The top Christmas movies ever made (and the five least favorite)

Its the holiday season and the festive spirit is in full swing: chocolates are unwrapped, matching pajamas are on, and the fireplace is glowing. But the big question remainswhich Christmas movie should you watch? From timeless classics like Meet Me in St. Louis and Its a Wonderful Life to animated favorites such as A Charlie Brown Christmas and Arthur Christmas, family staples like The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone, and fresh hits like The Holdovers, here is a curated list of 37 top holiday films and five to skip, along with streaming options.

The Classics

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Set in pre-war Budapest, two employees at a leather goods store, played by James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, despise each other at work but unknowingly exchange heartfelt letters as anonymous pen pals. This charming Ernst Lubitsch film inspired the 1998 remake Youve Got Mail.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Judy Garland stars in this musical about middle-class American life at the turn of the century. With memorable numbers like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," this film is a seasonal gem.

Where to watch: Apple TV, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video

Its a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart plays George Bailey, a man shown by an angel what life would be like if hed never existed. This Frank Capra classic blends snow, sentiment, and holiday magic.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Apple TV

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Barbara Stanwyck portrays a single New Yorker who pretends to be a homemaker in Connecticut. Romance and comedy ensue when a war hero visits.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Sky Store

The Bishops Wife (1947)

Cary Grant plays an angel helping a bishop resolve his problems, without falling for the bishops wife, played by Loretta Young. A quietly delightful seasonal tale.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Edmund Gwenn stars as a department store Santa who might be the real Kris Kringle. This heartwarming story won three Academy Awards.

Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Scrooge (1951)

Alastair Sim delivers an iconic performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in this chilling adaptation of Charles Dickens classic ghost story.

Where to watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this musical about helping a Vermont inn stay open while falling for two sisters. Irving Berlins songs are unforgettable.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Apple TV

Animated & Alternative Christmas Films

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

This Peanuts classic features charming animation and a jazz soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi, perfect for holiday playlists.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Black Christmas (1974)

A cult holiday slasher where sorority girls face a deadly caller. A pioneer in Christmas horror films.

Where to watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Ingmar Bergmans masterpiece shows the complexities of family life and hidden sorrows during Christmas, offering a realistic perspective on the season.

Where to watch: BFI Player, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Apple TV

Trading Places (1983)

Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd swap lives in this holiday comedy, ultimately triumphing over scheming millionaires.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Apple TV

Gremlins (1984)

Joe Dantes horror-comedy takes festive cheer and turns it upside down, as mischievous creatures disrupt a quiet suburban Christmas.

Where to watch: Now TV, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Die Hard (1988)

Bruce Willis battles terrorists in a skyscraper during a Christmas party. A heated debate remains whether its truly a Christmas film.

Where to watch: Disney+, Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989)

Chevy Chases Clark Griswold attempts to host a perfect holiday, with comical disasters along the way.

Where to watch: Now TV, Apple TV, Sky Store

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burtons fairy tale features Johnny Depp as Edward, who creates magical ice sculptures in a perpetually snowy suburban setting.

Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Home Alone (1990)

Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin, defending his house from burglars during the holidays in this John Hughes classic.

Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burtons snowy Gotham offers a festive backdrop for action, panto-style adventure, and quirky villains like Catwoman and the Penguin.

Where to watch: Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Michael Caine stars as Scrooge in this Muppet-filled adaptation, featuring songs and beloved characters like Kermit as Bob Cratchit.

Where to watch: Disney+, YouTube, Apple TV

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington discovers Christmas in this dark yet whimsical animated musical by Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman.

Where to watch: Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

Richard Attenborough stars as Santa in this 1990s remake, charming children with his insistence on being the real Kris Kringle.

Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (2001)

The first Harry Potter film evokes the magic of Christmas at Hogwarts, cementing the franchise as a holiday staple.

Where to watch: Netflix, Now TV, Apple TV

Serendipity (2001)

A New York romcom about fate keeping two lovers apart until destiny intervenes on Christmas Eve, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.

Where to watch: Apple TV+, Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video

Bad Santa (2003)

Billy Bob Thornton plays a conman Santa whose redemption comes in a darkly humorous tale, assisted by a young child.

Where to watch: Apple TV+, Sky Store, Amazon Prime Video

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

Three homeless people in Tokyo find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve and set out to reunite it with its mother, in a heartfelt anime tale.

Where to watch: Sky Store, Apple TV

Elf (2003)

Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised as an elf, spreading cheer and discovering family in New York City.

Where to watch: Now TV, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

A murder mystery in Los Angeles unfolds on Christmas Eve, blending comedy, crime, and holiday chaos with Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Sky Store

The Holiday (2006)

Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz swap homes for Christmas, leading to romantic escapades in this lighthearted seasonal romcom.

Where to watch: BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Now TV

Arthur Christmas (2011)

James McAvoy voices Santas clumsy son, delivering a forgotten gift in this witty and warm Aardman animated film.

Where to watch: Now TV, Apple TV, Sky Store

Tangerine (2015)

Set on Christmas Eve in LA, two trans sex workers search for a boyfriend, exploring family and connection in a visually striking indie drama.

Where to watch: Tubi, Curzon, Apple TV

Krampus (2015)

A darkly comedic horror about a German holiday demon threatening a family before Christmas, starring Toni Collette and Adam Scott.

Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV

Carol (2015)

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star in Todd Haynes elegant, heartbreaking story of love set against a 1950s Christmas backdrop.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, ITVX, Netflix

Dr. Seusss The Grinch (2018)

Benedict Cumberbatch voices the mischievous Grinch in this animated retelling of the classic story, perfect for families.

Where to watch: ITVX, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Kurt Russell stars as Santa in this Netflix family comedy, restoring the festive spirit for two siblings on an adventurous sleigh ride.

Where to watch: Netflix

Klaus (2019)

A reclusive toy maker and a postman bring magic to warring clans in this innovative, hand-drawn animation from Sergio Pablos.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Holdovers (2023)

Paul Giamatti stars as a curmudgeonly teacher bonding with a student during winter break in a heartfelt and intelligent holiday story.

Where to watch: Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

That Christmas (2024)

Brian Cox voices Santa in this family-friendly animated film based on Richard Curtis childrens stories, offering a genuinely festive experience.

Where to watch: Netflix

Five Christmas Films to Avoid

Love Actually (2003)

Despite its popularity, the film mixes fantasy with inappropriate subplots, making it one of Richard Curtis weakest works.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Now TV

Fred Claus (2007)

Vince Vaughn plays Santas annoying brother in a poorly received holiday comedy with little charm or appeal.

Where to watch: Now TV, Sky Store, YouTube

A Christmas Prince (2017)

This Netflix romcom is widely regarded as clichd and formulaic, featuring a magazine writer swept into royal antics.

Where to watch: Netflix

Hot Frosty (2024)

A lackluster Christmas romcom about a magical snowman, failing to capture the warmth or magic of classic holiday tales.

Where to watch: Netflix

Christmas Karma (2025)

An over-the-top adaptation of A Christmas Carol with celebrity ghosts and chaotic execution, widely panned by critics.

Where to watch: In cinemas

Author: Noah Whitman