A Definitive Ranking of the Best Christmas Movies Ever Made
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The best memories from your childhood Christmases (aside from the toys under the tree) are probably wrapped up in your family coming together to watch some classic Christmas movies. There's just something about holiday films that bring out the best in people. Perhaps it's the lessons learned from A Christmas Story (like the fact that triple dog dares can have some serious consequences). Or maybe it's the thankfulness you experienced knowing that your parents would never forget you at Christmas unlike Kevin in Home Alone. But possibly, it could be just the excitement of the season embodied in Buddy from Elf, who highlighted the true meaning of the season.
So while you prepare for another holiday filled with love and joy, check out our list of the best Christmas movies of all time to make your nights merry and bright. We've included funny Christmas comedies, romantic holiday flicks, famous animated classics, must-sees for kids and, well some horror holiday films if that floats your boat.
While everyone knows that the Hallmark Channel’s films reign supreme at this time of year, you don’t have to have cable to enjoy a movie that’ll fill you with the holiday spirit. There are a ton of Christmas movies on Disney+, plenty of holiday fun to be found on Netflix, an endless supply of yuletide on Amazon Prime and so much cheer on HBO Max.
MORE TOP CHRISTMAS MOVIES:
So, while you and your family decide on what cookies you’ll set out for Santa this year, pop on one of these films and let the holiday season begin! And don't forget to tell us in the comments if we missed any of your favorites.
Best Christmas Movies
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
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White Christmas (1954)
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Trading Places (1983)
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Falling for Christmas (2022)
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Carol (2015)
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Gremlins (1984)
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Violent Night (2023)
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Spirited (2022)
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Let It Snow (2019)
Based on the best-selling novel by John Green, in this teen rom-com a group of high school students navigate love and friendship after a snowstorm falls on their small town on Christmas Eve.
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Mixed Nuts
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Noelle (2019)
Noelle must come to the rescue when her brother Nick gets cold feet about taking over the family business, which just happens to be the business of being Santa. Chaos ensues when Nick doesn't return from a break, and Noelle must try to save the day.
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Remember the Night (1940)
When Barbara Stanwyck's character gets arrested for shoplifting right before Christmas in this rom-com, it's up to the D.A. (played by Fred MacMurray) to help her get out of jail.
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The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Cary Grant plays an angel in this movie that inspired '90s remake The Preacher's Wife starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
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Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Santa Claus is on the hunt for his successor — and kooky but lovable Earnest is here to help save the day.
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Happiest Season (2020)
Abby and Harper are heading home to Harper's family home for the holidays, and Abby is planning on proposing — until she realizes that Harper hasn't been honest with her family about their relationship. It'll make you laugh, cry and realize the best gift is being yourself.
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Babes in Toyland (1986)
A reinterpretation of the classic Christmas tale starring Keanu Reeves and Drew Barrymore, who must save Toyland and Christmas from the evil plans of Barnaby Barnacle.
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This Christmas (2007)
The Whitfield family is set to enjoy their first Christmas together in four years. But when family secrets slowly begin to come to light, chaos ensues as multiple secrets slowly come to light. The film stars Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Loretta Devine, Columbus Short, Regina King and more.
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The Princess Switch (2018)
Vanessa Hudgens stars as a woman who travels to the kingdom of Belgravia to enter a famous baking competition, only to run into the Prince of Belgravia's fiancée, who looks exactly like... Vanessa Hudgens. The two decide to switch places, and things get complicated. Keep the silly Christmas rom-com fun going with this film's two sequels, The Princess Switch: Switched Again and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star.
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A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
Looking for something to watch after the little ones go to bed? Press play on this bawdy holiday comedy, which is the third installment of the Harold & Kumar series.
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A Christmas Prince (2017)
A Christmas Prince packs every Hallmark holiday rom-com cliche you can think of into 90 minutes — and that's exactly what makes it so delicious to watch. When a journalist is assigned to cover the handsome but mysterious prince of a small country named Aldovia, she gets more than she bargained for (of course!). The film ushered in two sequels, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding and A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby.
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Deck the Halls (2006)
When Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) moves into the neighborhood he gives Christmas-loving Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) a run for his money while attempting to out-decorate him for for the holidays.
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It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
Set in New York during the holidays, this classic black-and-white film is about a homeless man who squats in a 5th Avenue mansion while the rich owner is wintering somewhere warmer.
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A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
In this follow-up to 2016's Bad Moms, the moms (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn) have to deal with their own mothers for the holidays.
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Last Holiday (2014)
In this heartwarming rom-com, Queen Latifah plays a small-town saleswoman who spends her life savings on a holiday trip to Europe after finding out she has a terminal illness... except there's a twist! Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year and show a bit of gratitude during the season.
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Prancer (1989)
A magical fantasy drama starring Sam Elliott that the whole family can enjoy, Prancer follows a little girl who finds a hurt reindeer in the woods, whom she believes to be none other than Santa's Prancer.
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Holiday Affair (1949)
Set in a New York department store during the holiday season, this romantic comedy was a box office failure when it originally came out in the '40s. Since then, it's turned into a Christmas movie classic thanks to repeated airings on TCM over the years.
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A Christmas Carol (1951)
Starring Alastair Sim, this classic Christmas movie is widely considered one of the best full-length film adaptations of the Charles Dickens classic.
There are too many film adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to count, but this 1951 version (originally called Scrooge when it was first released) is considered to be the best version, according to The New York Times film critic A.O. Scott.
1984, 1938, 1999, 1935's Scrooge
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Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
A Santa Claus origin story, this film stars Dudley Moore as an enterprising elf and John Lithgow as a sinister toy manufacturer.
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The Night Before (2015)
Once the kids go to bed, turn on this rated-R Christmas comedy about three best friends (Anthony Mackie, Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who are on the hunt for the ultimate holiday party — the "Nutcracker Ball."
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Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009)
A must-watch for the entire family, Disney's animated take on the classic Charles Dickens tale offers a unique visual experience (and also stars the hilarious Jim Carrey as the curmudgeonly Scrooge).
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Office Christmas Party (2016)
Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston star in this hilarious movie about a high-stakes (you guessed it) office Christmas party.
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Krampus (2015)
There's a lot worse that can happen than just receiving coal in your stocking at Christmas if you're bad — namely, you can get a visit from Krampus, the demonic beast who punishes those on the naughty list, according to folklore.
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Jingle Jangle (2020)
In this fantastical holiday tale, an aging toymaker betrayed years earlier by his trusted apprentice finds renewed interest in his work when his granddaughter shows up on his doorstep.
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Black Christmas (1974)
Hey, some people like their Christmas movies with a side of gore — we're not here to judge. If you're a fan of holiday horror movies, get into this slasher flick about a group of sorority sisters is stalked by a killer. (There's also a 2019 remake you can check out, too.)
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Love Actually (2003)
This rom-com — which follows the love stories of almost a dozen couples throughout the holiday season — has quickly become part of the classic canon of Christmas movies, though it's not without its detractors (some critics have even called it the least romantic film of all time).
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The Family Man (2000)
Nic Cage stars as a workaholic bachelor in New York City, who wakes up on Christmas Day to magically find himself in a New Jersey suburb — with a family and a completely different life.
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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.
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Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
In this hand-illustrated anime reinterpretation of the Nativity story, a homeless group in Tokyo stumbles across an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve. Tokyo Godfathers is a surprisingly funny tale of friendship, family and the universal desire to belong.
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Last Christmas (2019)
Nothing seems to be going right in Kate's life — until she meets a mysterious and handsome stranger. Starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, this heartwarming film has a twist ending that you won't see coming.
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The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus, this jolly Netflix original film follows two kids who encounter Santa in their own home — and find themselves on a magical adventure to help him save Christmas. If you're a fan, add The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two to your watchlist, as well.
RELATED: 30 Best Kids' Christmas Movies on Netflix to Stream in 2021
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Fred Claus (2007)
What if Santa Claus had an underachieving older brother named Fred? Watch this movie to find out.
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The Family Stone (2005)
An uptight New York City businesswoman, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, visits her boyfriend's family home for the holidays, where she doesn't exactly fit in with the boisterous, freewheeling Stones. With a stacked cast that includes Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Dermot Mulroney and Claire Danes, this movie will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
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Jack Frost (1998)
A year after passing away in a Christmas Day car accident, a boy's father is reincarnated as a talking snowman and the two attempt to make up for lost time.
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Joyeux Noel (2006)
You might not have heard of this French film about the Christmas truce during WWI, but it's worth watching. It was even nominated for the best foreign language Academy Award in 2006.
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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?
RELATED: 80+ Festive Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
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Christmas With the Kranks (2004)
In the mood for a light-hearted holiday comedy? This funny flick follows a couple, played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, who anger their neighbors by making plans to skip Christmas in favor of taking a Caribbean cruise instead.
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Jingle All the Way (1996)
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad as dads competing to get their sons the most popular Christmas toy of the year, this movie is as silly — and fun — as it sounds.
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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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RELATED: 40 Forgotten Christmas Movies You Should Watch Right Now
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A Christmas Tale (2008)
Even if you haven't heard of this French film before, this family drama set during Christmas and starring Catherine Deneuve is worth adding to your must-watch list.
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A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
A young boy sets out to find a mysterious town inhabited by elves in a quest to find his father and bring back hope to his village.
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Almost Christmas (2016)
Danny Glover is a retired widower who only wants one thing for Christmas: His grown children and their families to get along for the holidays. The performances from this talented ensemble cast will make you grateful for your folks this December.
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Arthur Christmas (2011)
Santa does the unthinkable and forgets to deliver a gift to a child on Christmas Eve — and his youngest son, Arthur, must make the delivery before dawn. Pixar-level animation and wry British humor from the Wallace & Gromit team make this a heartwarming flick for the whole family.
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The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
This story behind how Charles Dickens wrote the classic 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.
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Klaus (2019)
This Netflix original about a postman who befriends a reclusive toymaker is a great family Christmas film — especially with the beautiful animation that will leave you really feeling the holiday magic.
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The Best Man Holiday (2013)
A sequel to 1999's The Best Man, director Malcom D. Lee reunites the original cast, including Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard and Nia Long for a holiday-themed movie that will make you laugh and cry.
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Four Christmases (2008)
Christmas has a way of bringing everyone together — even when you least expect it. In this modern Christmas tale, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn play a couple whose tropical holiday plans get derailed, so they begrudgingly visit their families instead.
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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!
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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.
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Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Barbara Stanwyck stars in this romantic comedy about a magazine writer who lies about her perfect (and fictitious) country life in her columns. She must figure out how to cover her tracks when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves over for Christmas dinner.
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Bad Santa (2003)
Leave this dark comedy for when the kids have gone to bed and you want a good laugh.
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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.
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Frosty The Snowman (1969)
A snowman springs to life after a magic hat is placed atop his head. Follow his exciting adventure as school children help him avoid the jealous magician professor Hinkle from melting Frosty.
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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 loved the first Santa Clause movie, then you'll want to follow it up with this heartwarming sequel about Santa's search for the perfect Mrs. Claus.
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RELATED: See How 'The Santa Clause' Cast Has Changed Over the Years
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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).
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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
The Grinch gets the live-action treatment in this feature-length film starring Jim Carrey. This whimsical holiday film is a feast for the eyes — not to mention it will make your heart grow three sizes.
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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
No list of Christmas movies is truly complete without an appearance from the Grinch, and this animated version deserves a place in the holiday movie canon, thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch's memorable take on everyone's favorite green holiday grump.
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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. This '90s remake of the classic film, starring Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle, is an excellent reimagining of the original.
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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.
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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.
Kevin McCallister's family manages to leave him behind yet again in Home Alone 2... and this time around he winds up in New York City, where he manages to outwit the Wet Bandits once more (sorry, the Sticky Bandits).
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Elf (2003)
Even though this hilarious but heartwarming movie, about a human man raised by Santa's elves in the North Pole, was released less than 20 years ago, it's 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.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
In this timeless cartoon, Charlie Brown seeks out the true meaning of Christmas with the help of his friends, his curious dog and one tiny (yet strong) Christmas tree.
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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").
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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.
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
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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 original list of the 100 Greatest American Films of All Time.
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