Christmas Movies
A totally personal and non-exhaustive list
When I started posting some Christmas-related movie clips on my Instagram the other week, I received quite a few requests for a list of my favourite Christmas films. After much thought I decided to share a completely non-exhaustive and not final list here. Originally I planned on sharing two lists, ten Christmas movies and ten Christmas-adjacent movies, but the line between Christmas and Christmas-adjacent became more and more nebulous the longer I worked on the lists. Just how much “Christmas” does a Christmas movie need to have? Does the plot need to revolve around it? Are “the holidays” almost their own character? Honestly, the boundary is porous and one could easily make a solid case to move films from one list to the other—in the end it seemed easiest to combine.
Overwhelmingly, holiday movies are Christmas movies—hopefully in the future we will see more variety in the December holidays celebrated on screen. The films on this list lean toward the joyous, the funny, the romantic and nostalgic, though there is a variety of genres. When I’m looking for a good “Christmas movie” to watch, I’m not interested in technical wizardry nor expert filmmaking—though I definitely prefer more depth than is found in the interminable Hallmark and Hallmark-esque made-for-tv-and-streaming films being churned out at the moment. Where I haven’t been able to find a good clip online, I’ve edited and uploaded ones (when copyright laws have allowed). Where films are available to watch in their entireity on YouTube I’ve linked them, but I have not added links for streaming platforms as those depend on your country.
There are many more films I could have included so this is likely missing some of your favourites, but will hopefully provide you with a few new options to watch. Please share your own favourites in the comments, if you feel called to.
21+ FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
Witty intrigue and shenanigans at Christmastime in the first film in the “Thin Man” series starring Myrna Loy and William Powell. I’d hoped to share a clip from the Christmas party scene but unfortunately the video was blocked by Warner Bros. Use that as an excuse to watch the whole film!
Barbara Stanwyck sparkles at Christmas in both this and #7 on this list. A consummate pro, Stanwyck plays the role of petty thief-turned-love interest with a delicacy that has one rooting for “love to conquer all” (or the law, in this case).
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)/In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
Romance blossoms in the mail for two unknowing coworkers—first in 1930s Budapest, and then turn-of-the-century Chicago in musical form. If you haven’t seen either of these movies, you might recognize the plot from the later email-centered reprise, You’ve Got Mail.
Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941)
A gangster romance complete with department store meeting, Christmastime setting and Cesar Romero as the suave mob boss—what could be better?
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
The 1940s were truly a high-point for cinematic comedy and for Christmas movies. Based on the 1939 play, this ensemble film is full of witty barbs and acerbic satire. Ann Sheridan is the delightfully manipulative antagonist to Bette Davis’ lovesick wallflower.
Possibly the greatest movie musical, this is a triumph in every sense—Judy Garland the luminous star with beguiling voice, Vincente Minnelli’s direction, Lemuel Ayers’ recreation of 1903 St. Louis, the Technicolor, the now-classic songs.
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)/ Christmas in Connecticut (1992)
The origin of the now canon Hallmark movie trope of “city girl goes to the country and finds love at Christmas,” Christmas in Connecticut is still the best of this type—Barbara Stanwyck is witty and delighful. Bonus watch is the 1992 made-for-TV version starring Dyan Cannon and Kris Kristofferson, directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
An episodic comedy centered on a less-than-heartwarming idea (the efforts of a nephew to have his rich elderly aunt declared insane), the disparate subplots follow the return home of her three sons in time for a Christmase Eve reunion to be declared the rightful heirs—and their love lives along the way. The full film is available to watch on YouTube.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
An empty Fifth Avenue mansion is taken over by a hobo and an ever-increasing group of itinerants, veterans and the undercover owners, in a pleasantly light and frothy romance.
Another Christmas classic, rightfully so. Shops (particularly department stores) play a large role in many of the films on this list—a site of interpersonal connection (and meet-cutes) and signifier of the capitalist nature of Christmas in the twentieth century, they present the conditions for romance to overcome the greed of the season. This has been remade many times—the 1955 and 1973 made-for-TV versions are available to watch on YouTube, while the 1994 adaptation is another seasonal must-watch.
Another department store romance, Robert Mitchum plays against type in this light romantic comedy opposite the gorgeous Janet Leigh.
The greatest. Is there any question?
If you are able to look passed the age difference (17 to 35 on-screen, but 22 to 50 in real life), this is an enchanting romance with Debbie Reynolds an effervescent delight. Dick Powell has my favourite cinematic faux-tree, and Anne Francis wears some truly great ensembles as his (rightfully) jealous fiancée.
L'arbre de Noël/The Christmas Tree (1969)
Described as "the most tearful film of sixties," this is a heartbreaker so only watch when you are up for a good cry. Virna Lisi is stunning.
My personal favourite version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, though I can think of very few stories that have been brought to the screen so wonderfully in so many versions—among the others, I always make sure to watch the 1951 adaptation, Scrooged and The Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas. A luscious musical, the Victorian party scenes and costumes are superb.
While not a Christmas film, the first hour of Ingmar Bergman’s period drama documents Christmas night 1907 in all of its splendid Edwardian-era glory. Magnificently rendered, the costumes and production design are impeccable.
Very much an eighties reprise of a forties romance, this movie is fluffy missed-connections love story with megastars Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro falling in love/lust against the backdrop of a glittering New York.
Don’t Open Till Christmas (1984)
If you like trashy slasher flicks, then this is the Xmas film for you! With a serial killer after any person dressed up in Santa suits, some gruesome murders, boobs and a Caroline Munro performance, this a true schlockfest.
Toys come alive in this made-for-TV movie produced by the Jim Henson Company. Deeply etched on my memory (particularly the Barbie-type doll obsessively cataloguing her wardrobe), for years I thought this was a fever dream as no one I knew had seen it. Very similar in theme to Toy Story that followed nine years later, if you were a child of the eighties this is a great Christmas nostalgia watch.
Whit Stillman’s debut is very much a comedy of manners, vividly bringing to life the boredom of the upper classes during a Christmas debutante season. Hilarious and impeccably written, it is as visually pleasing as it is aurally.
The real bonus on this list—the best Hallmark movie ever made, in my opinion. Randy Travis and Connie Selleca retread the “city woman goes to the country and finds love” trope in max sentimental style.
Great selections! Two of my favorite holiday adjacent films are Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and The Apartment 🎞