Wondering what the best streamer is for the most popular Christmas movies? We’ve got answers.
Wondering what the best streamer is for the most popular Christmas movies? We’ve got answers.
The holidays hit different with classics like ‘Elf,’ ‘Home Alone,’ and ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’
The holidays are here. And there’s arguably nothing more important to make the season sing than a high-quality Christmas movie list. I’m talking classics – the ones that have stood the test of time to emerge as the most popular each year. But what’s the best streamer to watch as many of these popular Christmas movies as possible? That’s what this article is all about. And while there’s no slam-dunk answer, there are definitely two streamers that sparkle brighter than the rest: Hulu and Disney+. Here’s why they are the best streamers for popular Christmas movies.
Everything you need to know about the best streamers for popular holiday movies:
What popular Christmas movies can you watch on Hulu?
Hulu is an excellent value when it comes to popular Christmas movies because it has a handful of the classics. First, there’s “Elf” – perhaps the greatest Christmas movie in the last 25 years. In “Elf,” comedy legend Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. When Buddy learns he’s not, in fact, an elf, he travels to New York City to find his biological father, a workaholic on Santa’s naughty list… and holiday chaos ensues.
Next, there’s the Chevy Chase Christmas classic, “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.” This perennial favorite follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) as he goes all-out to give his family the perfect Christmas. The only problem is that everything that could go wrong does, which is why this movie is the classic it is.
Hulu also has the Tom Hanks holiday movie “The Polar Express,” which is consistently one of the most popular movies each holiday season. In this one, a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole that shows him the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Directed by genius filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, this is one train ride you don’t want to.
For fans of both talking snowmen and Michael Keaton, there’s “Jack Frost,” a tear-jerker about a father, who can’t keep his promises. He dies in a car accident, and then one year later, returns as a snowman, who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.
And for those who like a little romance with their holiday cheer, there’s the popular rom-com Christmas movie, “Four Christmases” starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. The two play a couple who go to extreme lengths to avoid spending Christmas with their families. When a canceled flight forces them to stay in town, they find themselves juggling visits to all four of their divorced parents’ homes in one day – a long day filled with awkward secrets, uncomfortable family moments, and lots of laughs.
Here are all the popular holiday movies available on Hulu:
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Elf
October 9, 2003When 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.
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
November 30, 1989It’s Christmastime, and 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, knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
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The Polar Express
November 10, 2004When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
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Four Christmases
November 26, 2008Brad and Kate have made something of an art form out of avoiding their families during the holidays, but this year their foolproof plan is about go bust — big time. Stuck at the city airport after all departing flights are canceled, the couple is embarrassed to see their ruse exposed to the world by an overzealous television reporter. Now, Brad and Kate are left with precious little choice other than to swallow their pride and suffer the rounds.
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Jack Frost
November 15, 1998A father, who can’t keep his promises, dies in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman, who has the final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.
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Fred Claus
November 9, 2007Fred Claus and Santa Claus have been estranged brothers for many years. Now Fred must reconcile his differences with his brother whom he believes overshadows him. When an efficiency expert assesses the workings at the North Pole and threatens to shut Santa down, Fred must help his brother to save Christmas.
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Deck the Halls
November 22, 2006Determined to unseat Steve Finch’s reign as the town’s holiday season king, Buddy Hall plasters his house with so many decorative lights that it’ll be visible from space! When their wives bond, and their kids follow suit, the two men only escalate their rivalry - and their decorating.
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Christmas with the Kranks
November 24, 2004When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever!
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Die Hard
July 15, 1988NYPD 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.
What popular Christmas movies can you watch on Disney+?
Disney+ is the other must-have streamer for popular Christmas movies. And a big part of that is that they offer the GOAT (greatest of all time) holiday movie… “Home Alone.” Consistently the biggest draw year after year, it seems we can’t get enough of Kevin McCallister kicking burglars’ butts on Christmas Eve. And even better, Disney+ also carries the sequel, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Now, “Home Alone” is almost enough to stop the article here. But there are lots more popular Christmas movies on Disney+. I can’t write this article without mentioning Tim Allen’s “Santa Claus” movies (along with a TV show). In my humble holiday opinion, the first movie is the best, where Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), finds Santa Claus has fallen off his roof. So, as any normal person would, he dons Santa’s suit, takes the reins of the magical sleigh, and is transported to the North Pole (with his son), where he learns that he must assume the role of the new Santa Claus. This spawned a trilogy with this first one and the sequel, “The Santa Clause 2” being my favorites.
But Disney+ doesn’t stop here. It’s also got the classic 2009 telling of “A Christmas Carol,” where 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.
Disney+ carries the hilarious Arnold Schwarzenegger hit, “Jingle All the Way,” where he battles it out with everyone else in town on Christmas eve for the action figure “Turbo Man” that his son desperately wants for Christmas.
And the streamer also carries the Halloween / Christmas stop-motion masterpiece, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” which follows Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack’s rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
Here are all the uber-popular Christmas movies you can stream on Disney+:
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Noelle
November 12, 2019Kris 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.
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A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
December 17, 2008When Gonzo forgets to mail three letters to Santa, he convinces Kermit and the gang to help him deliver the notes to the North Pole. Along the way, they discover that Christmas is the time to be with those you care about most, as they dash home to make a friends Christmas wish come true.
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Frozen
November 20, 2013Young princess Anna of Arendelle dreams about finding true love at her sister Elsa’s coronation. Fate takes her on a dangerous journey in an attempt to end the eternal winter that has fallen over the kingdom. She’s accompanied by ice delivery man Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf. On an adventure where she will find out what friendship, courage, family, and true love really means.
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A Christmas Carol
November 4, 2009Miser 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.
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The Santa Clause
November 11, 1994On 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.
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The Santa Clause 2
September 29, 2002Better 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 be forced to give up his Yuletide gig.
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From Our Family to Yours
November 8, 2020A granddaughter brings joy on Christmas morning by mending her Filipina grandmother’s beloved Mickey plush and decorating her house with Filipino Christmas lanterns ‘parols’; reviving a family tradition and evoking memories of Christmas past. In partnership with Make-A-Wish. Featuring “Love Is A Compass” by Griff.
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Home Alone
November 16, 1990Eight-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.
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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
November 15, 1992Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad’s credit card—despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, the Wet Bandits, he’s determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve.
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Jingle All the Way
November 21, 1996Howard 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.
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Mickey's Christmas Carol
October 19, 1983Ebenezer 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.
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Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
October 31, 1999Mickey, Minnie, and their famous friends Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto gather together to reminisce about the love, magic and surprises in three wonder-filled stories of Christmas past.
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Miracle on 34th Street
November 18, 1994Six-year-old Susan Walker has doubts about childhood’s most enduring miracle—Santa Claus. Her mother told her the secret about Santa a long time ago, but, after meeting a special department store Santa who’s convinced he’s the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all—something to believe in.
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Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
December 5, 2011Lanny and Wayne are at it again! With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking Naughty Kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost Naughty Kid expert to aid in the mission: a bombastic member of the Coal Bucket Brigade who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.
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The Muppet Christmas Carol
December 10, 1992A 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.
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The Nightmare Before Christmas
October 9, 1993Tired of scaring humans every October 31 with the same old bag of tricks, Jack Skellington, the spindly king of Halloween Town, kidnaps Santa Claus and plans to deliver shrunken heads and other ghoulish gifts to children on Christmas morning. But as Christmas approaches, Jack’s rag-doll girlfriend, Sally, tries to foil his misguided plans.
