Get ready for a sleigh ride through cinematic holiday cheer! Join us as we count down the most beloved Christmas films of all time. From heartwarming classics to modern favorites, we're unwrapping the movies that capture the magic of the season. Which festive flick tops your list? Grab some hot cocoa and settle in for a jolly journey through holiday movie history!
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00:00Oh, these cookies! I gotta get the recipe from Les.
00:03Put that cookie down! Now!
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest holiday flicks ever made.
00:12For this list, we'll be omitting more alternative Christmas picks like Die Hard, but including holiday specials.
00:18So, without further ado, let the festivities and our list begin.
00:22Welcome, Christmas. Bring your cheer. Cheer to all who's far and near.
00:29Number 30. The Holiday.
00:31Based on this film alone, Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Rosa Diaz has a strong case for why she's so passionate about the movies of Nancy Meyers.
00:39Nancy Meyers never fails.
00:41Meyers' hit rom-com follows two women, Kate Winslet's Iris and Cameron Diaz's Amanda,
00:46who trade their homes for the holidays, with Iris traveling to the U.S. and Amanda to the U.K.
00:51I'm here!
00:52Both grow and find love, in the form of Jack Black's Miles and Jude Law's Graham.
00:57Sure, it's somewhat predictable, but if you want a sweet movie that warms your heart on a frosty evening,
01:02The Holiday is one to go for.
01:04If I come over there, will you go out with me on New Year's Eve?
01:12Love to.
01:13Number 29. Rise of the Guardians.
01:16The same year The Avengers first assembled, another powerhouse team united to save the day.
01:21He's chosen a new guardian.
01:22What? Why?
01:24Must be big deal.
01:26Directed by Peter Ramsey, who went on to co-direct Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse,
01:30this animated feature sees a team of mythical characters join forces to stop the Boogeyman.
01:35Leading the team is Nicholas St. North, a.k.a. Santa Claus.
01:39Also on the team are the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and eventually,
01:43the Spirit of Winter, Jack Frost.
01:45If man and moon chose you to be a guardian, you must have something very special inside.
01:51Despite an all-star voice cast, the movie bombed at the box office.
01:55But the story is fun, and the animation is gorgeous.
01:59Definitely check it out if you've never watched it.
02:01It's over, Pitch. There's no place to hide.
02:04Number 28. The Night Before.
02:06Christmas comedies often venture into cliché territory,
02:10resting on time-tested but tired jokes.
02:12If you want something a little different with more adult themes,
02:15this stoner comedy might be for you.
02:17Seriously, this is what the spirit of Christmas is all about.
02:20A rich athlete finally getting the corporate limo that he always wanted.
02:23Exactly!
02:24Starring Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Anthony Mackie,
02:27The Night Before follows three friends in search of an elusive party
02:30in New York City on Christmas Eve.
02:32Yes, you look weird. Still weird.
02:36There are plenty of side-splitting shenanigans,
02:38but also an undercurrent of more serious themes,
02:40such as adulthood, commitment, and parenthood.
02:43Just to make sure you're in that Christmas spirit, there's even a Santa fight.
02:47That's for disrespecting the spirit of Christmas!
02:54Number 27. The Christmas Chronicles.
02:57While it's fun to mix up the festive genre from time to time,
03:00sometimes it's great to just go back to basics too.
03:02And this Christmas comedy with Kurt Russell in the red coat
03:05and bushy white beard is a perfect example.
03:08Santa Claus?
03:11Live and in person. One night only.
03:14As he's making the rounds, Santa has his work disturbed by two children,
03:18causing him to lose not only his reindeer, but also everyone's presents.
03:22Together, the trio must save Christmas before it's too late.
03:26Teddy, you think maybe we could pick it up a little bit?
03:29Put your seatbelt on.
03:30The movie might not reinvent the wheel, but there's plenty of amusing moments
03:33and some serious themes about grief and healing.
03:36Due to its popularity, Netflix released a sequel in 2020,
03:39The Christmas Chronicles 2.
03:44Oh, my goodness.
03:49Number 26. A Christmas Tale.
03:52Every few years, France seems to bring out a barn burner of a Christmas film.
03:56In 2008, it was Un Comte de Noël, or in English, A Christmas Tale.
04:01The comedy-drama was recognized by critics as one of the year's best,
04:04which is pretty rare for a Christmas film.
04:06As in our last entry, the story is about a bickering family during the festivities.
04:16When the family matriarch reveals that she has leukemia and needs a bone marrow donor,
04:20family loyalties are put to the test.
04:27A Christmas Tale was nominated for a bevy of awards,
04:30including the Palme d'Or at Cannes and won the César Award for Best Supporting Actor.
04:34Witty, mischievous, and eccentric, it is a holiday film that doesn't hold back.
04:39Number 25. Arthur Christmas.
04:42Usually, Santa Claus is depicted as a traditional fella who uses magic to traverse the world.
04:47Arthur Christmas turns this upside down by giving him modern technology.
04:55Co-produced by Sony and Aardman Animations,
04:57the animated comedy sees strife break out within the Claus family
05:00as members jostle for the role of Santa.
05:03Their conflict dramatizes a struggle between the spirit of Christmas
05:06and modern ideals of efficiency and productivity.
05:10I didn't need a trillion elves in bleepy hats.
05:13We don't just fly about throwing lead-painted toys down chimneys anymore.
05:16Voicing the characters are beloved British actors James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie,
05:20Bill Nighy, and Imelda Staunton, who knock it out of the park with their performances.
05:25Exploring themes of ambition, aging, and family dynamics,
05:28the movie is as funny as it is touching.
05:31Doesn't even matter if it's Mr. Postman and his spaceship.
05:35As long as it gets there, you made it happen.
05:38Number 24. Violent Night.
05:41What if Die Hard's John McClane were Father Christmas?
05:45It's a question we never thought to ask.
05:48When mercenaries take a wealthy family hostage,
05:50it's up to Santa to kick butt and save the day.
05:55Director Tommy Vercula is no stranger to snow-filled action comedies.
05:59He previously directed the 2009 horror comedy,
06:02Dead Snow, about zombie Nazis and its 2014 sequel.
06:06Violent Night has a similarly zany premise,
06:08with David Harbour's Santa going on a savage rampage.
06:15It's not one for the kids, but it is a hell of a good time.
06:24Number 23. The Holdovers.
06:29It is not my fault that you are stuck here.
06:31Do you think I want to be babysitting you?
06:33Oh no, no, I was praying to the god I don't even believe in
06:36that your mother would pick up the phone
06:38or your father would arrive in a helicopter or submarine.
06:42Set in a New England boarding school in 1970,
06:44this comedy-drama follows dislikeable classics teacher Paul Hunnam
06:48as he's forced to babysit students over Christmas break.
06:52Speed, gentlemen! Speed!
06:56Without sufficient exercise, the body devours itself!
07:00That's it!
07:02Director Alexander Payne reunited with his lead from Sideways,
07:06Paul Giamatti, for the film.
07:07While there are funny moments, the drama plays a heavy role,
07:10especially when it comes to the heart-wrenching stories
07:12of Angus Tully, played by Dominic Sessa,
07:15and Mary Lamb, played by Divine Joy Randolph.
07:18The movie deals with themes of mental illness, grief, and new beginnings.
07:22Keep your head up. All right.
07:29You can do this.
07:33Yeah, I was gonna tell you the same thing.
07:41If you haven't seen this classic Christmas movie,
07:43put it on your list this holiday season.
07:45The Bishop's Wife stars old Hollywood film stars David Niven,
07:48Cary Grant, and Loretta Young,
07:51telling the story of a bishop who asks for divine intervention
07:54in his quest to build a cathedral.
07:57Grant plays Dudley,
07:58an angel who comes to lead the bishop onto the right path.
08:02The story culminates on Christmas Eve,
08:04when all the characters have finally realized
08:06what is really important to them,
08:08and all is right with the world.
08:20I've seen some pretty shitty situations in my life,
08:23but nothing has ever sucked more ass than this.
08:26Based on the premise alone,
08:27you can tell that Bad Santa isn't gonna be a conventional holiday movie.
08:31Billy Bob Thornton stars as Willie T. Soak,
08:34an alcoholic who dresses up as a mall Santa
08:37in an elaborate scheme to rob department stores.
08:40His collaborator is Marcus,
08:41who plays one of Santa's elves.
08:43As dark and mean-spirited as this black comedy can be,
08:47I said next, goddammit.
08:48our main character does manage to find
08:50an eensy-weensy bit of good in himself
08:53and embrace the magic of the holidays.
08:55It's ultimately a tale of redemption,
08:57and in Willie's case,
08:58even the slightest good deed could be seen as a Christmas miracle.
09:15Even if you didn't see this Robert Zemeckis film as a kid,
09:17it'll undoubtedly make you feel young at heart,
09:20especially when viewed during Christmas time.
09:23Based on a children's picture book of the same name,
09:26the Polar Express uses a unique 3D animation style
09:29that makes it feel almost real.
09:31The story is one rife with childhood nostalgia,
09:34following a boy who boards a train headed for the North Pole.
09:42Just because this flick came out in the 21st century
09:45doesn't mean it doesn't have all the makings
09:47of a perennial holiday classic, though.
09:49If you believe,
09:50you know you'll still hear that bell ring,
09:52no matter how old you are.
10:09What's the harm in one more adaptation of A Christmas Carol?
10:12This jolly flick stars Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds
10:15as the ghost of Christmas present
10:17and the heartless media exec he hopes to redeem.
10:19If that iconic comedic duo isn't enough to sell you
10:22on why this film is so wonderful,
10:23let us remind you that it's also a musical.
10:38The performances, the songs,
10:40and the story's twists and turns
10:42have quickly cemented it as a modern Christmas classic.
10:45It's bound to warm the hearts of even the scroogiest of folks.
10:49Christmas, everybody get that Christmas
10:53Plus a ton of cash
10:55From some good old-fashioned tree
11:00I'm gonna take the ice and I'm gonna shake
11:05So if you really love Christmas
11:09Come on, let it snow
11:12Whether you love it or not,
11:13nobody can deny that this rom-com oozes Christmas spirit.
11:17While we all know the main storylines,
11:19it's the minor ones that really shine here.
11:21The aging rock star who professes his love for his manager,
11:24the actor stand-ins who adorably fall in love,
11:27the little kid who wants to impress his crush by playing drums
11:30and eventually runs through Heathrow Airport.
11:33No matter how many times we see it,
11:34every holiday season we remember why we actually love this movie.
11:50Name?
11:51Santa Claus.
11:53Name?
11:57This story starring Tim Allen manages to ignite that spark of childhood wonder
12:01that we all once felt about The Magic of Christmas.
12:04Hey you!
12:14When divorced dad Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa to fall off his roof,
12:18he finds himself having to take Saint Nick's place.
12:21It's okay, I'm used to it. I lived through the 60s.
12:24Whoa, whoa, whoa.
12:36Watching Scott try to convince everyone around him
12:38that he's actually Santa is pretty hilarious.
12:41Santa?
12:42Scott Calvin.
12:43It's a movie that's filled with fun and sentimental moments,
12:46taking viewers to the North Pole and back,
12:49Who are you?
12:50I'm Bernard. Nice to meet you Santa.
12:53as Scott rediscovers his belief in the unbelievable.
12:56While the film spawned two sequels,
12:58the original is definitely the best.
13:01Merry Christmas to all!
13:03To all a good night!
13:11Welcome to Halloween Town.
13:14All hail the Pumpkin King.
13:15From the mind of Tim Burton,
13:17this stop-motion animated film has developed a massive cult following,
13:21and its hero has become an emblem of misunderstood souls everywhere.
13:25I, Jack, the Pumpkin King.
13:29Nobody does Halloween quite like Jack Skellington,
13:32but he decides to try celebrating a new holiday upon stumbling upon Christmas Town.
13:37What ensues is a holiday mashup of epic proportions,
13:41as the season to be jolly clashes with the season to be scary.
13:45The big question is,
13:47do you watch this movie at Halloween, at Christmas, or both?
14:02Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol
14:05has been adapted countless times for both animated TV specials and serious feature films.
14:16But it's Christmas.
14:20Call accounting, stop his bonus.
14:22In this modern take on the story, however,
14:24Scrooge is actually a TV exec named Frank Cross,
14:28played by Bill Murray,
14:29who's trying to force his staffers to work over Christmas.
14:32You don't like Christmas much, do you?
14:34Like it? I love it.
14:36It's cold, and people stay home and watch television.
14:38Ad revenues go up 30%.
14:40Just like in the original tale,
14:42the loathsome protagonist is visited by a series of ghosts,
14:45who show him what the meaning of Christmas is all about.
14:55This version is both poignant and funny,
14:57leaning heavily on Murray's comedic wit.
15:08Dr. Seuss' classic holiday book How the Grinch Stole Christmas
15:12has been a perennial Christmas favorite,
15:14and has been adapted for the screen several times.
15:24Jim Carrey's performance in the titular role, however,
15:27is what sets this version apart.
15:29Mr. Grinch, I came to invite you to be Holiday Chairmeister.
15:39While we, of course, have a soft spot for the 1966 animated TV special,
15:44this adaptation is laugh-out-loud funny,
15:47and features plenty of jokes that are clearly meant to entertain older audiences.
15:59Because it's a feature-length film,
16:03we also get expansions to Dr. Seuss' original tale
16:06that take the story in wacky directions that no one could have expected.
16:19Some of these movies are just the best of their respective years.
16:22Others are among the best Christmas movies of all time.
16:25Klaus, dare we say, is one of them.
16:29What's this?
16:31You're a postman, aren't you?
16:33Issuing computer animation,
16:34director Sergio Pablos breathed new life into traditional animation techniques,
16:39creating a unique style for his directorial debut.
16:42Set in 19th century Norway,
16:44the adventure comedy is an alternative origin story for Santa.
16:51When entitled, spoiled Jesper Johansson is forced to become a postman on a remote island,
16:56he befriends local toymaker Klaus.
16:58Both characters grow as a result,
17:00in a story that manages to be hilarious, poignant and beautiful all at the same time.
17:13The Muppet version is a perfect adaptation for the younger set.
17:17The well-known tale of Ebenezer Scrooge,
17:19his employee Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim is modernized
17:23to feature Muppets in all the major roles,
17:26as well as a few welcome additions like Gonzo the Great playing Dickens himself
17:30and Rizzo the Rat adding humorous commentary throughout.
17:38Oh, and of course, there's Michael Caine as Scrooge.
17:41The songs are catchy, the story is time-honored and the jokes never get old.
17:46The Muppet Christmas Carol will always be a favorite.
17:56Kids' Christmas specials aren't supposed to make you cry like a baby, are they?
18:06No matter how many times we watch Frosty the Snowman,
18:08we'll never forget the horror of the first time we witnessed Frosty melting
18:12and fully believed he was done for.
18:20Luckily, this story always has a happy ending.
18:22While we're all familiar with the TV special by this point,
18:25did you know that it was actually based around
18:27the classic Christmas song by Walter E. Rollins and Steve Nelson?
18:39Romeo Muller, who worked on the stop-motion Rudolph,
18:42adapted the song into this special.
18:4510. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
18:53Frosty the Snowman isn't the only animated special by Rankin & Bass Productions
18:57that went on to achieve Christmas classic status.
19:00Five years earlier, the 1964 stop-motion version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
19:05was broadcast on our TV screens.
19:07Rudolph, I think you're cute.
19:11The special won the hearts of many with its timeless tunes,
19:14inventive story and unforgettable cast of characters.
19:18Featuring an elf who wants to be a dentist,
19:20a bouncing bumble,
19:21a helpful prospector
19:23and, of course, the eponymous red-nosed reindeer.
19:26No holiday season is complete without it.
19:37Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?
19:52No matter where in the world you live,
19:54you can have one when watching this vintage holiday movie.
19:58The well-known holiday tune was previously performed by Bing Crosby
20:01in 1942's Holiday Inn,
20:03but was reprised in this 1954 film.
20:06Crosby also stars in White Christmas,
20:08which is set after World War II
20:11and tells the story of two entertainers who have to work together
20:14to save their commander's lodge.
20:16It's a heartwarming setup that's sure to bring out the Christmas spirit in all of us.
20:36John Hughes wrote and produced this entry in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise.
20:56The Griswold family is trying to celebrate Christmas,
20:58but of course, there's no way it's going to go smoothly.
21:01This is perfect viewing for those who want to feel as though
21:08at least someone's having a worse holiday season than you are.
21:15While Clark may not get the fun old-fashioned family Christmas he was hoping for,
21:20it's a good reminder to temper your expectations
21:22and simply enjoy spending time with the people you love.
21:31The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.
21:40It's not often that a movie immediately becomes a holiday classic,
21:43but that's what happened when Elf hit theaters in 2003.
21:55Looks like a Christmas tree.
21:56Will Ferrell had one of his most iconic performances in this movie
22:00about an orphan raised at the North Pole
22:02who decides to go meet his biological dad in the big city.
22:11The fact that Ferrell is quite an imposing man
22:14only makes his elf costume all the more ridiculous.
22:17It's absurd and hilarious, and will keep you laughing from beginning to end.
22:34If you're lacking holiday cheer, Buddy the Elf will be sure to bring you some.
22:38Number 6. Home Alone
22:45Home Alone is an annual must-watch for the antics of the Wet Bandits
22:49and their epic takedown by Kevin McAllister.
22:54Kevin learns the hard way that you should be careful what you wish for
22:58when he imagines a world where his family disappears.
23:01I hope I never see any jerks again.
23:04While there are a lot of unrealistic aspects to the story,
23:08both Harry and Marv probably should have died
23:10several times over from the accidents that befall them,
23:13we can suspend our disbelief and enjoy the ride.
23:20This movie is full of unforgettable moments that will make you laugh,
23:23make you cringe, and make you wonder how a family could possibly
23:26leave one of their children behind and fly to Paris.
23:29What else did you do while we were away?
23:32Just hung around.
23:36Number 5. Miracle on 34th Street
23:39You've got them mixed up. You're making a mistake.
23:43A man named Chris Kringle finds himself taking over the position of Santa Claus
23:47at Macy's department store when he points out
23:49that the previous Santa is drunk on the job.
23:52Could you be Santa Claus? Have you had any experience?
23:55Oh, a little.
23:56But Chris ends up being a little too genuine in his interactions with people,
24:00telling them the truth and even recommending they shop at other stores.
24:05Well, the only important thing is to make the children happy.
24:07And whether Macy or somebody else sells a toy doesn't make any difference.
24:11Don't you feel that way?
24:12Ultimately, he claims to be the real Santa Claus and leaves everyone in a tizzy.
24:18What is your name?
24:19Chris Kringle.
24:22Where do you live?
24:23That's what this hearing will decide.
24:25This is a holiday classic that stands the test of time
24:28and reminds us that anything is possible when you believe in the magic of Christmas.
24:33Your Honor, the state of New York concedes the existence of Santa Claus.
24:38Number 4. A Christmas Carol
24:40Come on now, Bob. Aren't you going to wish me a Merry Christmas?
24:43Oh, Mr. Flynn, I am sorry. When you came in and stood there like that,
24:46I thought it was your own house. A Merry Christmas, sir.
24:48A Merry Christmas to you, Bob.
24:50Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol remains beloved because its message is perpetually relevant.
24:55What right have you to be merry? You're poor enough.
24:58What right have you to be dismal? You're rich enough.
25:00Humbug.
25:01Though it has been adapted many times,
25:03the 1938 film is a staple in many households around the holiday season
25:07and is considered by many to be the ultimate version of the tale.
25:11Ghost of the future, I know you're here to do me good,
25:15and as I hope to be another man from what I was,
25:18I'm ready to accompany you. Won't you speak?
25:21You already know the story, but if you haven't seen this retelling,
25:24it's time to give it a try.
25:26If you've already seen the 1938 adaptation countless times,
25:29give the 1951 version a try because it is also a favorite.
25:33To all of us everywhere, a Merry Christmas to us all, my dears.
25:47When it comes to annual Christmas specials,
25:49is there anyone you look forward to watching more than this?
25:52After viewing a Charlie Brown Christmas,
25:54you could never look at an artificial tree the same way again.
25:58You might even be more inclined to pick out the saddest one in the lot.
26:01All decorated and it'll be just right for our plate.
26:04This special has been airing since 1965,
26:07and there's a reason it's never gone out of style.
26:10It's so simple and yet so poignant, sincere and touching.
26:14Are your dance moves ready for the school Christmas pageant? We hope so.
26:22A Christmas Story is a holiday film that doesn't sugarcoat
26:32how difficult it is to feel like an outsider in your own family.
26:40It is always playing on repeat on cable,
26:43so you'll be sure to catch a glimpse of it whether you want to or not.
26:52Ralphie desperately wants an air rifle for Christmas,
26:57but his mother won't allow him to have one because, as she famously says,
27:03Along with Ralphie's main story,
27:05we see vignettes featuring his family and other characters,
27:08making this a well-rounded movie that's extremely rewatchable.
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27:40Could we have picked anything else for our number one spot?
27:43There's a reason why It's a Wonderful Life is considered the essential Christmas movie.
27:51It has a pretty dark beginning,
27:54but its magical realism teaches us a valuable lesson about the importance of a single life.
28:08By seeing how the world would have looked if George Bailey had never been in it,
28:11he realizes the impact he's had on those around him.
28:15It's sentimental, it's uplifting, and it isn't Christmas without watching it.
28:27What Christmas movie do you watch every year? Let us know in the comments below.
28:31Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
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