The 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time
The latest: We’ve added some more jolly gems to the list to get you into the holiday spirit, such as A Very Jonas Christmas, Silent Night, Candy Cane Lane, and Nothing Like the Holidays.
From Home Alone and Elf to classics like Miracle on 34th Street, we’ve made our list of great holiday films and checked it at least twice. Now, to all you nice boys and girls out there, we present the Best Christmas Movies ever!
Christmas has come to represent different things to people over the years, and the movies here reflect that in kind. If you’re traditional and feeling nostalgic, you’ll be pleased to see where It’s A Wonderful Life and Holiday Inn made it on our list of top holiday films. If this time of the year reminds you of sitting around the TV, eagerly awaiting those annual specials, look out for A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. There’s horror (Terrifier 3), comedy (Trading Places), horror and comedy (Gremlins), and even a superhero covered in tinsel somewhere (Batman Returns). For those with an independent streak to celebrate, check out Tangerine and Carol. Meanwhile, Netflix has made great strides in the Kris Kringle quadrant with The Christmas Chronicles and Klaus. And if Christmas means traveling somewhere you don’t want to be, stuck in a building with people you don’t like, have we got the ultimate movie for you: Die Hard! Ho ho ho, now we have a complete list of great Christmas movies.
And for our most recent update, we’ve movie most of the holiday’s scary films to the Christmas horror movies guide, keeping on the more culturally significant ones like A Nightmare Before Christmas and Black Christmas. And because the season encourages getting warm and cozy with familiar films throughout the years, we’re inviting films with positive Popcornmeter receptions, the ones that may have become traditionally re-watches with your family.
So we took a sleigh ride across all of movie history, filled up our big red bag with goodies, and ultimately ranked the movies by Tomatometer score, with Certified Fresh films first. And now you’re ready to enter a wonderland of cinematic history, with the Best Christmas Movies ever!
99%
Critics Consensus: Deftly directed by Ernst Lubitsch from a smart, funny script by Samson Raphaelson, The Shop Around the Corner is a romantic comedy in the finest sense of the term.
Synopsis: Alfred Kralik and Klara Novak are employees at Matuschek and Company, a general store in Budapest. Klara and Alfred are constantly at odds with each... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut
Directed By: Ernst Lubitsch
99%
Critics Consensus: A disarmingly sweet musical led by outstanding performances from Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, Meet Me in St. Louis offers a holiday treat for all ages.
Synopsis: "Meet Me in St. Louis" is a classic MGM romantic musical comedy that focuses on four sisters (one of whom is the nonpareil Judy Garland)... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Leon Ames, Lucille Bremer
Directed By: Vincente Minnelli
97%
Critics Consensus: Beautifully bittersweet, The Holdovers marks a satisfying return to form for director Alexander Payne.
Synopsis: From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston
Directed By: Alexander Payne
96%
Critics Consensus: Tangerine shatters casting conventions and its filmmaking techniques are up-to-the-minute, but it's an old-fashioned comedy at heart -- and a pretty wonderful one at that.
Synopsis: After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian, Mickey O'Hagan
Directed By: Sean Baker
96%
Critics Consensus: Irrefutable proof that gentle sentimentalism can be the chief ingredient in a wonderful film, Miracle on 34th Street delivers a warm holiday message without resorting to treacle.
Synopsis: In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy's annual... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart
Directed By: George Seaton
95%
Critics Consensus: With a stellar cast and a smart, sensitive retelling of its classic source material, Greta Gerwig's Little Women proves some stories truly are timeless.
Synopsis: In the years after the Civil War, Jo March lives in New York and makes her living as a writer, while her sister Amy studies... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen
Directed By: Greta Gerwig
95%
Critics Consensus: The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunningly original and visually delightful work of stop-motion animation.
Synopsis: The film follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, who has become bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey
Directed By: Henry Selick
95%
Critics Consensus: Beautiful hand-drawn animation and a humorous, heartwarming narrative make Klaus an instant candidate for holiday classic status.
Synopsis: A desperate postman accidentally brings about the genesis of Santa Claus.
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso
Directed By: Sergio Pablos
94%
Critics Consensus: Shaped by Todd Haynes' deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Synopsis: Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy
Directed By: Todd Haynes
94%
Critics Consensus: The holiday classic to define all holiday classics, It's a Wonderful Life is one of a handful of films worth an annual viewing.
Synopsis: After George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes he had never been born, an angel (Henry Travers) is sent to earth to make George's wish come true.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell
Directed By: Frank Capra
94%
Critics Consensus: Its many imitators (and sequels) have never come close to matching the taut thrills of the definitive holiday action classic.
Synopsis: New York City policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) on Christmas Eve. He joins her at a holiday party... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson
Directed By: John McTiernan
95%
Critics Consensus: More of a stocking stuffer than a fully-rounded parcel, this yuletide excursion is a delightful showcase for Drax, Mantis, and a very game Kevin Bacon.
Synopsis: Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans.
Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldaña
Directed By: James Gunn
93%
Critics Consensus: Aardman Animations broadens their humor a bit for Arthur Christmas, a clever and earnest holiday film with surprising emotional strength.
Synopsis: Everyone knows that, each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth. What everyone doesn't know is that Santa accomplishes the feat... View Full Synopsis
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent
Directed By: Sarah Smith
93%
Critics Consensus: Director Billy Wilder's customary cynicism is leavened here by tender humor, romance, and genuine pathos.
Synopsis: Insurance worker C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) lends his Upper West Side apartment to company bosses to use for extramarital affairs. When his manager Mr. Sheldrake... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston
Directed By: Billy Wilder
92%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a powerhouse lineup of talented actresses, Gillian Armstrong's take on Louisa May Alcott's Little Women proves that a timeless story can succeed no matter how many times it's told.
Synopsis: In this 1994 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic, the March sisters confront growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies and romantic rivalries in mid-19th-century Massachusetts.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis
Directed By: Gillian Armstrong
92%
Critics Consensus: Beautiful and substantive, Tokyo Godfathers adds a moving -- and somewhat unconventional -- entry to the animated Christmas canon.
Synopsis: Middle-aged alcoholic Gin (Toru Emori), teenage runaway Miyuki (Aya Okamoto) and former drag queen Hana (Yoshiaki Umegaki) are a trio of homeless people surviving as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Yoshiaki Umegaki, Aya Okamoto, Toru Emori
Directed By: Satoshi Kon
91%
Critics Consensus: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey celebrates the yuletide season with a holiday adventure whose exuberant spirit is matched by its uplifting message.
Synopsis: Decades after his apprentice betrays him, a once joyful toymaker finds new hope when his bright young granddaughter appears on his doorstep.
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose
Directed By: David E. Talbert
91%
Critics Consensus: The first collaboration between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, Edward Scissorhands is a magical modern fairy tale with gothic overtones and a sweet center.
Synopsis: A scientist (Vincent Price) builds an animated human being -- the gentle Edward (Johnny Depp). The scientist dies before he can finish assembling Edward, though,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall
Directed By: Tim Burton
87%
Critics Consensus: Both warmly nostalgic and darkly humorous, A Christmas Story deserves its status as a holiday perennial.
Synopsis: Based on the humorous writings of author Jean Shepherd, this beloved holiday movie follows the wintry exploits of youngster Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley), who spends... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, Ian Petrella
Directed By: Bob Clark
89%
Critics Consensus: Carried by its charismatic young cast, Better Watch Out is an adorably sinister holiday horror film.
Synopsis: Ashley travels to the suburban home of the Lerners to baby-sit their 12-year-old son Luke at Christmastime. She must soon defend herself and the young... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Dacre Montgomery
Directed By: Chris Peckover
87%
Critics Consensus: It can be frustratingly uneven, but strong performances from a talented cast help Spoiler Alert stay on the right side of saccharine.
Synopsis: Based on Michael Ausiello's best-selling memoir "Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies," the film is a heartwarming, funny and life-affirming story of how Michael and Kit's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, Sally Field, Bill Irwin
Directed By: Michael Showalter
86%
Critics Consensus: Whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick, Gremlins is a minor classic.
Synopsis: A gadget salesman is looking for a special gift for his son and finds one at a store in Chinatown. The shopkeeper is reluctant to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Frances Lee McCain
Directed By: Joe Dante
87%
Critics Consensus: Featuring deft interplay between Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Trading Places is an immensely appealing social satire.
Synopsis: Upper-crust executive Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and down-and-out hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) are the subjects of a bet by successful brokers Mortimer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche
Directed By: John Landis
86%
Critics Consensus: Tongue-in-cheek satire blends well with entertaining action and spot-on performances in this dark, eclectic neo-noir homage.
Synopsis: Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen
Directed By: Shane Black
86%
Critics Consensus: A sharp black comedy about a chaotic family holiday gathering, A Christmas Tale is always involving, thanks to an impressive ensemble cast.
Synopsis: When steely French matriarch Junon learns she has leukemia, she asks her children and grandchildren at the family Christmas gathering to see if they are... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Anne Consigny, Mathieu Amalric
Directed By: Arnaud Desplechin
85%
Critics Consensus: A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance as one of Santa's biggest helpers.
Synopsis: Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa's elves. Unable to shake the feeling... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner
Directed By: Jon Favreau
82%
Critics Consensus: A jolly good time with heartfelt performances and more than enough holiday cheer, all you'll want for Christmas is Happiest Season.
Synopsis: This romantic comedy is about longtime lesbian couple Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis), who made plans to go home to the latter's family... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber
Directed By: Clea Duvall
82%
Critics Consensus: Director Tim Burton's dark, brooding atmosphere, Michael Keaton's work as the tormented hero, and the flawless casting of Danny DeVito as The Penguin and Christopher Walken as, well, Christopher Walken make the sequel better than the first.
Synopsis: The monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) to topple the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken
Directed By: Tim Burton
81%
Critics Consensus: While You Were Sleeping is built wholly from familiar ingredients, but assembled with such skill -- and with such a charming performance from Sandra Bullock -- that it gives formula a good name.
Synopsis: Lonely transit worker Lucy Eleanor Moderatz pulls her longtime crush, Peter, from the path of an oncoming train. At the hospital, doctors report that he's... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher, Peter Boyle
Directed By: Jon Turteltaub
80%
Critics Consensus: Capturing both the cheer and frustration that accompany holiday gatherings, Christmas Eve in Miller's Point is a yuletide chronicle that rings true.
Synopsis: In CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT, a rambunctious extended family descends upon their small Long Island hometown for the holidays. Before the evening is over,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Cera, Elsie Fisher, Maria Dizzia, Sawyer Spielberg
Directed By: Tyler Taormina
79%
Critics Consensus: The Man Who Invented Christmas adds holiday magic to the writing of A Christmas Carol, putting a sweetly revisionist spin on the story behind a classic yuletide tale.
Synopsis: In 1843 London, author Charles Dickens finds himself in financial trouble after writing three unsuccessful novels in a row. Desperate for a hit, Dickens relies... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Justin Edwards
Directed By: Bharat Nalluri
79%
Critics Consensus: It isn't as much fun as an official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time, but A Christmas Story Christmas remains a sequel worth celebrating.
Synopsis: The family comedy "A Christmas Story Christmas" is the long-awaited follow-up to annual holiday favorite, "A Christmas Story." This time, Ralphie is all grown up... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Julie Hagerty, Erinn Hayes, Ian Petrella
Directed By: Clay Kaytis
78%
Critics Consensus: A gloriously rude and gleefully offensive black comedy, Bad Santa isn't for everyone, but grinches will find it uproariously funny.
Synopsis: In this dark comedy, the crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham
Directed By: Terry Zwigoff
78%
Critics Consensus: It may not be the finest version of Charles Dickens' tale to grace the screen, but The Muppet Christmas Carol is funny and heartwarming, and serves as a good introduction to the story for young viewers.
Synopsis: The Muppets perform the classic Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge. Other Muppets --... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson
Directed By: Brian Henson
77%
Critics Consensus: Anna and the Apocalypse finds fresh brains and a lot of heart in the crowded zombie genre - not to mention a fun genre mashup populated by rootable characters.
Synopsis: A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven - at Christmas - forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Christopher Leveaux
Directed By: John McPhail
76%
Critics Consensus: It may be too sweet for some, but this unabashedly sentimental holiday favorite is too cheerful to resist.
Synopsis: Two talented song and dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
75%
Critics Consensus: Intelligent, well-acted, and satisfyingly low-key, Happy Christmas marks another step in prolific filmmaker Joe Swanberg's creative evolution.
Synopsis: An immature party girl (Anna Kendrick) moves in with her brother's family to get over a breakup and throws their lives out of whack.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham
Directed By: Joe Swanberg
74%
Critics Consensus: The poignant humanity on display in Joyeux Noel makes its sentimentality forgivable.
Synopsis: With the advent of World War I, Europe is thrown into a brutal and vicious chaos as men are forced to kill or be killed.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Diane Kruger, Benno Fürmann, Guillaume Canet, Gary Lewis
Directed By: Christian Carion
74%
Critics Consensus: The Force isn't fully with this Lego Star Wars adventure, but its affectionate franchise callbacks and self-aware humor should please fans looking to spend their holidays in a galaxy far, far away...
Synopsis: "The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special" reunites Rey, Finn, Poe, Chewie, Rose and the droids for a joyous feast on Life Day. Rey sets off... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kelly Marie Tran, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Matt Lanter
Directed By: Ken Cunningham
73%
Critics Consensus: The Santa Clause is utterly undemanding, but it's firmly rooted in the sort of good old-fashioned holiday spirit missing from too many modern yuletide films.
Synopsis: Divorced dad Scott (Tim Allen) has custody of his son (Eric Lloyd) on Christmas Eve. After he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd
Directed By: John Pasquin
73%
Critics Consensus: Undeniably uneven and too dark for some, The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.
Synopsis: Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.
Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.
Directed By: Ted Demme
100%
Critics Consensus: How the Grinch Stole Christmas brings an impressive array of talent to bear on an adaptation that honors a classic holiday story -- and has rightfully become a yuletide tradition of its own.
Synopsis: This made-for-TV Christmas special is a classic. Based on a Dr. Seuss book, it is about a Christmas-hating Grinch who wants to make everyone as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Boris Karloff, June Foray, Thurl Ravenscroft
Directed By: Chuck Jones
100%
Critics Consensus: With the combined might of Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Irving Berlin working in its favor, Holiday Inn is a seasonal classic -- not least because it introduced "White Christmas" to the world.
Synopsis: In this Irving Berlin musical, Jim (Bing Crosby) and Lila are members of a performing trio who plan to quit and run a country hotel.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale
Directed By: Mark Sandrich
95%
Critics Consensus: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a yule-tide gem that bursts with eye-popping iconography, a spirited soundtrack, and a heart-warming celebration of difference.
Synopsis: This stop-motion animagic version of the classic Christmas tale adds a bit of a twist when Rudolph encounters an abominable snowman.
Starring: Burl Ives, Larry D. Mann, Billie Mae Richards, Paul Soles
Directed By: Maury Laws, Larry Roemer
92%
Critics Consensus: Decking the halls with unflappable charm and sincere spiritual conviction, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is winningly wholesome family entertainment.
Synopsis: The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully... and now they've hijacked the town... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Molly Belle Wright, Lauren Graham
Directed By: Dallas Jenkins
87%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: In "A Very Jonas Christmas Movie," Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas face a series of escalating obstacles as they struggle to make it from London... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Chloe Bennet
Directed By: Jessica Yu
90%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Suzanne struggles to put her life back together after a tragedy at Christmas time.
Starring: Anna Margaret Hollyman, Laura Lemar-Goldsborough, Lydia Hyslop, Joe Swanberg
Directed By: Zach Clark
90%
Critics Consensus: Have no fear! Mrs Claus spreads holiday cheer in The Year Without Santa, a holiday classic full of unforgettable songs and characters that stays true to the Christmas spirit.
Synopsis: Sidelined by a nasty cold and feeling unneeded, Santa decides not to make his annual Christmas journey. Elves Jingle and Jangle scour the world to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Shirley Booth, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving
Directed By: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) grows familiar with the Diary of a Housewife column written by Elizabeth Lane (Barbara... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner
Directed By: Peter Godfrey
89%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: The U.S. Postal Service makes it possible for the public to safely adopt letters to Santa Claus during Christmastime.
Directed By: Dana Nachman
86%
Critics Consensus: The 1951 adaptation of Charles Dickens' timeless classic is perhaps the most faithful film version -- and Alastair Sim's performance as Scrooge is not to be missed.
Synopsis: Crotchety Victorian businessman Ebenezer Scrooge (Alastair Sim) has no use for festivity, even at Christmas. After resentfully allowing timid clerk Bob Cratchit (Mervyn Johns) to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Alastair Sim, Kathleen Harrison, Mervyn Johns, Hermione Baddeley
Directed By: Brian Desmond Hurst
86%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Christmastime is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight. Christmas lights may be... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Peter Robbins, Christopher Shea, Tracy Stratford, Sally Dryer
Directed By: Bill Melendez, Phil Roman
85%
Critics Consensus: The Bishop's Wife succeeds thanks to the strength of winning performances from a stellar cast, which includes Cary Grant and Loretta Young.
Synopsis: Dejected by his efforts to raise money to build a cathedral, Bishop Henry Brougham (David Niven) beseeches heaven for guidance, and is visited immediately by... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven, Monty Woolley
Directed By: Henry Koster
85%
Critics Consensus: Comfortably cliché, Let It Snow wears its influences on its sleeve, but works anyway thanks an excellent ensemble and just the right amount of holiday cheer.
Synopsis: A snowstorm brings a group of young people together.
Starring: Isabela Merced, Shameik Moore, Kiernan Shipka, Odeya Rush
Directed By: Luke Snellin
84%
Critics Consensus: For viewers seeking an undemanding and sweetly nostalgic ode to yuletide seasons past, 8-Bit Christmas boots up without a glitch.
Synopsis: A humorous and heartfelt look back at the adventures of childhood. Set in suburban Chicago in the late 1980s, the story centers on ten-year-old Jake... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Winslow Fegley, June Diane Raphael, Steve Zahn
Directed By: Michael Dowse
83%
Critics Consensus: A Boy Called Christmas offers few surprises, but makes up for its lack of originality with a heaping helping of winsome holiday spirit.
Synopsis: An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Henry Lawfull, Stephen Merchant, Michiel Huisman, Zoe Margaret Colletti
Directed By: Gil Kenan
82%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Kermit tries to save the theater from a banker (Joan Cusack) who wants to demolish it and open a trendy nightclub.
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Cusack, David Arquette, William H. Macy
Directed By: Kirk R. Thatcher
77%
Critics Consensus: With a bombastic performance from Jim Broadbent, Get Santa brilliantly captures the joys of the Christmas holiday.
Synopsis: After crashing his sleigh, Santa Claus (Jim Broadbent) asks a father (Rafe Spall) and son (Kit Connor) for help to round up his reindeer and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Rafe Spall, Warwick Davis, Kit Connor
Directed By: Christopher Smith
75%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: To escape a scandal, a bestselling author journeys to Scotland, where she falls in love with a castle -- and faces off with the grumpy... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cary Elwes, Brooke Shields, Vanessa Grasse, Suanne Braun
Directed By: Mary Lambert
75%
Critics Consensus: The Little Drummer Boy is a mature addition to the Rankin-Bass catalogue, with a powerful conclusion that compensates for the special's dour storytelling and unpolished animation.
Synopsis: An orphaned boy who hates humanity encounters the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Music by the Vienna Boys Choir.
Starring: Greer Garson, José Ferrer, Paul Frees, June Foray
Directed By: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
74%
Critics Consensus: Violent Night isn't as wildly entertaining as its concept might suggest, but for those seeking harder-edged holiday fare, it may be a ho-ho-whole lot of fun.
Synopsis: When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn't prepared for a surprise... View Full Synopsis
Starring: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder
Directed By: Tommy Wirkola
73%
Critics Consensus: Frosty the Snowman is a jolly, happy sing-along that will delight children with its crisp animation and affable title character, who makes an indelible impression with his corncob pipe, button nose, and eyes made out of coal.
Synopsis: A discarded magic top hat brings to life the snowman that a group of children made, until a magician, professor Hinkle, wants it back, and... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jimmy Durante, Billy De Wolfe, Jackie Vernon, Paul Frees
Directed By: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.
72%
Critics Consensus: While Christmas Vacation may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat.
Synopsis: As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), and children,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Diane Ladd
Directed By: Jeremiah S. Chechik
72%
Critics Consensus: Tis the season for romantic misfortune, and there's still time to get Something from Tiffany's -- a little box of derivative fun that bolsters a low-carat hand of comedy and good chemistry.
Synopsis: Nothing compares to the magic and excitement of the holidays in New York City, where the streets blaze with lights, windows dazzle and a special... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Shay Mitchell, Rose Abdoo, Leah Jeffries
Directed By: Daryl Wein
71%
Critics Consensus: The Best Man Holiday manages honest laughs out of broad humor, and affects convincing drama from a deeply conventional plot.
Synopsis: Nearly 15 years after they were last together as a group, college friends Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs), Candace (Regina Hall), Quentin (Terrence Howard),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard
Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee
71%
Critics Consensus: Scrooged gets by with Bill Murray and a dash of holiday spirit, although it's hampered by a markedly conflicted tone and an undercurrent of mean-spiritedness.
Synopsis: In this modern take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, John Glover
Directed By: Richard Donner
72%
Critics Consensus: The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts, Black Christmas offers fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans.
Synopsis: As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, John Saxon
Directed By: Bob Clark
71%
Critics Consensus: While its plot borders on the absurd, The Knight Before Christmas is endearing and charming enough to make it a worthy addition to the holiday rom-com genre.
Synopsis: A medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who's disillusioned by love.
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Josh Whitehouse, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Harry Jarvis
Directed By: Monika Mitchell
70%
Critics Consensus: Although it adds little to the long tradition of Dickens adaptations, Spirited is so genially overstuffed that it's easy to at least intermittently enjoy.
Synopsis: A modern musical rendition of Charles Dickens' classic holiday story "A Christmas Carol."
Starring: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Patrick Page
Directed By: Sean Anders
70%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Desperate to avoid his family's judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to join him for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers, Kathy Najimy, Luke Macfarlane
Directed By: Michael Mayer
69%
Critics Consensus: Still raunchy, still irreverent, and still hit-and-miss, this Harold & Kumar outing also has a Christmas miracle: The audience gets to see the sweeter side of the duo.
Synopsis: Six years after their last adventure, stoner pals Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) have grown apart and found new friends. As each is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Danneel Ackles
Directed By: Todd Strauss-Schulson
69%
Critics Consensus: The Night Before provokes enough belly laughs to qualify as a worthwhile addition to the list of Christmas comedies worth revisiting, even if it isn't quite as consistent as the classics.
Synopsis: For the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell
Directed By: Jonathan Levine
68%
Critics Consensus: More bippity boppity than boo, Godmothered tweaks fairytale conventions with just enough self-aware humor to overcome a disappointing deficit of genuine magic.
Synopsis: Set at Christmas time, "Godmothered" is a comedy about Eleanor, a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training (Jillian Bell), who upon hearing that her chosen profession is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Isla Fisher, Jillian Bell, Santiago Cabrera, Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Directed By: Sharon Maguire
68%
Critics Consensus: Prancer's good-natured holiday cheer -- and a terrific performance from its young star -- are enough to make this yuletide adventure a moderately rewarding watch.
Synopsis: Refusing to give up her belief in Santa Claus, a child, Jessica Riggs (Rebecca Harrell), discovers a hurt reindeer in the woods, which she believes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Cloris Leachman, Rutanya Alda
Directed By: John D. Hancock
67%
Critics Consensus: Krampus is gory good fun for fans of non-traditional holiday horror with a fondness for Joe Dante's B- movie classics, even if it doesn't have quite the savage bite its concept calls for.
Synopsis: While the holiday season represents the most magical time of year, ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a horned beast who punishes naughty children at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Stefania Owen
Directed By: Michael Dougherty
67%
Critics Consensus: Viewers seeking a fresh holiday viewing option -- or those simply in the mood for Santa Kurt Russell -- should find The Christmas Chronicles well worth a yuletide stream.
Synopsis: Siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce hatch a scheme to capture Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. When the plan goes awry, the kids join forces with... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Directed By: Clay Kaytis
66%
Critics Consensus: Home Alone's uneven but frequently funny premise, stretched unreasonably thin, is buoyed by Macaulay Culkin's cute performance and strong supporting stars.
Synopsis: When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. After the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O'Hara
Directed By: Chris Columbus
66%
Critics Consensus: While it's missing some of the magic of the original, The Christmas Chronicles 2 serves up a sweet second helping of holiday cheer that makes the most of its marvelously matched leads.
Synopsis: Teenager Kate Pierce is reunited with Santa Claus when a troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas -- forever.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Darby Camp, Judah Lewis
Directed By: Chris Columbus
65%
Critics Consensus: A sugary tale overstuffed with too many stories. Still, the cast charms.
Synopsis: Nine intertwined journeys examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects all individuals, love. Among these individuals is David, the handsome, newly elected British... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman
Directed By: Richard Curtis
62%
Critics Consensus: It's no Miracle on 34th Street, but viewers in the mood for some fa la la la Lohan will find Falling for Christmas as easy as falling on the couch.
Synopsis: A newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress gets into a skiing accident, suffers from total amnesia and finds herself in the care of a handsome, blue-collar... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, Jack Wagner, George Young
Directed By: Janeen Damian
61%
Critics Consensus: Solid performances and a steady directorial hand help The Preacher's Wife offer some reliably heartwarming - albeit fairly predictable - holiday cheer.
Synopsis: A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the good reverend over his midlife... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines
Directed By: Penny Marshall
60%
Critics Consensus: The Grinch gives the classic Seuss source material a brightly animated update that's solidly suitable for younger viewers without adding substantially to the story's legacy.
Synopsis: The Grinch and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of aggravation comes during Christmastime... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Cameron Seely, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams
Directed By: Scott Mosier, Yarrow Cheney
60%
Critics Consensus: Silent Night reaffirms that an action movie doesn't need much dialogue if the set pieces are solid enough -- and that even second-tier John Woo can be worth the price of admission.
Synopsis: A gritty revenge tale of a tormented father who witnesses his young son die when caught in a gang’s crossfire on Christmas Eve. While recovering... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Harold Torres
Directed By: John Woo
59%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Six-year-old Susan Walker (Mara Wilson) is skeptical of the Christmas myth surrounding Santa Claus, a trait she perhaps learned from her mother, Dorey (Elizabeth Perkins).... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott, Mara Wilson
Directed By: Les Mayfield
56%
Critics Consensus: Although Queen Latifah's bountiful life-affirming spirit permeates the film, director Wayne Wang is unable to revive this remake with any real flair.
Synopsis: The discovery that she has a terminal illness prompts introverted saleswoman Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) to reflect on what she realizes has been an overly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Queen Latifah, Gérard Depardieu, LL Cool J, Timothy Hutton
Directed By: Wayne Wang
56%
Critics Consensus: The always charming Anna Kendrick does her best, but Noelle's progressive take on a timeless tale is unfortunately subdued.
Synopsis: Kris Kringle's daughter is full of Christmas spirit but wishes she could do something important like her brother Nick, who will take over for their... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Julie Hagerty
Directed By: Marc Lawrence
56%
Critics Consensus: Though it's harmless as family entertainment and has moments of charm, The Santa Clause 2 is also predictable and forgettable.
Synopsis: Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been in the role of Santa for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, David Krumholtz, Eric Lloyd
Directed By: Michael Lembeck
56%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When Duchess Margaret unexpectedly inherits the throne to Montenaro and hits a rough patch with boyfriend Kevin, it's up to her double, Princess Stacy, to... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Nick Sagar, Suanne Braun
Directed By: Mike Rohl
55%
Critics Consensus: Though the movie is visually stunning overall, the animation for the human characters isn't lifelike enough, and the story is padded.
Synopsis: When a doubting young boy takes a train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Michael Jeter, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
55%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Twenty years after the disappearance of her daughter, recovering alcoholic Darlene Hagen is preparing to host her family's Christmas celebration with her best friend Gretchen.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Anna Gunn, Linus Roache, Janeane Garofalo, Holland Bailey
Directed By: Alison Locke
54%
Critics Consensus: The Family Man's earnest attempt to remind audiences that it's a wonderful life too often steers into schmaltz, although Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni's romantic rapport adds a dash of sincere sweetness.
Synopsis: Jack's lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store holdup and disarms the gunman. The next morning he wakes... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven
Directed By: Brett Ratner
53%
Critics Consensus: The performances are the strength of Nothing Like the Holidays, a rather ordinary holiday comedy with a latin twist.
Synopsis: It's the Christmas season and the scattered members of the Rodriguez family come to their parents' Chicago home to celebrate. But, no family gathering is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodríguez, Elizabeth Peña, Alfred Molina
Directed By: Alfredo De Villa
50%
Critics Consensus: Love Hard's interesting setup and charming cast have a definite rom-com appeal, even if the story never quite develops its main characters' love connection.
Synopsis: An LA girl, unlucky in love, falls for an East Coast guy on a dating app and decides to surprise him for the holidays, only... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Nina Dobrev, Darren Barnet, Jimmy O. Yang, Lochlyn Munro
Directed By: Hernán Jiménez
52%
Critics Consensus: This family holiday dramedy features fine performances but awkward shifts of tone.
Synopsis: Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) wants to bring his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to meet his bohemian Connecticut family at Christmas. Straitlaced Meredith, feeling... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Luke Wilson
Directed By: Thomas Bezucha
51%
Critics Consensus: While it's certainly sweet and even somewhat touching, The Holiday is so thoroughly predictable that audiences may end up opting for an early check-out time.
Synopsis: Two women, one from America and one from Britain, swap homes at Christmastime after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance with a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black
Directed By: Nancy Meyers
50%
Critics Consensus: Jim Carrey shines as the Grinch. Unfortunately, it's not enough to save this movie. You'd be better off watching the TV cartoon.
Synopsis: In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's tale by Dr. Seuss, the reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin
Directed By: Ron Howard
47%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Ginny (Mary Steenburgen) has a difficult time mustering Christmas spirit due to her husband Jack's (Gary Basaraba) unemployment and her humble position as a grocery... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Mary Steenburgen, Harry Dean Stanton, Gary Basaraba, Arthur Hill
Directed By: Phillip Borsos
47%
Critics Consensus: Likable leads, terrific behind-the-scenes talent, and an intriguing musical hook aren't enough to save Last Christmas from its poorly conceived story.
Synopsis: Nothing seems to go right for young Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. But things soon take... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson
Directed By: Paul Feig
45%
Critics Consensus: Candy Cane Lane gets credit for its willingness to get weird, but in most other respects, this Eddie Murphy-led holiday comedy is a dead end.
Synopsis: Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood's annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Jillian Bell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Thaddeus J. Mixson
Directed By: Reginald Hudlin
