Best Christmas Movie
Updated DailyNo tags available
Rankings use category fit, feature coverage, pricing signals, public reception, and recency. Affiliate relationships do not affect scores.
Fanny and Alexander depicts the lives of siblings within a large Swedish family in Uppsala during the early 20th century. The narrative centers around the aftermath of the children’s father’s death and subsequent familial upheaval, including an abusive relationship involving one son. The film explor...
The Shop Around the Corner is a 1940 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It stars Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart as two individuals who unknowingly correspond while shopping at a New York store. The story adapts the 1937 Hungarian play *Parfumerie* by Miklós László, featuring...
The Apartment is a 1960 romantic comedy directed by Billy Wilder. Jack Lemmon plays an insurance clerk who unwittingly facilitates affairs within his apartment, leading to complications involving a colleague and his girlfriend. Ray Walston and Edie Adams appear in supporting roles within the narrati...
Carol is a poignant drama exploring a lesbian romance set in 1950s New York City. The film depicts the burgeoning connection between two women—a young photographer and a recently divorced woman—with nuanced performances from Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. It offers an intimate portrayal of love acr...
“Miracle on 34th Street is a beloved 1947 film exploring themes of faith and belief during Christmas. The story follows an elderly man who insists he is Santa Claus, sparking a legal battle that tests the community’s perceptions of truth and wonder. It resonates with families and individuals seeking...
Douglas Sirk’s 1955 film *All That Heaven Allows* examines a wealthy American widow's unconventional love affair with a younger man. The movie, notable for its exploration of societal expectations and emotional depth within a 1950s period drama setting, is appreciated by viewers interested in cinema...
Alexander Payne's 'The Holdovers' is a heartwarming and humorous story about an unpopular teacher, a troubled student, and a grieving cafeteria lady who are forced to spend the Christmas holidays together at their boarding school. The film's strength lies in its witty dialogue, its relatable charact...
The Muppet Christmas Carol is a 1992 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” The film reimagines the classic tale with the Muppets, featuring Bob Cratchit as the central character – marking the first time a human was the primary focus in a Muppet theatrical release. It remains fa...
Silver Linings Playbook is a 2012 American comedy-drama film based on Matthew Quick’s novel. The story centers around Pat and Tiffany, two individuals grappling with bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive behaviors who form an unconventional connection while pursuing a high school football team r...
Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 Technicolor musical film depicting the Smith family’s experiences in St. Louis during 1903-1904. The narrative follows their life as they prepare for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, presented through various seasonal scenes. Featuring an ensemble cast including Judy...
Stalag 17 depicts the experiences of American airmen held as prisoners within a German camp during World War II. The narrative centers around a group’s investigation into potential betrayal by a fellow inmate within a specific barracks. The film portrays the challenges and paranoia faced by those in...
Edward Scissorhands depicts an isolated, artificially created individual with scissor-like appendages integrating into a suburban community. The film centers on his relationship with a young woman from the neighborhood following his introduction to their lives. It features a cast including Johnny De...
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a Disney+ television presentation set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It depicts the team’s efforts to find a gift for Star-Lord, Peter Quill, during a Christmas celebration. The special expands upon the established continuity of the Guardians of...
One Christmas Eve, Hana, Gin, and Miyuki are rummaging for presents through heaps of garbage when they chance upon an abandoned baby in the cold winter night. Appalled at the pitiful sight, Hana's maternal instincts kick in and she insists on finding the baby's biological mother to demand an explana...
When Harry Met Sally… is a 1989 romantic comedy film exploring the possibility of platonic relationships between men and women. The story chronicles twelve years of interactions between Harry Burns and Sally Albright, beginning with their initial meeting in Chicago and continuing through New York Ci...
Meet John Doe chronicles a newspaper columnist’s accidental creation of a political movement alongside a homeless man, spurred on by the columnist’s publication. The story involves the intervention of a newspaper publisher seeking to capitalize on this burgeoning grassroots campaign. It features an...
The Bishop’s Wife is a 1947 American fantasy drama centered around a bishop grappling with moral dilemmas and personal struggles. An angel, sent to guide him, introduces elements of romance and raises questions about faith and human nature. Starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young, the film draws from...
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 crime film adapting Brett Halliday’s novel “Bodies Are Where You Find Them.” The story utilizes elements of the hardboiled genre while incorporating comedic aspects. Robert Downey Jr. stars in this production overseen by Joel Silver and executive producers Susan Levin a...
Shazam! is a 2019 DC Extended Universe film centering on teenager Billy Batson, who gains superpowers upon uttering the word "Shazam." This transformation allows him to become an adult superhero alongside the wizard Shazam, with whom he must confront the villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana and the Seven...
The Lion in Winter is a 1968 historical drama depicting Henry II’s struggle to secure his succession during a Christmas gathering in 1183. The film portrays the complex political maneuvering involving Henry, Eleanor of Aquitaine, their sons, and foreign dignitaries including King Philip II. Peter O'...
Trading Places is a 1983 comedy film centered around a commodities broker and a street hustler. The narrative involves an orchestrated exchange of lifestyles during the holiday season, exploring contrasting social classes. The cast included Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, and Ralph Bellamy in this story...
“Three Nuts for Cinderella” is a 1973 Czechoslovakian-East German film adapting the fairytale. This unique production offers a distinct interpretation with unusual magic—specifically utilizing three nuts instead of glass slippers. The movie was created by the German Democratic Republic and is notabl...
The Man Who Came to Dinner is a 1941 comedy film adapted from the 1939 play of the same name. William Keighley directed this production starring Bette Davis and featuring a screenplay by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein. The cast included Jimmy Durante, Richard Travis, Billie Burke, and Reginald Gard...
The film follows Buddy, a human raised by Santa Claus’s elves, as he journeys to New York City to connect with his father. This narrative involves the discovery of his origins and an encounter with a man unaware of Buddy's existence. Supporting cast members include James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, and M...
Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton, is a 1992 film set in Gotham City during Christmas. The story involves Batman confronting Max Shreck and Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin, alongside the vengeful Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Michael Keaton stars alongside Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer...
Arthur Christmas is a 2011 animated comedy produced by Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, and Aardman Features. The story centers on Santa Claus’s youngest son, Arthur, tasked with delivering a single present before Christmas Day. The film features a voice cast including James McAvoy and Hu...
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 fantasy film adapting C. S. Lewis’s first novel in *The Chronicles of Narnia* series. It follows four siblings who discover a magical world through a wardrobe and become involved in a struggle against an evil witch. Produced by...
Eyes Wide Shut presents a psychological thriller examining marital tension and hidden desires. Director Stanley Kubrick’s film follows a New York physician's unsettling experience at a secretive gathering following his wife’s revelation. Adapted from Schnitzler’s “Dream Story,” the movie explores th...
You're in. We'll email you when new Christmas Movie entries land.