Festive movies to put you in the holiday spirit
Ready to cozy up with some hot chocolate and a fuzzy blanket to watch a Christmas movie or TV show? From fun-packed adventure for you and the kids to a Hallmark-style rom-com, and even some classic holiday movies to revisit, here are some that can help bring a little holiday spirit into your home.
Family
Klaus (PG)
Netflix
The story behind Santa Claus comes in many forms. In this 2019 Netflix cartoon, the postman of a small Arctic Circle village where grumpy inhabitants barely exchange words, Jesper, helps bring joy to children with the help of a mysterious reclusive toymaker named Klaus.
Great British Baking Show: Holidays (TV-14)
Netflix
Need some holiday baking inspiration? Check out another couple of episodes of the Great British Baking Show holidays special. The bakers prepare classic treats and twists on classic dishes for judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. If you and your crew are busy preparing goodies and aren't able to devote your attention to the screen, this is also a fun show to have on in the background.
Spirited (PG-13)
Apple TV+ and in theaters
Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds star in this musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In this modern version of the Christmas classic, expect a twist that turns the story on its head as Clint, played by Ryan Reynolds, helps Christmas Present, played by Will Ferrell, find his purpose. You can also expect plenty of snarkiness and comedy with this duo.
Jingle Jangle (PG)
Netflix
Enjoy the journey of the eccentric inventor and toymaker Jeronicus Jangle, played by Forest Whitaker, as he struggles to keep his business alive. His granddaughter Journey, played by Madalen Mills, helps him get one of his inventions back from a previous apprentice Gustafson, played by Keegan Michael-Key.
Noelle (G)
Disney+
With less than a week before Christmas, the newest Santa goes missing. His sister Noelle, played by Anna Kendrick, is determined to find him and bring him back to the North Pole.
Rom-com
A Castle for Christmas
Netflix
Burnt-out author Sophie (Brooke Shields) flees to a castle in Scotland where her father grew up. She falls in love with the castle, as well as the grumpy Scottish duke Myles (Cary Elwes). If you’re into charmingly rugged Scottish accents, castles, scruffy dogs, and the enemies-to-lovers trope, this movie is for you.
The Noel Diary
Netflix
Justin Hartley plays famous author Jacob (Jake) Turner. After his mom dies, he visits her house to settle her estate. Meanwhile, Rachel, played by Barrett Doss, is looking for information about her birth mother who worked for Jake’s parents. Jake wants to help her find answers and so they go on a road trip to see Jake’s estranged father in Vermont. Cue stereotypical romcom coincidences - snow blocks their way, there’s only one hotel room left, a birthday, and of course standing outside a window to confess one’s love.
Single All the Way
Netflix
Peter (Michael Urie) takes his roommate Nick (Philemon Chambers) with him to see his family for Christmas. Peter’s mom Carole (“Christmas Carole”) played by Kathy Najimy sets him up on a blind date, and while Peter initially finds himself enjoying his time with James (Luke Macfarlane), the rest of Peter’s family isn’t convinced Peter doesn’t already have what he needs with someone else. This fun film is full of the right amount of comedy and romance for a Christmas romcom.
Classic (and revived)
Elf
HBOmax
After finding out he is in fact a human and not an elf, Buddy (Will Ferrell) travels through the candy cane forest and through the sea of swirly twirly gumdrops to find his real father in New York. What Buddy doesn’t know is that his father, played by James Caan, is on the naughty list - an elf’s worst nightmare.
A Christmas Story/A Christmas Story Christmas
HBOmax
If you enjoyed the classic movie A Christmas Story, you can see what Ralphie is up to now as an adult. Ralphie, played by Peter Billingsley, of course, wants to give his kids the same kind of Christmas experience he had as a kid.
Someone decided to aim for the stars or make a quick buck, but the preview actually looks pretty good! You may want to give the new sequel a try: Christmas Story Christmas.
The Grinch/How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Amazon Video, HBOmax and Hulu
There are a few editions of this classic Dr. Seuss story that span the generations. The boomers grew up with the 1966 26 minute How the Grinch Stole Christmas cartoon. Us millennials grew up with the live action How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey from 2000, and our children will grow up with the 2018 animated The Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the Grinch on Hulu.
Home Alone
Disney+
After being left home alone when his large family miscounts the number of bustling kids being shoved out the door and to the airport for Christmas, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) has to defend the home from burglars. Enjoy this and the entire Home Alone series of movies - there are seven of them as of December 2022!
The Santa Clause/The Santa Clauses
Disney+
Revisit this Tim Allen comedy where he finds himself turning into Santa after the previous Santa had an accident on his roof before watching the new mini series The Santa Clauses where he decides he now wants to retire.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...
Amazon Video
Fandango At Home
Redbox
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Elf
When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic.
The Grinch
The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration.
fuboTV
The Santa Clause
On Christmas Eve, divorced dad Scott Calvin and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When Scott takes the reins of the magical sleigh, he finds he is now the new Santa, and must convince a world of disbelievers, including himself.
Disney Plus
Klaus
When Jesper distinguishes himself as the Postal Academy's worst student, he is sent to Smeerensburg, a small village located on an icy island above the Arctic Circle, where grumpy inhabitants barely exchange words, let alone letters. Jesper is about to give up and abandon his duty as a postman when he meets local teacher Alva...
Netflix
Netflix basic with Ads
Spirited
Each Christmas Eve, the Ghost of Christmas Present selects one dark soul to be reformed by a visit from three spirits. But this season, he picked the wrong Scrooge. Clint Briggs turns the tables on his ghostly host until Present finds himself reexamining his own past, present and future.
Apple TV Plus
The Santa Clause 2
Better watch out! The big guy in red is coming to town once again. This time, Scott Calvin -- also known as Santa Claus -- finds out there's an obscure clause in his contract requiring him to take on a wife. He has to leave the North Pole to fulfill his obligations, or else he'll...
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of a nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. Disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he decides to raid the village to steal all the Christmas things.
A Christmas Story
The comic mishaps and adventures of a young boy named Ralph, trying to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift for the 1940s.
Noelle
Kris Kringle's daughter, Noelle, sets off on a mission to find and bring back her brother, after he gets cold feet when it's his turn to take over as Santa.
Single All the Way
Desperate to avoid his family’s judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they’re now in a relationship. But when Peter’s mother sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer James, the plan goes awry.
HBO Max
Home Alone
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. But when a pair of bungling burglars set their sights on Kevin's house, the plucky kid stands ready to defend his territory. By planting booby traps galore, adorably mischievous Kevin stands his ground...
