These are The Streamable staff’s favorite Christmas movies!
These are The Streamable staff’s favorite Christmas movies!
From “Home Alone” to “White Christmas,” these are the movies our staff absolutely loves at Christmas.
We’ve been on a mission to bring you all of the very best Christmas content you can find across the major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and more. But what if all of the options have you feeling a little dizzy, and you just need a little bit of help to choose the right movie for you?
Here at The Streamable, we obviously watch a lot of movies, so of course we have favorites when it comes to holiday hits. Within, you’ll find some that you’ve most certainly seen before, but perhaps you’ll find a hidden gem or two that you can celebrate for the first time.
Read on to see what members of The Streamable staff absolutely have to watch during every holiday season.
Streamable Staff Picks: Our favorite Christmas movies
Jared DiPane: General Manager
“Home Alone”
“Home Alone” is probably one of the most chaotic Christmas movies — it’s packed full of humor, drama, and action, and no matter how many times you watch it, you just want to laugh and laugh. Any time “Home Alone” is on TV, I watch it.
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 as his frantic mother attempts to race home before Christmas Day.
“The Santa Clause”
When you watch “The Santa Clause” for the first time, you really have no idea what you’re about to get into. Right from the start it’s interesting, funny, and keeps you guessing about what will happen next. The movie does a great job of showing people keeping traditions alive and the magic of the holiday season.
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.
“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure”
While it’s a short-form Disney+ original, “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” holds a special place in our family. The soundtrack is easy to get hooked on, the messaging of the movie is incredible, and my daughter loves to watch it with us every year — multiple times.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Olaf is on a mission to harness the best holiday traditions for Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
Adam Zeis: Managing Editor
“Mickey’s Christmas Carol”
This one just reminds me of my childhood. It’s a short, sweet, timeless Christmas story, and I absolutely love it. It’s always been one of my favorite Christmas stories, and the relatable Disney characters bring it to life in a way that’s fit for everyone, young and old. If you haven’t seen it, you should absolutely watch it. And if you have watched it, you should absolutely watch it again.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some new found friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. A retelling of the classic Dickens tale with Disney’s classic characters.
“Jingle All the Way”
It’s terrible, but I absolutely love it. I make my family suffer through it every year, and they 100% let me know how they feel about it. It’s no surprise that nothing very magical could come from an Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad collab, but it’s so unbearably cheesy — filled with a terrible plot and terrible acting — that I can never not feel good watching it. I know I’m really selling it, but you should give it a shot if you’re looking for your new guilty pleasure this Christmas.
Jingle All the Way
Howard Langston, a salesman for a mattress company, is constantly kept busy at his job, disappointing his son. After he misses his son’s karate exposition, Howard vows to make it up to him by buying an action figure of his son’s favorite television hero for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out of Turbo Man. Now, Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure.
“Serendipity”
My wife (then girlfriend) and I watched this during our first Christmas together and have been doing so yearly ever since. I’m a huge John Cusack fan — both good and bad — and I watch this one every year without fail. It’s not the greatest, but as far as Christmasy romcoms go, this is as cookie-cutter as they get, and I’m here for it.
Serendipity
Although strangers Sara and Jonathan are both already in relationships, they realize they have genuine chemistry after a chance encounter – but part company soon after. Years later, they each yearn to reunite, despite being destined for the altar. But to give true love a chance, they have to find one another again.
Matt Tamanini: News Editor
“White Christmas”
Not only is it chock full of some of my favorite holiday songs, but the cast is stacked with legends like Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and Vera-Ellen. And, perhaps most importantly, I am a sucker for anything sentimental, so when the entire 151st division sings “The Old Man,” I cry every time.
White Christmas
Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. In time they befriend and become romantically involved with the beautiful Haynes sisters who comprise a sister act.
“Anna and the Apocalypse”
While musicals are quite common on “Favorite Christmas Movies” lists, very rarely do those musicals also include a zombie infection apocalypse; “Anna and the Apocalypse” is the one shining exception. This 2017 film is smart, funny, and surprisingly touching. “Anna and the Apocalypse” is for people who begrudgingly concede that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie but who actually want their holiday films to be about the holidays and have the familiar feel-good notes that we’ve come to expect from Christmas fare.
Anna and the Apocalypse
A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven – at Christmas – forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol”
It’s Michael Caine and the Muppets? What more do you want? Long before I saw every other imaginable version of “A Christmas Carol” on stage and screen, this was the version I grew up on. Tangentially, “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together” has always been one of my family’s favorite Christmas albums, so I am all-in on the MCU (the Muppets Chistmastastic Universe).
The Muppet Christmas Carol
A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
David Satin: Writer
“Die Hard”
It’s the quintessential Christmas movie for folks who aren’t all that Christmas-y. The explosive, high-octane action is breathtaking from start to finish, and the Christmas Eve setting more than justifies its status as a beloved Christmas film.
Die Hard
NYPD cop John McClane’s plan to reconcile with his estranged wife is thrown for a serious loop when, minutes after he arrives at her office, the entire building is overtaken by a group of terrorists. With little help from the LAPD, wisecracking McClane sets out to single-handedly rescue the hostages and bring the bad guys down.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
A tradition from our household growing up was to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” while putting up the tree. It’s a truly fascinating story and a good reminder that the lives we lead touch so many others, whether we realize it or not.
It’s a Wonderful Life
A holiday favourite for generations… George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George’s modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business’s $8,000 is lost and George’s troubles begin.
Thomas Waschenfelder: Writer
“A Christmas Carol (1999)”
Our family watched a lot of “Star Trek: Next Generation” growing up. A Patrick Stewart Christmas movie?! Yes, please. Now, this is a dark movie. There’s not a lot of fun to be had, as my wife found out when we all sat down for this Christmas tradition. She calls it the “Dracula” Christmas movie. But Stewart is always fun to watch, even when he’s Scrooge.
A Christmas Carol
Miser 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.
“Elf”
The movie is 1) hilarious, 2) perfectly Christmas, and 3) stars Will Ferrell in his genius. A classic.
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 (Will Ferrell) vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic publisher (James Caan).
If you love this holiday treat, check out Netflix’s “Movies That Made Us” to learn more about the making of this modern classic.
“Home Alone”
Why does the world love it? Because it’s a perfect movie — it’s got laughs, nostalgia, chaos, and most importantly, heart.
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 as his frantic mother attempts to race home before Christmas Day.
More to love this Christmas
We’ve got just the thing if you’re looking for more content. Check out our lists of all the best Christmas movies on your favorite streaming platforms!