Nearly every major holiday has its share of films centered around it, but none offer the breadth and versatility that Christmas does. From sentimental classics like It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), to frightening favorites like Black Christmas (1974), to modern family comedies like Elf (2003), there’s something for everyone, depending on your mood.
It can also be tough to narrow down which Christmas movies to prioritize during December, with dozens and dozens of new holiday movies released every year. That’s why Entertainment Weekly is here to gift you a curated list of recommendations. Ahead are 26 festive favorite Christmas (and Christmas-adjacent) movies to stream now.
Carol (2015)
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Carol (Cate Blanchett) is a glamorous, soon-to-be divorcée shopping for Christmas gifts; Therese (Rooney Mara) is a shopgirl and aspiring photographer. Their eyes meet, Carol compliments Therese’s little Santa hat, and just like that, their hearts are off to the races. The film’s preoccupation with desire feels uniquely fitting for a season in which we all hope, often against reason, to get what we want. Beyond that, Christmas works wonders as a backdrop, imbuing Carol with a mixture of warmth, melancholy, nostalgia, and regret that only the holidays can conjure. —Janey Tracey
Where to watch Carol: HBO Max
EW grade: A–
Director: Todd Haynes
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler
A Christmas Prince (2017)
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One of Netflix’s most successful Hallmark-style Christmas movies, A Christmas Prince is a modern fairy tale about an American journalist who falls in love with the prince of a fictional country. While not explicitly based on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the film has plenty of references to the royal couple, with a sequel about a royal wedding and a threequel about a royal baby. Possible real-world inspirations aside, this holiday movie is prime comfort viewing, delivering just as many warm fuzzies as you’d expect from something called A Christmas Prince. —J.T.
Where to watch A Christmas Prince: Netflix
Director: Alex Zamm
Cast: Rose McIver, Ben Lamb, Alice Krige
Christmas Wedding Planner (2017)
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Don’t be fooled by the generic name: Christmas Wedding Planner isn’t just a bad Christmas movie, it’s the best bad Christmas movie. The premise is pretty standard: An unlucky-in-love wedding planner is mapping out her cousin’s engagement but falls for her cousin’s ex, who’s a private investigator. After a few gonzo plot twists, a Joey Fatone cameo, and a truly wild ending, you’ll be left wondering what on Earth you just watched — and screaming “Justice for Emily!” —J.T.
Where to watch Christmas Wedding Planner: The Roku Channel
Director: Justin G. Dyck
Cast: Jocelyn Hudon, Stephen Huszar, Kelly Rutherford, Joey Fatone
Die Hard (1988)
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The eternal question pops up once again: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Let’s say yes! In this action classic, NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) faces off against a group of terrorists when they take over his estranged wife’s high-rise office holiday party. McClane is, in his words, the fly in the ointment, the one wild card that Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman in a towering big-screen debut) couldn’t anticipate. Though not a traditional holiday movie, the Christmas argument surrounding Die Hard only adds to its fun, marrying the Christmas Eve setting, quippy one-liners, and cat-and-mouse tension. —J.T.
Where to watch Die Hard: Hulu
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Reginald VelJohnson, Bonnie Bedelia
Four Christmases (2008)
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A criminally underrated holiday rom-com, Four Christmases follows an unconventional, stubbornly unmarried couple (Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) whose plans for a tropical Christmas are thwarted, forcing them to visit all four of their divorced parents in one day. It received pretty dismal reviews at the time but deserves a second look; Witherspoon and Vaughn have surprisingly great chemistry, the dialogue is snappy, and the supporting cast is insanely star-studded, including Kristin Chenoweth, Robert Duvall, Jon Favreau, and Christmas movie staple Mary Steenburgen. —J.T.
Where to watch Four Christmases: HBO Max
EW grade: B
Director: Seth Gordon
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Mary Steenburgen, Kristin Chenoweth
Happiest Season (2020)
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A queer Christmas rom-com directed by Clea DuVall? Say no more. Happiest Season follows Abby (Kristen Stewart), who’s ready to propose to her girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), over the holidays — until she finds out Harper is not out to her conservative family. Things get complicated fast, especially with the massive chemistry between Abby and Harper’s old girlfriend, Riley (Aubrey Plaza). While some might argue Abby ends up with the wrong person, the movie still delivers a charming, heartfelt, and wholly modern Christmas movie. —J.T.
Where to watch Happiest Season: Hulu
EW grade: B+
Director: Clea DuVall
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy
The Holdovers (2023)
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Set over a snowy Christmas break at a New England boarding school, The Holdovers follows a grumpy teacher (Paul Giamatti), a rebellious student (Dominic Sessa), and a grieving cafeteria worker (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) as they form an unexpected bond. That may sound corny, but the film successfully transcends holiday clichés to focus on the loneliness of the season. With its dry, misanthropic humor and rich performances, The Holdovers became an awards-season darling, earning multiple Oscar nominations — including Randolph’s win for Best Supporting Actress. —J.T.
Where to watch The Holdovers: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)
EW grade: A–
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa