The Top 76 Christmas Movies of All Time
A Christmas Story and Home Alone are classics, but this list of funny, romantic and animated holiday flicks offers up some great alternatives.
Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie. In my family, we’ve made it a holiday tradition to gather around the television on Christmas Eve and watch The Polar Express. Even though I’ve watched it countless times, year after year, it never fails to put me in the holiday spirit. While the film that tops your personal list may not be up for debate, I’m here to offer a few new additions to your annual holiday movie marathon queue that will add a little extra holly to your jolly.
With all of the options out there, I made the effort to narrow down the absolute best Christmas movies of all time that are sure to keep your holiday season merry and bright. This list of action, drama, rom-com and kid-friendly Christmastime flicks spans nearly nine decades of cinema. Best part? Most of these are streaming on Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and more.
Whether you’re a fan of sentimental movies about hope, like It's a Wonderful Life, or enjoy the antics of a large family struggling to get along during the holidays — National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, anyone? — you’re bound to find a popular title to enjoy on this list.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Frank Capra's iconic film isn't just one of the best Christmas movies of all time — it's one of the best movies ever made, period. It's a Wonderful Life was nominated for six Academy Awards and ranks #11 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films of All Time.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
This movie takes place over the course of an entire year, so it's not entirely a holiday film. But we couldn't exclude the movie that gave us Judy Garland singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," could we?
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
When Kris Kringle goes on trial to prove his identity in this magical holiday classic, he'll have you (and especially your kids) believing in the magic of Santa Claus. We're partial to the original black-and-white film starring Edmund Gwenn and Natalie Wood, but the '90s remake starring Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle is also worth a watch.
Klaus (2019)
This Netflix original was nominated for for Best Animated Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards, and it's easy to see why. Featuring beautiful animation that will leave you feeling the holiday magic, this family Christmas film tells the tale of a postman who befriends a reclusive toymaker.
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
The plot of this 1940 black-and-white Christmas film is pretty much the same as You've Got Mail — just swap emails for letters and Tom Hanks for Jimmy Stewart, and there you have it.
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Home Alone (1990)
Over thirty years have passed since beloved Christmas movie Home Alone earned $285 million at the box office, but we'll never tire of watching 8-year-old Kevin McCallister foil the Wet Bandits' home burglary plans. We suggest making it a double-feature with Home Alone 2 — this time around, Kevin winds up in New York City where he manages to outwit the Wet Bandits once more (sorry, the Sticky Bandits).
Elf (2003)
Released over 20 years ago, this heartwarming movie about a human man raised by Santa's elves in the North Pole has quickly become a holiday classic. In short: If you don't think Elf is one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made, you're a cotton-headed ninny muggins.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Christmas movie? Is it a Halloween movie? Tim Burton blends both holidays together in a way that's both spooky and heartwarming at the same time. Be prepared to want to (oogie) boogie to the catchy songs in this '90s holiday favorite.
A Christmas Story (1983)
This movie deserves a major award! There's a reason why TBS plays A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight every Christmas. The classic gave us the infamous leg lamp and Red Ryder BB guns — and most importantly, it taught us to never lick a frozen pole (even under the intense pressure of a "triple dog dare"). This beloved film got a long-awaited sequel, too — A Christmas Story Christmas sees Ralphie all grown up with kids of his own.
Carol (2015)
While the title is certainly Christmassy, this critically acclaimed film, set in the 1950s, isn't a holiday film in the strictest sense. But it does feature Rooney Mara in a Santa hat and revolves around the sacrifices we make in the pursuit of love and happiness.
Die Hard (1988)
It's the age-old question: Is Die Hard a Christmas film? We say yes. This action flick about an office Christmas party taken over by terrorists is sure to add a bit of adrenaline to your holiday festivities. Yippee-ki-yay!
White Christmas (1954)
This post-war musical centers around a group of entertainers who are keen on spreading the holiday spirit in order to save a failing Vermont inn. The star-studded cast is packed with several favorites from the era, like Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen and Dean Jagger.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Do you dread having your in-laws visit for the holidays? Watching this Chevy Chase movie will make anything your family does at Christmas seem totally normal by comparison.
The Polar Express (2004)
The Polar Express features Tom Hanks in an animated adventure based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. In the fantasy flick, a little boy takes a magical train ride to the North Pole and discovers the significance of the holiday along the way.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
This story behind how Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol stars Dan Stevens (of Downton Abbey fame) and is a delight for all ages. Trust us: This film can jump-start joy in any Scrooge.
Scrooged (1988)
This modernized version of A Christmas Carol stars Bill Murray as a curmudgeonly New York City TV executive who learns the true meaning of Christmas.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
If you want to introduce your kids to this classic Christmas tale, then give them a good starting point with a musical that pulls on the heartstrings featuring all of their favorite Muppets (think: Kermit and Gonzo) playing Charles Dickens's characters. Jim Henson fans will adore this magical holiday tale.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
Animation traditionalists will go for 1966's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, but this modern take deserves a place in the holiday movie canon too, thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch's memorable rendition of everyone's favorite green holiday grump.
The Santa Clause (1994)
When a divorced businessman (Tim Allen) accidentally kills Santa, he must step in to fill his shoes (not to mention his giant red suit). If you want to make it marathon, follow it up with the Santa Clause 2 and the Santa Clause 3 — then dive into Disney's series, The Santa Clauses .
RELATED: See How 'The Santa Clause' Cast Has Changed Over the Years
The Holiday (2006)
This romantic comedy about a pair of house-swappers that fall in love abroad might make you want to spend next Christmas in a charming English cottage (and make out with Jude Law, of course).
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.
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