Ah, Christmas. A time when we string colored lights around our homes, whip out Christmas stockings, bake gingerbread and gorge ourselves on, well, everything. But what’s a Christmas without sitting in front of the TV with a glass of champagne in hand, devouring a wholesome, corny or just so bad-it’s-good Christmas movie?
Whatever you’re looking for — a cheesy rom-com to play in the background while you ice some gingerbread people, a thrilling Christmas horror with an edge, a Christmas musical that’ll have you singing along, or you only want to see Vanessa Hudgens in another outlandish Christmas film, we’ve got you covered.
Ahead, the very best Christmas movies of all time.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Universally hailed as the best Christmas film to watch each year, It’s A Wonderful Life has come to define the genre. It stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has become suicidal. But he’s soon visited by an angel who shows him what really matters in life and what life would be like without his existence. A compelling, moving and heartwarming masterpiece, courtesy of Frank Capra.
Die Hard (1988)
Sparking arguments and transforming friends into enemies, Die Hard reinvigorated the discussion on what is meant to be a Christmas movie (and for the record, it definitely is one). Set on Christmas Eve, it follows an NYPD officer (Bruce Willis) as his Christmas plans are interrupted thanks to a group of terrorists (featuring the late Alan Rickman). In true Bruce Willis fashion, he’s the only one that can save the day (and Christmas!).
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Is it a Christmas movie? Is it a Halloween movie? Who cares. When you’ve got a gorgeous stop-motion film as charming as this, you’ll be wanting to make your Christmas morning as macabre as possible. Written by the notable Tim Burton, a visit to Christmastown should be on the cards every year (just don’t forget to sing along).
Gremlins (1984)
If you think all Christmas movies need to be peppy and upbeat, think again. Gremlins pumps us full of Christmas cheer, but not without the help of some demonic creatures. This horror-comedy follows a father who finds an extra special Christmas gift for his son, but with a proviso — don’t expose it to bright light, never add water, and only feed it after midnight.
Elf (2003)
A Christmas staple. Will Ferrell excels in this classic as Buddy, a childish adult/large elf who searches for his biological father in New York City. As he navigates the human world, we’re treated to instantly quotable lines and enough laughs to give us an ab workout.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Written by John Hughes (best known for classics like Ferris Bueller, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a bible on how to do a flawless Christmas comedy. Clark Griswold (Chevy Case) wants the perfect Christmas and plays it safe by staying at home, but things go wrong pretty quickly after his hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family show up without an invite. Watch this, then treat yourself to the other five National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, just because.
Carol (2015)
Say it with me: more queer Christmas films! Carol has easily cemented itself into the Christmas movie rotation of many thanks to the bittersweet love it portrays. Starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett, it follows two women as they fall in love and have a forbidden affair. And while it’s just an objectively good movie, it also features plenty of Christmas hats, cookie decorating, and Christmas cheer to fill that festive hole in your heart.
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman in a Christmas movie? Well, almost. While Bruce Wayne doesn’t exactly don Christmas getup head to toe, Batman Returns landscape is spectacularly festive. With a huge Christmas tree in the centre of Gotham, plenty of decorations to go around, and even a Grinch-esque character in the form of Max Shreck and Penguin, this is the perfect Christmas movie for comic book fanatics.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Have you heard of Whoville? If not, you’re in for a treat. It’s one of the most wonderfully blissful and friendly places that’ll have you returning for your dose of Christmas cheer, every year. We all know who The Grinch is — he’s a bloody grouch. He doesn’t believe in Christmas and most certainly won’t be participating in any local decorating competitions. But things change when he meets six-year-old Cindy Lou.
Bad Santa (2003)
Dark comedy and Christmas is an unexpected match made in heaven, seen nowhere better than in Bad Santa. The star of the show, Billy Bob Thornton, stars as a gross, vile, alcoholic, chain-smoking and horny shopping centre Santa Claus ripoff — and we love him for it. Just don’t make the mistake of showing this one to the kids.
The Holiday (2006)
You’ve got your Love Actually girlies, and you’ve got your The Holiday girlies. Whatever side you fall on, you’ll still appreciate this as one of the best Christmas movies of all time. It follows two women (played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) who swap lives and their perfect homes for a fortnight to escape their problems and heartbreak. Jack Black and Jude Law also star in this fan favorite. Someone bring out the mistletoe, stat.
Silent Night (2021)
An apocalyptic dystopian Christmas film starring Keira Knightly? Sign me up. After a couple invites their friends over for Christmas dinner, they soon discover that it’s their last night on Earth, thanks to a toxic cloud sweeping across the planet. Coined as a “f*cked up Love Actually” by Refinery29’s own Maybelle Morgan, this gem is satirical, self-aware, and well worth a rotation on your telly over the holidays.
Love Actually (2003)
While polarizing, Love Actually is still a firm favorite among many lovers of Christmas movies. With a stellar ensemble cast including Emma Thompson, Jude Law, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant and more, this 2003 film shows different aspects of love through ten separate stories.
Holidate (2020)
Starring Emma Roberts and our own Aussie Luke Bracey who decide to be each other’s holiday dates, Holidate is a rom-com with all the predictability and cheesiness we crave come Christmas Eve.
The Lord Of The Rings (2001)
If The Lord of the Rings wasn’t a Christmas movie, then why was it released on Boxing Day every year? Checkmate. A tradition in the Koster residence and our Christmas movie of choice every year, prep yourself to settle down for 10+ hours of Middle Earth shenanigans. One movie for Christmas Eve, one movie for Christmas Day, and one movie for Boxing Day. You’re welcome.
Love Hard (2021)
Love Hard combines romance with the holiday spirit. Starring The Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev, the Netflix original Christmas film sees her character Natalie get catfished when she thinks she’s chatting to a dreamy guy, Tag (Darren Barnet from Never Have I Ever), but it’s actually Tag’s childhood friend Josh (Jimmy O. Yang).
This movie is just as much about the challenges of dating in the online world as it is about our desire for love and connection, especially during the festive season. It’s also a big win for Asian representation in Hollywood. As Refinery29 Australia writer Maggie Zhou puts it, the casting of Jimmy O. Yang as a potential love interest welcomes a change from the problematic stereotypes about Asian men that have so often been perpetuated in Hollywood over the years.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
With visuals that look like they’ve been plucked from a storybook, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a cute and fresh Christmas flick from Netflix. It follows a toymaker (Forest Whitaker, no less) and his apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key), who steals one of his prized inventions. It’s up to his granddaughter (Madalen Mills) to save the day and reignite the magic.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
With Michael Caine as Scrooge, Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens, and a whole bunch of Muppets, The Muppet Christmas Carol has easily cemented itself as one of the most easily recognizable and well-loved Christmas movies out there.
The Princess Switch (2018)
In what is the best work by Vanessa Hudgens since High School Musical, this movie is perfect if you’re looking for a 90-minute happily ever come Christmas time. You’ll be seeing double because Hudgens plays two women: Stacy DeNovo, a baker who runs a popular pastry shop in America, and Lady Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro in Belgravia, London. When they meet, they do their best Parent-Trap style swap of sorts and switch places.
Falling For Christmas (2022)
Speaking of The Parent Trap, the Lindsay Lohan renaissance is upon us! And I, for one, welcome our new overlord. Falling For Christmas is a fresh Christmas flick in which Lohan plays a spoiled heiress who loses her memory after a skiing accident. She falls (literally) into the arms of a supremely hot widower. You can probably guess what happens next.
Violent Night (2022)
An R-rated Christmas movie? Yes, please. Starring everyone’s daddy, David Harbour, this black comedy action flick features a heroic Santa Claus who must step in to save the day after a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family.
Home Alone (1990)
Another John Hughes classic, Home Alone is a holiday essential. Featuring Macaulay Culkin as the sadistic kid we knew him as, Kevin ends up being left home alone after his preoccupied parents head off on a holiday. Soon, he has to protect his house against burglars — a feat which he accomplishes in a very creative fashion.
Lethal Weapon (1987)
In Lethal Weapon, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover gift us with an action-packed thriller that’s chock-full of blood and violence. Doesn’t quite sound Christmassy? Let this movie convince you otherwise. Shane Black, the MVP of writing screenplays that always somehow involve Christmas, has done it again. This time, it’s with two cops on a mission to take down drug dealers — on Christmas, of course. If Die Hard is a Christmas movie, Lethal Weapon should definitely get a seat at the table.
Single All The Way (2021)
In an attempt to avoid judgement from his family for being single, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his bestie, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to pretend that they’re in a relationship. Aaaand, cue the romance. If the fake-dating trope isn’t enough to reel you in, perhaps some Jennifer Coolidge might do the job.
Tangerine (2015)
If you haven’t noticed yet, queer Christmas films are excellent. And Tangerine is no exception. Set on Christmas Eve, it follows a pair of transgender women (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor), a pair of sex workers who search for a heart-breaking pimp. Shot entirely on an iPhone, it’s a cinematic feat as well as just a bloody good Christmas film.
A Christmas Story (1983)
A cult classic, A Christmas Story tells the tale of a young boy who tries to convince his parents, teacher, and Santas Claus that a BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift.
Krampus (2015)
Who says Christmas movies can’t also be horror? Not us! Krampus is a scary goodie. It features Toni Collette and Adam Scott as they deal with a festive Christmas demon who has been summoned into their home. And you thought Christmas dinner with your conservative uncle was bad.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (2005)
The MVP of cosy movies, The Chronicles of Narnia embodies childhood joy. Based on C.S. Lewis’ novel, we see four children enter a magical, snowy land through a wardrobe door. Father Christmas even makes an appearance (plus James McAvoy as a very hot half-faun/half-human).
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Whilst not explicitly Christmassy, I’m sure many will agree that Harry Potter’s first instalment just gives off that fuzzy, Christmas morning feeling. If you don’t mind, we’ll just be off pretending that we’re unwrapping gifts at Hogwarts on Christmas morning.
The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
In a strange turn of events, Vanessa Hudgens is now known as the Christmas movie star. I know, I didn’t see it coming either. In The Knight Before Christmas, she meets a hot medieval English knight (Josh Whitehouse) who magically time-travels to present-day America.
Scrooged (1998)
Based on Charles Dickens’ novel, A Christmas Carol, Scrooged features Bill Murray as a cynical, mean television exec who’s visited by three spirits. Here, they give him a chance to right his wrongs — all on Christmas Eve.
Black Christmas (1974)
After a group of sorority girls plan to go away for the Christmas holidays, they’re soon confronted by a terrifying stalker. An intelligent, unnerving Chrissie slasher that’s a must for any horror fanatic.
In Bruges (2008)
If you’re hankering for a not-so-Christmassy Christmas movie, In Bruges should be at the top of your list. Set in Bruges, Belgium, we’re treated to a wonderfully festive landscape. The plot, however, isn’t as festive — two Irish hitmen, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), head to Bruges to hide out. But things get complicated when their boss (Ralph Fiennes), asks Ken to kill Ray.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
In possibly the cutest addition to this list, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer is the epitome of Christmas joy. It’s the story we all know and love, but artistically, it’s way beyond its years. With groundbreaking stop-motion animation using puppets, you’ll find it hard to wipe the smile off your face.
The Polar Express (2004)
This animated musical adventure is based on the 1985 book of the same name, and as cliché as it sounds, it reminds me of the magic of Christmas that you beautifully embrace as a child and then look back on fondly as an adult. You’ll never feel too old to watch this movie, where a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa Claus embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train.
Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
Is it even Christmas if you don’t listen to a bit of Judy Garland? In this musical masterpiece, we meet four sisters as they learn about life and love, and face their childhood fears. It makes for perfect background viewing while some gingerbread people decorating, thanks to its stellar soundscape.
Little Women (2019)
Set during two life-changing Christmases, Little Women is the perfect Christmas movie. In this soul-crushing and spellbinding adaptation, we follow the March sisters (played by Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen), as they enter womanhood. With snowy landscapes, Christmas parties, pine trees and fireplace-laced stockings, it’s hard to not consider this one of the Christmas greats. Just maybe skip over that marriage proposal scene if you want to keep the mood light.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
For the anti-consumerist Christmas critics among us (hello!), Eyes Wide Shut is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit. Stanley Kubrick’s last film, considered his “greatest contribution to the art of cinema”, follows Dr. Bill Hartford (Tom Cruise) and his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), after she admits to dreaming of having an affair. Everywhere you look, it’s hard to ignore that the spirit of Christmas is rife — holiday parties, strung-up lights, toy stores, and mall Santas. But it’s not without its criticism. Instead of whimsical, Kubrick presents Christmas as critique of the Western world’s obsession with consumerism. File under: Christmas movies to watch when you’re horny.
The Night Before (2015)
A Christmas movie for those who flock to stoner comedy (read: any Seth Rogan film), The Night Before features the man himself, as well as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anthony Mackie as they say goodbye to their years of Christmas traditions in anticipation of fatherhood. With one last night of debauchery, they head to New York and hunt down the elusive Nutcracka ball.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
An icon in itself, this Peanuts Christmas film tackles Christmas materialism in a lighthearted way as Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas. We love some Charlie Brown existentialism!
The Santa Clause (1994)
After Tim Allen accidentally causes the death of Santa, he magically transforms into the new big man. A cornerstone of any 90s kid’s Christmas, The Santa Clause is a heartwarming story of a dad repairing his relationship with his family.
Happiest Season (2020)
Another queer Christmas movies, Happiest Season stars the likes of Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy and more. It follows a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents while she and her girlfriend visit them during the Christmas holiday.
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
In The Man Who Invented Christmas, we take a deep dive into how Charles Dickens wrote one of the most quintessential Christmas tales — A Christmas Carol. Anyone who’s had writer’s block will resonate.
Four Christmases (2008)
There’s something about objectively bad Christmas films that make them so good. I’ll be straight with you — this is not a good movie. But it is a good movie for Christmas. Featuring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, a couple spends Christmas Day jumping between family get-togethers after their holiday to Fiji is cancelled.
Dolly Parton’s A Christmas On The Square (2020)
Everyone’s Christmas could do with a little more Dolly Parton. In this campy song-and-dance story, a Scrooge-y woman who’s planning on selling off a small town, receives a visit from an angel (Dolly Parton, of course).
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
In the original 1966 rendition, Dr. Seuss’ classic is told to us true to form as a cartoon spectacle. This Christmas movie is like watching the book come to life.
Spirited (2022)
Starring Christmas legend Will Ferrell, and everyone’s boyfriend, Ryan Reynolds, this fresh festive flick is a musical version of Charles Dickens’ famous story. But with a cast like this, there’s no way it’s the same story we’ve seen time and time again.
A Christmas Prince (2017)
With a Hallmark essence that’s so bad it’s good, A Christmas Prince follows a young reporter who is sent abroad to get the scoop on a very hot, very vanilla prince. With a whopping IMDb rating of 5.8/10, it’s the perfect bad Christmas film to watch these holidays.
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
Young Susan (played by Mara Wilson of Matilda fame) doesn’t believe in Santa. When an elderly man is called in by Susan’s mother to replace an intoxicated department store Santa, things start to change. Introducing himself only as Kris Kringle, he claims he’s the real Santa Claus, leading to locals trying to sabotage him and landing him in a court case. There’s a heartwarming message in this movie about the beauty in believing and Christmas wishes. The 1947 original is also well worth a viewing.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Set during Christmas in Los Angeles, this film looks closer to a Christmas in Sydney than it does in a winter wonderland US. In true Shane Black fashion (a la Lethal Weapon), the Christmassy elements are just background noise. But that doesn’t make it any less fun. Featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Michelle Monaghan in a sexy Santa suit, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a witty crime comedy that doubles as a murder mystery.
Last Holiday (2006)
Queen Latifah shines in this early naughties movie that sees her as a saleswoman and budding home chef named Georgia Byrd. After receiving a terminal illness diagnosis, she then uses her life savings to fly to Czechia and spends the last few weeks of her life like a lavish billionaire.
The Holdovers (2023)
While Christmas time often invites us to watch downright bad holiday flicks, The Holdovers cannot be considered in this category — it’s a great Christmas film. In fact, it’s a great film, period. Directed by Alexander Payne (of Nebraska and The Descendants), The Holdovers follows a cranky instructor (Paul Giamatti) who’s forced to remain on campus during the Christmas holidays to babysit the kids who have nowhere to go. Expect tears.
Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)
Starring Brandy (!) and Heather Graham, Netflix’s new Christmas movie, Best. Christmas. Ever! is so bad it’s good. Honestly, you don’t even need to know the plot of this one to add it to your queue list. It has Brandy in it! I repeat, it has Brandy in it!
Klaus (2019)
This gorgeous hand-drawn animated film is a welcome addition to our Christmas movie rotation. It’s sweet, funny, and just oozes that warm nostalgic feeling. It also happens to feature a packed cast, including Rashida Jones, Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Marvel movies, The Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Christmas special is a go-to if you’re after an action-packed holiday film. With a special appearance from Kevin Bacon, we see the usual Guardians crew as they set off on another adventure. It’s not the same calibre we expect from the Marvel heavy hitters, but when it’s Christmas, don’t you just want something fun?
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