The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year for a reason! It’s when Christmas songs play on full volume everywhere you go, houses and storefronts are decked out in twinkling lights, and homemade cookies always seem to be on the countertop. December is also the perfect excuse to rewatch all of your favorite Christmas movies, especially the timeless tales you turn back to time and time again like Home Alone, The Polar Express, and Elf (which just so happens to be one of Ree Drummond’s favorites!).
While you likely have a collection of go-to flicks that you stream every season, to help you make the list and check it twice, we’ve rounded up 50 classic Christmas movies that you need to add to your holiday watchlist. Here, you’ll find family-friendly films like Prancer, sweeping romances like Love Actually, laugh-out-loud comedies like Christmas With the Kranks, animated features like Frosty the Snowman, and so much more holiday magic. Whatever genre you tend to gravitate toward, one thing’s for certain: These motion pictures will put you in a holly, jolly mood!
So, what are you waiting for? Slip into your matching Christmas pajamas, grab a mug of hot cocoa, and press “play!”
Christmas with the Kranks
Credit: Fandango
After learning that their daughter won’t be coming home for the holidays, the Kranks decide to take a cruise—a decision that outrages their Christmas-obsessed neighbors. But when their daughter unexpectedly changes her mind, the couple scrambles to put together a celebration, which helps them rediscover the heart of the season.
Frosty the Snowman
Credit: Fandango
This classic Christmas movie is perfect for the whole family. Not only is it 25 minutes in length, but it’s also filled with spirited characters, a heartwarming storyline, and lots of animated magic. The kids will love tagging along on Karen’s journey to get Frosty back to the North Pole before Christmas.
Prancer
Credit: Fandango
A heartfelt Christmas story for all ages, Prancer is a timeless film about a young girl who discovers an injured reindeer that she believes is part of Santa’s team. Even though her father is skeptical, she nurses the reindeer back to health—and her unwavering faith and holiday spirit inspires the entire town.
Jack Frost
Credit: Fandango
Another classic Christmas movie that transcends time and generations is Jack Frost, a family comedy about a musician who dies in a car crash and is brought back to life the following year as a snowman. It’s a powerful tale of redemption, and the bittersweet ending will give you all the feels.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Credit: IMDB
Even though this classic Christmas movie features the fantastical wonders of the season, this story about a young reindeer who’s ostracized for his red nose is so relatable. After dealing with this lifelong insecurity, Santa comes to recognize the significance of his glowing nose, which helps change his self-perception.
Jingle All the Way
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Desperate to please his son and wife, a workaholic tries to buy his kid the most popular action figure, even though it’s sold out almost everywhere. During his quest, he vies with another father who has the same goal, and he ends up learning what Christmas is really about.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Credit: Fandango
Filled with laughs and lessons, this beloved flick focuses on a college student’s journey back to his estranged father, who lures his son with the gift of a classic Porsche. But his trek is tested when the football team leaves him stranded in the desert, which has him realizing the whole point of going home for the holidays.
The Year Without a Santa Claus
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This animated classic is a definite crowd pleaser. After thinking that no one believes in him anymore, Santa decides to take a hiatus, but Mrs. Claus and two elves set out to find proof that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well. What follows is a journey of faith, kindness, and holiday cheer.
Trading Places
Credit: Fandango
If you’re looking for an adults-only Christmas movie that’s widely regarded as a classic, give Trading Places a watch. Set during the holidays, this comedy drama centers on a broker and a hustler who switch lives after two brothers place a bet. But the tables turn when they team up with one another to seek revenge.
A Christmas Carol
Credit: IMDB
Although there are many different adaptations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, this 1951 iteration is largely seen as the most noteworthy, thanks to its stellar performances and its accurate period details. Like every other variation, though, this one still highlights Ebenezer Scrooge’s inner transformation