The 20 Best Christmas Movies of All Time

Every year, the same debate reignites: what are the best Christmas movies? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Yes.) Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? (Both.) Does Love Actually hold up? (Complicated.)

Here's our definitive ranking — the films that capture the magic, warmth, chaos, and occasional cynicism of the holiday season.

The Untouchable Classics

Some Christmas movies are beyond debate. They've been watched by so many families, for so many years, that they've become part of the holiday itself. It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Home Alone — these films are traditions unto themselves.

What makes a Christmas classic isn't just nostalgia. It's rewatchability. The best ones reveal new details every year, whether it's a background gag you never noticed or an emotional beat that hits differently as you get older.

Modern Essentials

The last two decades have produced several films that have already earned classic status. Elf went from sleeper hit to cultural institution in record time. The Polar Express divided audiences but found its tribe. Klaus proved that an original animated Christmas movie could still feel timeless.

The Ones You Argue About

Every family has their controversial picks. Die Hard, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, Gremlins — films that are set at Christmas but aren't exactly "Christmas movies" in the traditional sense. We include them because Christmas is about inclusion, and also because they're excellent.

For the Kids

The best kids' Christmas movies work for adults too. The Rankin/Bass stop-motion specials, the Grinch (animated, not live-action), and the Peanuts special have endured for decades because they're genuinely good, not just kid-friendly.

International Christmas Films

Christmas traditions vary wildly around the world, and so do Christmas movies. Scandinavian, British, and Japanese holiday films offer fresh perspectives on the season that can reinvigorate your December viewing if you're tired of the American canon.

For the Cynics

Not everyone loves Christmas, and that's okay. Some of the best holiday films acknowledge the stress, dysfunction, and commercialism of the season while still finding something worth celebrating. Bad Santa, The Ref, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation are for the people who love Christmas despite everything.

Start Your Holiday Watchlist Early

Don't wait until December to plan your viewing. Build your Christmas watchlist now in Nuets and check out our family genre page and comedy genre page for more holiday-adjacent picks.