17 Best Christmas Movies To Binge-Watch This Holiday Season

The spirit of the Christmas Season is here and it’s that time of year to spread love and joy again. There are so many ways to spread cheer: Christmas dinners, carols, gifts, and greetings are typical ways of celebrating. How about some top Christmas movies to kick-start the celebrations this year? One of the best ways to channel the mood this holiday season is by watching some great Christmas movies. There are so many top Christmas movies out there, here is a list of our favorite ones that you can binge-watch. From comedies to romantic flicks, animated classics to superhero movies, we have something for everyone on this list. Get ready to enter a world of magic through these Christmas movies and let the holiday season begin!

List Of Top 17 Christmas Movies To Ignite Your Holiday Spirit

It’s the perfect time to curl up on the couch with your family to enjoy some of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. With the massive heap of Christmas movies to watch, picking the perfect one may be a bit difficult. Don’t worry, we are here with a guide to some of the best Christmas movies to ignite your holiday spirit!

Home Alone (1990)

Genre: Comedy, Family

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Joe Pesci, Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern, John Heard

Watch On: Disney+Hotstar, Prime Video

Rating: 7.7/10

Synopsis: An eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) must protect his home from burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.

It’s hard to resist holiday movies that won our hearts when we were younger, that’s the reason this movie is one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. It is not just about a home invasion and family estrangement but also about the joy of not having to deal with an insane family. Home Alone is really about how powerless some kids can feel but the way Macaulay Culkin handles the situation and the sentimental end worked really well for this movie.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Genre: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Director: Henry Selick

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, William Hicke, Catherine O’Hara

Watch On: Disney+

Rating: 7.9/10

Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s beloved pumpkin king who plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over his role. But Jack soon discovers even the best-laid plans can go seriously awry.

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ is a blend of both Halloween and Christmas movies. This is one of the most visually splendid films ever made. The masterful work of visual tricks and treats by designer Tim Burton makes the film very creepy. Such great work can be accomplished only by great filmmakers like Henry. The film doesn’t have the narrative fuel to match Disney’s best-animated movies, but there is something about it that makes the movie look better and better every year.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Genre: Comedy, Family

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Scott Schwartz

Watch On: HBO Max

Rating: 7.9/10

Synopsis: A young boy named Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) spends most of his time dreaming of his ideal Christmas gift, a “Red Ryder air rifle.” His attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range air rifle really is the perfect Christmas gift. 

This warmly nostalgic and darkly humorous movie is America’s favorite holiday movie. It is so popular that it appears on TV for 24 hours straight every Christmas. Nine years after Black Christmas, director Bob Clark went on to make this holiday classic. This is the kind of movie that is infinitely watchable. Despite having a reputation for being a nostalgic comedy it also has bleak scares along the way. This movie is not just about the boy fighting for a Red Ryder BB gun but also about fighting for his survival. 

Die Hard (1988)

Genre: Action, Thriller

Director: John McTiernan

Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Reginald VelJohnso, Bonnie Bedelia

Watch On: Prime Video

Rating: 8.2/10

Synopsis: A New York City police officer (Bruce Willis) tries to save his estranged wife and several others who are taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party in Los Angeles.

This is undoubtedly one of the best action movies ever made. It’s a story of loss and renewal in which the hero takes down a bunch of terrorists in order to repair his marriage. Tightly plotted, the main mission here is to reconcile with his wife in time for the Christmas holidays. This is the kind of movie for multiple viewings without losing its humor or heart.

Elf (2003)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Director: Jon Favreau

Starring: James Caan, Will Ferrell, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel

Watch On: Amazon, HBO Max

Rating: 7/10

Synopsis: Buddy (Will Ferrell) travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father Walter Hobbs (James Caan) who doesn’t know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

Elf is a movie full of good-natured family comedy that’s sweeter than a candy cane. Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as an Elf in yellow tights, a green parka, and a cone-shaped cap proves that he is the right actor in the right role. Watching this classic Christmas movie will make you laugh, make you smile, and make your heart grow bigger and bigger, all at the same time.

Also Read: Amazing Winter Destinations To Celebrate Christmas This Year

Happiest Season (2020)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: Clea DuVall

Starring: Mackenzie Davis, Kristen Stewart, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber

Watch On: Prime Video, Hulu

Rating: 6.6/10

Synopsis: This romantic comedy is about a longtime lesbian couple who plans to go home to one of their families for the Christmas holidays. Besides spending the holiday season with the conservative parents, the range of emotions, waiting for the family’s acceptance, and revealing this nasty secret to them forms the entire plot of the movie.

A jolly good movie with heartfelt performances is all you’ll want for Christmas this year. ‘Happiest Season’ was one of the best cinematic gifts received for Christmas a couple of years back. It’s a new type of Christmas film with a touching comedy that revolves around coming home for Christmas. Just hanging in there and handling the complex situation leads to a comedy of errors in this movie. Happiest Season is definitely a delectable festive treat.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Genre: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Director: Frank Capra

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore

Watch On: Amazon Prime

Rating: 8.6/10

Synopsis: An angel (Henry Travers) is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman (James Stewart) by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

Few films define Christmas like Frank Capra’s 1946 fantasy ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and has become known as one of the most acclaimed Christmas movies ever made. The amazing performances, and beautiful script by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett along with Capra is the reason for its success. The movie is an oft-depressing parable that depicts one man’s dark night of the soul that connects with a new generation. All unpleasant questions asked were provided with definitive answers.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Director: George Seaton

Starring: Maureen O’Hara, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Gene Lockhart

Watch On: Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon

Rating: 7.9/10

Synopsis: A divorced New York mother hires a nice old man by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) to play Santa Claus at her annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Kringle proves to be such a hit that he starts surprising customers and employees alike by claiming that he really is Santa Claus. This leads to a court case where his sanity is questioned. 

Those with a taste for a healthy sprinkle of cynical realism on their holiday fare will probably fall in love with ‘Miracle on 34th Street’.  Edmund Gwenn as the old man was so good that by the end of the movie, you really might believe he is Santa. Even today it is one of the most effectively hokey pieces of classic Christmas movies the entertainment industry has ever produced. The 1994 remake of this movie starring Richard Attenborough and Mara Wilson was also pretty good.

Last Christmas (2019)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Director: Paul Feig

Starring: Madison Ingoldsby, Emma Thompson, Lucy Miller, Boris Isakovic

Watch On: Prime Video

Rating: 6.5/10

Synopsis: Kate, a young woman working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store is a frustrated Londoner as nothing is going right for her. However, she meets Tom, a mysterious man who seems too good to be true. Tom and Kate’s growing attraction turns into a Yuletide romance.

‘Last Christmas’ is a film based on George Michael’s songs with great chemistry between the leads. Apart from the twist ending this movie has much more to offer. It’s being marketed as a romantic comedy but it’s more of a dramatic one.

Remember the Night (1940)

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: Mitchell Leisen

Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Patterson, Beulah Bondi

Watch On: DVD Available on Amazon

Rating: 7.6/10

Synopsis: Love blooms between a sympathetic attorney John Sargent (Fred MacMurray) and the pretty shoplifter Lee Leander (Barbara Stanwyck) he has taken home for the Christmas holiday. However, John’s mother disapproves and warns Lee to stay away from him. Finally, she decides to leave the man she loves.

‘Remember the Night’ starts as a broad, brisk comedy but shifts moods as John learns about Lee’s difficult past. They start to fall in love with each other during a road trip to Indiana. However, in this process, Fred comes to realize how fortunate he is to have a happy caring family. Lee shares the first warm Christmas morning of her life with his family and is very appreciative of it. Its lead pair that teamed up for the first time for this 1940 Christmas romance was a super hit. 

Black Christmas (1974)

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, John Saxon, Margot Kidder

Watch On: HBO Max, rent on Amazon

Rating: 7.1/10

Synopsis: During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls is stalked and start receiving anonymous phone calls from a stranger. Soon a girl goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered.  It’s suspected that there is a serial killer on the loose. 

Director Bob Clark made creepy Christmas movies that audiences kept watching every year. His movies are mostly notable for their creeping sense of dread, careful pacing, and outstanding outfits. This movie was shot on and near the University of Toronto campus. It is definitely one of the most influential horror films of all time. The girls in the movie are shown as remarkably strong young women who can take care of themselves in both normal and deadly scenarios.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Director: Clay Kaytis

Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Oliver Hudson, Judah Lewis

Watch On: Netflix

Rating: 7/10

Synopsis: Siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce plan to catch Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. When the plan goes awry, the kids go on an unexpected journey (that most kids could only dream about) to save the holiday before it’s too late.

The Christmas Chronicles is a holiday adventure movie that is so much more different from the other Christmas movies. This one really has different feelings, and emotions and also gives the idea that it can be OK to do something naughty if it’s for a good cause. Here Santa spends Christmas Eve helping out some troubled kids escape a series of mishaps because he really cares about the kids and will do anything to save Christmas. There is a sequel to this which came out in 2020.

White Christmas (1954)

Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Elle, Dean Jagger

Watch On: Prime Video, HBO Max, Netflix

Rating: 7.5/10

Synopsis: Two successful singers get romantically involved with two dancer sisters. They team up to help their former military commander Waverly (Dean Jagger) save his Vermont lodge, which is having financial difficulties.

This black-and-white Christmas film is a fun-filled musical extravaganza that is like the fruitcake of traditional Christmas movies, either you love it or you hate it. It is a beautiful movie with a good plot, dialogue, and some pretty good song and dance numbers which the fans of old musicals will love it. The musical sequences including the stirring rendition of the Irving Berlin title track and the charming “Sisters” are spectacular. In short white Christmas is a great, wholesome Christmas movie, with lots of singing and dancing.

Batman Returns (1992)

Genre: Action, Crime, Fantasy

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Christopher Walken, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer 

Watch On: Prime Video

Rating: 7.1/10

Synopsis: The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito) joins with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) to topple Batman (Michael Keaton). But when Shreck’s assistant, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she is transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She then teams up with the Penguin and Max Shreck to destroy Batman.

It’s an action movie that isn’t really about Christmas though it’s set during the holiday season. Director Tim Burton’s violent, dangerous, and sexy sequel is better than the first. The flawless casting and performances from the main lead make this movie worth a watch. Batman Returns is the finest Batman film to ever hit theaters.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Peter Gallagher, Bill Pullman, Peter Boyle

Watch On: Disney+, Prime Video

Rating: 6.8/10

Synopsis: When Lucy Eleanor Moderatz (Sandra Bullock) pulls her longtime crush, Peter (Peter Gallagher), from the path of an oncoming train, she didn’t know what was in store for her. The doctors report that Peter is in a coma, and a miscommunication from Lucy causes Peter’s family to assume that she is his fiancée. Things start getting even more complicated when she finds herself falling in love with Peter’s brother, Jack (Bill Pullman).

While you were sleeping is a favorite feel-good film of all time. This romantic comedy, set in the heart of the winter holidays tells a story about two complete strangers who fall in love. The charming performance from the lead cast and lovely storyline makes this movie worth a watch during the holiday season. This movie has a little more depth than the usual romantic movies.

The Night Before (II) (2015)

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

Director: Jonathan Levine

Starring: Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Caplan

Watch On: Prime Video

Rating: 6.3/10

Synopsis: Lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen), and Chris (Anthony Mackie) come together on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As one of them is to become a first-time father, the friends realize that their annual tradition of the meeting is coming to an end. To make it a memorable one they spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.

The Night Before is a worthwhile addition to the list of Christmas movies worth revisiting. What’s impressive about the movie is that the film’s four credited writers manage to give the audience both, comedy as well a sentimental touch that will leave you misty-eyed. This one has some heavy content material that is absolutely worth putting on your watch list.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Johnny Depp, Dianne Wiest, Winona Ryder, Anthony Michael Hall

Watch On: Amazon Prime, Disney+

Rating: 7.9/10

Synopsis: A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an artificial man Edward (Johnny Depp). Before finishing assembling Edward the scientist dies leaving Edward with a freakish appearance where he has scissor blades instead of hands. Then one day, a suburban saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) discovers him and introduces him to her world. Edward falls for Peg’s teen daughter (Winona Ryder) but despite being kind his hands make him an outcast.

Though Edward’s leather-suited, scissor hand stands out from the colorful suburban Christmastime landscape, the story is one that proves perfectly in tune with the season’s spirit. Director Tim Burton treats a sensitive, lab-created man with scissors for hands as a Christ-like, too pure for this world-like figure who descends on an American suburb where he’s celebrated and then persecuted. Edward was portrayed as a gentle, goofy soul but the movie makes an abrupt switch in Edward’s character about two-thirds of the way through. However in the end the movie is an ambitious and beautifully conceived fairy tale for all to watch.

Also Read: Popular Christmas Carols To Put You In The Festive Spirit

Apart from the above-listed Christmas movies, there are tons of Christmas movies of all genres which you can watch on Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max. If we have missed your favorite, do share them in the comment box below.