100 Christmas Movies to Brighten Your Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for cozy nights, warm cocoa, and heartwarming Christmas movies! We’ve curated a magical list of 100 festive films spanning all genres, time periods, and cultures. From timeless classics to hidden gems, this collection has something for everyone. So grab your favorite blanket, settle in, and let the holiday spirit wash over you with these cinematic treasures!

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Frank Capra’s timeless classic about a man who learns the true value of his life with the help of a guardian angel.
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) – A department store Santa claims to be the real Kris Kringle, sparking a courtroom battle and touching hearts.
3. White Christmas (1954) – Bing Crosby leads this musical favorite about entertainers staging a Christmas show to save a Vermont inn.
4. A Christmas Story (1983) – Ralphie’s quest for the perfect Christmas gift – a Red Ryder BB gun – in 1940s Indiana.
5. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) – The Griswold family’s hilarious misadventures as they attempt to have the perfect Christmas.
6. Home Alone (1990) – A young boy accidentally left behind defends his home from burglars in this beloved comedy.
7. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang bring Dickens’ classic tale to life with puppetry and music.
8. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Tim Burton’s stop-motion masterpiece blending Halloween and Christmas in a unique fantasy.
9. Elf (2003) – Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised as an elf who travels to New York to find his biological father.
10. Love Actually (2003) – An ensemble romantic comedy following multiple storylines in London during the holiday season.
11. The Polar Express (2004) – A boy’s magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, based on the children’s book.
12. Arthur Christmas (2011) – An animated adventure revealing how Santa’s high-tech operation delivers presents around the world.
13. Klaus (2019) – A beautifully animated origin story of Santa Claus, set in a remote Nordic village.
14. Joyeux Noël (2005) – A touching French film about the Christmas truce between German, French, and Scottish soldiers during World War I.
15. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) – Satoshi Kon’s anime about three homeless people who find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve.
16. The Shop Around the Corner (1940) – Two feuding shop employees unknowingly fall in love as anonymous pen pals in this romantic comedy.
17. Remember the Night (1940) – A touching romance between a prosecutor and the shoplifter he’s supposed to be prosecuting over Christmas.
18. Holiday Inn (1942) – The film that introduced the world to the song “White Christmas,” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.
19. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) – A food writer who can’t cook must host a war hero for Christmas dinner in this charming comedy.
20. The Bishop’s Wife (1947) – An angel helps a bishop and his wife raise funds for a new cathedral in this heartwarming tale.
21. 3 Godfathers (1948) – John Wayne stars in this Western about outlaws who become unlikely caretakers of a baby during Christmastime.
22. The Holly and the Ivy (1952) – A British drama about a family reuniting for Christmas and confronting long-held secrets.
23. We’re No Angels (1955) – Humphrey Bogart leads a trio of escaped convicts who become unlikely Christmas saviors for a struggling family.
24. The Snowman (1982) – A wordless, animated short film about a boy’s magical Christmas Eve adventure with a snowman come to life.
25. A Christmas Carol (1984) – George C. Scott delivers a powerful performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in this adaptation of Dickens’ tale.
26. One Magic Christmas (1985) – A guardian angel helps a struggling mother rediscover the magic of Christmas in this touching Disney film.
27. Scrooged (1988) – Bill Murray stars in this modern retelling of “A Christmas Carol” set in the world of network television.
28. The Little Match Girl (1990) – An animated adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s poignant Christmas story.
29. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) – An action thriller set during Christmas about an amnesiac schoolteacher who discovers she’s an assassin.
30. Jingle All the Way (1996) – Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a father desperately trying to find a popular toy on Christmas Eve.
31. Jack Frost (1998) – A heartwarming fantasy about a father who returns as a snowman to spend time with his son.
32. The Family Man (2000) – Nicolas Cage stars in this “It’s a Wonderful Life”-inspired tale about a man who glimpses an alternate life.
33. The Preacher’s Wife (1996) – A remake of “The Bishop’s Wife” starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
34. Serendipity (2001) – A romantic comedy about two strangers who meet by chance and try to reconnect years later during Christmas.
35. Bad Santa (2003) – A dark comedy about a conman who poses as a mall Santa to rob department stores.
36. The Polar Express (2004) – A boy’s magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve, based on the children’s book.
37. The Holiday (2006) – Two women swap homes for Christmas and find unexpected romance in this charming rom-com.
38. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) – A Finnish dark fantasy that reimagines Santa Claus as an ancient, sinister being.
39. Arthur Christmas (2011) – An animated adventure revealing how Santa’s high-tech operation delivers presents around the world.
40. The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) – A biographical drama about Charles Dickens and the creation of “A Christmas Carol.”
41. Last Christmas (2019) – A romantic comedy inspired by the music of George Michael, set in London during the holiday season.
42. Happiest Season (2020) – A lesbian couple navigates coming out and family dynamics during a Christmas gathering.
43. 8-Bit Christmas (2021) – A nostalgic comedy about a boy’s quest to get a Nintendo Entertainment System for Christmas in the 1980s.
44. Silent Night (1935) – A German film about the creation of the famous Christmas carol “Silent Night.”
45. Christmas in July (1940) – Preston Sturges’ comedy about a man who believes he’s won a fortune in a slogan contest.
46. The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) – Bob Hope stars in this comedy about a con man who must raise money by Christmas or face dire consequences.
47. The Gathering (1977) – An Emmy-winning TV movie about a dying man trying to reunite his estranged family for one last Christmas.
48. The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972) – A touching TV movie about a young girl who longs for a Christmas tree despite her father’s objections.
49. The Small One (1978) – A Don Bluth-directed short film about a boy trying to find a new home for his beloved donkey.
50. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983) – A TV movie based on the popular children’s book about a chaotic church nativity play.
51. One Magic Christmas (1985) – A guardian angel helps a struggling mother rediscover the magic of Christmas in this touching Disney film.
52. Prancer (1989) – A young girl finds an injured reindeer and believes it to be one of Santa’s in this heartwarming family film.
53. All I Want for Christmas (1991) – Two children scheme to reunite their divorced parents for Christmas in this family comedy.
54. The Santa Clause (1994) – Tim Allen stars as a man who accidentally becomes Santa Claus in this beloved family comedy.
55. Miracle on 34th Street (1994) – A remake of the 1947 classic, with Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.
56. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – Jim Carrey brings Dr. Seuss’ green grump to life in this live-action adaptation.
57. The Christmas Shoes (2002) – Based on the popular song, this TV movie tells a touching story of kindness and generosity.
58. Christmas with the Kranks (2004) – A couple decides to skip Christmas, much to their neighbors’ dismay, in this comedy based on John Grisham’s novel.
59. The Nativity Story (2006) – A dramatic retelling of the birth of Jesus, focusing on Mary and Joseph’s journey.
60. Fred Claus (2007) – Vince Vaughn stars as Santa’s troublemaking older brother in this family comedy.
61. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011) – The stoner duo’s holiday misadventures in this raunchy comedy sequel.
62. Get Santa (2014) – A British comedy about a father and son trying to help Santa Claus after he crashes his sleigh.
63. The Night Before (2015) – Three friends embark on one last wild Christmas Eve adventure in this raucous comedy.
64. The Christmas Chronicles (2018) – Kurt Russell stars as Santa Claus in this adventure about siblings who crash Santa’s sleigh.
65. Noelle (2019) – Anna Kendrick stars as Santa’s daughter who must save Christmas in this Disney+ original.
66. A Boy Called Christmas (2021) – A magical origin story of Father Christmas based on Matt Haig’s children’s book.
67. Spirited (2022) – A musical retelling of “A Christmas Carol” starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.
68. Christmas with You (2022) – A pop star finds inspiration and romance in a small town while granting a young fan’s wish.
69. Falling for Christmas (2022) – Lindsay Lohan stars in this rom-com about an amnesiac heiress who finds love in a ski town.
70. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) – Satoshi Kon’s anime about three homeless people who find an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve.
71. Joyeux Noël (2005) – A touching French film about the Christmas truce between German, French, and Scottish soldiers during World War I.
72. Christmas in the Clouds (2001) – A romantic comedy set at a Native American-owned ski resort during the holiday season.
73. In Bruges (2008) – A dark comedy about two hitmen laying low in Bruges, Belgium during the Christmas season.
74. Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) – A Finnish dark fantasy that reimagines Santa Claus as an ancient, sinister being.
75. A Christmas Tale (2008) – A French drama about a dysfunctional family reuniting for the holidays as the matriarch faces a serious illness.
76. Carol (2015) – A romantic drama set during the Christmas season in 1950s New York, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
77. Black Christmas (1974) – A Canadian slasher film that helped define the genre, set in a sorority house during Christmas break.
78. Tangerine (2015) – A comedy-drama following a transgender sex worker searching for her cheating boyfriend on Christmas Eve in Los Angeles.
79. Christmas, Again (2014) – An indie drama about a heartbroken Christmas tree vendor in New York City.
80. A Christmas Tale (2008) – A French drama about a dysfunctional family reuniting for the holidays as the matriarch faces a serious illness.
81. The Apartment (1960) – Billy Wilder’s classic comedy-drama set during the holiday season in New York City.
82. Remember the Night (1940) – A touching romance between a prosecutor and the shoplifter he’s supposed to be prosecuting over Christmas.
83. Christmas in Connecticut (1945) – A food writer who can’t cook must host a war hero for Christmas dinner in this charming comedy.
84. The Ref (1994) – Denis Leary stars as a burglar who becomes entangled with a dysfunctional family on Christmas Eve.
85. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – A neo-noir comedy set during the Christmas season in Los Angeles, starring Robert Downey Jr.
86. A Very Murray Christmas (2015) – Bill Murray hosts a star-studded Christmas special in this Netflix original.
87. Krampus (2015) – A horror-comedy about the dark side of holiday folklore coming to life.
88. Better Watch Out (2016) – A twisted Christmas thriller that subverts home invasion tropes.
89. The Snowman (1982) – A wordless, animated short film about a boy’s magical Christmas Eve adventure with a snowman come to life.
90. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) – The beloved Peanuts gang learns the true meaning of Christmas in this animated classic.
91. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) – The original animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale.
92. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) – The longest-running Christmas TV special, featuring stop-motion animation.
93. Frosty the Snowman (1969) – An animated special bringing the famous song to life.
94. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970) – A stop-motion animated special exploring Santa’s origin story.
95. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) – Another Rankin/Bass stop-motion classic featuring the memorable Heat Miser and Snow Miser.
96. Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999) – A quirky animated special about a dog who thinks she’s destined to be one of Santa’s reindeer.
97. The Little Drummer Boy (1968) – A touching stop-motion animated special based on the famous Christmas song.
98. Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977) – Jim Henson’s charming puppet special about a poor otter family trying to win a talent show.
99. The Snowman and the Snowdog (2012) – A sequel to “The Snowman,” continuing the magical, wordless animation style.
100. Angela’s Christmas (2017) – A touching Irish animated short film based on a story by Frank McCourt.

There you have it – 100 Christmas movies to fill your holiday season with laughter, tears, and plenty of festive cheer. From heartwarming classics to offbeat comedies, and from animated delights to international gems, this list has something for every taste. So grab some hot cocoa, snuggle up, and let the movie marathon begin. Happy watching, and Merry Christmas!