Ultimate Christmas Movie Guide
Originally written in 2019 - UPDATED FOR 2021
I am a Christmas fanatic. I LOVE Christmas.
I love the snow, the lights, the carols, the movies, the cookies, the family time, the traditions- everything about it brings me joy. For those of you freaking out at me because of thanksgiving- take a chill pill- thanksgiving is respected on thanksgiving day.
It all really started with my Mom who would go above and beyond to make Christmas time happy and memorable. She would get so excited about wrapping our holiday books for advent or filling our advent calendar with chocolates to keep us occupied during our morning devotions, or sitting down to watch her favorite Christmas movies by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa. I personally cannot wait to carry on these traditions with my kids.
November 1st I am listening to Christmas music and by mid November I am watching Christmas movies and starting my decorating. Last night I was working on my ultimate Christmas movie list and Dustin suggested I post it on Coil for those of you who also love Christmas movies but don't know where you can watch them all!
I've narrowed them down by streaming service or where you can purchase them if they're not available to stream! I also attempted to note when a movie is on ABC or ABC Family/Freeform for the 25 days of Christmas lineup, but I encourage you to check it out & mark your favorites in your calendar! I've got EVERYTHING on this list from holiday classics to cheesy hallmark and classic cartoons!
If you're like me and can't afford to buy all of your favorites or pay for a thousand different streaming services, stop by a local library!
Most of these cannot be purchased or streamed, (technically you can watch them on YouTube for free or YouTube TV for rent & the new Christian streaming platform ReDiscover TV) but because I love them so much, I chose to purchase the entire collection from Walmart. You can grab yours here!
🎄The Little Drummer Boy
🎄Frosty the Snowman
🎄Cricket on the Hearth
🎄Rudolph
🎄The Year Without A Santa Claus
🎄Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
🎅Home Alone 1 & 2
I shall not explain myself here, cuz, duh. Both of these are available for rent, $2.99 on Vudu or $3.99 everywhere else and free with Disney+.
🎅Santa Clause 1,2,3
All three of these can be rented on YouTube, Amazon or iTunes for $2.99 each, free on Disney+ OR if you're like me and LOVE these movies and want them for your kids to watch, I bought the bundle on Amazon!
🎅Charlie Brown Christmas
We always watched this movie when we decorated the house for Christmas! You can rent this on YouTube or Amazon or watch for free on ReDiscover TV.
🎅Eloise at Christmastime
As a little girl I dreamt of spending a Christmas at The Plaza Hotel. This movie is exactly that. If you have a daughter, she will LOVE this movie! You can pick this up for $5 at Walmart, Amazon or Target or watch on Disney+!
🎅The Polar Express
I used to be terrified of this movie as a child but now I love it. Snuggle up with your love and a cup of cocoa! Available for rent for $3.99 on all platforms or free on HBO Max and Hulu. Keep your eye out for local showings of this in theaters, usually they play it around Christmastime and in my opinion, it's so much better on the big screen!
🎅The Muppets Christmas Carol
*sigh* what great memories. I mean what's better than the muppets & a classic Christmas story? Who else had this on VHS? 🙋🏼♀️ This is available to rent on all platforms for $2.99 or included with your Disney+ subscription.
🎅Mickeys Once Upon a Christmas
(Not pictured) I don't care how old you are, Disney Christmas shorts are the best. This is also available to rent on all platforms for $2.99 and on Disney+.
If you have cable you can usually catch most of these on ABC Family/Freeform 25 Days of Christmas. Also, these are all family friendly for older kids.
🎅 Christmas with the Kranks
Another great Tim Allen Christmas classic. Available to rent or with a premium Starz subscription thorugh Roku, Sling, Hulu or Amazon.
🎅 How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
As of 2021 none of the streaming services have this classic included. If you can’t stand to miss it look for it on live TV or rent on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Vudu or YouTube.
🎁 A Christmas Story
There's only one way to learn about licking poles in the winter! 🤷♀️
Available for rent, $3.99 on all platforms or included with an HBO Max subscription.
🎁 A Christmas Carol
There are SO many versions of this but our family favorite has always been the 1999 Patrick Stewart version. (FYI- It's not for young children, slightly terrifying.) It's FREE to watch on Vudu, or you can rent it on YouTube or purchase on Amazon.
🎁 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Ah. Classic. This is the movie my family watches every year after we chop down our Christmas tree and wrap it in lights. This is by far my favorite tradition we have. You can watch it all season long on TV or rent it for $3.99 on all platforms and as of November 2021 it’s available on HBO Max.
🎁 Jingle All the Way
This one is not on the top of my list, but it's solid and funny for kids. You can rent it on Vudu for $2.99 or all other platforms for $3.99.
🎁 Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
I actually watch this movie on Thanksgiving typically, because it starts with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but it's good no matter what day of the year! You can rent this on Vudu for $2.99 or all other platforms for $3.99 or it’s included on HBO Max. I believe all of these rentals are in black & white, which I personally love, but if you prefer movies in color, like my husband, you can find it on the internet, you just have to search a little.
🎁 Elf
A family favorite that you can watch on HBO Max or rent for $3.99 on all platforms or catch live on TV or in special theaters all season long!
⛄ Noel
This is a feel-good made-for-tv movie about Christmastime in NYC featuring Susan Sarandon & Penélope Cruz. You can stream it for FREE on Vudu, Tubi & (I made a mistake) Amazon Prime.
⛄ Love Actually
Available to rent for $3.99, this is the perfect Christmas movie for date night or girls night.
⛄ Little Women (1994)
This is a classic, not specifically a Christmas movie, but with all of the Christmas scenes, it definitely makes the cut. Catch the new 2019 version in theaters December 25th or rent the classic on Amazon for $3.99.
⛄ The Holiday
Available to rent for $2.99 on Amazon or free on Hulu and Netflix, this is another great Christmas movie for date night!
⛄ While You Were Sleeping
Available to rent for $3.99 on Amazon or free with Disney+. I CAN’T believe I forgot this in the first draft, it’s one of my favorites. If you’re a Chicago lover, you’ll love this one!
These all used to be on Netflix which is how I discovered them, but sadly they aren't anymore & I have to search high & low to watch them. These are for all of my girls who love cheesy Hallmark movies and want to binge watch on a Saturday! 💋
🔔 12 Dates of Christmas
This movie is so cringy but SO GOOD. All you need is a blanket and a bottle of wine for this baby. Available to rent for $3.99 on Amazon & iTunes!
🔔 All I Want for Christmas
$1.99 on YouTube, this is another made-for-tv-heart-warmer. All Jessie wants for Christmas is a husband for his widowed mother- his favorite toy company just might be able to grant his wish!
🔔 A Christmas Kiss
Working girl from Boston falls in love with her evil boss's sweet fiancé during Christmas time? So much yes. Free to stream on Vudu!
🔔 The Heart of Christmas
A Christmas movie about a little boy fighting cancer, how much more Hallmark can ya get? It's sad, but it's so sweet and so good. Available for FREE to stream on Tubi.
Below are an assortment of cheesy Netflix original Christmas movies and Christmas classics! I've ranked my top picks and included all of the ones I'm planning on watching for the first time this season!
❄ White Christmas
❄ A Holiday Engagement
(also on Amazon Prime)
❄ Let It Snow
I just added this one after watching- SO. GOOD.
❄ The Holiday Calendar
Another edit, super cute movie!
❄ Christmas with a View
Ok, my heart just burst. So cute.
❄ Christmas Wedding Planner
Heartwarming but hallmark cheesy for sure.
❄ Holiday In The Wild
Super empowering and if you love elephants or Africa, you will LOVE this movie. Not super Christmasy, but still very good.
❄ A Christmas Prince
I thought this one would be too cheesy, but it was actually super cute and would be perfect if you have little girls around the age of 8 or so.
❄ Christmas in the Smokies
Slow moving in the beginning, but if you love a good country Christmas, this one's for you! ✔ Cute country star. ✔ Small Town ️Villain. ✔ One farm that needs savin'.
❄ Operation Christmas Drop
❄ Dear Santa
❄ The Great British Baking Show Holidays
❄ The Princess Switch
❄ Merry Kissmas
❄ A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding
❄ A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
❄ The Spirit of Christmas
❄ Christmas Inheritance
❄ Christmas Survival
❄ Holidates
❄ A Bad Mom's Christmas (R – Rated)
❄ Dash & Lily
This mini series is SO good. I watched it for the first time in 2020 and will be watching it again this year.
❄ A New York Christmas Wedding
❄ Hometown Holiday
❄ Midnight at the magnolia
❄ Holiday Rush
❄ Love Hard - NEW in 2021
❄ Christmas Flow - NEW in 2021
❄ A Castle for Christmas - NEW in 2021
Note: These are all free options included with Prime Video. Again I'm including my favorites at the top and then the new ones on the bottom.
🎁 It’s A Wonderful Life (In Color & B&W)
🎁 The Christmas Lodge
🎁 Noel
🎁 You've Got Mail
(technically not Christmas based but the amazing Christmas scenes qualify it.) Also available on HBO Max for free.
🎁 Home by Christmas
🎁 The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
🎁 Marry Me for Christmas
🎁 Home for the Holidays
🎁 Falling for Christmas
🎁 A Very Country Christmas
🎁 Christmas Time
🎁 Christmas in the City
🎁 Crazy for Christmas
🎁 Christmastown
🎁 Yes, Virginia
🎁 Eve's Christmas
These are all actually new movies for me, so I'll have to go back and update this list- but here's what they have to offer!
🎄 Girlfriends of Christmas Past
🎄 Christmas with the Andersons
🎄 Naughty & Nice
🎄 Back to Christmas
🎄 A Christmas Kiss 2 (the 1st one is above)
🎄 Angels in the Snow
🎄 Home for the Holidays
🎄 The Spirit of Christmas
🎄 Married by Christmas
🎄 The Christmas Calendar
🎄 Christmas Perfection
🎄 Every Other Holiday
🎄 Holly's Holiday
🎄 Second Chance Christmas
🎄 A Chasing Christmas
I hope you found this helpful and if you happen to watch a new Christmas movie from this list, be sure to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @riley_quin! Happy Christmas movie watching! 🎄☃️🎁