The 25 Best Christmas Movies, Ranked

It’s a Christmas emergency: Santa Claus needs a successor and the accident-prone Ernest (Jim Varney) is just the man to help him out. Or not.

Age-old rivalries (and romances) resurface when college friends—including Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Nia Long and Terrence Howard—reunite for Christmas.

瑞茜·威瑟斯彭和文斯·沃恩的化学great in this film? Nah. But did we laugh out loud when their vacation plans go awry and they’re forced to spend Christmas bouncing between the homes (four to be exact) of relatives? Definitely.

Type A Sarah Jessica Parker doesnotblend in seamlessly when Dermot Mulroney—her fiancé—brings her home to Connecticut at Christmas to meet his quirky family.

Yes, it’s aChristmas movie. Yes, we love that 1980s superstar Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) basically saves the day.

Come on, the penultimate scene takes place over Christmas in this film about a rich, child-free selfish Londoner (Hugh Grant) who never makes time for others until a 12-year-old boy won’t leave him alone.

It’s Tim Allen at his finest. When he accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit, he’s transported to the North Pole to assume the role before the following Christmas arrives, much to the delight of his son.

Before there was Airbnb, there was this film about Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swapping homes between LA and the British countryside—and meeting the men (Jude Law and Jack Black) of their dreams.

This 1980s riff on Charles’ DickensA Christmas Carolstars Bill Murray as a TV exec who feels no qualms firing a staffer right before the holidays—until he’s visited by a series of ghosts.

Not only does it star Judy Garland, this musical about four sisters learning about life and love before the 1904 World’s Fair features one of the best-ever renditions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” sung by Garland herself.

A neglected preacher’s wife (Whitney Houston) gets spiritual guidance from the most charming guardian angel of all time (Denzel Washington).

Old St. Nick—at least the mall version—just isn’t himself in this film starring Billy Bob Thornton as a Santa Claus poser with big plans to rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve.

Jim Carrey breathes new life into the Dr. Seuss tale about a Christmas Eve grump who plans to steal (versus distribute) all the kids’ toys.

It’s Tim Burton at his best. When pumpkin king Jack Skellington gets bored scaring people in Halloweentown, he moves on to Christmastown and a new target: Santa Claus.

作为一个孩子,威尔·法瑞尔是神秘的透明orted to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. Now, he’s on a mission to find his real dad—played by James Caan—in New York. Things don’t go well.

Kermit the Frog is Bob Cratchit in yet another beloved retelling of Charles’ Dickens famous tale.

Kris Kringle steps in to replace a drunken Santa Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and peoplelovehim—that is, until he starts going around town claiming to be the real deal.

You’ve got Bing Crosby (and Rosemary Clooney, George’s aunt) crooningabout the holidaysin snow-covered Vermont. What’s not to love?

Tough day at the office: When George Bailey (James Stewart) wishes aloud that he had never been born, an angel appears to show him exactly how life would be without him. (Cue the tears.)

If Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) doesn’t inspire you to give your all when putting up your holiday lights, no one will.

Vintage Macaulay Culkin. You can’t go wrong.

Permission to replay Hugh Grant’s prime minister dance routine 17 times the next time you watch.

So, Sandra Bullock invents a relationship with a guy (Peter she’s been crushing on who’s now in a coma.) It’s still a total classic.

If this film—featuring the Peanuts gang—about the commercialization of Christmas doesn’t calm your holiday anxiety after a trip to the mall, nothing will.

Hey, there’s a reason TBS plays this film commercial-free for 24 hours straight every Christmas.