2020 has been a very tough year for everyone, so it’s completely understandable if you’re not in the holiday spirit yet. But if you’re now looking for ways to get yourself in the festive mood, there’s nothing like cozying up to a heartwarming Christmas movie for some holiday magic. To help you choose which ones to watch, we listed 50 of the greatest Christmas movies of all time in the slideshow below:
#1 The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Based on the 1937 Hungarian play Parfumerie by Miklós László, this Christmas movie centers on two employees at a leathergoods shop whose feud grows with every holiday sale, not realizing that they’re falling in love with one another as anonymous pen pals. Starring Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart, this romantic comedy is listed in Time’s All-Time 100 Movies, and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
#2 It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
This fantasy drama film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a desperately frustrated businessman whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Sent from heaven, Clarence shows George how he has touched the lives of others and how different life would be for his wife Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) and his community if he had never existed. The movie was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Bailey, and Best Director for Frank Capra.
#3 Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Set in New York City between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, this comedy drama revolves around a nice old man (Edmund Gwenn) who claims to be Santa Claus. When he is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer (John Payne) decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. The movie won three Oscars: Gwenn for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Valentine Davies for Best Writing, Original Story, and George Seaton for Best Writing, Screenplay.
#4 The Thin Man (1934)
Based on a novel of the same name by Dashiell Hammett, this screwball comedy is set in New York City in December 1932 and follows former private detective Nick Charles (William Powell) and his wealthy socialite young wife Nora (Myrna Loy) as they investigate a murder that brings them in contact with a grotesque family, policemen, and lowlifes. While the murder case is gripping in itself, the most charming aspect of the movie is the snappy and witty dialogue between the two main characters. The Christmas movie was nominated for four Oscars: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Leading Role for Powell; Best Director for W.S. Van Dyke; and Best Writing, Adaptation for Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.
#5 A Christmas Story (1983)
A holiday perennial, this comedy film tells the story of a young boy named Ralphie who attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift. Directed by Bob Clark, the movie has an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 57 reviews and is described as “both warmly nostalgic and darkly humorous” in the critics’ consensus.
#6 We’re No Angels (1955)
Starring Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov, this darkly comic treat centers on three convicts – Joseph, Albert, and Jules – who escape from prison on Devil’s Island in French Guiana just before Christmas and arrive at a nearby French colonial town. They hide out in the house of a kindly merchant family, whom they plan to rob. The three felons, however, have a change of heart when a Scrooge-like relative of the family pays an unexpected visit.
#7 Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
This delightfully cheerful romantic comedy tells the story of a food writer who must cover up her fake perfect housewife persona when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas. Silly as its premise may be, the Peter Godfrey-directed movie ― which stars Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, and Sydney Greenstreet ― is both hilarious and heartwarming.
#8 Edward Scissorhands (1990)
This modern fairytale stars Johnny Depp as an artificial humanoid named Edward, an unfinished creation who has scissor blades instead of hands. Leading a solitary life, Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter Kim, played by Winona Ryder. While not entirely set during the holidays, the final one-third of the film takes place at Christmastime. But more than the setting, it’s really its message of accepting people’s differences and celebrating one’s dysfunctions that make it a true Christmas movie.
#9 Bad Santa (2003)
This black comedy film stars Billy Bob Thornton as Willie T. Soke, a miserable conman who poses as Santa to rob department stores on Christmas Eve with the help of his dwarf assistant, Marcus Skidmore (Tony Cox). Though both are professional thieves, they run into problems when Willie befriends a troubled kid. Despite the movie’s profanities, its story is actually affecting and pretty sweet at heart.
#10 Trading Places (1983)
An immensely appealing social satire, Trading Places follows a snobbish upper-class commodities broker (Dan Aykroyd) and a wily street con artist (Eddie Murphy) who find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires. Considered a box-office success on its release, the John Landis-directed film grossed over $90.4 million, becoming North America’s fourth-highest-grossing film of 1983. Though it has been praised as one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made, retrospective assessments have criticized its use of racial jokes and language.
#11 Arthur Christmas (2011)
Set on Christmas night, this animated movie follows Santa’s clumsy but goodhearted son Arthur as he sets out on a mission to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl. Accompanied only by his free-spirited and reckless grandfather, a rebellious yet enthusiastic young Christmas elf, and a team of eight magical yet untrained reindeer, Arthur must deliver the gift in less than two hours. Despite the familiar-sounding premise, Arthur Christmas is unexpectedly fresh and clever with surprising emotional strength. The voice cast includes James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, and Ashley Jensen.
#12 It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
This Christmas movie centers on homeless man Aloysius (Victor Moore) who moves into a mansion in Fifth Avenue, New York while its owner Michael (Charles Ruggles) is wintering at his Virginia estate. Aloysius winds up taking in ex-G.I. Jim (Don DeFore) who soon invites other hobos to the mansion. The story gets more interesting when Michael returns home and pretends to be a homeless man. Written by Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, It Happened on Fifth Avenue was nominated for Best Writing, Original Story at the 20th Academy Awards, but lost to Miracle on 34th Street.
#13 Elf (2003)
A good-natured family comedy, Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human who was adopted and raised by Santa’s elves at the North Pole. After discovering that he’s actually human, Buddy heads to New York City to locate his biological father while also spreading Christmas cheer in a world full of cynics. The Jon Favreau-directed movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing $220 million worldwide against a $33 million budget. It also inspired the 2010 Broadway musical Elf: The Musical and NBC’s 2014 stop-motion animated television special Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas.
#14 Home Alone (1990)
Appealing to all ages, this family comedy film follows eight-year-old boy Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who must defend his home from two burglars after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their vacation. The Christmas movie received two Golden Globe Award nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Culkin. The movie spawned a film franchise, including the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which is the only Home Alone follow-up film to have most of the original cast reprising their roles.
#15 The Polar Express (2004)
Based on the 1985 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express is set on Christmas Eve and tells the story of a young boy who embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas. The computer-animated adventure film, which earned three Oscar nods, stars Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.
#16 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
A sequel to the 2008 film Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and the third installment of the Harold & Kumar series, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas follows stoner buds Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) as they embark on an adventure to find a new Christmas tree after they inadvertently burnt down Harold’s father-in-law’s prized Christmas tree. While raunchy and irreverent like the first two movies in the trilogy, this comedy film puts the spotlight on the sweeter side of the duo. The Christmas movie also stars Neil Patrick Harris as a fictionalized version of himself.
#17 The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
Based on the book of the same name by Les Standiford, The Man Who Invented Christmas is a biographical drama movie starring Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens. Directed by Bharat Nalluri and written by Susan Coyne, the film tells the journey that led to Dickens’ creation of the novel A Christmas Carol, a timeless tale that would redefine Christmas. The film also stars Christopher Plummer as the novel’s protagonist Ebenezer Scroggie, and Jonathan Pryce as Dickens’ father, John Dickens.
#18 The Best Man Holiday (2013)
A sequel to Malcolm D. Lee’s 1999 movie The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday follows a group of college friends who reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays. The reunion takes an interesting when they discover how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited. Despite its conventional plot, the film delivers honest laughs and convincing drama. It stars Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, and Melissa De Sousa, all reprising their roles from the previous flick.
#19 The Night Before (2015)
An erratic yet moving comedy, this stoner film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie as three childhood friends who reunite on Christmas Eve in search of the Holy Grail of Christmas parties in New York City. Though not as consistent as classic Christmas movies, the Jonathan Levine-directed film brings enough laughs to be included in the list of holiday flicks worth revisiting. The supporting cast includes Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, and Michael Shannon.
#20 The Santa Clause (1994)
A heartwarming Christmas movie for both kids and adults, The Santa Clause is Tim Allen’s feature debut. He stars as Scott Calvin, an ordinary man who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall from his roof on Christmas Eve. After finishing St. Nick’s trip and deliveries, Scott and his young son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), head to the North Pole where Scott learns that he must become the new Santa. While it received mixed critical reviews at the time of its release, it has since become a Christmas-time staple and spawned two sequels: 2002’s The Santa Clause 2 and 2006’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.
#21 The Family Stone (2005)
Sentimental but never cheesy, The Family Stone follows the Christmas holiday misadventures of the Stone family when the eldest son brings his uptight girlfriend home with the intention of proposing to her with a cherished heirloom ring. Overwhelmed by the hostile reception, she begs her sister to join her for emotional support, further complicating the relationship between the potential in-laws. Despite the awkward shifts of tone, the Thomas Bezucha-directed film is still very entertaining, thanks to the fine performances of the cast that includes Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, and Tyrone Giordano.
#22 White Christmas (1954)
An unabashedly sentimental holiday favorite, White Christmas follows an ex-military song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) who teams up with a pair of sister performers (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to save the failing inn business of their former commanding general (Dean Jagger). Directed by Michael Curtiz, the musical film received an Oscar nomination for Best Music, Original Song for the tune Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep written by Irving Berlin.
#23 The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
A remake of the 1947 film The Bishop’s Wife which in turn was based on the novel of the same name by Robert Nathan, The Preacher’s Wife stars Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney B. Vance. Unsure that he can make a difference in his parishioners’ lives, Rev. Henry Biggs (Vance) prays to God for help, which comes in the form of Dudley (Washington), a witty and debonair angel. While Henry is deeply suspicious of Dudley, his wife Julia (Houston) is instantly charmed by the handsome and unflappable angel. Though fairly predictable, this Christmas movie manages to offer heartwarming holiday cheer, thanks to the solid performances of the cast.
#24 Love Actually (2003)
Directed by Richard Curtis, this romantic comedy film delves into different aspects of love shown through 10 separate stories involving various individuals, who are revealed to be interconnected as the movie progresses. Set in London, the movie begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday. Though overstuffed with too many stories, the irresistible charm of the cast made the flick a modern-day Christmas staple. The movie stars Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, and Rowan Atkinson.
#25 Once Upon a Deadpool (2018)
Once Upon a Deadpool is a PG-13-rated version of Deadpool 2. Released in December 2018, the movie sees the titular anti-hero (Ryan Reynolds) teaming up with Fred Savage to retell Deadpool 2 in the most kid-friendly way. While some critics regard Once Upon a Deadpool as some sort of a gimmick, the Christmas movie proves that the Merc with a Mouth can be just as funny without the R-rated humor and graphic violence.
#26 The Holiday (2006)
Filmed both in California and England, this romantic comedy film stars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as two lovelorn women from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, who arrange a home exchange to escape heartbreak during the holiday season and end up falling in love with a local guy. Jude Law and Jack Black play the leading men in the movie, with Eli Wallach, Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, and Rufus Sewell appearing in supporting roles. Despite its predictable plot, the movie is sweet and touching with top-notch performances from the cast.
#27 Last Holiday (2006)
Loosely based on the 1950 film of the same name by J. B. Priestley, Last Holiday stars Queen Latifah as a humble department store assistant who sells off all her possessions for a luxury holiday in Europe upon learning that she has a rare brain condition and only has a few weeks to live. Though the Wayne Wang-directed movie was a box-office flop, Latifah was universally praised for her great performance, charm, and humor.
#28 Get Santa (2014)
Featuring a starry cast and family-friendly humor, Get Santa follows a father (Rafe Spall) and son (Kit Connor) who team up to save Christmas after discovering that Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent) is sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police. Helmed by horror director Christopher Smith, this Christmas movie has a nice blend of tinsel and grit highlighted by the outstanding performance of the main cast.
#29 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Based on the short story Christmas ‘59 by John Hughes, Christmas Vacation is the third installment in National Lampoon magazine’s Vacation film series. It centers on Clark Griswold Jr. (Chevy Chase) and his family whose plans for a perfect Christmas turn into a big disaster after their relatives show up unplanned and Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs. Though crude and some of its jokes don’t work, the movie has a heartwarming story at its core.
#30 Black Nativity (2013)
Based on Langston Hughes’ 1961 play of the same name, Black Nativity follows a street-wise teen from Baltimore who embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey when he travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives. Sweetly amiable and solidly performed, this musical drama feels a little cluttered early on but ends with a strong third act that leaves viewers with a satisfying conclusion. The Kasi Lemmons-directed Christmas movie stars Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Tyrese Gibson, Jacob Latimore, Mary J. Blige, Nasir Jones, and Jennifer Hudson.
#31 Noelle (2019)
Directed by Mark Lawrence, this Christmas movie follows Santa’s (Jay Brazeau) daughter, Noelle (Anna Kendrick), who must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother (Bill Hader), who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet. Despite the fairly basic plot, Noelle’s heartwarming message and committed performances from the cast make the movie worth watching. Also starring in the film are Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, Julie Hagerty, and Shirley MacLaine.
#32 Just Friends (2005)
Just Friends tells the story of a formerly overweight high school nerd (Ryan Reynolds) who turns into a ferocious womanizer after getting rejected by his lifelong crush (Amy Smart) while visiting his hometown during Christmas. Though not particularly original, the movie works largely due to the amiability of the leads and relatively intelligent screenplay by Adam “Tex” Davis.
#33 How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Based on Dr. Seuss’ 1957 book of the same name, How the Grinch Stole Christmas follows a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of Whoville. Though this Christmas movie is slightly frantic and has some crude, scary moments, Jim Carrey’s incredible performance as the titular character makes it worth the watch.
#34 Holidate (2020)
This romantic comedy film stars Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey as two strangers who are both fed up with being single on holidays. After meeting one particularly bad Christmas, they make a pact to be each other’s platonic plus-ones for every festive occasion throughout the next year, only to catch real feelings along the way. Though filled with rom-com clichés, the movie is cute, relatable, and raunchy. The undeniable chemistry between Roberts and Bracey also keeps the film in the watchable zone all throughout.
#35 Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
Based on the true story In the Event of an Emergency, Put Your Sister in an Upright Position by Susan Burton, this comedy film follows a group of unaccompanied minors who bond together while snowed in at the midwestern Hoover International Airport during Christmastime, and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves. Directed by Paul Feig, this Christmas movie combines youthful angst and hilarious hijinks, resulting in an unexpectedly warm and endearing holiday treat. The cast includes Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Tyler James Williams, Dyllan Christopher, Brett Kelly, Gia Mantegna, and Quinn Shephard.
#36 The Family Man (2000)
This fantasy dramedy stars Nicolas Cage as a fast-lane investment broker who wakes up one day to find that his sports car becomes a mini-van, and his ex-girlfriend (Téa Leoni) is now his wife and mother to his children. He slowly realizes that he’s living the kind of life he might have had if he hadn’t left his ex-girlfriend 13 years ago. Despite the predictable plot, The Family Man is a heartfelt Christmas movie that will make you laugh and cry.
#37 Fred Claus (2007)
Loosely based on the poem A Legend of Santa and his Brother Fred by Donald Henkel, this comedy adventure film stars Vince Vaugh as Fred Claus, Santa’s (Paul Giamatti) bitter older brother who is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash. Although its mix of slapstick humor and sentimental family moments is not perfect, the Christmas movie is still enjoyable to watch thanks to the great performance of the cast.
#38 Office Christmas Party (2016)
Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck, this R-rated comedy film is set in the Chicago branch of the fictional tech firm Zenotec. When the CEO (Jennifer Aniston) tries to close her hard-partying brother’s branch, he (T.J. Miller) and his Chief Technical Officer (Jason Bateman) must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs. Despite the movie’s overstuffed plot and clichéd gags, the impressive performance of the cast makes Office Christmas Party an entertaining holiday feature.
#39 A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
A sequel to 2016’s Bad Moms, this comedy movie follows the three moms from the first film (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, and Kathryn Hahn) as they deal with their own mothers (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon) who make a surprise visit during Christmastime. Though criticized for its thin story and raunchiness, the film offers a fun and festive way for moms and daughters to kick off the holidays.
#40 Four Christmases (2008)
Directed by Seth Gordon, this Christmas comedy-drama follows the struggles of a couple as they visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon play the couple, while Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall, and Jon Voight appear as their parents. The script of the movie was panned by critics, but Vaughn’s dependable comic chops and Witherspoon’s satisfying performance make Four Christmases a modestly entertaining holiday film.
#41 Jack Frost (1998)
This dark fantasy drama film stars Michael Keaton as the titular character, a father killed in a car accident who comes back to life as a snowman to put things right with his son before he is gone forever. Despite the dodgy look of its central character and criticisms aimed at its uninspired storytelling and excessive sentimentality, Jack Frost is remarkably refreshing as it doesn’t apologize for being a children’s flick.
#42 Scrooged (1988)
Based on the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Scrooged stars Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a cynical and selfish television executive who is visited by a series of ghosts on Christmas Eve intent on helping him regain his Christmas spirit. Though it has an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness, the Richard Donner-directed movie is still an entertaining yuletide comedy with an uplifting ending.
#43 Friday After Next (2002)
The third installment of the Friday film series, Friday After Next centers on cousins Craig (Ice Cube) and Day-Day (Mike Epps) who work as late-night security guards at a local mall. When their house is robbed on Christmas Eve, they team up to track the burglar down. The movie was generally panned by critics, but people who love raucous, riotous, and blisteringly obscene comedy will enjoy this freaky funny flick.
#44 Jingle All the Way (1996)
Inspired by real-life Christmas toy sell-outs, Jingle All the Way stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad as rival fathers who both desperately try to purchase a Turbo-Man action figure for their respective sons on a last-minute shopping spree on Christmas Eve. Though the movie fails to balance slapstick and satire, it’s still fun and entertaining to watch. In addition to Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, the film also stars Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Robert Conrad, Jake Lloyd, and Jim Belushi.
#45 Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
A sequel to 2015’s Daddy’s Home, Daddy’s Home 2 follows now-reformed fathers Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) as they deal with their own intrusive fathers (Mel Gibson and John Lithgow) visiting for the holidays. The sequel is as silly as the first movie, but the former is more enjoyable than the original largely because of Gibson and Lithgow’s addition to the cast.
#46 Deck the Halls (2006)
Directed by John Whitesell, this Christmas movie stars Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick as two neighbors who have it out after one of them decorates his house for the holidays so brightly that it can be seen from space. Despite the negative criticisms aimed at its ridiculous plot and mean-spirited tone, the comedy film effectively points out that true Christmas spirit can never be felt by merely checking off customary holiday activities, as it comes naturally and must be enjoyed in the moment.
#47 A Madea Christmas (2013)
The first Christmas movie from Tyler Perry and the seventeenth installment in his Madea franchise, A Madea Christmas follows the title character as she dispenses her unique form of holiday spirit in a rural town when she’s coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit for Christmas. While not as substantive as Perry’s other works, the movie delivers some honest laughs and a good holiday message.
#48 Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Based on the 2001 novel Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, Christmas with the Kranks follows a couple (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) who decide to skip Christmas since their daughter (Julie Gonzalo) is away. But when she decides to come home with her new fiancé (Rene Lavan) at the last minute, her mom and dad try to “generate” Christmas out of nothing in less than a few hours. Though criticized for promoting conformity, the Joe Roth-directed film is a good family outing with a comfortable balance between hilarious and heartwarming.
#49 Mixed Nuts (1994)
Based on the 1982 French movie Le Père Noël est une ordure, this dark comedy centers on Philip (Steve Martin) who manages a suicide-prevention hotline called Lifesavers, with his assistants Mrs. Munchnik (Madeline Kahn) and Catherine (Rita Wilson). On Christmas Eve, Philip learns that their landlord (Garry Shandling) is evicting them from their office. Things get even more complicated when Catherine confesses her love for Philip, and a transvestite (Liev Schreiber) and a pregnant woman (Juliette Lewis) enter the equation. While it’s odd and blasphemous, this Christmas movie is delightfully quirky and enjoyable to watch.
#50 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
In this sci-fi comedy, the Martians kidnap Santa Claus because there’s nobody on Mars to give their children presents. Though the movie usually appears on lists of the worst films ever made, most of its positive feedback come in the form of the film being so bad, it’s good. So, if you love to hate-watch, then this Christmas movie ― which has since gained a cult following ― will keep you entertained for an hour and a half.