We'll be watching these modern Christmas movies for generations. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best Christmas movies released since 2000.
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00:00 "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."
00:03 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best Christmas movies
00:08 released since 2000.
00:10 "Aren't ya?"
00:11 "Aren't ya who?"
00:12 "Aren't you supposed to get back to work?"
00:16 Number 20.
00:17 Happiest Season
00:18 Christmas has been anything but happy for Abby since her parents passed away.
00:22 However, it seemed like this year might be different when her girlfriend Harper invites
00:26 her to spend the holidays with her and her family.
00:28 "I get to go meet the people that made my favorite person."
00:32 "Okay, but who's gonna look after all those pets?"
00:36 That is, until Harper confesses that she never actually told her parents about her sexuality,
00:41 and requests that Abby fake being her heterosexual roommate for the duration of their visit.
00:46 "It's not so bad.
00:48 It's kind of fun having a secret."
00:49 "Yeah, I mean there's nothing more erotic than concealing your authentic selves."
00:53 What Follows is a funny, dramatic, and heartfelt Christmas movie about love, family, truth,
00:59 and acceptance.
01:00 "Our entire life, we have been expected to be these perfect golden children.
01:07 I mean, love in our house wasn't something we just got for free, it is something that
01:13 we competed for, and if we veered off their course, we lost it."
01:16 Happiest Season features good performances from Kristen Stewart and the rest of the cast,
01:21 and there's even been talk of a sequel, although nothing concrete has been confirmed.
01:25 "But whether you like it or not, I am a part of this family, and I will not be left out anymore!"
01:34 Number 19, Krampus.
01:36 While the Halloween season is replete with horror films, Christmas doesn't have the same
01:41 scary movie history.
01:44 "Oh my God."
01:51 Although one good film that falls squarely into said category is 2015's Krampus.
01:56 "Oh, come on."
01:57 "Hey!
01:58 Move, Mike!"
01:59 "No!"
02:00 "No!"
02:01 "Oh my God!"
02:02 Based on the Euro-folklore of a horned figure who helps Santa by scaring the bad kids,
02:14 this comedy horror film embraces its B-movie inspiration.
02:17 "And as he had for thousands of years, Krampus came not to reward, but to punish.
02:26 Not to give, but to take."
02:30 The movie earned a respectable 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, and pulled in over $61 million on
02:36 just a $15 million budget.
02:38 If you're looking for a different kind of holiday movie this Christmas, then Krampus
02:42 may fit the bill.
02:43 It also received Best Horror Film nominations from both the Empire Awards and the Saturn
02:48 Awards.
02:49 "I can't figure out how to shoot it!"
02:57 Number 18, The Christmas Chronicles.
02:59 What's the one thing the Christmas movie genre has been missing?
03:02 A Kurt Russell Santa Claus, of course.
03:05 "Santa Claus?"
03:06 "Live and in person.
03:10 One night only."
03:11 Well, fear not, good people, because as of 2018, that missing piece has been found.
03:16 And it was found in Netflix's family-friendly comedy, The Christmas Chronicles.
03:21 "How would you like to trade that Porsche for a mint condition 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie
03:28 card?
03:29 I know you've always wanted one."
03:31 The film chronicles the adventures of siblings Teddy and Kate, who sneak into Santa's sleigh,
03:36 cause an accident, and then have to help old Saint Nick deliver the rest of his presents
03:40 to save Christmas.
03:41 "All right, this just might work.
03:42 Now Kate, you're in charge of getting all the presents ready to go.
03:45 You just call out the addresses and the names and you just throw them out of the sack.
03:49 Just chuck them out, chuck them out."
03:50 The Christmas Chronicles is a great choice for holiday family viewing.
03:54 And if you have the time, you can do a marathon with the sequel, Christmas Chronicles 2, which
03:58 came out in 2020.
03:59 "It's pretty cold out there.
04:00 What if I get frostbite?"
04:01 "Oh, don't worry about frostbite.
04:02 I'm an expert at reattaching fingers and toes."
04:03 Number 17, Carol.
04:10 "Therese Bellavette.
04:14 It's lovely.
04:18 And yours?"
04:20 "Carol."
04:21 Called one of the greatest movies of this century by the BBC, Carol is the story of
04:27 an illicit relationship between an older, soon-to-be divorcee and a younger woman in
04:32 1950s New York.
04:33 "You don't understand!"
04:34 "Oh, I do.
04:35 I understand completely.
04:36 You're in a trance!"
04:37 "I'm wide awake.
04:38 I've never been more awake in my life.
04:39 Why don't you leave me alone?"
04:41 While Christmas may be secondary to the story, the first part of the film does take place
04:45 during the holiday season, and it's while Carol is shopping for a gift that she meets
04:49 Therese for the first time.
04:51 "I love Christmas.
04:53 Wrapping presents and all that.
04:56 And then somehow you wind up overcooking the turkey anyway."
05:01 Rooney Mara is wonderful as Therese, and Cate Blanchett is spectacular as always as the
05:06 titular Carol.
05:07 "Thank you.
05:08 Oh, God, don't!
05:09 I look frightful."
05:10 "You do not!
05:11 You look wonderful.
05:12 Just stay like that."
05:17 They both received Oscar nominations, while the dreamy and romantic flick won multiple
05:22 critics' prizes and has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
05:26 It was also named the best LGBT film of all time by the British Film Institute.
05:31 Number 16 A Boy Called Christmas
05:34 "I still don't get why people have to listen."
05:35 "Because the universe is made of stories, not atoms."
05:41 "That's not actually true."
05:43 A Boy Called Christmas has all the right elements that a fantasy movie based on the season should
05:47 have.
05:48 Elves, pixies, reindeer, a talking mouse, and a map to a magical village called Elfhelm.
05:54 "So, um, can we talk about something very important?"
05:57 "What's that?"
05:59 "Cheese.
06:00 Does it exist?"
06:02 It also places all of these pieces in the right positions to create a good holiday film
06:06 filled with love, laughs, a few tears, and a big old helping of Christmas spirit.
06:10 "I think it's just perfect."
06:12 "Love it."
06:13 "That reindeer's not gonna drive itself, you know."
06:15 "Alright, everyone, it's time.
06:17 We haven't got long."
06:19 Based on a 2015 book of the same name, A Boy Called Christmas rocks an impressive 83% Rotten
06:25 Tomatoes score.
06:26 And while we can't speak to how it compares to said book, we can tell you that as a standalone
06:31 flick, it's one of the most warm-hearted Christmas offerings of the 21st century thus far.
06:36 "Besides, it's just one day a year.
06:39 What shall we call it?"
06:40 "That's easy.
06:41 Nicholas and Mika the Talking Mouse Day."
06:45 "Any other ideas?"
06:49 Number 15, Tokyo Godfathers.
06:51 If you're looking for an unconventional Christmas movie, this is it.
06:56 Or as Wikipedia defines it, "an adult anime Christmas tragicomedy adventure film."
07:02 "You came to give it back?"
07:05 "I might have a request for a sequel."
07:08 "That's you, isn't it?"
07:10 "No way.
07:11 If it's a mission, it might be."
07:14 But whatever else you want to call Tokyo Godfathers, we call it very good.
07:18 Anime fans will no doubt be familiar with the name Satoshi Kon, whose acclaimed oeuvre
07:23 includes a number of great movies, of which Tokyo Godfathers is but one.
07:28 "Kyoko!"
07:29 In this film, Kon explores the idea of meaningful coincidence by looking at three disparate
07:45 unhoused people who are brought together by the discovery of an abandoned baby.
07:52 Tragedy, discovery, friends, and family at Christmas are all brought together in this
08:08 beautifully animated and directed film.
08:25 Number 14, The Man Who Invented Christmas.
08:28 A Christmas carol is an iconic holiday story, and one that has been made into countless
08:32 movies, whether directly or thematically.
08:47 So instead of just making a Christmas carol again, director Barrett Nalori made a film
08:51 about the writing of said story.
08:53 "Does it have a title?"
08:56 "Yes.
08:57 Humbug, a Miser's Lament."
08:58 "A Christmas ghost story, Christmas song, Christmas ballad, something like that."
09:05 The Man Who Invented Christmas is a fun biographical movie set in 1843, as Charles Dickens is conceiving
09:12 of, struggling with, and eventually writing his now-classic holiday novella, A Christmas
09:17 Carol.
09:18 "Life, Mr. Scrooge, is London.
09:19 The great theater of the world is all here."
09:20 "No, Humbug, I'm a man of facts."
09:26 It's hard to imagine it now, but at the time, Christmas wasn't the big holiday it is today.
09:31 And while it isn't 100% historically accurate, as Time magazine wrote, the film does provide,
09:37 quote, "a fairly accurate sense of how Dickens successfully changed the way Christmas is
09:41 celebrated."
09:42 "And the family has no money for a doctor."
09:44 "That Scrooge must save him."
09:47 "Me?
09:48 He wouldn't."
09:49 "Why?"
09:50 "Well, he's too selfish."
09:52 "He can change.
09:53 There's good in him somewhere.
09:54 I know it."
09:56 Number 13, The Santa Claus 2.
09:59 In 1994, Tim Allen starred in The Santa Claus, a film that grossed $190 million, became a
10:06 surprise hit, and spawned two sequels.
10:08 "It wasn't my fault.
10:10 The other guy fell.
10:11 It was an accident.
10:12 I've got homeowner's insurance and a good attorney."
10:15 Now, the second sequel, 2006's The Santa Claus 3, The Escape Clause, was, to put it kindly,
10:21 bad.
10:22 But 2002's The Santa Claus 2 was actually pretty good, and showed itself to be worthy
10:26 of a place on this list.
10:27 "My Charlie.
10:29 My son Charlie?
10:30 He's on the naughty list?"
10:32 "There's gotta be a mistake."
10:35 Allen is back as the new Santa, and in this installment, he must find a Mrs. Claus prior
10:40 to December 24th, and defeat an animatronic Santa.
10:44 "It's Christmas Eve.
10:45 I have call to deliver.
10:46 I don't want those naughty kids to supper."
10:49 The film received mixed reviews, but took home over $170 million at the box office,
10:54 and even earned a Saturn Award nomination for Best Fantasy Film.
10:58 "Merry Christmas!"
10:59 "Holy canna he's an action hero!"
11:05 Number 12.
11:06 This Christmas.
11:07 Christmas is often a time for family, no matter how dysfunctional that family can be.
11:12 This Christmas centers on the Whitfields, a close-knit group with some well-kept secrets,
11:16 which all unravel over the festive period.
11:19 "How long did you guys think you were gonna be able to keep this a secret?"
11:22 "It wasn't a secret.
11:23 It was a surprise."
11:25 Discussions, debates, arguments, and fights ensue over everything from school to relationships,
11:30 as well as what to do with the family's dry-cleaning business.
11:33 "I need you to get your family to sell the dry-cleaning business, and we'll have the
11:37 capital to get our life to the next level."
11:39 Things get heated and quite chaotic at times, but Chris Brown's carol singing helps bring
11:44 everyone together.
11:45 And a good old-fashioned dance-off or two.
11:49 "Merry Christmas!"
11:53 Number 11.
11:59 Disney's A Christmas Carol.
12:00 "Merry Christmas, Uncle.
12:01 God save you!"
12:02 "Bah, humbug."
12:03 It seems like a tale as old as Christmas time itself.
12:09 Ebenezer Scrooge bah humbugs the season, only to be haunted by spirits of his past, present,
12:14 and future as he's given a second chance at life.
12:16 "I am the ghost of Christmas past."
12:23 "Logan past?"
12:26 With Robert Zemeckis in the director's chair, this Charles Dickens classic was given the
12:30 Disney treatment in 2009 with magical results.
12:34 "You will be haunted by three spirits.
12:41 Mr. Johnson, who?"
12:45 The animated 3D film earned high praise for its visuals, which were produced using motion
12:49 capture techniques similar to Zemeckis' earlier and considerably less family-friendly
12:54 film Beowulf.
12:55 "I am Beowulf!"
12:57 With Jim Carrey starring in multiple voice roles, Disney's A Christmas Carol is heaps
13:02 of holiday fun.
13:03 "I used to hear!"
13:09 Number 10.
13:10 Jack Campbell is a family man.
13:11 "Do you like kids?"
13:12 "On a case-by-case basis."
13:15 Jack Campbell is a big-shot Wall Street businessman on the verge of a momentous merger deal on
13:20 Christmas Eve.
13:21 Seemingly, his life couldn't be sweeter.
13:24 But after a chance meeting in a convenience store, he wakes up on Christmas Day with a
13:28 wife and children.
13:33 In a glimpse into the life he could have had, Jack is married to his college sweetheart
13:38 and earns a modest wage as a tire salesman.
13:40 "Who gets tires?
13:41 Why?"
13:42 "Because you work there."
13:43 "You mean I sell tires?"
13:48 His initial anger and confusion is slowly replaced by other more wholesome emotions like loyalty
13:53 and love, and Jack begins to realize the lesson set before him.
13:57 Life is not all about money, and Christmas is a lot more fun when you have loved ones
14:01 to share it with.
14:02 "I know we could both go on with our lives, and we'd both be fine.
14:06 But I've seen what we could be like together.
14:12 And I choose us."
14:16 Number 9 - Bad Santa
14:17 "Four kids beat me up one time and I went crying home to my daddy, and you know what
14:21 he did?"
14:22 "He made it all better?"
14:23 "No, he kicked my ass."
14:24 Shopping mall Santas are a staple of a successful Christmas.
14:27 But what if the guy giving out gifts isn't overflowing with goodwill?
14:31 What if he's a petty criminal with multiple vices who's also hell-bent on robbing the
14:35 store as soon as security's back is turned?
14:41 Bad Santa casts Billy Bob Thornton as Willie T. Soak for an adults-only look at the big
14:46 guy in red, and one of the most outrageous alternative Christmas comedies around.
14:50 "I have nothing against you people."
14:52 "You people?
14:53 Did you hear that, Marcus?
14:54 He said you people."
14:55 "You people."
14:56 "Who the hell is us people?"
14:59 Christmas Elf is the fantastically foul-mouthed Marcus, while Mrs. Claus is a more casual
15:05 arrangement with Sue the bartender, who happens to be obsessed with Saint Nick.
15:09 Essentially, this movie is a who's who of the naughty list.
15:13 "I'm kissing myself."
15:14 Number 8 - Jingle Jangle - A Christmas Journey
15:17 "Of course he can fix that, I mean, he's the greatest inventor of all."
15:22 "Children, active imaginations."
15:24 In our wildest dreams, we never could have imagined a Christmas musical starring Forrest
15:29 Whitaker and Keegan-Michael Key, featuring some music written by John Legend and performed
15:34 by Usher.
15:35 "The one you're about to witness, you've never ever seen before.
15:36 It's gonna be on every wish list as soon as it hits the stores."
15:44 Well, sometimes dreams do come true because that is exactly what Jingle Jangle - A Christmas
15:49 Journey is.
15:50 Great music and a story that celebrates the Christmas season and will have you tapping
15:54 your toes and smiling from ear to ear.
15:57 "I'm gonna make it work again, kinda saying how my story ends."
16:03 We're sure the filmmakers were doing the same when they saw the positive critical response
16:06 and the 10 nominations they earned from the NAACP Image Awards.
16:10 "Tell me why, why, tell me what all this was for.
16:16 My life should have meant so much more."
16:21 Number 7 - Arthur Christmas - A Christmas Story
16:24 This animated flick depicts Christmas in the modern world as an intense, almost military
16:28 operation for Santa and his elves.
16:30 The traditional sleigh is replaced by the high-tech S1, and delivering presents on Christmas
16:35 night is an ultra-efficient experience.
16:47 The eponymous Arthur, whose job is to reply to all of the letters to Santa, is a little
16:51 clumsy and lacking in confidence.
17:01 But when he realizes that despite the S1's mod cons, a child has been missed out and
17:06 is set to wake up presentless on Christmas morning, he reverts back to tradition to put
17:10 the matter right.
17:14 A coming-of-age tale for Arthur, this movie is a clever reinvention of some classic Christmas
17:20 themes.
17:29 Number 6 - Klaus - A Christmas Story
17:31 In this day and age of multiverses and origin stories, it was just a matter of time before
17:36 Santa got in on the act.
17:37 And it came in the brilliant 2019 film, Klaus.
17:52 What if an overindulged and unmotivated student at the Postman Academy in the 19th century
17:57 was sent to a far-off town?
18:04 And what if, while there, he met a solitary toy maker named Klaus?
18:08 And what if… just go watch the movie.
18:14 This animated adventure story is a feast for the eyes, and the smart and original story
18:19 will keep adults just as engaged as any children watching along with them.
18:23 The film earned a whopping 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Best Animated Film nomination
18:29 at the Academy Awards.
18:40 Number 5 - The Polar Express
18:53 This Robert Zemeckis-led motion capture movie is based on the 1985 children's book by
18:58 Chris Van Allsburg.
19:04 Tom Hanks stars in six roles for this film, which sees a boy board a magical train bound
19:09 for the North Pole on the night before Christmas.
19:19 Praised for its digital effects and eclectic range of characters, it's a first-class journey
19:23 into what makes the holiday season so special.
19:29 Plus, the soundtrack will stick in your head until at least next summer.
19:39 It single-handedly turns hot chocolate into a sing-along experience.
19:53 Number 4 - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
20:03 The Who's down in Whoville adore Christmas, but the Grinch, who lives up Mount Crumpit,
20:08 hates it with a passion.
20:13 Jim Carrey stars as the entirely unfestive title character for a turn-of-the-century
20:18 Dr. Seuss adaptation that is packed full of trademark wordplay and quirky characters.
20:27 And while most Christmas movies are laden with moral messages and life lessons, this
20:31 one really tugs at our emotions.
20:45 A teased outsider pushed into isolation, the Grinch may play the bad guy, but there's a
20:49 big heart in there somewhere.
20:52 And Cindy Lou is set on finding it, no matter how many over-the-top tantrums she has to
20:57 put up with.
21:01 Number 3 - Love Actually
21:09 The ensemble cast for this one is so incredibly strong, it's a wonder all the names ever fit
21:15 onto a single trailer or promotional poster.
21:25 Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson - the list goes on and on, and
21:30 they all come together for a rom-com extraordinaire.
21:37 Love Actually tells a series of love stories all set at Christmas time, and though some
21:42 may not have aged as well today, most are heartwarming and will fill you with nostalgia
21:47 for the early aughts.
21:48 With scenes that have you crying with laughter, and others that will just plain make you cry,
21:53 the full spectrum of feelings is tackled here.
21:59 You'll never see carol singers, politicians, or airport arrivals gates the same way again.
22:14 Number 2 - The Holiday
22:23 A rom-com set on both sides of the Atlantic, The Holiday brings together an A-list cast
22:28 for two interlinked love stories.
22:30 Cameron Diaz is Amanda, an LA-based producer of movie trailers, and Kate Winslet plays
22:35 Iris, an editor for the Daily Telegraph in London.
22:42 With both women seeking to escape their failing love lives for Christmas, they meet online
22:46 and agree to house swap for the holidays.
22:56 It takes them both a little while to adjust to the other's lifestyle, but unexpected romance
23:00 quickly has them settled in.
23:02 And with Jude Law and Jack Black for company, the festive spirit is certainly free-flowing.
23:19 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
23:23 Noelle - Santa's offspring have to find a way to continue their late father's legacy.
23:40 Single All The Way - Nothing says Christmas more than fake relationships and blind dates.
23:46 Tangerine - An LGBTQIA+ Christmas comedy drama with heart.
24:09 Surviving Christmas - What are the holidays without dysfunctional family gatherings?
24:20 Just Friends - A Christmas-set rom-com about reconnecting with one's past.
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24:52 Number 1 - Elf
25:03 If you aren't already super excited for Christmas, then 2003's Elf is guaranteed to get you
25:08 in the merriest of moods.
25:26 Played by Will Ferrell, Buddy is a fully grown man who grew up as one of Santa's little helpers.
25:32 He's now back in America and searching for his father, and causing a Christmassy scene
25:37 wherever he goes.
25:46 He burps louder than anyone else, throws snowballs faster than anyone else, and he definitely
25:50 knows a phony Santa when he sees one.
25:59 But there's nothing false about Elf's position at the top of today's countdown.
26:03 Buddy is everything that's good about Christmas, all rolled up into one oversized, out of place,
26:08 but hilarious character.
26:20 Which 21st century Christmas movie is your go-to during the holidays?
26:24 Let us know in the comments.
26:31 Do you agree with our picks?
26:32 Check out this other recent clip from MsMojo.
26:35 And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
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