The greatest Christmas movies of all time will forever remain a hotly debated and contested topic. Like anything that is said to be "the best," it's hard to objectively quantify the quality. A movie some people may hate, others may love. On the other hand, a widely-beloved Christmas classic may be derided by certain people.
As such, it's good to go to public forums like Reddit to get a wide and varied list of movies. And Reddit is full of Christmas movie-related threads, and the discussion is always bound to be a good one.
Updated on December 17th, 2022 by Aya Tsintziras: Everyone has their own idea of the best Christmas movie. While it's fun to watch recent films like A Christmas Story Christmas, the classics from the past few decades are the movies that people are most passionate about. From Kevin McAllister protecting his home from burglars to The Grinch learning how to be kinder and more caring, these movies are ones that everyone loves to revisit. Redditors have chosen their absolute favorite films that they are love to put on, and these are heartfelt and sweet stories that always prove entertaining.
The Santa Clause (1994)
Stream on Disney+
Redditor XtremeBBQ replied in a thread that the best Christmas movie is "The Santa Clause. Tim Allen." The story begins with Scott Calvin having a rough time during this time of year since he's divorced and unsure how to connect with his son Charlie. When Santa chaotically falls off their roof, the characters are in awe of what has happened.
Scott is understandably concerned when he learns that he is supposed to take over the role of Santa. He changes everything about his lifestyle to take on the part, and the result is a hilarious and endearing movie that people like watching each year.
Elf (2003)
Stream on HBO Max
User NEOOMGeeWhiz said "I love Elf personally" when it comes to the best Christmas movie. Buddy is one of the most likable Will Ferrell characters and it's hard not to smile wide when watching him walk around New York City and share his love for the holiday season.
Since Buddy is a character who has such optimism about Christmas, Elf is the perfect happy movie to watch. It will put anyone in the same great mood as Buddy, who couldn't be more thrilled about this time of year.
Love Actually (2003)
Stream on Peacock
Replying in a thread about the best Christmas movies, Redditor verynayce said "Love Actually." Redditor Thortontext added, "Came for this, it's over the top sappy but hits all the notes."
The movie is beloved for including characters who are finding love and dealing with the stressors and highs of that experience. As is often the case, Christmas makes the stakes of the story feel higher, and the movie is heartwarming.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Stream on Peacock
When asked about all-time favorite holiday movies, Redditor Twigling said How The Grinch Stole Christmas and explained, "the 1966 animated version, not the later movie starring Jim Carrey or the even later 2018 version."
The story of The Grinch is a classic one and it's fun to see this 1966 movie and revisit the sweet story of how this beloved character learns to appreciate the season. He realizes that having compassion is a good idea, which is a heartfelt lesson.
The Polar Express (2004)
Stream on HBO Max
Redditor OtakuTacos said he and his son love seeing Die Hard at the Alamo Drafthouse theater and added, "But Polar Express is our favorite."
The main character is a young boy who doesn't believe that Santa Claus is real. It's charming following his journey and it's a good reminder of how nice it can be to believe in the magic of Christmas, no matter what age someone is.
Home Alone (1990)
Stream on Disney+
In this popular thread from r/movies, the users were asked "What are the best Christmas movies of all time?" The top comment from Redditor Jackijack88 (when sorted by best) may not be surprising. Home Alone is an undeniable Christmas classic, and even though it may have its story-related flaws, it is nevertheless a widely beloved film that is watched year after year by families the world over.
It was also an enormous success at the box office, holding the record for the highest-grossing live-action comedy for over 20 years until The Hangover Part II overtook it in 2011.
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Stream on Prime Video
It's a Wonderful Life is another classic choice, as it's often heralded as the greatest Christmas movie ever made. It's certainly one of the most popular owing largely to its annual TV airings - it wouldn't be Christmas without a TV showing of It's a Wonderful Life. It's bound to make any viewer cry, and as Redditor snorkk_ wonderfully ptus it, "There is nothing better than watching your dad cry."
Deemed the most inspiring movie of all time by the American Film Institute (AFI), It's a Wonderful Life will leave everyone a little teary-eyed by the end.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Stream on Disney+
Directed by Brian Henson in his directorial debut, The Muppet Christmas Carol served as the fourth theatrically-released Muppets movie and was a decent (if not remarkable) success at the box office, grossing $27 million on a $12 million budget.
The story is adapted from Charles Dickens's iconic novel A Christmas Carol and sees the Muppets in the roles of the various timeless and beloved characters. As Redditor largebrandon states, "No one plays Scrooge quite like My Cocaine" (referencing Michael Caine).
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Stream on HBO Max
John Hughes dominated the '80s, and he wrote (but not directed) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - perhaps the most beloved Christmas comedy of all time.
Led by a hilarious Chevy Chase, Christmas Vacation sees various relations visiting the Griswold house over the Christmas season and ramping up the outrageous situations to 11 (like frying a cat with the Christmas tree lights). The movie is filled with hilarious one-liners, most of which are lovingly repeated throughout the Reddit thread.
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Stream on DirecTV and Starz
A more unorthodox pick is the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Jingle All the Way. While a decent success at the box office ($129 million on a $75 million budget), the movie was widely derided by critics and sits at just 15% on Rotten Tomatoes.
It also has a 38% audience score, signifying that even general audiences don't seem too invested. With that said, it seems a warm bit of nostalgia for '90s children, and as such, it may hold a special place in millions of hearts.
Scrooged (1988)
Stream on Prime Video
Scrooged is one of those movies that people either hate or love. Serving as a more sardonic adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Scrooged is led by the typically sardonic Bill Murray - making it an inspired bit of casting. As Redditor distephano87 puts it, "Definitely my favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol, mainly due to the fact that [it stars] Bill Murray."
While the movie received a mixed reception upon release, it has since been regarded as a Christmas classic - albeit a somewhat non-traditional one.
A Christmas Story (1983)
Stream on HBO Max
Redditor stpfan1 says, "A Christmas Story. THE Christmas movie of my generation." They are certainly right, as A Christmas Story sits alongside It's a Wonderful Life as perhaps the most popular Christmas movie ever made.
Like It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story is repeatedly aired on television, with TNT and TBS airing 24 Hours of A Christmas Story that repeatedly draws millions of viewers every year.
The Ref (1994)
Stream on Hoopla
Of course, most of these movies are beloved Christmas classics. Hence this Reddit thread, which asks for less popular and more non-traditional Christmas movies that aren't often listed on "best Christmas movies ever" lists. The top comment is The Ref, a dark comedy starring Denis Leary and Judy Davis.
Redditor slimslacker explains that the movie contains "Kevin Spacey at his best." And while the movie underperformed at the box office, critics tended to agree with slimslacker, with many praising the performances of the lead cast.
Gremlins (1984)
Stream on HBO Max
Also suggested in that Reddit thread is the 1984 comedy horror Gremlins. Like Die Hard, Gremlins is one of those movies that is continuously argued over. Is something a Christmas movie just because it takes place at Christmas?
Or does "a Christmas movie" need some type of prototype - a feel good tone, or messages about the meaning of Christmas? If it's the former, then Gremlins is an undeniable Christmas classic as one of the greatest 1980s movies.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Stream on Hulu
Rare Exports is a Finnish hidden gem that perfectly blends a wide array of genres, including the "Christmas movie," comedy, and horror. The movie concerns the unearthing of Santa Claus in an archeological dig and the children that go missing soon after his unearthing.
As Redditor idamnedit succinctly puts it, "Rare Exports is interesting." Critics agree, resulting in a stellar 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, with most praise going towards its unique blending of genres. Those looking for a more non-traditional Christmas film could certainly do worse than this unique Finnish film.