20 Best Christmas Movies to Watch With Your Family This Holiday Season

By Jess Catcher Updated: December 11, 2019

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There are tons of fun ways to celebrate the holiday season, but we’re big fans of curling up on the couch with the family and hitting play on one of your favorite classic Christmas movies. Whether it’s the nostalgic claymation tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or newer options like Elf, you just can’t beat that feeling of joy you get from a festive flick.

To decide which holiday films you should add to your viewing list, we gathered up the 20 best Christmas movies of all time. And we mean actual Christmas movies, people — sorry (not sorry), but you won’t find Bruce Willis crawling around air vents in Die Hard on here.

You will find plenty of cheerful films that we’ve all grown to love over the years. We recommend grabbing a cup of hot cocoa and your comfiest fuzzy blanket while you decide which holiday classic you’ll want to watch with your loved ones tonight.

Take a look below to see the 20 best Christmas movies of all time!

Amazon

Jingle All the Way (1997)

Every parent knows the struggle of wanting to get their hands on that one gift their kid (and every other kid on the planet) is dying to see under their tree on Christmas morning — and watching Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad battle each other makes memories of your own holiday shopping wars that much funnier.

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Yes, this absolutely counts as a Christmas movie! It has the word in its title, after all. Sure, it can get a little dark and, well, Halloween-y. But hey, why not celebrate both of those delightful holidays with this Tim Burton classic?

Where to buy: $3.99-$9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Frosty the Snowman (1969)

What little one hasn't daydreamed about their own snow creation coming to life after hearing the iconic holiday song this classic animation is based on? Thanks to this beautiful interpretation, it can feel a little more real for all of us.

Where to buy: $3.99-$9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Like Frosty, this classic film puts adorable visuals to one of the most beloved Christmas songs we all learn as kids. Plus, who doesn't love the heartwarming elf who'd rather just be a dentist?

Where to buy: $9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983)

Charles Dickins' A Christmas Carol is undeniably one of the most beloved holiday tales of all time —especially when its told through the eyes of the most adorable Disney characters we've all grown up loving so dearly.

Where to buy: $3.99-$14.99, Amazon Prime Video

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The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

OK, you caught us. We couldn't hold ourselves back with just one version of A Christmas Carol on this list! This mixture of Muppet cuties and human actors, including Michael Caine as one of the best Scrooge's we've ever seen on screen, makes the well-known tale seem fresh again.

Where to buy: $12.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

As much as we love all the classics and remakes (and remakes of remakes), there's simply no denying that Jim Carrey's version of the Grinch stands out in all of our memories — even while reading the classic book its based on instead of watching the funny flick.

Where to buy: $3.99-$14.99, Amazon Prime Video

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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Of all the Griswald family vacations, this attempt at a very merry holiday get-together is perhaps the most unforgettable and... explosive (literally). And honestly, who can't relate to the stress of having to deal with family members (we all have our own Uncle Eddie) while trying to embrace the Christmas spirit?

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Scrooged (1988)

This adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Story ditches animation and Muppets, but more than makes up for it with the wackiness of comedy legend Bill Murray learning his own holiday lesson as a money-obsessed TV exec.

Where to buy: $6.99, Amazon Prime Video

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The Preacher’s Wife (1996)

Denzel Washington shines as the angel helping Whitney Houston patch up her lukewarm marriage with Courtney B. Vance in this Christmas story. Add the soundtrack of gospel music sung by Houston throughout the film and you have everything you need to warm your heart.

Where to buy: $3.99-$17.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Polar Express (2004)

Every kid has their moment of questioning whether Santa Claus really exists. This animated adventure to the North Pole is the perfect reminder to hold onto that holiday spirit for as long as you can hear jingle bells ringing.

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

We love the '90s remake of this classic film, but there's really nothing like the reaction on a young Natalie Wood's face tugging on Santa's beard and believing Kris Kringle (played by Edmund Gwenn) is the real deal. Fun fact: They filmed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade scene at the actual parade in 1946 with Gwenn really stepping into Santa's sleigh!

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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The Santa Clause (1994)

Accidentally becoming Santa sounds alarming, but leave it to Tim Allen to make it not only hilarious, but heart-warming. It's also a nice reminder that we shouldn't freak out if we suddenly see ourselves plump up over the holidays — it's just the Christmas spirit!

Where to buy: $3.99-$9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Love, Actually (2003)

Is it really the holiday season if you don't watch Hugh Grant disco through the hallways of Downing Street? Or cry along with Emma Thompson opening a Joni Mitchell CD? Don't even get us started on Liam Neeson, his young lovesick step-son, and all of the other charming characters who round up this recent Christmas class. To us, it's perfect.

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby crooning the film's title song is just one of the delightful holiday musical moments that makes this classic a must-watch every year. The combination of Crosby, Danny Kate, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen working together to put on their spectacular show will always make us smile.

Where to buy: $1.99-$6.99, Amazon Prime Video

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Elf (2003)

It's impossible to pick a favorite line from Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in this silly Christmas flick, but if we were forced to we might go with, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." That, or him simply screaming, "SANTA!!!"

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

The magic of Christmas is on display with this iconic animated special from the Peanuts gang. Poor Charlie Brown never can seem to catch a break with his bleak mood, even around the holidays. Luckily, he's quickly reminded that he can always count on his friends to show him that a little kindness will always lift his spirit back up again.

Where to buy: $9.99 Amazon Prime Video

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Home Alone (1990)

Spending Christmas alone doesn't sound like the best way to celebrate the holiday — especially if you're a kid fending off a home invasion by two bumbling crooks. Of course, along with cracking us up, this film reminds us to reflect on how much we appreciate our family and loved ones (even if your older brother can be a jerk).

Where to buy: $3.99-$9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

You can't celebrate the holiday season without looking back at George Bailey's life and watching Clarence earn his angel wings. No matter how many times we watch this classic movie, we can't help but shed a tear or two when James Stewart, Donna Reed, and the rest of the cast gather around the Christmas tree to sing "Auld Lang Syne."

Where to buy: $5.99-$9.99, Amazon Prime Video

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A Christmas Story (1983)

There's a reason you can see this moving playing non-stop for 24 hours over Christmas Eve and Day — viewers just can't get enough of it! Admit it, you still catch yourself reading the word "fragile" as "frah-jee-lee" every now and then.

Where to buy: $3.99-$7.99, Amazon Prime Video

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