Whether you’re home for the holidays or visiting friends and family, who can resist snuggling up on the couch and watching a movie or two by the fire? But what will you be streaming this season? As fun as it might be to catch up on the latest blockbuster hits, there’s something special about turning on a Christmas favorite. Even better is watching someone else’s favorite film and discovering a new classic. At PCMag, we’re all about the holiday vibes, which is why our editorial staff has compiled a list of the best holiday movies, and where you can watch them.
A Christmas Carol (1984)
We watched every version of A Christmas Carol on repeat growing up, but kept coming back to the George C. Scott version year after year.—Andrew Gebhart, Senior Writer
A Christmas Story (1983)
Nothing is more American than a boy begging his parents to buy him a gun for Christmas. A Christmas Story is a bona fide classic. So many quotable scenes and memorable moments (the tongue stuck to the pole; the leg lamp; “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”; “Frah-gee-lay”), but my favorite scene is the end when they’re introduced to “Chinese Turkey.” It’s such a feel-good movie—they literally don’t make ’em like this anymore.—Zackery Cuevas, Writer
The Baltimorons (2025)
The best new holiday movie this year, The Baltimorons is a quirky rom-com about a struggling comedian who chips a tooth, meets an unflappable older dentist, and they end up sharing an unexpectedly sweet, charmingly messy Christmas Eve across Baltimore together. It isn’t on any streamers yet, but you can buy or rent it from pretty much any VOD service.—Alex Colon, Executive Editor
Die Hard (1988)
While I expect someone to comment and chide me that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. There’s nothing more festive than seeing John McClane crawl through ducts in an effort to save his wife from the nefarious Hans Gruber—and thwart a heist in the process. As for its Christmas movie status, I’ll point out that the soundtrack includes holiday classics from Beethoven and Run DMC, and at one point Alan Rickman gets to deliver a fantastic line read of “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho.”—Jim Fisher, Principal Writer
Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh (2008)
My wife and I tend to sit down and watch Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh at least once during the holiday season. It’s a sweet story about found family and making do with what you have. It also has weird, silly stakes. Drake and Josh have to give a good Christmas to a foster family or face significant jail time. There are also some psychological horror elements if you watch it knowing the future trajectory Drake’s life took. So, really, it has everything.—Justyn Newman, Senior Writer
8-Bit Christmas (2021)
Less than five years old, 8-Bit Christmas isn’t a holiday classic in the traditional sense, but it has become an annual must-watch for my family. If you grew up in the 1980s, obsessed with video games, you’ll appreciate 10-year-old Jake Doyle’s madcap quest to get a newly released Nintendo Entertainment System under the tree. The story unfolds through flashbacks, anchored by an excellent Neil Patrick Harris as the adult Jake narrating the tale to his tween daughter. Ultimately, it’s a feel-good story about growing up in a quirky family, so it’s not just for the Gen Xers, but the 80s nostalgia really hits the spot. —Wendy Sheehan Donnell, Editor-in-Chief
Gremlins (1984)
For whatever reason, Gremlins is a movie is set during Christmastime. As a kid, I enjoyed the chaos. As an adult, I relate to the dad who tries to make gadgets work for his family. Also, Phoebe Cates’ character’s father dies in a Santa-related death. I never picked that up as a kid and am amazed the story made it through to the final cut.—Iyaz Akhtar, Writer
The Holdovers (2023)
Apologies in advance for the film school answer, but The Holdovers isn’t just Oscar bait, it’s a new modern Christmas classic. The best kind of inspirational Christmas movie protagonist to me, from the Grinch to Scrooge, is someone made miserable by everyday life like the rest of us but opens themselves up to being moved by the spirit of the season. That’s exactly what you get when you trap Paul Giamatti in a boarding school.—Jordan Minor, Senior Writer
The Holiday (2006)
Mine is obviously The Holiday with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black. It’s a rom-com classic!—Emily Forlini, Senior Reporter
Hot Frosty (2024)
I haven’t started watching Christmas movies yet, but Hot Frosty was my top pick on Netflix last year! Anything with Lacey Chabert is a good bet.—Angela Moscaritolo, Managing Editor
I Believe in Santa (2022)
Now, I know this isn’t technically a “good” movie. The Netflix original I Believe in Santa is a gooey rom-com about a single, Christmas-hating writer who meets a charming potential partner: a middle-aged man who believes Santa Claus is a real person. However, the questionable acting decisions, ridiculous monologues, and cement mixer-size servings of cheese transform an otherwise forgettable flick into something hilariously special—especially after a second plate and a tall glass of coquito.—Jeff Wilson, Managing Editor
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Everyone needs to see Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hero’s journey to avoid deadbeat dad status through cold, hard consumerism at least once. Jingle All the Way is truly a Christmas movie hilarious enough to rival Christmas Vacation. It even has Sinbad in it as the foil, and it’s not a Mandela Effect movie—it really happened!—Joe Osborne, Deputy Managing Editor
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Klaus (2019)
There just aren’t enough good, modern animated Christmas movies. Netflix bucked that trend in 2019 with Klaus and its gorgeously unique animation style set in 19th-century Norway. The plot follows a postman called Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) who becomes business partners with a much larger, much beardier toymaker played by the booming voice of J.K. Simmons. The two begin to drop gifts off at houses across the country… and I think you can tell where this is going. Klaus has become a staple in my house to get us into the Christmassy mood thanks to its heartwarming story.—James Peckham, Reporter
The Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003)
When I visit my parents over the Christmas and New Years’ period, I know that any time I walk into the living room, there’s a good chance a scene from The Lord of the Rings trilogy will be on the TV. I also know that I will always sit down to watch, because those movies are fantastic. A lot of nostalgic blockbuster films from that era did not age well, usually thanks to overuse of nascent CGI technology. The trilogy is no exception, but luckily, it was based on a great story. Besides, the LoTR films’ practical effects and costuming more than make up for the shots of a pixelated Orlando Bloom surfing down the trunk of a dying oliphant during the final battle.—Kim Key, Senior Writer
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
In my humble opinion, The Muppet Christmas Carol is THE definitive version of the classic Dickens novel. No other adaptation will ever outdo it, so it’s unfortunate people keep trying. I’m no fan of musicals, but it’s hard not to love the movie’s opening salvo against Michael Caine’s Ebeneezer Scrooge. Sing along with a banger like “Marley and Marley” or feel something during “Thankful Heart.” Charles may as well have based his story off this masterpiece.—Jason Cohen, Senior Editor
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
We have a tradition. When Thanksgiving is all done and put away, we all plonk down and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. This despite the fact that most of the family can recite the dialog in our sleep.—Neil Rubenking, Principal Writer
Recommended by Our Editors
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas easily plays double duty as a Christmas and Halloween movie. In fact, I’d actually argue that its message is much more about the joys of Christmas than anything to do with spooky horror.—Francisco La Hoz La Paz, Junior Writer/Associate Producer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
The Rankin-Bass animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1964 is, quite simply, the most perfect Christmas special ever conceived. Imminently quotable (Yukon Cornelius: “This fog’s as thick as peanut butter!”), full of catchy songs (“Why Am I Such a Misfit?” asks Hermey the Elf, who’d rather be a dentist) and classic bits like Mrs. Claus trying to get skinny Santa to eat. It even has exciting, scary adventures as the crew evade the “terrifying” Abominable Snow Monster of the North. Rudolph has it all; it even came up with the idea of toys needing a child’s love long before Pixar did. If you know a kid who feels like a misfit—or that doesn’t yet know what “Bumbles bounce!” means—you owe it to them to screen Rudolph this year. And every year.—Eric Griffith, Senior Editor
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
When his plans to automate toy making in the North Pole fail spectacularly, Patch the elf (Dudley Moore) takes off for the Big Apple with a can of gold dust that makes the reindeer fly. Naturally, that dust ends up in the hands of an evil toy exec, B.Z. (John Lithgow), who uses it to create radioactive candy canes. Santa, meanwhile, is off making friends with B.Z.’s niece and a homeless boy. This being the 80s, Santa just lets the kid steer the sleigh on Christmas Eve rather than calling Child Protective Services. Santa Claus: The Movie is pretty deranged, and I watch it every year.—Chloe Albanesius, Executive Editor
Santa’s Slay (2006)
For the horror fans, Santa’s Slay is among my favorite Christmas movies for being an extremely stupid horror movie about a demonic Santa Claus who kills people. It stars former wrestler Bill Goldberg as the evil Santa. Saul Rubinek plays a deli owner who is killed with a menorah through the chest.—Will Greenwald, Principal Writer
Scrooge (1970)
Mine has to be 1970’s Scrooge with Albert Finney. It’s a pretty loyal adaptation of the original Christmas Carol, plus it has some delightful musical numbers and excellent acting, with Finney being a perfectly curmudgeonly Scrooge who thaws like an ice melt over the course of the film.—Jackie Goldblatt, Associate Social Media Editor
Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
I have to recommend the Star Wars Holiday Special! Not because it’s good—it’s very VERY bad—but because it’s a fever dream of a watch, the perfect thing to check out if you want a truly hilarious holiday moment of bizarre, almost absurd performance art that will stop your family from talking about anything else. Highlights include the first appearance of Boba Fett in an animated segment largely considered the best part. Bea Arthur and Jefferson Starship have musical performances. Somehow they convinced Harvey Korman and Art Carney to act in this thing. The major stars return for tired and barely there cameo appearances. You can tell they had no idea whether this whole Star Wars thing was really going to catch on. It’s a funny cash grab that you can’t take even a little bit seriously. Just know that there’s a tiny wookie, and he’s a cold blooded killer.—Alan Henry, Managing Editor
Trading Places (1983)
Trading Places is both a Christmas movie and a New Year’s movie! You’ll never see a grimier Santa than a desperate, down-and-out Dan Aykroyd eating stolen salmon that gets caught in his fake beard. This might be Eddie Murphy’s funniest role (next to Coming to America). It’s just one of those “looking good/feeling good” kind of films.—John Mihaly, Managing Editor
Violent Night (2022)
Violent Night takes place on Christmas Eve and features everything you could want in a heartwarming tale of greed, class warfare, and children’s wishes coming true. With Beverly D’Angelo in her best role since Christmas Vacation and John Leguizamo Scrooging everything up, David Harbour has to come to everyone’s rescue as Kris Kringle himself.—Eric Zeman, Managing Editor
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