The 10 Best Christmas Movies of All Time — And Where to Watch Them

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means it’s finally socially acceptable to hunker down on your couch for hours at a time to enjoy all of the best Christmas movies that streamers have to offer. While there’s certainly no shortage of festive films to get you through the holiday season, we’ve rounded up the best 10 flicks of all time — and, more importantly, where to find them — to save you from the dreaded streaming app scroll this December.

From tried-and-true classics like A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life, to holly jolly newcomers like The Holidate and Lindsay Lohan’s instant hit Falling for Christmas (CGI kiss and all), read on for the best feel-good films to help you stay in the holiday spirit up until Dec. 25 — and beyond.

Elf — Max

Pass through the seven levels of the candy cane forest and the sea of swirly twirly gum drops to re-familiarize yourself with all of the iconic one-liners that made this Will Ferrell-fronted flick a classic to begin with (“SANTA! I KNOW HIM!”). Best enjoyed while dining on spaghetti covered in maple syrup, of course.

Love Actually — Netflix

Intersecting storylines, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Colin Firth — this Christmas-themed rom-com has it all. Get into the holiday spirit and celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary by watching Love Actually for the first, or 400th, time this Christmas season. We won’t judge.

Happiest Season — Hulu

While this festive film may be new(er) to the holiday movie lineup, it didn’t take long for it to become an instant classic when it first hit Hulu back in 2020. Touting a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, and Dan Levy, this LGBTQ Christmas movie offers a modern take on the age-old dilemma of going home for the holidays.

The Holidate — Netflix

Take a trip through all of the major holidays with this fun — and festive! — rom-com starring Emma Roberts. Watch Kristen Chenoweth steal scenes as Roberts’s horny Aunt Susan, and try not to swoon when the hunky Australian love interest (played by Luke Bracey) does … literally anything.

Falling For Christmas — Netflix

I can’t believe only a year has passed since Lindsay Lohan saved Christmas. ICYMI, the actress returned to rom-coms with Netflix’s Falling for Christmas in 2022, and the holiday season hasn’t been the same since. Full of stellar fashion, memory loss, and CGI PDA, this flick is perfect for those who love Hallmark holiday movie cheesiness.

The Holiday — Hulu

Get your romance fix for the season by tuning into Nacy Meyers’s holiday classic. Whether you’re recovering from a breakup or snuggled up next to your cuffing season catch, watching Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet switch homes ahead of Christmas is sure to put you in a festive mood.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — Max

When you feel like everything is going wrong this holiday season, turn on Christmas Vacation to remind yourself that things could always be worse. From ruined Christmas trees to unwelcome houseguests (see: squirrels and Cousin Eddy), Clark Griswold is living proof that sometimes all you need to get through the holidays is eggnog and a smile.

It’s a Wonderful Life — Prime Video

The definition of a true Christmas classic, this iconic holiday film has been enjoyed by the masses since 1946. While it may not feature the same bells and whistles of its more modern festive film peers, it’s hard to beat It’s a Wonderful Life’s hopeful, nostalgia-inducing message.

A Christmas Story — Max

As another reigning holiday classic, it would be criminal for A Christmas Story to not find a place on this list. Filled with quotable one-liners (“You’ll shoot your eye out.”) and relatable Christmas tropes, there’s a reason why this film has been enjoyed for 40 years.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York — Disney+

No Christmas season is truly complete until Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister hits a burglar with a brick. Whether tuning in for just this installment or marathoning all three, the Home Alone franchise perfectly embodies what it’s like to be a kid during the holidays, making for the ultimate festive flick(s).

The Santa Clause — Disney+

Be whisked away to Santa’s workshop to watch Tim Allen learn the ins and outs of what it takes to be Father Christmas at the North Pole — all while balancing his normal life back at home. While the second and third Santa Clause films are also deserving of a watch this year, it’s hard to beat the magic of Scott Calvin slipping into Santa’s famous red suit for the first time.

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