50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time

01

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 77% Metacritic 69

A doctor's Christmas-season marital crisis spirals into one increasingly surreal night.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick · 2h 39m · Rated R

12 wins & 30 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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02

Groundhog Day (1993)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 93% Metacritic 72

A time-loop premise that still gets remade in spirit every few years.

Directed by Harold Ramis · 1h 41m · Rated PG

Won 1 BAFTA Award7 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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03

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 94% Metacritic 89

A despairing man is shown by a guardian angel what his community would have lost without him.

Directed by Frank Capra · 2h 11m · Rated PG

Nominated for 5 Oscars11 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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04

Joyeux Noël (2005)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 74% Metacritic 70

Enemy soldiers on the First World War front call an unofficial truce to celebrate Christmas together.

Directed by Christian Carion · 1h 56m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar6 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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05

Carol (2015)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 94% Metacritic 94

Two women's forbidden romance begins with a chance encounter in a department store at Christmas.

Directed by Todd Haynes · 1h 58m · Rated R

Nominated for 6 Oscars76 wins & 255 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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06

Little Women (2019)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 95% Metacritic 91

A fresh, non-linear retelling of the March sisters' story, opening on a snowbound Christmas.

Directed by Greta Gerwig · 2h 15m · Rated PG

Won 1 Oscar73 wins & 229 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, YouTube TV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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07

A Christmas Carol (1951)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 86%

The black-and-white Scrooge that every later version gets measured against.

Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst · 1h 26m · Rated NR

1 win

Where to watch

Stream: Dove Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

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08

Trading Places (1983)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 87% Metacritic 69

Two wealthy brothers swap a commodities broker and a street con artist's lives as a bet, with chaotic results.

Directed by John Landis · 1h 56m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar3 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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09

In Bruges (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 84% Metacritic 67

Two hitmen hide out in a Belgian tourist town over Christmas while waiting for orders that will change everything.

Directed by Martin McDonagh · 1h 48m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar25 wins & 55 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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10

Die Hard (1988)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 94% Metacritic 72

An off-duty New York cop battles terrorists who have taken over a Los Angeles skyscraper.

Directed by John McTiernan · 2h 12m · Rated R

Nominated for 4 Oscars10 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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11

Batman Returns (1992)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 81% Metacritic 68

Batman faces the Penguin and Catwoman in a gothic, snow-covered Gotham at Christmas.

Directed by Tim Burton · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 2 Oscars2 wins & 29 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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12

Gremlins (1984)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 86% Metacritic 70

A cute new pet spawns a horde of destructive monsters on Christmas Eve.

Directed by Joe Dante · 1h 46m · Rated PG

8 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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13

Black Christmas (1974)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 73% Metacritic 65

A sorority house is stalked by an unseen caller over the holidays.

Directed by Bob Clark · 1h 38m · Rated R

3 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Fandor, Shudder · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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14

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

IMDb ★ 6.1 RT 77% Metacritic 63

A small Scottish town's zombie outbreak arrives just before the school Christmas show.

Directed by John McPhail · 1h 37m · Rated R

9 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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15

Better Watch Out (2016)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 89% Metacritic 67

A babysitter's night takes a violent turn when a home invasion is not what it first seems.

Directed by Chris Peckover · 1h 29m · Rated R

8 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Philo, Screambox Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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16

Krampus (2015)

IMDb ★ 6.2 RT 67% Metacritic 49

A family's bickering Christmas gathering summons a demonic anti-Santa figure instead.

Directed by Michael Dougherty · 1h 38m · Rated PG-13

5 wins & 14 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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17

Bad Santa (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 78% Metacritic 70

A foul-mouthed conman poses as a department-store Santa to rob malls from the inside.

Directed by Terry Zwigoff · 1h 32m · Rated R

1 win & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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18

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 78% Metacritic 64

The Muppets take on Dickens with surprising sincerity underneath the puppet comedy.

Directed by Brian Henson · 1h 26m · Rated G

2 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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19

A Christmas Carol (2009)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 52% Metacritic 55

Dickens's ghost story told in motion-capture animation, staying close to the book.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 1h 36m · Rated PG

3 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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20

Scrooged (1988)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 72% Metacritic 38

A cynical, modern television executive gets the full Ebenezer Scrooge treatment from three ghosts.

Directed by Richard Donner · 1h 41m · Rated PG-13

Nominated for 1 Oscar1 win & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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21

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 99% Metacritic 96

Two bickering coworkers are secretly, unknowingly falling in love as anonymous pen pals.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch · 1h 39m · Rated NR

7 wins

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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22

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 99% Metacritic 94

A family's planned move away from St. Louis threatens to break up their happy home before Christmas.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli · 1h 54m · Rated G

Nominated for 4 Oscars9 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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23

White Christmas (1954)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 76% Metacritic 56

Two performers stage a show to save a struggling Vermont inn run by their old army general.

Directed by Michael Curtiz · 2h 00m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar3 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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24

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 96% Metacritic 88

A department-store Santa's claim to be the real thing ends up in an actual courtroom.

Directed by George Seaton · 1h 36m · Rated NR

Won 3 Oscars10 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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25

Prancer (1989)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 68%

A young girl nurses an injured reindeer back to health, convinced it belongs to Santa.

Directed by John D. Hancock · 1h 39m · Rated G

2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

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26

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 95% Metacritic 82

The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town stumbles onto Christmas and decides to take it over.

Directed by Henry Selick · 1h 16m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar7 wins & 17 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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27

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 94%

Charlie Brown goes looking for the real meaning of Christmas beneath all the commercial fuss.

Directed by Bill Melendez · 0h 25m · Rated NR

Won 1 Primetime Emmy3 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel

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28

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

IMDb ★ 8.3

A bitter, isolated creature plots to ruin an entire town's holiday out of pure spite.

Directed by Chuck Jones · 0h 25m · Rated G

1 win

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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29

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

IMDb ★ 8.0 RT 95%

A reindeer with a glowing nose is bullied until his one flaw saves Christmas.

Directed by Larry Roemer · 0h 52m · Rated G

1 win

Where to watch

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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30

Arthur Christmas (2011)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 93% Metacritic 69

Santa's awkward son races to deliver one forgotten present before sunrise.

Directed by Sarah Smith · 1h 37m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards3 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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31

Klaus (2019)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 95% Metacritic 65

A spoiled postal worker's unlikely friendship with a reclusive toymaker sparks the origin of the Santa Claus legend.

Directed by Sergio Pablos · 1h 37m · Rated PG

Nominated for 1 Oscar11 wins & 27 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

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32

The Polar Express (2004)

IMDb ★ 6.6 RT 55% Metacritic 61

A sceptical boy boards a magical train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 1h 40m · Rated G

Nominated for 3 Oscars5 wins & 26 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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33

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 80% Metacritic 66

A chaotic single woman's New Year's resolutions unravel across a messy love triangle.

Directed by Sharon Maguire · 1h 37m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar8 wins & 32 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Britbox Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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34

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

IMDb ★ 6.8 RT 81% Metacritic 67

A lonely transit worker is mistaken for the fiancee of a man she saved and barely knows.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub · 1h 43m · Rated PG

4 wins & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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35

Love Actually (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.5 RT 65% Metacritic 55

Ten overlapping London love stories converge in the weeks before Christmas.

Directed by Richard Curtis · 2h 15m · Rated R

Won 1 BAFTA Award11 wins & 30 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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36

The Holiday (2006)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 51% Metacritic 52

Two heartbroken women swap houses across the Atlantic and each fall for someone new.

Directed by Nancy Meyers · 2h 16m · Rated PG-13

2 wins & 12 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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37

Elf (2003)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 85% Metacritic 66

A man raised as one of Santa's elves travels to New York to find his real father.

Directed by Jon Favreau · 1h 37m · Rated PG

2 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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38

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 35% Metacritic 46

A family holiday mix-up strands Kevin alone in New York City instead of Florida.

Directed by Chris Columbus · 2h 00m · Rated PG

3 wins & 3 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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39

Home Alone (1990)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 66% Metacritic 63

A Christmas staple that holds up purely on slapstick craft.

Directed by Chris Columbus · 1h 43m · Rated PG

Nominated for 2 Oscars13 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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40

IMDb ★ 5.7 RT 20% Metacritic 42

Santa's resentful, ne'er-do-well older brother is forced to work at the North Pole.

Directed by David Dobkin · 1h 55m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

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50

Deck the Halls (2006)

IMDb ★ 5.1 RT 6% Metacritic 28

Two neighbours escalate a holiday-lighting rivalry until it consumes the whole street.

Directed by John Whitesell · 1h 33m · Rated PG

1 win & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

50 Best Christmas Movies of All Time

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Groundhog Day (1993)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Joyeux Noël (2005)

Carol (2015)

Little Women (2019)

A Christmas Carol (1951)

Trading Places (1983)

In Bruges (2008)

Die Hard (1988)

Batman Returns (1992)

Gremlins (1984)

Black Christmas (1974)

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

Better Watch Out (2016)

Krampus (2015)

Bad Santa (2003)

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Scrooged (1988)

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

White Christmas (1954)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Prancer (1989)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Klaus (2019)

The Polar Express (2004)

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Love Actually (2003)

The Holiday (2006)

Elf (2003)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Home Alone (1990)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

A Christmas Story (1983)

The Family Stone (2005)

Last Christmas (2019)

Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

Four Christmases (2008)

The Santa Clause (1994)

Surviving Christmas (2004)

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Fred Claus (2007)

Deck the Halls (2006)

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