Whether you’re wrapping presents, baking Christmas cookies, or trimming the tree, the holiday is always more merry when you have a great Christmas movie on the TV. From heartfelt black-and-white morality tales to stop-motion animated classics to irreverent comedies, the Christmas movie genre has something for everyone. And nearly every streaming service has a strong roster of holiday movies to keep you entertained. While you will have to digitally buy or rent some of these titles, most are available for streaming. It’s the perfect time of year to try a new service for a month!
Animated/Stop-Motion/Muppet Christmas Movies
-
Joyeux Noël, Charlie Brown !
December 9, 1965In this animated classic, Charlie Brown gets depressed about the overwhelming materialism that he sees during the Christmas season. From Charlie’s pathetic Christmas tree to Linus’ retelling of the Biblical Christmas story to Vince Guaraldi’s amazing soundtrack, no Christmas is complete without Charlie Brown.
-
Rudolph, le petit renne au nez rouge
December 6, 1964Some of the best Christmas stories highlight the value of misfits. When Rudolph the reindeer is born with a red, glowing nose, that makes him an outcast among the other reindeer. That sets him on a journey with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and ace prospector Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. As they run from the Abominable Snowman, they find a whole island of misfit toys. In a beautiful twist, Rudolph manages to save Christmas when his unique nose helps Santa in a moment of desperation. It’s another classic pairing of memorable songs and delightful stop-motion animation.
-
Noël en musique
December 17, 1977When a Christmas Eve talent contest is announced, Emmet Otter and his mother both enter, determined to give each other the perfect holiday gift. Jim Henson directed this Muppet Christmas classic. Singer/composer Paul Williams says Jim Henson told him that Emmet Otter was a “trial run” for a proposed Muppet movie. Emmet was a success, and The Muppet Movie followed two years later.
-
L'Étrange Noël de monsieur Jack
October 9, 1993It’s a Christmas movie! It’s a Halloween movie! It’s two holidays in one! This Tim Burton story combines the DNA of classic Christmas movies of the past: stop-motion animation and incredible songs. The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the spooky tale of Jack Skellington, king of HalloweenTown. Tired of scaring humans with the same old bag of tricks, Jack kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. If you’ve ever felt out of place on Christmas morning, this is the movie for you.
-
Mission Noël
November 10, 2011It’s not easy to deliver 600 million gifts in one night. Sometimes, one might get misplaced. In this animated adventure, Santa’s clumsy son Arthur must deliver a present that Santa forgot. But can he make the delivery in less than two hours? Arthur Christmas may have flown under the radar when it hit theaters, but it’s a truly funny movie powered by the excellent work of Aardman Animations (the team behind “Wallace & Gromit”). This Christmas treat features the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Michael Palin, Robbie Coltrane, Joan Cusack, Andy Serkis, and Dominic West.
-
Frosty le bonhomme de neige
December 7, 1969A washed-up stage magician fights a group of schoolchildren for an old top hat after it magically brings a snowman to life. When Frosty realizes he will melt in the spring, he and his friend Karen stow away on a freight train headed for the north pole. Little do they know that the magician is following them, and he wants his hat back!
-
Klaus
November 8, 2019When Jesper becomes the Postal Academy’s worst student, he’s sent to an icy island above the Arctic Circle, where the Christmas spirit is in short supply. Jesper is about to give up and abandon his duty as a postman when he meets local teacher, Alva, and Klaus - a mysterious carpenter who lives alone in a cabin full of handmade toys. This new classic was nominated for an Oscar as Best Animated Feature Film. The voice actors are great, including Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Norm MacDonald, and Joan Cusack.
-
Le grincheux qui voulait gâcher Noël!
December 18, 1966The 60s were a golden era for Christmas specials, and this Dr. Seuss adaptation is no exception. The bitter old Grinch hates the Christmas-loving Whos who live at the base of his mountain. So he makes a plan to pose as Santa Claus to steal all the trees, toys, and tinsel in the village. How will the Whos react when their stuff is stolen? Will the Grinch succeed in wrecking the holiday?
-
Le grincheux
November 8, 2018The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration. This is the computer-animated film from 2018 with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing The Grinch.
Other celebrity voices in the film include Pharrell Williams, Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Lansbury.
-
Le Père Noël arrive en ville
December 14, 1970Un postier, SD Kluger, décide de répondre à certaines des questions les plus courantes sur le Père Noël, et nous parle d’un petit bébé nommé Kris qui est élevé par une famille d’elfe nommé Kringle les fabricants de jouets. Quand Kris a grandi, il a voulu offrir des jouets aux enfants de Sombertown. Mais son maire est aussi dire laisser cela se produire. Et pour empirer les choses, le démoniste d’hiver qui vit entre le Kringles et Sombertown, mais Kris parvient à faire fondre le cœur du Warlock et de livrer ses jouets.
-
Boréal Express
November 10, 2004Un jeune garçon qui se met à douter de l’existence du père Noël monte dans un train mystérieux en partance pour le pôle Nord. A mesure que le Pôle Express s’enfonce dans des contrées enchantées, l’aventure est au rendez-vous et les jeunes passagers prennent conscience de l’étendue de leurs dons
-
Le Noël de Mr Magoo
December 18, 1962A l’occasion d’une représentation du “Conte de Noêl” sur la scène de Broadway, Monsieur Magoo endosse le rôle du détestable Mr Scrooge. Le fantôme de son vieil associé vient le hanter pour qu’il comprenne qu’il est encore temps de changer. Il lui annonce la venue de trois esprits pour la veille de Noël, chargés de lui faire prendre conscience de l’importance d’ouvrir son cœur (et son porte-feuilles…)
-
Noël chez les Muppets
December 10, 1992Scrooge, homme cupide et brutal qui terrorise son entourage, est visité une nuit de Noël par les fantômes de ses anciens associés. Ils lui annoncent la visite de trois esprits qui bouleverseront à jamais son existence…
Michael Caine makes a fearsome Scrooge in this song-packed classic.
-
Le Noël de Mickey
October 19, 1983Le soir de Noël, Ebenezer Scrooge reçoit la visite du fantôme de son ancien associé, Jacob Marley. Il tente de lui faire entendre raison de son comportement d’usurpateur qui ne pourra jamais le rendre heureux.
-
The Year Without a Santa Claus
December 10, 1974Mrs. Santa Claus raconte l’histoire de l’année où le Père Noël, se sentant malade et non désiré, pris des vacances. Mais quand les elfes lui montrent tous les jouets qu’ils préparent –et les enfants attendant impatiemment Noël – il enfile son costume rouge et mène son traineau chargé de cadeaux pour sa tournée annuelle, dans cette animation image par image pour toute la famille.
-
Jack Frost
December 13, 1979Pardon-me Pete, the official groundhog of Groundhog Day, tells the story of Jack Frost, who falls in love with a beautiful young woman and begs Father Winter to make him human so that she can see him. His request is granted, but only on the condition that by the Spring he has a house, a bag of gold, a horse and a wife. But Jack finds that life as a human is more complicated than he thought.
-
Classic Christmas Movies (pre-2000)
-
La vie est belle
December 20, 1946If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on one of the most life-affirming, joyful movie experiences in history. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents the villainous Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from taking over the entire town is George’s modest building and loan company. But when $8,000 goes missing, it seems Mr. Potter will swoop in and destroy everything George has fought to preserve. That’s when an angel named Clarence swoops in to show George the true value of his life. If the ending of this one doesn’t make you choke up, you might be a robot. Originally a box office flop, this movie found its greatness in the years to come. This Frank Capra holiday classic is funny, sweet, romantic, and magical.
-
Maman, j'ai raté l'avion !
November 16, 1990Oh, how the stars aligned for this Christmas classic! When a family leaves for their Christmas vacation, it turns out they left something behind: 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin)! Being left home alone would be scary enough, but a pair of bungling burglars make things worse by plotting to ransack Kevin’s house. The slapstick booby trap finale is what we all remember, but there’s a lot of heart surrounding the silliness. Director Christopher Columbus gets the most out of a supremely talented cast, including Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara, and an effortlessly funny John Candy.
-
Le sapin a des boules
November 30, 1989It’s another contender for the funniest Christmas movie ever. The Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark’s continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going because his sweet Christmas bonus is due any day now. A fantastic cast makes this a hilarious holiday treat: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and an unforgettable Randy Quaid.
-
Une histoire de Noël
November 18, 1983If this isn’t the most quotable Christmas movie, it’s close. A young boy named Ralph tries to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. It’s funny, it’s weird, it’s sentimental, and it’s unlike any other Christmas movie.
-
Sur les traces du père Noël
November 11, 1994Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve. Is Christmas ruined? Not yet! It’s up to Scott and his young son to finish Santa’s deliveries. They travel to the North Pole where Scott learns he must become the new Santa and convince those he loves of his newly inherited responsibilities. Incredibly, when this movie hit theaters, Tim Allen simultaneously starred in America’s #1 movie, #1 TV show (Home Improvement), and #1 book (Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man).
-
Miracle de la 34e rue
June 4, 1947Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy’s following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity. This beloved story has been remade many times, but this is the original.
-
Piège de cristal
July 15, 1988The debate is settled. “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie. NYPD cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Los Angeles to reconcile with his estranged wife at her office Christmas party. Surprise! The entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists led by the devious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). It’s up to McClane to save his wife, rescue the hostages, and bring the bad guys down. This action classic is the perfect way to add some “Yippee-ki-yay” to your Christmas.
-
Les gremlins
June 7, 1984Is Gremlins really a holiday film? Yes! When Billy Peltzer receives an adorable Mogwai named Gizmo for Christmas, he inadvertently breaks the three important rules of caring his new pet, and unleashes a horde of mischievous gremlins on a small town. Keep your eyes peeled for some familiar landscape - Gremlins was shot on the same Universal Studios backlot where they shot Back to the Future.
-
Rendez-vous
January 12, 1940Chez Matuschek et Cie, une grande boutique de maroquinerie, le jeune Alfred Kralik, l’adjoint du patron, et Klara Novak, une nouvelle employée, vont échanger une correspondance amoureuse, sans savoir qui ils sont, à l’aide de petites annonces.
Modern Christmas Movies (post-2000)
-
Réellement l'amour
September 7, 2003It’s the romantic comedy that sparked a thousand imitations - several seemingly disconnected love stories intertwine at the holidays. It’s sappy and sweet and beloved by audiences around the world. The cast alone is reason to indulge: Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Martin Freeman, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andrew Lincoln, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, and a scene-stealing Bill Nighy. Virtually everyone who starred in this movie skyrocketed to bigger things afterward.
-
Le Lutin
October 9, 2003When young Buddy (Will Ferrell) 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 publisher (James Caan). Without this Christmas comedy, we might not have had the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Director Jon Favreau proved he could bring audiences to theaters with Elf, and that led to his chance to direct Iron Man - the movie that set the stage for the MCU to come.
-
Méchant Père Noël
November 26, 2003It’s one of the funniest movies on this list, but not at all child-friendly. A miserable conman (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss (Bernie Mac) discovers the plot.
-
Le Grincheux
November 15, 2000Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, live the Whos, an almost mutated sort of Munchkin-like people. All the Whos love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos, whom he equally abhors. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriending the Grinch.
This is the live-action Grinch film starring Jim Carrey as the mean green guy. Ron Howard directs a cast that includes Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon, Jeffrey Tambor, and a young Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who.
-
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
November 6, 2020Jeronicus Jangle (Forest Whitaker) is the world’s most legendary toymaker. When his apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) to save the day. It’s a wonderful combination of singing, dancing, colorful costumes, and even some impressive animation. Add this to your queue for Mills’ gorgeous singing voice alone.
-
Le Mariage de l'année, 10 ans après
November 15, 2013When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited. This sequel to the 1999 classic The Best Man features a great cast: Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau.
-
Les chroniques de Noël
November 22, 2018Après avoir causé un accident avec le traîneau du père Noël, un frère et une sœur s’efforcent toute la nuit de sauver Noël avec un Saint Nicolas déluré et direct.
If you like this one, be sure to see the sequel, also on Netflix.
-
Harold et Kumar fêtent Noël
November 4, 2011Estranged friends Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) now have very different families, friends, and lives. But when Kumar arrives on Harold’s doorstep during the holiday season with a mysterious package in hand, he inadvertently burns down Harold’s father-in-law’s beloved Christmas tree. To fix the problem, Harold and Kumar embark on a mission through New York City to find the perfect Christmas tree, once again stumbling into trouble at every single turn.
-
Noël chez les Coopers
November 12, 2015Noël chez les Cooper est toujours spécial. La famille n’est pas particulièrement unie, ce qui n’empêche pas ses membres de vouloir préserver les apparences. Sam et Charlotte se baladent toute la journée pour finir leurs courses en trimballant leur petite-fille et une tante. Hank cherche désespérément un emploi pendant que leurs fils font les 400 coups. Eleanor attend son avion en discutant avec un militaire, Emma vient de se faire arrêter pour vol et Bucky est triste parce que c’est le dernier jour de travail de sa serveuse préférée. Leurs retrouvailles au souper risquent d’être marquantes.
-
À vos marques, prêts, décorez!
November 22, 2006À Cloverdale, Steve Finch est le roi de Noël. Depuis des années, il veille à ce que chaque membre de sa famille honore scrupuleusement toutes les traditions, à tel point que sa femme et ses deux enfants en ont par-dessus la tête. Malgré leurs protestations, le calendrier du mois de décembre est établi avec précision, depuis la prise de la photo de la carte de voeux jusqu’à la coupe du sapin, en passant par la tournée de chants de Noël chez les voisins… Et Steve se prépare à battre des records pour le défilé annuel de la ville, qu’il supervise avec fierté. Tout se complique avec l’arrivée d’une concurrence inattendue. Le nouveau voisin, Buddy Hall, est décidé à faire plus fort que Steve, quitte à ce que sa maison soit visible de l’espace… Avec ses lumières, Buddy fait de l’ombre à Steve. C’est le début d’une guerre sans pitié qui va conduire les deux hommes aux pires extrémités…
-
-
Quatre noël
November 26, 2008Kate et Brad se battent pour pouvoir fêter Noël en famille. Un véritable casse-tête, surtout lorsque la famille en question est composée uniquement de parents divorcés et qu’il faut organiser pas moins de quatre repas différents.
-
Le Frère Noël
November 3, 2007Les frauduleuses combines de Fred, le frère du Père Noël, finissent par le conduire derrière les barreaux où il se met à réfléchir aux manières de se racheter.
-
Nothing like the holidays
December 12, 2008Une réunion de famille mouvementée, pendant les vacances à Chicago, près du Humboldt Park.
-
Noël chez les Kranks
November 24, 2004Lassé des aspects commerciaux de Noël, Luther Krank et sa femme Nora décident de zapper cette fête, de renoncer aux cadeaux, décorations, cartes, parties et de s’offrir à la place une croisière dans les Caraîbes. Évidemment, ça poserait un problème majeur aux voisins. Si la maison des Krank n’est pas décorée, le quartier ne gagnera jamais le concours de décorations de Noël et ça, personne ne l’accepte. Entre les Krank et les voisins, la guerre est déclarée…
-
This Christmas
November 27, 2007Les membres d’une famille passent Noël ensemble pour la première fois depuis 4 ans…
-
Enfants non accompagnés
December 8, 2006La veille de Noël, un blizzard paralyse complètement un aéroport de Chicago, empêchant des milliers de personnes de rejoindre leurs proches. Parmi eux se trouvent plusieurs enfants voyageant seuls, généralement parce que leurs parents sont divorcés et qu’ils sont entre deux foyers. Le personnel de l’aéroport se charge de superviser ces jeunes non accompagnés et de les mener à un hôtel des environs. Cependant, dans la confusion, cinq d’entre eux s’échappent et vont semer la pagaille à travers le terminal, au grand dam de la direction et des gardes de sécurité.
-
Famille à louer
September 21, 2004Un jeune homme désespère à l’idée de devoir passer seul les fêtes de Noël. Afin de sortir de cette déprime saisonnière, il décide de se rendre dans l’unique endroit où il a été réellement heureux : chez ses parents, dans la maison de son enfance. Arrivé sur place, celui-ci se propose de payer les nouveaux propriétaires des lieux afin qu’ils se fassent passer pour ses proches…
-
Pourquoi lui ?
December 22, 2016Over the holidays, Ned (Bryan Cranston) and his family visit his daughter at Stanford, where he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend, Laird (James Franco).
Live-Action Scrooge Movies
There are many, many versions of Charles Dickens’ classic story. A mean old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge is the greediest man in town. Confronted by the ghost of his old partner Marley, he’s warned that he’ll be visited by three more ghosts who will show Scrooge the Christmases of the past, the present, and those yet to come. It’s hard to go wrong with this story of redemption. Are you ready to choose your Scrooge?
-
Scrooge
November 28, 1951Scrooge, vieillard richement pourvu et avare jusqu’à l’excès, ne vit que pour enrichir son capital et exploiter son personnel. Il persécute ainsi son clerc, père d’un jeune garçon atteint d’une grave maladie et son neveu, dont la naissance causa la mort de sa soeur. Un soir de Noël, le spectre de son défunt associé lui apparait.
Alastair Sim is often thought to be the best Scrooge on film.
-
A Christmas Carol
October 9, 1984A bitter old miser who makes excuses for his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve.
George C. Scott plays the famous miser in this version.
-
Le conte de Noël
December 5, 1999Patrick Stewart brings his Shakespearean training to the mean old miser role.
-
A Christmas Carol
December 16, 1938A Londres le soir de Noël, un jeune homme rend visite à son oncle pour lui souhaiter de bonnes fêtes. Mais ce dernier, un être acariâtre, n’a que faire de cette attention. Il le renvoie au même titre que deux hommes travaillant pour des œuvres de charité.
Reginald Owen is beloved for becoming one of the first Scrooges on film.
-
Fantômes En Fête
November 22, 1988Bill Murray is hysterical as Frank Cross, a modern-day TV executive who faces those three familiar ghosts. “Scrooged” is definitely the funniest version of this story, and the movie benefits from some great supporting actors like Karen Allen, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, and Alfre Woodard.
-
Scrooge
November 5, 1970Une relecture musicale du roman classique de Charles Dickens sur un vieil avare amer qui entame une auto-rédemption grâce à plusieurs mystérieuses apparitions de Noël.
Albert Finney has a lot of fun playing Ebenezer in the 1970 musical version of the story.
-
Un conte de Noël
November 4, 2009Parmi tous les marchands de Londres, Ebenezer Scrooge est connu comme l’un des plus riches et des plus avares. Ce vieillard solitaire et insensible vit dans l’obsession de ses livres de comptes. Ni la mort de son associé, Marley, ni la pauvre condition de son employé, Bob Cratchit, n’ont jamais réussi à l’émouvoir.De tous les jours de l’année, celui que Scrooge déteste le plus est Noël. L’idée de répandre joie et cadeaux va définitivement à l’encontre de tous ses principes ! Pourtant, cette année, Scrooge va vivre un Noël qu’il ne sera pas près d’oublier…Tout commence la veille de Noël, lorsqu’en rentrant chez lui, Scrooge a d’étranges hallucinations. Le spectre de son ancien associé lui rend la plus effrayante des visites, et lui en annonce d’autres, aussi magiques que troublantes…Scrooge se voit d’abord confronté à l’Esprit des Noëls passés, qui le replonge dans ses propres souvenirs, réveillant en lui des blessures oubliées et des regrets profondément enfouis…
If you’re looking for something more modern, check out the computer-animated version starring Jim Carrey. In this 2009 version of A Christmas Carol, Carrey plays Scrooge and the three ghosts who haunt him.
-
A Christmas Carol
November 28, 2004Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
This version of the story played on Broadway and features songs by the brilliant Disney composer Alan Menken.
The cast includes Kelsey Grammer as Ebenezer Scrooge, alongside Jason Alexander, Jane Krakowski, Jesse L. Martin, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The production values are decidedly made-for-TV, but the songs are quite good.
If you don’t see your favorite in this list, simply search for your movie in the search box above. And if you’re looking for a list of the best Christmas movies available by streaming service, take a look at our picks: