Is it possible to watch too many holiday movies this year? Nah. Who doesn’t want to snuggle with loved ones in front of the television to watch old classics and new offerings? We’ve put together a list of holiday movies currently streaming on Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, Disney + and others. Whether you want something heartwarming or a little unconventional, there’s something on this list you’re sure to love.
Tradition!
No matter how many holiday movies are produced, most of us can’t help but watch at least one classic (and we don’t mean Die Hard). As comforting as a mug of hot chocolate, It’s a Wonderful Life is rightfully considered a masterpiece. Netflix is the home of holiday musical movie extraordinaire White Christmas. You can also watch it on Amazon Prime. It would be a miracle if you don’t watch Miracle on 34nd Street on HBO MAX at least once this year.
Are You Sure It Counts as a Classic?
Not to make any child of the 80s or 90s feel old, but some of our favorite holiday films are also considered classics. Yikes! The Amazon Prime line-up includes National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Disney + has a line-up your family will love (you might have a few flashbacks to your fashion faux pas). Check out Home Alone, all three The Santa Clause movies and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Animation Magic
Animated holiday movies are a staple of every studio. Who doesn’t love The Nightmare Before Christmas, now streaming on Amazon Prime and Disney +? Hulu is streaming favorites such as The Polar Express, Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas. Love a good alternate history story? Klaus on Netflix is worth a look.
We Just Love Them
There are just some holiday movies you can’t help but love. Elf — streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu and HBO Max — is a perfect example. If you don’t cry at least once, you aren’t paying attention. A Christmas Prince was one of the most streamed movies on Netflix when it came out. The Christmas Chronicles, also on Netflix, posits a hot Kurt Russell who serves as father figure to a couple of orphan kids. Every Who down in Whoville will want to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Peacock.
Christmas Adjacent
Not everyone wants to watch a movie about reindeer and Santa Claus. Some of us crave action and adventure. Where to find these Christmas adjacent movies? Iron Man 3 on Disney + is worth a look just for Robert Downey, Jr.’s jingle bell dance alone. Moving from the Marvel Universe over to DC, we have Batman Returns over on HBO Max. Okay, it’s a stretch but it stars Danny DeVito as the Penguin. Need we say more? The most wonderful time of the year isn’t complete without a sleepover and the movie Gremlins on Amazon Prime. It’s controversial, but if you aren’t watching Die Hard (also on Disney +) are you really celebrating?
