There are plenty of holiday movies that are well-known and universally beloved. Any festive film fans will know classics like Home Alone, The Grinch, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, there are some flicks that may have flown under the radar for even the most avid lovers of Christmas movies.
While some of these titles missed the mark from a critical standpoint, most hit home with audiences, and all have that same ability to instill festive cheer in viewers. These underrated films, ranging from comedic romps to sappy tales, are worth a shot at becoming a yearly tradition.
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Available to stream on fuboTV and DIRECTV.
The animated film is focused on Santa's son, Arthur, as he tries to correct a gift mistakenly not going to the person it was supposed to. The film has garnered quite the following since its release in 2011. "Not enough people know about this movie, it's adorable," Reddit user fluffywaffles88 said.
The movie stars James McAvoy as Arthur and Bill Nighy as Santa Claus and sits currently at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics described the film as heartwarming, imaginative, and an overall fun film. It also plays on one of the best Christmas movie tropes: the main character being related to Santa.
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
The muppets are household names, but this Christmas special can be quite hard to find and not as well known or appreciated as The Muppet Christmas Carol. The muppets are always funny, family-friendly, and have a great spirit that perfectly matches the holidays. "Muppets Family Christmas is a classic," Reddit user SavannahInChicago states.
Many will be familiar with the more popular The Muppet Christmas Carol, but fans of both the holidays and The Muppets should give this one a shot as well. The plot is simple, and, with it being a TV special rather than a feature-length film, relatively short. Still, it is immensely fun to watch with children and is guaranteed to get a few laughs out of the whole family.
Christmas With The Kranks (2004)
Available to stream on Starz.
A Christmas film with Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd sounds like a treat. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks so as the film does sport a disappointing 5% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 38% audience score. It might not be a film to take all that seriously, but plenty of viewers find enjoyment in it. Redditor SpotISAGoodCat states, "It's a cute movie, albeit ridiculous at times, but it's silly and lighthearted and Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are funny."
Not everyone will recommend it, but if viewers like slapstick humor then Christmas with the Kranks is certainly worth a watch, especially given the comedic talent of the cast.
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
The Bishop's Wife focuses on the religious aspect of the Christmas holiday. Both heartwarming and inspiring, it is a classic and simple story that should be on any holiday watchlist. It is currently one of the many great Christmas movies on Amazon Prime Video.
"The original 'The Bishop's Wife' with Cary Grant is spectacular," Redditor Kendallsan said. The film has garnered an 84% percent on Rotten Tomatoes. What most critics say about the film is that even though it is a "miracle" film, it feels very human and more believable than other similar flicks of the era.
The Preacher's Wife (1996)
Available to stream on fuboTV.
1996 saw a remake of The Bishop's Wife with a glittering cast including mega-stars of the time Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. Redditor SpotISAGoodCat states that The Preacher's Wife is "Corny, cheesy, predictable but so darn good." It's everything you could possibly want in a Christmas movie.
Both Houston and Washington nail their roles in this festive film too. Washington is able to act both the comedy and the drama perfectly, delivering a performance that is sincere and heartfelt. The music is also impeccable and saw the film nominated for an Oscar.
Mixed Nuts (1994)
Available to stream on Peacock.
Critics didn't rate Mixed Nuts favorably, but Reddit users have a different opinion on the film. "Lots of quirky characters and really good dark humor," Redditor whatever9855 said. While the dark humor might not be for everyone, Mixed Nuts is well worth a watch if viewers want to try something different, and many fans would argue it is one of many Christmas movies that deserves a IMDb score.
The film also holds a poor 10% on Rotten Tomatoes but does have a more favorable 47% audience score. The cast features talented actors and big-name stars such as Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Adam Sandler, and Juliette Lewis. Viewers might also be interested to know it is based on the French film, Le Pere Noel est une ordure (a.k.a Santa Claus Is a Stinker).
Four Christmases (2008)
Available to stream on HBO Max.
Another underrated Christmas flick is the mid-00s Four Christmases. The film follows a couple as they try desperately to accomplish the mammoth task of visiting all four of their divorced parents' homes on Christmas day. The plot of the film is absolutely hilarious and very relatable for those with large extended families.
"I would suggest... Four Christmases," Redditor queenp66 said. While they didn't offer any more detail as to why they love the film, the comedy and the all-star cast (including Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, and Jon Favreau) are two of the most obvious reasons.
Prancer (1989)
Available to stream on Starz.
Prancer is a film that is heartwarming and full of the spirit of the holidays. Redditor DragonsLikeBacon states, "It's one we watch every year in my house but it's not well known." The film has a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and stars Sam Elliott who delivers a stellar performance.
Viewers should be warned that Prancer is on the tear-jerking end of the Christmas movie spectrum, and is bound to pull on a few heartstrings. It can also definitely make those watching feel completely wrapped in the holiday spirit.
Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
Available to stream on Peacock.
Santa Claus: The Movie is another film that critics didn't particularly love but it packs a lot of heart into its fun time. Both David Huddleston, who appears as Santa Claus, and John Lithgow are excellent in it. "The guy who plays Santa does a fantastic job," Redditor OldClunkyRobot said on Reddit.
Despite a low 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score is a high 66%. With a clear gap between critics and audience, it is obvious that the film hits the mark for viewers looking for a festive film to add to their yearly rotation.
Fred Claus (2007)
Available to stream on HBO Max.
An often polarizing film, Fred Claus does offer a great cast with Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Rachel Weisz, and Elizabeth Banks. "Some movies that I'd consider to be low on the radar, but still decent, are I'll Be Home for Christmas and Fred Claus," Redditor bakedpotatocheesepls said.
The film offers very dark humor but it does have a hidden heartwarming message. While it may not be appealing to everyone, it is a great film to give a shot for during the holidays and should bring in a few laughs.