25 Best Christmas Movies of All Time + FREE Countdown Printable!
It’s time to get cozy and watch the best Christmas movies ever!
We’re sharing the best Christmas movies to watch this winter! 🎄
This season is all about family time and partaking in the best Christmas traditions. What better way to celebrate than grabbing some popcorn and watching classic Christmas movies all month long?! 🍿
To help you choose the title for your next movie night, here’s our roundup of 25 of the best Christmas movies!
From classics to kids’ movies to titles filled with adult humor, we’ve got something the whole family will enjoy. Plus, for those of you who are die-hard Christmas movie fans, we’ve even included a free Hip2Save 25 Days Christmas Movie Countdown so you have a holiday movie to watch every day of December!
Let’s start with some timeless holiday classic movies:
1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Available at: Amazon | Stream on Prime Video or Apple TV (try a 7-day free trial)
This Christmas, America’s most dedicated dad, Clark Griswold (played by Chevy Chase), is determined to stay at home to create “the most fun-filled old-fashioned family Christmas ever.” This Christmas comedy classic is a must-watch!
Released in 1989, rated PG-13
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Available at: Amazon | Walmart | Stream on Prime Video
This classic Dr. Suess book-turned-movie is one everyone will love! Watch to see how the Grinch tried to steal Christmas from the Whos in Whoville.
|Released in 1966, rated G
3. A Christmas Story (1983)
Available at: Amazon | Target | Stream on Prime Video (try a 30-day free trial) or Apple TV (try a 7-day free trial)
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. This charming Christmas classic is one you won’t want to miss!
Released in 1983, rated PG
4. White Christmas (1954)
Available at: Amazon | Walmart | Stream on Prime Video (try a 30-day free trial) or Apple TV (try a 7-day free trial)
Be sure to add this movie to your annual Christmas classics must-watch list! When a successful song-and-dance team becomes romantically involved with a sister act, they team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
Released in 1954, rated G
5. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Available at: Amazon | Walmart | Stream on Prime Video, Hulu (free 30-day trial), AMC+ (free 7-day trial), or Philo (free 7-day trial)
This is another movie from the classic Christmas capsule! When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing.
Released in 1947, rated G
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Available at: Amazon | Target | Best Buy | Walmart • Stream on Apple TV (free 7-day trial) or watch for free without the trial December 16 – 17
This is a true classic that everyone’s probably seen at least once. A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas.
Released in 1965, rated G
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
This charming classic Christmas movie featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the most beloved special of all time! Packed with so many memorable songs and unforgettable characters, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lights up all of our holiday hearts.
Released in 1964, rated G
8. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Available at: Amazon | Target | Walmart • Stream on Prime Video (free 30-day trial) or Sling TV (download the app on a Sling-compatible device for a free 7-day trial)
The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who’s given up his dreams to help others, and whose suicidal thoughts on Christmas Eve bring about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his community of Bedford Falls would be if he had never been born.
Released in 1946, rated PG
Pre-2000 Christmas film favorites:
9. Home Alone (1990)
Available at: Amazon | Target • Stream on Disney+ or Philo (free 7-day trial)
Eight-year-old troublemaker Kevin McAllister must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.
Released in 1990, rated PG
10. Home Alone 2 (1992)
One year after Kevin was left home alone and had to defeat a pair of bumbling burglars, he accidentally finds himself in New York City, and the same criminals are not far behind.
Released in 1992, rated PG
Hip Tip: Want to score a deal on both Home Alone movies? Check out this bundle on Amazon!
11. Jack Frost (1998)
Available at: Amazon | Walmart • Stream on Hulu (free 30-day trial), Philo (free 7-day trial), or Sling TV (download the app on a Sling-compatible device for a free 7-day trial)
We recommend getting the tissue box for this Christmas movie! A year after the tragic death of Charlie’s dad, Jack, he plays a mournful tune on his father’s harmonica on Christmas Day. Much to his surprise, his dad is magically brought to life as a snowman in the front yard! Given a second chance, Charlie and Jack struggle to make up for the lost time.
Released in 1998, rated PG
12. The Santa Clause (1994)
Go on a journey with a divorced dad Scott (played by Tim Allen). After the real Santa falls off of his roof and disappears, Scott and his son are magically transported to the North Pole, where an elf explains that Scott must take Santa’s place before the next Christmas arrives. Watch this movie to find out if Scott really turns into Santa or if it was all a dream!
Released in 1994, rated PG
13. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Released in 1993, rated PG
Our favorite holiday movies from 2000 and beyond:
14. Elf (2003)
Available at: Amazon | Best Buy • Stream on Hulu (free 30-day trial) or Philo (free 7-day trial)
This hilarious Christmas film tells the tale of a young orphan child, Buddy, who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Years later, Buddy learns he’s not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity and family!
Released in 2003, rated PG
15. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Available at: Amazon • Stream on Prime Video (try 30 days free!) or Philo (free 7-day trial)
Alone for the Holidays? Invite some friends over and watch this hilarious Christmas comedy when the Kranks decide to skip Christmas altogether. That is until their daughter decides to unexpectedly come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate the holiday at the last minute.
Released in 2004, rated PG
16. The Polar Express (2004)
Available at: Target | Best Buy | Walmart • Stream on Hulu (free 30-day trial) or Philo (free 7-day trial)
We love the classic Christmas book-turned-movie, The Polar Express. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
Released in 2004, rated G
17. Arthur Christmas (2011)
Available at: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart • Watch on TNT or TBS (requires cable account) • Stream on Prime Video
This is one your kids are sure to love! Santa’s clumsy son, Arthur, sets out on a mission with St. Nick’s father to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl. Watch this fun Christmas movie to see their very high-tech operation beneath the North Pole and to see if they get the mission accomplished in time!
Released in 2011, rated PG
18. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey stars in this more modern twist to the classic Dr. Seuss book. Watch this movie and see how the Grinch tried to steal Christmas from “Whoville”.
Released in 2000, rated PG
And just for the adults, here are our favorite PG-13 & Rated R Christmas hits:
19. The Holiday (2006)
Available at: Amazon
This is the perfect comedy-drama-romance for Christmas! Two women troubled with their relationships at home swap houses in each other’s countries. Much to their surprise, they each meet a man with close ties to the respective homeowner and develop new romances amid their single-life vacations.
Released in 2006, rated PG-13
Hip Tip: Want more Christmas Rom-Coms? Check out Hallmark Channel’s Christmas movie schedule!
20. The Family Stone (2005)
Stream on: Hulu (free 30-day trial) or FX Now (requires a cable subscription)
An uptight, conservative businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family’s annual Christmas celebration and finds that she’s a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.
Released in 2005, rated PG-13
21. Love Actually (2003)
Available at: Amazon | Best Buy • Stream on Netflix, Philo (free 7-day trial), or AMC+ (free 7-day trial)
This is the perfect movie to grab some wine and curl up with your significant other! Watch this movie about nine intertwined stories, and examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all: love.
Released in 2003, rated R
22. Die Hard (1988)
Who doesn’t love a low-key Christmas story? Haha! John McClane, an officer of the NYPD, tries to save his wife Holly Gennaro, and several others that were taken hostage by German terrorist Hans Gruber during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. This is one even your husband will be sure to love!
Released in 1988, rated R
23. Scrooged (1988)
Available at: Amazon | Target | Best Buy | Walmart • Stream on Prime Video (free 30-day trial), Paramount+ (free 1-week trial), or Sling TV (download the app on a Sling-compatible device for a free 7-day trial)
In this take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Frank Cross (Bill Murry) a selfish, cynical television executive, is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
Released in 1988, rated PG-13
24. Four Christmases (2008)
Available at: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart • Stream on Hulu (free 30-day trial) or Philo (free 7-day trial)
When their plans for an exotic vacation fall apart, unmarried couple Brad and Kate must spend Christmas Day going to all the family get-togethers they were hoping to avoid. While Brad counts the hours until he can escape the onslaught of crazy relatives, Kate begins to wonder about her own choices and ponders whether her family members aren’t so crazy after all.
Released in 2008, rated PG-13
25. The Family Man (2000)
Available at: Amazon
Jack, a fast-lane investment broker offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife. We love this Christmas movie, and it proves that life really is about family and the little things! After watching this movie, I’m always left feeling extra thankful for so much!
Released in 2000, rated PG-13
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Noelle on Disney+ should totally be added to this list! Itās adorable and funny.
Yes! Such a good movie
Totally agree! Itās a must watch from now on – I love it!
If you have not seen the family stone it is a MUST. My favorite Christmas movie.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Love, love, love The Family Stone!
One of the best movies “Scrooge” is not even mentioned. My favorite was with George C. Scott.
I do not enjoy a lot of the modern so called classics.
I suppose that is why Halmark is the best even as Netflix tries to make their own “Christmas Classics!”
I love all of these! Four Christmas is one of my husband and mineās favorites!! Elf, nightmare before Christmas, home alone, and the grinch are favorites with the kiddos! Cant wait to start watching all of the Christmas movies! Iām really trying to wait till after thanksgiving! š Iām also looking forward to the second Christmas chronicles on Netflix! The first one was so good!
I love these movies also,but another one I love is Frosty The Snowman and itās not on the list š
Oh yes! That’s a great one too!
I alwsys waited for this to air on tv! I can’t believe it missed the list!
Great list!!! My recent add to my favorite Christmas movies is Daddy’s Home 2!! I know it sounds weird, but it is hilarious!
If you want a classic 90’s romcom, While You Were Sleeping is the BEST!!!
My FAVORITE movie!!! YES!!!
What about Jingle All the Way with Sinbad and Arnold S?
Yes!!
1951’s Scrooge with Alastair Sim
Best Christmas movie ever and this is the best version!! Love it!
Yes! A Christmas Carol. So good
Bah humbug! Die Hard is not a Christmas movie! *And the song “My Favorite Things” is not a Christmas song either! :p
Agree š
We always loved Santa Claus with John Lithgow growing up, I think it is from the 80s?
Yep, this is mine also, it’s a must watch yearly. Never on any lists and underrated!!!
I was going to add that too!! Our family’s yearly tradition š
Yes!! Itās called āSanta Clause: the Movieā!! I bought of off Amazon 2 years ago and no one else ever knows what movie Iām talking about. I remember going to see it at the theater.
Those are all good! Iād like to add Fred Claus and Prancer to the list. Those are two of my favorites.
Thumbs up on Fred Claus!
Ditto!
Is Prancer the movie where a little girl finds a reindeer and hides it in the barn?
Yes! I loved that movie when I was a kid!
Prancer is such a great movie!
While You Were Sleeping is a favorite of mine. The Ref is also a favorite but it has a LOT of language.
For adults – My favorite is the Ref- For those who love dark humor “bickering spouses annoy the cat burglar who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home”. .
More great Christmas movies to check out:
Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart (Youāve Got Mail is a remake of this classic film.)
A Christmas Carol: Jim Carrey animated version. (Beautifully done!) And the George C Scott version.
Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck
Bachelor Mother with Ginger Rogers & David Niven
Funny Farm with Chevy Chase
A Christmas Card
I was just going to say where is Christmas in Connecticut!
Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum is good too.
We love Fred Claus and Krampus.
Gremlins is missing from this list. And A Madea Christmas!
Where is Muppets Christmas Carol??? That’s my favorite Christmas movie
Great suggestion, Kat! My family has loved that one too! šš
That’s our favorite too! We watch it every Christmas Eve.
Same here. We watch it every year.
Want some “A Christmas Story” trivia? Just say, “Alexa, enable ‘Don’t Shoot Your Eye Out!'” or click this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KCTD3XZ Can you get an “A+” on Miss Shields’ quiz?
Thanks for the fun suggestion, JS!
Planes, Trains & Automobile missed the list š³
Good movie but the time setting is around Thanksgiving.
SO many great movies on your list!! We still have little ones at home so Mickeyās Christmas Carol and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are also on our list!
love actually?
We just watched Klause on Netflix, itās very cute! My top 5 are The Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf and Original Grinch. Also Emmet Otterās Jugband Christmas for some childhood nostalgia!
Emmet Otterās Jugband Christmas is beautiful, so touching and sweet.
ššš Emmett Otters Junk band Christmas! I grew up watching it year after year! Thanks for the reminder. I will surely watch it!
Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2 which came out this year with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.
Thank you guys. I watched the family stone for the first time.I was teary at the end.Currently watching The family man for the first time. Thanks for sharing.
Aww, you’re welcome!
Bad Momās Christmas was great too!
“The Muppets Christmas Carol” available on Disney+ is our family’s favorite. Great music!! Thank you so much making this list and providing links to where the movies can be streamed!! What a gift!!
Did I miss it?? Wow!
A Christmas Carol…
Any of them…but we like the 3d version with Jim Carrey.
We like…
Jingle All the WAY TOO!
(For the adults…When Harry Met Sally…CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR)
YES -Yes-yes-slapping table. LOL! Get it- wink…
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY- I watch this New Years Eve- but already watched it this year!
No love for Gremlins? š
Letās add This Christmas and Best Man Holiday for the adults; great movies with wonderful soundtracks. Also Deck the Halls.
Absolutely Audrey! Iām with you 110%! These are my favorites & I watch them all year long!
Love Christmas Movies, great list so far=)
Does anyone remember the animated “Maxine’s Christmas Carol”? (The Grouchy maxine & her dog on Greeting cards) haven’t been able to find it but I enjoed it all those years ago & wish I could watch it again.
Another good but older movie is Yes, Virginia.
Merry Christmas to all!
I agree with one of the earlier posters, Klaus on NETFLIX is sooooooo Good! One of my new favorites!
Fun fact: “It’s A Wonderful Life” is a Christmas classic, now. But, it was a big ol’ flop, in it’s time (and for decades after). We can thank a failure to renew the copyright and every tv station loving free content, for it becoming a holiday classic.
The Gift of Love:
Marie Osmond plays a rich girl being raised by her uncle and aunt (June Lockhart). Her guardians encourage an arranged marriage to a nice but boring guy. Osmond does not want to spend the rest of her life as pampered wife who does nothing but attend society parties. She meets an immigrant, played by Timothy Bottoms, and they fall in love. However, her guardians disapprove of the match because Osmond’s late mother allegedly threw her life away by falling in love with a poor man. Bottoms has his own problems. He was only supposed to stay in America long enough to make a little money, then go back home and enter into an arranged marriage.
This movie is based on an O. Henry story called, “The Gift of the Magi”. It’s a very sweet and romantic tale with a Christmas theme.
A Dog Named Christmas is my all time favorite movie (Christmas or not!) so heartwarming.
Yes! Good one for the whole family.
These are great! Iāve got to add White Christmas also!! I hadnāt watched it until a couple years ago and now I find myself wanting to watch it even in the middle of summer! Itās so good and incredibly family friendly. š
My favorite is a cartoon called āThe Tangerine Bear.ā Itās precious and the music is beautiful.
āOne Magical Christmasā with Mary Stembergen is one of my favorites. It is on Disney +.
Great list! I would have to add The Preacherās Wife with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington! Our family loves it!
We also watch āWhile You Were Sleepingā and Disneyās Christmas Carol and āItās a Wonderful Lifeā
Good list (my dad and I watch Die Hard each year to kick off the holiday season) š
Found a new fave last year, “Last Christmas”; a different sort of romcom with Emilia Clarke. Can’t wait to watch it again this year.
This is a great watch list some of my favorites are on this list like Elf, Home Alone 1&2, National Lampoon Christmas Vacation, The Santa Claus 1&2. I am here for it allš„°
Other black and white movie: Lemon Drop Kid w Bob Hope. It’s where the Silver Bells song comes from. Nice comedy.
I’ll be home for Christmas is also funny. We like different Christmas movies, the only ones we can watch and enjoy together are Jingle All the Way and The Tangerine Bear.
We watch The Christmas Story Musical Live every year since it first airedā¦stars Matthew Broderick and Maya Rudolph to name a few. Itās a musical take on the movie and we enjoy it so much! Since it was filmed live, there is one āflubā in it that we always look for – but the actors covered up great!
Great list! Good call including Die Hard. Definitely a Christmas movie!
Fatman for the adults!
Excellent list!
I’m just gonna say it Lethal Weapon should be on this list if Die Hard is. Lethal Weapon>die hard!!!