FromHome Alone andElf to classics likeMiracle on34th Street, we’ve made our list of great holiday films and checked it at least twice. Now, to all you nice boys and girls out there, we present the Best Christmas Movies ever!
Christmas has come to represent different things to people over the years, and the movies here reflect that in kind. If you’re traditional and feeling nostalgic, you’ll be pleased to see whereIt’s A Wonderful Life andHoliday Inn made it on our list of top holiday films. If this time of the year reminds you of sitting around the TV, eagerly awaiting those annual specials, look out forA Charlie Brown Christmas andHow the Grinch Stole Christmas. There’s horror (Terrifier 3), comedy (Trading Places), horrorand comedy (Gremlins), and even a superhero covered in tinsel somewhere (Batman Returns). For those with an independent streak to celebrate, check outTangerine andCarol. Meanwhile, Netflix has made great strides in the Kris Kringle quadrant withThe Christmas Chronicles andKlaus. And if Christmas means traveling somewhere you don’t want to be, stuck in a building with people you don’t like, have we got the ultimate movie for you:Die Hard! Ho ho ho, now we have a complete list of great Christmas movies.
And for our most recent update, we’ve movie most of the holiday’s scary films to theChristmas horror movies guide, keeping on the more culturally significant ones likeA Nightmare Before Christmas andBlack Christmas. And because the season encourages getting warm and cozy with familiar films throughout the years, we’re inviting films with positive Popcornmeter receptions, the ones that may have become traditionally re-watches with your family.
So we took a sleigh ride across all of movie history, filled up our big red bag with goodies, and ultimately ranked the movies by Tomatometer score, with Certified Fresh films first. And now you’re ready to enter a wonderland of cinematic history, with the Best Christmas Movies ever!
Critics Consensus: Deftly directed by Ernst Lubitsch from a smart, funny script by Samson Raphaelson,The Shop Around the Corner is a romantic comedy in the finest sense of the term.
Synopsis: Alfred Kralik (James Stewart) and Klara Novak (Margaret Sullavan) are employees at Matuschek and Company, a general store in Budapest. [More]
Critics Consensus: A disarmingly sweet musical led by outstanding performances from Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien,Meet Me in St. Louis offers a holiday treat for all ages.
Synopsis: "Meet Me in St. Louis" is a classic MGM romantic musical comedy that focuses on four sisters (one of whom [More]
Critics Consensus: Beautifully bittersweet,The Holdovers marks a satisfying return to form for director Alexander Payne.
Synopsis: From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who [More]
Critics Consensus:Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it's an old-fashioned comedy at heart -- and a pretty wonderful one at that.
Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best [More]
Critics Consensus: Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film,Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.
Synopsis: In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an [More]
Critics Consensus: With a stellar cast and a smart, sensitive retelling of its classic source material, Greta Gerwig'sLittle Women proves some stories truly are timeless.
Synopsis: In the years after the Civil War, Jo March lives in New York and makes her living as a writer, [More]
Critics Consensus:The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.
Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual [More]
Critics Consensus: Shaped by Todd Haynes' deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara,Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Synopsis: Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two [More]
Critics Consensus: More of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel, this yuletide excursion is a delightful showcase for Drax, Mantis, and a very game Kevin Bacon.
Synopsis: Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans. [More]
Critics Consensus: Aardman Animations broadens their humor a bit forArthur Christmas, a clever and earnest holiday film with surprising emotional strength.
Synopsis: Everyone knows that, each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth. What everyone doesn't know is [More]
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a powerhouse lineup of talented actresses, Gillian Armstrong's take on Louisa May Alcott'sLittle Women proves that a timeless story can succeed no matter how many times it's told.
Synopsis: In this 1994 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic, the March sisters confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and [More]
Critics Consensus:Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.
Synopsis: Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on [More]
Critics Consensus: The first collaboration between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton,Edward Scissorhands is a magical modern fairy tale with gothic overtones and a sweet center.
Synopsis: A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he [More]
Critics Consensus: It can be frustratingly uneven, but strong performances from a talented cast helpSpoiler Alert stay on the right side of saccharine.
Synopsis: Based on Michael Ausiello's best-selling memoir "Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies," the film is a heartwarming, funny and life-affirming story [More]
Critics Consensus: Whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick,Gremlins is a minor classic.
Synopsis: A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. [More]
Critics Consensus: Featuring deft interplay between Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd,Trading Places is an immensely appealing social satire.
Synopsis: Upper-crust executive Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and down-and-out hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) are the subjects of a [More]
Critics Consensus: A sharp black comedy about a chaotic family holiday gathering,A Christmas Tale is always involving, thanks to an impressive ensemble cast.
Synopsis: When steely French matriarch Junon (Catherine Deneuve) learns she has leukemia, she asks her children and grandchildren at the family [More]
Critics Consensus: A movie full of Yuletide cheer,Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers.
Synopsis: Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. [More]
Critics Consensus: Director Tim Burton's dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first.
Synopsis: The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck [More]
Critics Consensus:While You Were Sleeping is built wholly from familiar ingredients, but assembled with such skill -- and with such a charming performance from Sandra Bullock -- that it gives formula a good name.
Synopsis: Lonely transit worker Lucy Eleanor Moderatz (Sandra Bullock) pulls her longtime crush, Peter (Peter Gallagher), from the path of an [More]
Critics Consensus: Capturing both the cheer and frustration that accompany holiday gatherings,Christmas Eve in Miller's Point is a yuletide chronicle that rings true.
Synopsis: In CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT, a rambunctious extended family descends upon their small Long Island hometown for the holidays. [More]
Critics Consensus:The Man Who Invented Christmas adds holiday magic to the writing ofA Christmas Carol, putting a sweetly revisionist spin on the story behind a classic yuletide tale.
Synopsis: In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate [More]
Critics Consensus: It isn't as much fun as an official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, butA Christmas Story Christmas remains a sequel worth celebrating.
Synopsis: The family comedy "A Christmas Story Christmas" is the long-awaited follow-up to annual holiday favorite, "A Christmas Story." This [More]
Critics Consensus: It may not be the finest version of Charles Dickens' tale to grace the screen, butThe Muppet Christmas Carol is funny and heartwarming, and serves as a good introduction to the story for young viewers.
Synopsis: The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy [More]
Critics Consensus:Anna and the Apocalypse finds fresh brains and a lot of heart in the crowded zombie genre - not to mention a fun genre mashup populated by rootable characters.
Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to [More]
Critics Consensus: Intelligent, well-acted, and satisfyingly low-key,Happy Christmas marks another step in prolific filmmaker Joe Swanberg's creative evolution.
Synopsis: An immature party girl (Anna Kendrick) moves in with her brother's family to get over a breakup and throws their [More]
Critics Consensus: The Force isn't fully with thisLego Star Wars adventure, but its affectionate franchise callbacks and self-aware humor should please fans looking to spend their holidays in a galaxy far, far away...
Synopsis: "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" reunites Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, Rose and the droids for a joyous feast on [More]
Critics Consensus:The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.
Synopsis: Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a [More]
Critics Consensus: Undeniably uneven and too dark for some,The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.
Synopsis: Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home. [More]
Critics Consensus:How the Grinch Stole Christmas brings an impressive array of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a classic holiday story -- and has rightfully become a yuletide tradition of its own.
Synopsis: This made-for-TV Christmas special is a classic. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, it is about a Christmas-hating Grinch who [More]
Critics Consensus: With the combined might of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Irving Berlin working in its favor,Holiday Inn is a seasonal classic -- not least because it introduced "White Christmas" to the world.
Synopsis: In this Irving Berlin musical, Jim (Bing Crosby) and Lila are members of a performing trio who plan to quit [More]
Critics Consensus:Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a yule-tide gem that bursts with eye-popping iconography, a spirited soundtrack, and a heart-warming celebration of difference.
Synopsis: This stop-motion animagic version of the classic Christmas tale adds a bit of a twist when Rudolph encounters an abominable [More]
Critics Consensus: Decking the halls with unflappable charm and sincere spiritual conviction,The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is winningly wholesome family entertainment.
Synopsis: The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully... and [More]
Critics Consensus: Have no fear! Mrs Claus spreads holiday cheer inThe Year Without Santa, a holiday classic full of unforgettable songs and characters that stays true to the Christmas spirit.
Synopsis: Sidelined by a nasty cold and feeling unneeded, Santa decides not to make his annual Christmas journey. Elves Jingle and [More]
Critics Consensus: The 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless classic is perhaps the most faithful film version -- and Alastair Sim's performance as Scrooge is not to be missed.
Synopsis: Crotchety Victorian businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) has no use for festivity, even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk [More]
Synopsis: Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday [More]
Critics Consensus:The Bishop's Wife succeeds thanks to the strength of winning performances from a stellar cast, which includes Cary Grant and Loretta Young.
Synopsis: Dejected by his efforts to raise money to build a cathedral, Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) beseeches heaven for guidance, [More]
Critics Consensus: Comfortably cliché,Let It Snow wears its influences on its sleeve, but works anyway thanks an excellent ensemble and just the right amount of holiday cheer.
Synopsis: A snowstorm brings a group of young people together. [More]
Critics Consensus:A Boy Called Christmas offers few surprises, but makes up for its lack of originality with a heaping helping of winsome holiday spirit.
Synopsis: An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his [More]
Critics Consensus:The Little Drummer Boy is a mature addition to the Rankin-Bass catalogue, with a powerful conclusion that compensates for the special's dour storytelling and unpolished animation.
Synopsis: An orphaned boy who hates humanity encounters the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Music by the Vienna Boys Choir. [More]
Critics Consensus:Violent Night isn't as wildly entertaining as its concept might suggest, but for those seeking harder-edged holiday fare, it may be a ho-ho-whole lot of fun.
Synopsis: When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team [More]
Critics Consensus:Frosty the Snowman is a jolly, happy sing-along that will delight children with its crisp animation and affable title character, who makes an indelible impression with his corncob pipe, button nose, and eyes made out of coal.
Synopsis: A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made, until a magician, professor [More]
Critics Consensus: WhileChristmas Vacation may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat.
Synopsis: As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, [More]
Critics Consensus: Tis the season for romantic misfortune, and there's still time to getSomething from Tiffany's -- a little box of derivative fun that bolsters a low-carat hand of comedy and good chemistry.
Synopsis: Nothing compares to the magic and excitement of the holidays in New York City, where the streets blaze with lights, [More]
Critics Consensus:Scrooged gets by with Bill Murray and a dash of holiday spirit, although it's hampered by a markedly conflicted tone and an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness.
Synopsis: In this modern take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a wildly successful television executive [More]
Critics Consensus: The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts,Black Christmas offers fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans.
Synopsis: As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), [More]
Critics Consensus: While its plot borders on the absurd,The Knight Before Christmas is endearing and charming enough to make it a worthy addition to the holiday rom-com genre.
Synopsis: A medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who's disillusioned [More]
Critics Consensus: Although it adds little to the long tradition of Dickens adaptations,Spirited is so genially overstuffed that it's easy to at least intermittently enjoy.
Synopsis: A modern musical rendition of Charles Dickens' classic holiday story "A Christmas Carol." [More]
Critics Consensus: Still raunchy, still irreverent, and still hit-and-miss, this Harold & Kumar outing also has a Christmas miracle: The audience gets to see the sweeter side of the duo.
Synopsis: Six years after their last adventure, stoner pals Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) have grown apart and found [More]
Critics Consensus:The Night Before provokes enough belly laughs to qualify as a worthwhile addition to the list of Christmas comedies worth revisiting, even if it isn't quite as consistent as the classics.
Synopsis: For the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have gathered on [More]
Critics Consensus: More bippity boppity than boo,Godmothered tweaks fairytale conventions with just enough self-aware humor to overcome a disappointing deficit of genuine magic.
Synopsis: Set at Christmas time, "Godmothered" is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Jillian Bell), who upon hearing [More]
Critics Consensus:Prancer's good-natured holiday cheer -- and a terrific performance from its young star -- are enough to make this yuletide adventure a moderately rewarding watch.
Synopsis: Refusing to give up her belief in Santa Claus, a child, Jessica Riggs (Rebecca Harrell), discovers a hurt reindeer in [More]
Critics Consensus:Krampus is gory good fun for fans of non-traditional holiday horror with a fondness for Joe Dante's B- movie classics, even if it doesn't have quite the savage bite its concept calls for.
Synopsis: While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast [More]
Critics Consensus: Viewers seeking a fresh holiday viewing option -- or those simply in the mood for Santa Kurt Russell -- should findThe Christmas Chronicles well worth a yuletide stream.
Synopsis: Siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce hatch a scheme to capture Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. When the plan goes awry, [More]
Critics Consensus: While it's missing some of the magic of the original,The Christmas Chronicles 2 serves up a sweet second helping of holiday cheer that makes the most of its marvelously matched leads.
Synopsis: Teenager Kate Pierce is reunited with Santa Claus when a troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas -- forever. [More]
Critics Consensus: A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.
Synopsis: Nine intertwined journeys examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects all individuals, love. Among these individuals is David, [More]
Critics Consensus: It's noMiracle on 34th Street, but viewers in the mood for some fa la la la Lohan will findFalling for Christmas as easy as falling on the couch.
Synopsis: A newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress gets into a skiing accident, suffers from total amnesia and finds herself in the [More]
Critics Consensus:The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that's solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story's legacy.
Synopsis: The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source [More]
Critics Consensus:Silent Night reaffirms that an action movie doesn't need much dialogue if the set pieces are solid enough -- and that even second-tier John Woo can be worth the price of admission.
Synopsis: A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire [More]
Critics Consensus: Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair.
Synopsis: The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she [More]
Critics Consensus: Though the movie is visually stunning overall, the animation for the human characters isn't lifelike enough, and the story is padded.
Synopsis: When a doubting young boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery [More]
Synopsis: Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen is preparing to host her family's Christmas celebration [More]
Critics Consensus:The Family Man's earnest attempt to remind audiences that it's a wonderful life too often steers into schmaltz, although Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni's romantic rapport adds a dash of sincere sweetness.
Synopsis: Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store holdup and disarms the gunman. [More]
Critics Consensus:Love Hard's interesting setup and charming cast have a definite rom-com appeal, even if the story never quite develops its main characters' love connection.
Synopsis: An LA girl, unlucky in love, falls for an East Coast guy on a dating app and decides to surprise [More]
Critics Consensus: This family holiday dramedy features fine performances but awkward shifts of tone.
Synopsis: Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) wants to bring his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to meet his bohemian Connecticut family [More]
Critics Consensus: While it's certainly sweet and even somewhat touching,The Holiday is so thoroughly predictable that audiences may end up opting for an early check-out time.
Synopsis: Two women, one from America and one from Britain, swap homes at Christmastime after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each [More]
Synopsis: Ginny (Mary Steenburgen) has a difficult time mustering Christmas spirit due to her husband Jack's (Gary Basaraba) unemployment and her [More]
Critics Consensus: Likable leads, terrific behind-the-scenes talent, and an intriguing musical hook aren't enough to saveLast Christmas from its poorly conceived story.
Synopsis: Nothing seems to go right for young Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas [More]
Critics Consensus:Candy Cane Lane gets credit for its willingness to get weird, but in most other respects, this Eddie Murphy-led holiday comedy is a dead end.
Synopsis: Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood's annual Christmas [More]