25 Best Christmas movies to watch during the holiday season

From heartwarming dramas to hilarious comedies, there's a Christmas movie for every taste. Whether you're in the mood for a timeless classic like "It's a Wonderful Life" or a modern favorite like "Elf," our list has something for everyone. So grab some hot chocolate and curl up with a warm blanket! It's movie time!

25 Best Christmas movies to watch during the holiday season

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1. "It's a Wonderful Life"
   (1946)
   This classic drama/fantasy film, directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, tells the story of George Bailey, a man who is shown the value of his life by an angel.
2. "A Christmas Carol"
   (various years)
   This holiday classic has been adapted numerous times, but the story remains the same: the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, and learns the true meaning of the holiday.
3. "Elf"
   (2003)
   This comedy, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell, follows Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole, as he travels to New York City to find his real father.
4. "Miracle on 34th Street"
   (1947/1994)
   This holiday favorite has been adapted twice, but the story remains the same: a man claiming to be the real Santa Claus is put on trial to prove his authenticity. The original film was directed by George Seaton and starred Maureen O'Hara, while the 1994 remake was directed by Les Mayfield and starred Elizabeth Perkins.
5. "The Grinch"
   (1966/2000)
   This holiday classic has been adapted twice, once as an animated film and once as a live action film. The original animated version, directed by Chuck Jones, features the voice of Boris Karloff as the Grinch, while the live action version, directed by Ron Howard, stars Jim Carrey. Both films follow the Grinch as he tries to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
6. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
   (1989)
   This classic holiday comedy, directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik and starring Chevy Chase, follows the Griswold family as they attempt to have the perfect Christmas, despite a series of misfortunes and mishaps.
7. "Home Alone"
   (1990)
   This comedy, directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macaulay Culkin, follows Kevin, a young boy who is accidentally left behind when his family goes on vacation and must defend his home from burglars.
8. "The Polar Express"
   (2004)
   This animated/fantasy film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and featuring the voice of Tom Hanks, follows a young boy as he takes a magical journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.
9. "Love Actually"
   (2003)
   This romantic comedy, directed by Richard Curtis and starring an ensemble cast including Hugh Grant, follows the interconnected lives of several couples as they navigate love and relationships during the holiday season.
10. "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
    (1965)
    This animated/family film, directed by Bill Melendez, follows Charlie Brown as he tries to find the true meaning of Christmas with the help of his friends.
11. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
    (1966)
    This animated classic, directed by Chuck Jones and featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as the Grinch, tells the story of the Grinch's attempt to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.
12. "The Santa Clause"
    (1994)
    This comedy/fantasy film, directed by John Pasquin and starring Tim Allen, follows Scott, a man who is accidentally pulled into the role of Santa Claus and must take on the responsibilities of the job.
13. "Frosty the Snowman"
    (1969)
    This animated/family film, directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., tells the story of Frosty, a magical snowman who comes to life and goes on an adventure with a group of children.
14. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
    (1964)
    This animated/family film, directed by Larry Roemer, tells the story of Rudolph, a misfit reindeer with a shiny, red nose, who must use his unique abilities to help save Christmas.
15. "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
    (1993)
    This animated/musical film, directed by Henry Selick, follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, as he discovers Christmas and tries to bring the holiday to his home.
16. "A Christmas Story"
    ‍(1983)
    This classic holiday comedy, directed by Bob Clark, follows Ralphie, a young boy, as he tries to convince his parents to get him the perfect Christmas gift - a Red Ryder BB gun.
17. "The Muppet Christmas Carol"
    ‍(1992)
    This musical/family film, directed by Brian Henson, is a retelling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" with the Muppets as the characters. Michael Caine provides the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge.
18. "White Christmas"
    ‍(1954)
    This classic holiday musical, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bing Crosby, follows two former army buddies as they team up with a sister act to save their former general's Vermont inn.
19. "The Christmas Chronicles"
    (2018)
    This family/fantasy film, directed by Clay Kaytis, follows two siblings who accidentally crash Santa's sleigh and must help him save Christmas. Kurt Russell stars as Santa.
20. "The Holiday"
    (2006)
    This romantic comedy, directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, follows two women who swap homes for the holiday season and end up finding love in the process.
21. "A Christmas Carol"
    (various years)
    This holiday classic has been adapted numerous times, but the story remains the same: the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, and learns the true meaning of the holiday.
22. "The Princess Switch"
    (2018)
    This romantic comedy, directed by Mike Rohl and starring Vanessa Hudgens, follows a Chicago baker who swaps places with a princess from a European kingdom and falls in love with the prince while pretending to be the princess.
23. "The Best Man Holiday"
    (2013)
    This romantic comedy, directed by Malcolm D. Lee and starring Morris Chestnut, follows a group of college friends who reunite over the holidays and discover that not much has changed since they last saw each other.
24. "The Family Stone"
    (2005)
    This holiday comedy/drama, directed by Thomas Bezucha and starring Diane Keaton, follows an uptight woman who brings her boyfriend home to meet her eccentric family over the holidays.
25. "Four Christmases"
    (2008)
    This holiday comedy, directed by Seth Gordon and starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, follows a couple who are forced to visit all four of their divorced parents' homes on Christmas Day.

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I hope this list of the top 25 popular holiday movies is helpful, and that you find the perfect movie to watch during the holiday season! Also, if you still haven't decided on your Christmas dinner menu, you can take a look at our list of 25 Best Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas & Recipes.

There's something for everyone on our list of the top 25 popular holiday movies. Whether you're in the mood for a heartwarming drama, a comedic romp, or a romantic tale, you'll find a movie that fits your tastes on this list. So grab your favorite holiday treats, gather your loved ones, and get ready to stream some of the most beloved holiday films of all time. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, laughter, and, of course, lots of great movies! Whether you choose to watch one of the films from our list of the top 25 popular holiday movies or opt for a different movie altogether, we hope that you have a cozy and enjoyable time spent with loved ones.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season!🌟

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