To me, there is nothing better than curling up and watching a Christmas movie when the weather gets cold. Whether you’re looking for a laugh or a cry (or both), this list has it all. These films are the some of the best Christmas movies you will see this holiday season!
This post is all about the best Christmas movies to watch this holiday season.
1. While you were sleeping (1995)
This film may not be on everyone’s traditional Christmas movie list, but it ABSOLUTELY should be. It is one of my all time favorites, mostly because it’s just a good movie. But on top of being a good movie with an amazing ensemble cast (Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden, Glynis Johns, etc), it also is set with the backdrop of Christmas in Chicago. This movie has heart, humor, and amazing family dynamics. It is one of the first films I watch every holiday season and one of the best Christmas movies to start the season. If you haven’t seen it, add it to your list immediately!
2. elf (2003)
I think we all know why this one is a must see: Will Ferrel. But not just any Will, Will Ferrel at his comedic prime and with a whole lot of heart. This movie is truly just delightful. This Christmas tale follows Buddy, a human raised by one of Santa’s elves in the North Pole, who discovers he isn’t an elf and that his birth father is on the naughty list. He travels to New York City to meet him and endearing fish-out-of-water comedy ensues. The magic of this film is only increased by the presence of a pre-New Girl, blonde Zoey Deschanel as the love interest. If you want a lighthearted Christmas laugh (and a thousand new hilarious Christmas catchphrases), this is the film for you.
3. it’s a wonderful life (1946)
This classic Frank Capra film somehow just feels like THE Christmas movie, despite only a select part of the film taking place during the holidays. Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, an ambitious hometown man who’s heart and loyalty keeps him from fulfilling his adventurous desires. But in Bedford Falls he creates a family with Donna Reed’s Mary, runs a business and gains countless friendships. This movie created the film and tv trope that has been used time and again: what if I had never been born? But the wintry scenes, the heart wrenching acting and the heart warming conclusion, makes this movie an absolute essential Christmas watch. Nothing makes you cry and think quite like this classic.
4. white christmas (1954)
The irony of this 1954 classic is that there is truly almost no snow in the film. But despite the lack of usual wintery setting, there is no denying that this Christmas film is an absolute staple of the holiday season. Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney (yes, that Clooney), Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen sing, dance, act and dazzle. Be prepared to get these tunes stuck in your head. And do not fear, by the end you will get a good dose of Christmas cheer.
5. the family stone (2005)
If you’re looking for some more family disfunction (but in the best way) during the holiday season, look no further than this movie. This star studded movie brings everything you want in a Christmas movie: full belly laughs, cringe interactions, heartwarming moments, and an idyllic winter setting. When the golden-boy son brings home the girl he is about to propose to, they are thrown into the gauntlet of family judgement. And then things just get more comically complicated from there. Don’t forget to bring the tissues.
6. christmas in connecticut (1945)
This Barbara Stanwyck film is a hidden holiday gem. You may have never heard of it, but it may soon become your new favorite. Stanywyck plays a New York columnist who writes a column under an identity as a homemaker. She does “homemade” recipes, writes about her husband and new baby out in the country, but it’s all a story. When a soldier and fan of her work returns from war, the magazine offers him a holiday trip out into the country to visit her. As she scrambles to pull together her perfect country life (in fear of losing her job) comedy gold ensues. Mink coats, grand fireplaces, Christmas trees, snow covered carriage rides, this film will give you all the Christmas cheer.
7. Just friends (2005)
If you are looking for a full belly laugh, this is the best Christmas movie for it. Ryan Reynolds brings his dry, smart wit to this movie about a guy who comes back home after years living in Hollywood, and finds himself thrown right back into the place he was in high school, the friend zone. Amy Smart is the high school best friend and object of his affection, but it’s the dynamic between Reynolds and crazy young singer Ana Farris that is absolutely, insanely funny. But this movie also provides all of the trimmings of a New Jersey Christmas.
8. Four Christmases (2008)
This holiday film has become a new favorite. One of the best and worst things about the holidays is spending it with the family, and this movie illustrates that perfectly. Couple Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon usually spend their Christmas vacation on a tropical vacation, but after weather delays and a news crew reveals their plan, they are forced to spend Christmas day with their families. As the children of two sets of divorced parents, they have to endure four separate Christmas visits in a day. This is one of the best Christmas movies when it comes to family dynamics and has some amazing Hollywood royalty cameos.
9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This Chevy Chase masterpiece will leave you with no shortage of hilarious one liners. “Sh*tters full” is still easily one of the most quoted lines during my family’s Christmas gatherings (we’re a classy bunch). This movie perfectly, comedically illustrates all the high-highs and low-lows that come with a family Christmas vacation. There’s no denying that watching everything go absolutely wrong for the Griswold’s will make you feel at least a little bit better about your own family dysfunction.
10. Love Actually (2003)
Love Actually gives us a snapshot of the lives of many different English characters around the holidays. This film is often a favorite for many around Christmas because it is filled with love in all different forms. It has also given us some of the most notable and remade scenes in Christmas cinema. Both Hugh Grant dancing around his home, and the famous love confession through flip cards scene are absolutely legendary. And nothing beats this all star ensemble cast.
11. The Holiday (2006)
This movie is just a delight. Two women decide to trade houses during the holidays and love, laughter and personal growth are the result. Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black make for some amazing on screen comedic chemistry. And that Nancy Meyers filmmaking will make you want to live inside that world. The England portion of the film gives you all the wintry holiday setting you need, I mean just look at that snow-covered English cottage. This is one of the best Christmas movies if you’re looking for a picture perfect Rom-Com.
12. Home Alone (1990)
I think everyone at one point or another has wished to be home alone after a lot of family togetherness. But in this iconic Christmas film, a young Kevin McAlister (McCauly Culkin) gets to experience just that when he is accidentally left home from a family vacation. At first, it’s all joy and freedom, but soon he becomes the target of some crooks, preying on empty houses during the holidays. This movie is filled with no shortage of comedy gold. But the wintry Chicago setting makes for the perfect Christmas backdrop. This is so many peoples favorite Christmas movie for a reason.
13. Noelle (2019)
This Disney+ movie is a fun new take on the goings on in the North Pole. In this Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader film, they play Santa’s children and Hader is the heir to the “throne.” When the pressure of taking over is too much, he runs away and his sister is forced into the world to follow him. There is no denying that this fun new take on Christmas’ first family makes a wonderful new addition to the Christmas movie roster. Anna Kendrick delights with her cheery disposition, and will easily give you a good dose of Holiday cheer.
14. The santa clause (1994)
This film (and eventual franchise) was such a staple of my 90s childhood. There are few things cooler than imagining that your parent becomes Santa and you get to see the North Pole. After Santa falls off his roof, Scott Calvin puts on the suit and becomes Santa for the night, not expecting that it will become his full time job. This movie has is a great watch with kids, or simple just to make yourself feel like a kid again: to see the Christmas holiday with a childlike joy.
15. last holiday (2006)
There are very few people who shine in a rom-com more than the queen herself, Queen Latifah, and this heartwarming Christmas film proves that. Georgia is living a simple life in New Orleans when she finds out that she has a rare condition that gives her only a short time left to live. She cashes in her retirement and decides to live out all of her dreams in Karlovy Vary, Prague. She arrives to the snowy wonderland just in time to spend her holiday in style. This movie is one of the best Christmas movies for heart, laughs, and setting, and don’t forget sexy L.L. Cool J.
16. Little Women (2019)
The classic novel of this film adaptation is already a common favorite holiday read. And this 2019 film adaptation (and its earlier iterations) make for one of the best Christmas films about family and love. The story centers on four sisters in 1860’s America as they explore love, heartbreak, and finding ways to fulfill themselves. In this Greta Gerwig directed iteration, we see some of the most complex reading of Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg. But it is the cozy house during Christmas, that will put you squarely in the holiday mood.
17. Miracle on 34th street (1947)
Some of you may be familiar with the 90’s version of this movie, with the little girl from Matilda. But in my opinion, nothing beats the original with young Natalie Wood. The concept is simple and sweet: what if the real Santa Clause got a job as a Macy’s Santa. Then he is forced to prove his identity in a courtroom. Nothing brings the Christmas cozies as much as Christmas in New York City, and this film delivers that in spades.
18. Happiest Season (2020)
This movie definitely makes the yuletide gay, in all the best ways. This newer Christmas movie features Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as a couple headed back home to meet the parents. Only one issue: they don’t know that their daughter is gay, and that her “friend” is actually her partner. This movie has all the awkwardness and hilarity of a good meeting-the-family-around-the-holidays movie, but also adds in the moving story of a coming out.
19. A Christmas Story (1983)
Another absolute Christmas classic, this story is all about the wonder around Christmas when you are a kid, and also the chaos that comes with the holidays. This movie does an amazing job of describing middle class life in the midwest. This is one of the best Christmas movies to watch with the whole family, because even though it is set in the 40’s, the story seems to transcend the era to be relatable to almost every generation. The anticipation for Christmas in this film will make you feel the same. And don’t miss the long awaited sequel: A Christmas Story Christmas.
20. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
No one does The Grinch better than the many faced Jim Carrey. This live-action remake of the classic Dr. Seuss tale has such an amazing stylized, cartoonish energy. You’ll adore for Cindy Lou Who, laugh at her eccentric family, empathize with a young Grinch, and probably relate to adult Grinch. There are so many amazing one-liners to bring into your life. “Dinner with me: I can’t cancel that again.”
21. Every Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movie
We get it. They’re all the same (I mean just look at those film posters). But, that doesn’t mean they aren’t delightful. The two protagonists meet and don’t get along. Then fate brings them together over and over again until they can’t deny the chemistry. Cue return of an old or current significant other that’s NOTHING like the love interest. Then after a little self exploration, they make a choice to be together and end with a blissful but chaste kiss. They may not be the best Christmas movies, but there is no denying the wintery scenes and cliched activities will put you in the holiday spirit.
This post was all about all of the best Christmas movies to watch every holiday season!
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