Christmas is one of the most magical times a year. It’s when a special sort of cheer and excitement fills the air. That’s because Christmas is filled with all sorts of fun traditions.
We decorate. We buy presents. We bake cookies. And we watch our favorite Christmas movies.
Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas sometimes unless we watch a few good Christmas movies. So, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. In no particular order.
Here are 60 of the best Christmas movies of all time to watch this holiday season:
“Home Alone” is packed with originality and fun. Kevin McCallister is accidentally left home alone by his family who are heading to Paris for Christmas. He ends up having to fend off two burglars on his own with the most hilarious antics, while his mother struggles to return home to her son as soon as possible. In the end, Kevin and his family learn to truly value each other.
“All I Want Is Christmas” is a film from 2011 that tells the tale of Ira J. Finkelstein. Ira is obsessed with Christmas but doesn’t get to celebrate since he’s Jewish. So, he meets 11-year-old Mikey at the airport while on his way to visit his grandparents in Florida. They decided to plan a switcheroo.
Mikey goes to Florida to stay with Ira’s grandparents who haven’t seen their grandson in so long that they believe Mikey is a Finkelstein. Ira ends up in Colorado visiting with Mikey’s aunts and cousins so he can get the total Christmas experience. The movie culminates with a heartwarming song titled “Christmas is for everyone.”
This 1983 Christmas comedy is based in the 1940s. The only thing Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun. But everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” Still, Ralphie tries his best to convince everyone that it’s the perfect Christmas gift for him.
Dolly Parton shares the story of her humble beginnings during her childhood living in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It tells the tale of a family going through extreme hardship who make it through with faith and love. “Coat of Many Colors” reminds us that miracles really do happen.
Will Ferrell is great anytime of the year, but especially during Christmas. Buddy the elf, who grew up in the North Pole, learns that he’s actually human. So, he sets out on a trip to New York City to find his real father.
Christmas at the Griswold house is a big affair. But when family shows up, things don’t go exactly as planned. Yule crack up while watching “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” starring Chevy Chase.
Catastrophy strikes when Scott Calvin accidently makes Santa fall of the roof on Christmas Eve. Now it’s up to him to save Christmas. That means having to take on the role of the man in red.
While this isn’t a traditional Christmas movie, it still has a lot of Christmas spirit. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” takes us through the joy of what it’s like to receive when Harry gets his very first Christmas present. Hogwarts during the holidays is enought to give you all the Christmas feels.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” was listed as one of the 100 best American films that were ever made by the American Film Institute. The 1946 drama tells the story of an angel that helps to show a man who has lost hope that life is worth living. It’s a beautiful reminder that our existence makes a difference in the world and to the people around us.
Bill Murray stars in “Scrooged,” a 1998 comedy that’s a modern-day twist on “A Christmas Carol.” TV executive Frank Cross is terrible to himself and everyone around him. But he gets a new outlook on life after being visited by a few ghosts on Christmas Eve.
Eight couples deal with their love lives and the holiday during the hectic Christmas season in London, England. “Love Actually” features a heartwarming story and phenomenal cast. It’s one of my personal favorite Christmas movies… and I’m not even that into romantic comedies. It’s that good! Another one full of Christmas feels.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Tim Burton masterpiece that brings us to Halloween Town. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, grows weary of his spooky haunts and stumbles across Christmas Town. Chaos ensues when he decides that Halloween Town should take over for Santa in making Christmas.
You can’t do a Christmas movie marathon without Charlie Brown and the Peanuts. This beloved Christmas story finds Charlie Brown fed up with the commercialism of Christmas. Thankfully, his friend Linus helps us to remember what Christmas is all about and restores Charlie’s Christmas spirit.
Kris Kringle, the Macy’s Santa, starts proclaiming to be the real Santa and ends up in an institution. A young lawyer decides to help defend him in court. You can check out the 1947 version here and the 1994 version here.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is the longest running Christmas TV special and airs several times on TV each holiday season. It’s been playing since 1964. It’s the a bio pic of our favorite Red-Nosed reindeer who saves Christmas and shows up his haters.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol” is A Christmas Carol but Muppets-style. The Muppets give their take on Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic. It’s a family favorite.
“Gremlins” is a family horror comedy that’s also a Christmas movie. That’s a lot of things in one movie. A teenager totally blows it when he is in charge of looking after a strange creature. Murder and mayhem ensues when his failures leads to little monsters taking over the town during Christmas.
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” is a sequal that was actually good. The McCallisters attempt to take a Christmas vacation once again. This time Kevin gets on the wrong plane and ends up in New York City where he runs into the same burlgars who tried to rob his house when he was left home alone.
“The Polar Express” is a tale of the ultimate Christmas adventure. A little boy finds a mysterious train pulling up in front of his home on Christmas Eve to take him to the North Pole. He learns about the magic of Christmas for those who believe.
A snowman comes to life thanks to a magic hat. The snowman makes some friends while trying to thwart a magician who wants his hat. “Frosty the Snowman” is based on the song written by Walter E. Rollins and Steve Nelson.
“Die Hard” is another unofficial Christmas movie that we love. German terrorists take hostages during a Christmas party in LA. That’s leaves a NYPD officer to have to save his wife and the rest of the hostages.
The Kranks decide that they aren’t doing Christmas this year. But when their daughter announces that she’s coming home for Christmas, they have to rush to put a holiday together. Luther Krank ends up realizing that trying to skip Christmas was the wrong way to go.
Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington… need I say more? “The Preacher’s Wife” is a remake of “The Bishop’s Wife” starring Cary Grant. It’s the story of an angel who helps a reverend get his life back on track at Christmas.
This is another childhood Christmas classic. “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” tells us how Santa Claus came to be, along with the origin stories for other holiday traditions. It’s also chock full of happy Christmas songs.
Leslie Nielsen stars as Santa in “Santa Who?” Santa develops a case of amnesia when he falls out of his sleigh. A TV reporter is Santa’s only hope when it comes to regaining his memory and saving Christmas.
29) Jingle All the Way
“Jingle All the Way” shows the ugly side of the Christmas toy craze. When his son wants the popular Turbo Man action figure for Christmas, a father goes to incredible lengths to get him one. He has to face off against other parents who are also last minute shopping on Christmas Eve.
Mickey Mouse and the Disney gang have their own take on the Charles Dicken’s Christmas masterpiece. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” first came out in 1983. It was the first time Mickey Mouse had appeared in an original film on the silver screen in in more than 30 years.
“Arthur Christmas” tells the story of the Christmas family. Arthur Christmas, Father Christmas’ son, discovers that Santa’s ship has forgot one little girl on Santa’s list. So, Arthur enlists his grandfather, an elf, and some reindeer to help bring Christmas to the forgotten little girl.
Nothing is worse than relationship problems during the holidays. That’s why the two women in “The Holiday” decide to swap homes in each others’ countries. It’s there that they find the love they were looking for.
We’ve all seen an office Christmas party or two that might have gotten a little out of hand. But not as out-of-hand as this office party. A branch manager throws the most epic Christmas party of all time after his CEO sister threatens to shut down his branch.
Divorce can make Christmas complicated. The couple in “Four Christmases” planned to go on a tropical vacation. But fog canceled their plans so they were left to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas.
You’d have to be pretty naughty to make Santa not want to deliver toys on Christmas. But that’s what happened to one town in “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Santa gets an insulting letter and the townsfolk have to figure out how they are going to change his mind.
A trio of buddies are in New York City looking for a good time. Not just any good time, the Nutcracka Ball. It’s the Holy Grail of Christmas parties. But getting their foot in the door isn’t that easy.
Her ruse as the perfect homemaker is put to the test when a food writer’s boss invites himself and a returning war hero to dinner. They’re expecting a traditional family Christmas in Connecticut. How will she protect her career when she doesn’t actually live on a farm with her husband and baby like her articles says she does? She’ll have to enlist some people to help her fake it.
Christmas is like the Super Bowl for moms. And these Bad Moms are over it. They have to figure out how to take back Christmas when they’re own mothers unexpectedly drop in.
This college students is promised his dad’s car if he can make it home for Christmas. The only problem is that he ends up stranded in the desert with no money. He has to figure out how he’s going to make it back home to Westchester, New York in time for Christmas.
Brother and sister Kate and Teddy Pierce decided they’re going to catch Santa on camera. But they end up accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh instead. Now it’s up to them to help save Christmas.
Two men fight for the affections of a performer at an inn that is only open during the holidays. “Holiday Inn” won an Academy Award for Best Original song in 1943. It also wont for Best Original Story and Best Score.
The Whitfield’s decide to spend their first holiday together in four years. And the family’s siblings brought about four years worth of drama with them. Their bonds are tested as they uncover the true meaning of family.
A little girl finds a wounded reindeer believing it’s Santa’s Prancer. She helps the reindeer regain its strength so she can return him to Santa in time for Christmas. Her dedication to Christmas inspires those around her, especially her father.
It’s Christmas, again, which means that a heartbroken Christmas-tree salesman will return to New York City for the season. He attempts to put the past behind him while living in a trailer and working the night shift. Thanks to a mysterious woman and some loving customers, he begins to get his life back on track.
There’s always that one house on the block that over does it with lights during Christmas. In “Deck the Halls” two neighbors come to blows over how Christmas should be done. But what would you do if your neighbor’s house can be seen from space?
Yes, Harold and Kumar have a Christmas movie. It’s the third installment in the series that shows the smoked up duo together after six years of being apart. A wrong package brings the two together for an adventure searching for the perfect Christmas tree in “A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas”
No, it wasn’t Santa. “The Man Who Invented Christmas” is about what lead Charles Dickens to writing “A Christmas Carol. A story that redefined Christmas.
Kate must race to get a haunted bed and breakfast sold by the end of the year or risk losing a promotion. But the establishment’s manager explained that the ghost won’t allow it. So, she decides to try haggle with the Christmas spirit.
A poor young window is courted by a sales clerk she accidentally got fired. But she’s torn. She had to decide between a boring but highly successful businessman or a romantic ne’er-do-well.
The holidays can get pretty crazy. And the phone lines at a suicide hotline are all aglow on Christmas. The bumbling manager has to save lives, the hotlines from being shut down, and his love life during a single holiday.
This is another Christmas sequel that was good. The new Santa is settled into his new role eight years after taking over when he knocked the original Santa off the roof. He’s becoming known as one of the best Santa’s yet. But now he has to find a Mrs. Claus by Christmas Eve or else he’ll stop being Santa forever.
Tom the Piper’s Son is in love with Mary Quite Contrary but Mister Barnaby’s evil plot forces Mary to marry him in order to save her family. Tom and his friends have to escape, save Mary, and put an end to Mister Barnaby’s nefarious plans. You can check out the 1934 version, or the 1960s verision, but I prefer the 1986 version with Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore. It’s super 80s!
An Avon lady knocks on the door of an old mansion and finds a scientist constructed man with scissors for hands. The woman decides to bring him out of solitary confinement for the holidays. The neighborhood falls in loves with him, except for some who see him as dangerous.
College friends get together again after 15 years to celebrate the holidays. They didn’t realize that their old rivalries and romances would be ignited once again. This holiday movie is a sequel to “The Best Man.”
This Batman sequel is a holiday classic without the Christmas cheer and a whole lot of Christmas action. The Cape Crusader is up against three foes during the holidays. He must battle Penguin, Catwoman, and capitalist Max Shreck.
60 of the best Christmas movies of all time to watch this holiday season
D.G. Sciortino
12.13.19
Christmas is one of the most magical times a year. It’s when a special sort of cheer and excitement fills the air. That’s because Christmas is filled with all sorts of fun traditions.
We decorate. We buy presents. We bake cookies. And we watch our favorite Christmas movies.
Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas sometimes unless we watch a few good Christmas movies. So, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites. In no particular order.
Here are 60 of the best Christmas movies of all time to watch this holiday season:
