)

• Rom-com
• Star Power: Queen Latifah, Halle Berry, LL Cool J
• Vibe: Heavy premise, light mood
• Why You’ll Like It: Latifah learns to “live like you were dying” at Christmas.
• Where To Watch: Last Holiday
• Watch the Trailer: Last Holiday

Professional chef Georgie (Latifah) has always lived a quiet life. When she contracts a rare brain condition with just weeks to live, she starts embracing new adventures. Producers used Food Network chefs to create Georgie’s dishes, then posted the recipes online.

20. The Holiday (2006, PG-13)

• Rom-com
• Star Power: Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black
• Vibe: Love like in Hallmark movies
• Why You’ll Like It: With British accents and HGTV-worthy home décor, trading places seems charming.
• Where To Watch: The Holiday
• Watch the Trailer: The Holiday

Lovelorn Iris in Britain and Amanda in California both need a change of scenery, so they decide to swap homes for the holidays. They find themselves and new chances at romance in the fresh locations. You can actually use the site where Iris and Amanda find each other (homeexchange.com).

21. Love Actually (2003, R)

• Rom-com
• Star Power: Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson
• Vibe: All you need is love
• Why You’ll Like It: A meditation on how and why love is different for everyone.
• Where To Watch: Love Actually
• Watch the Trailer: Love Actually

One of the great Christmas movies of all time explores what modern love looks like by jumping in and out of Londoners’ lives around the holiday. Ted Lasso, Saturday Night Live and other pop culture staples have paid homage to the famous Christmas carolers cue card scene.

22. Die Hard (1988, R)

• Action
• Star Power: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman
• Vibe: Fighting terrorists at Christmas
• Why You’ll Like It: Die Hard is the rare Christmas movie where stuff blows up.
• Where To Watch: Die Hard
• Watch the Trailer: Die Hard

New York City police officer John McClane reluctantly attends his estranged wife’s office Christmas party, and it’s a good thing, too, because when terrorists take over the building, he is the only one ready to bring them down. The film is the subject of the classic debate over whether it qualifies as a Christmas movie (yes).

23. Bad Santa (2003, R)

• Dark comedy
• Star Power: Billy Bob Thornton, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac
• Vibe: Santa gone to seed
• Why You’ll Like It: Christmas movies this crude and rude are rare.
• Where To Watch: Bad Santa
• Watch the Trailer: Bad Santa

Speaking of nontraditional holiday movies, this one about an alcoholic mall Santa is outrageously funny, emphasis on the “outrageous.” Down-on-his-luck Willie has been pulling a Santa con for years, but how long can he dodge the suspicious new security guard? The film features the final film performance of former Three’s Company star John Ritter, who passed away in 2003.

24. Friday After Next (2002)

• Stoner comedy
• Star Power: Ice Cube, Mike Epps
• Vibe: Chill laughs
• Why You’ll Like It: You can never go wrong with a slacker buddy comedy.
• Where To Watch: Friday After Next
• Watch the Trailer: Friday After Next

Craig and Day-Day are working security jobs at the mall to pay the rent and buy a few Christmas presents. When a robber disguised as Santa Claus pulls a ho-ho-home invasion at their apartment, they are determined to track him down. Ice Cube co-wrote the raunchy film and drew inspiration for his next project, The Barbershop, from scenes in Friday After Next.

25. Spirited (2022, PG-13)

• Musical comedy
• Star Power: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer
• Vibe: Sassy singing Christmas Carol
• Why You’ll Like It: So many delightfully catchy songs.
• Where To Watch: AppleTV+
• Watch the Trailer: Spirited

The Dickens tale has become a cottage industry in this charming musical. Each year, the ghosts and their crew hatch a plan to redeem a miser like Reynolds’ Clint. The film includes numerous nods to other Christmas movies, including Ferrell’s Elf.