There’s nothing like binge-watching the best Christmas movies ever to put you in the festive spirit. The holidays are one of the best times of the year, allowing all the family to come together. Nothing can warm the soul more than a good Christmas movie.

The best Chrimstmas movies should include plenty of jokes. But they also need to have some genuinely heartwarming moments, which can make everyone feel the holiday spirit. After all, Christmas is one of the most magical times of the year. During this season, it seems as though everything is possible. Even a man slowly transforming into Santa Claus, or an Elf searching through New York for his human father.

The best Christmas movies can have a big impact on society. Once it becomes a Christmas favorite, families will gather together each year to watch it. Even if it’s your 15th time watching them, you’ll still laugh at a good Christmas movie.

Below, we’ll see some of the best choices this holiday season. From a kid who gets forgotten by his parents to a man haunted by three ghosts. Whether you want laughter, action, or even horror, we’ve got a pick for you. So, deck the halls, light the tree, and grab your family. Once everyone is sitting comfortably, grab the remote and try these festive favorites.

best christmas movies ever

Elf

Summary
If you’re looking for a film to fill you with festive joy, this is a great choice. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Elf. Though he was raised at the North Pole, Buddy is a human. So, when his father needs to break the tough news that he isn’t an Elf, Buddy’s devastated. He sets out to New York, to find his real father, who’s a fixture on the naughty list. To make things even harder, his father doesn’t even know that Buddy exists.

As you can imagine, this film lends itself to a lot of hilarious moments. However, it also has a big heart. This movie is the perfect reminder of the joy that the smallest moments can provide. This movie also has an amazing supporting cast, including names like James Caan and Peter Dinklage. If you’re looking for one of the best christmas movies ever that will bring the whole family together, this is a good choice.

Best Line
“We elves try to stick to the four main food groups; candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.”

Home Alone

Summary
At first glance, a kid setting intricate, and painful, traps to stop thieves from breaking into his house seems like a ridiculous plot. In some ways the movie is. But that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

Kevin McCallister awakes to wake that his family is gone. At first, he revels in his newfound freedom. But with two hapless robbers trying to break into his property, he realizes that he will need to defend himself.

As the premise suggests, there’s a lot of slapstick fun to be had. From getting hit with paint bottles to slipping on ice. But, beneath the surface hi-jinx, this film is a lot deeper. It’s about a boy realizing how important family is, even though they won’t always get along. It also has some valuable lessons about not judging people based on appearances.

If you liked the first movie, you might also want to check out the second one, where Kevin is left in New York. Famously, the second installment features a presidential cameo.

Best Line
“I made my family disappear.”

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Summary
The quintessential Christmas story, it seems like everyone is familiar with the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts who haunt him. There have been dozens of versions of this tale. However, they all struggle to match the charm of a Muppet’s Christmas Carol.

It has all the puppets that families have come to know and love. Kermit is Bob Cratchit. Gonzo the Great is the narrator. Statler and Waldorf make appearances as the Ghost of Bob Marley. But the star is Michael Caine, who plays Ebenezer Scrooge.

This film has everything you would expect from a Muppet movie. There are lots of catchy songs. Tons of great jokes. Many cute puppets. But, most importantly, it never loses the heartwarming moments of the original Charles Dickens novella.

If there’s ever a movie that demonstrates the importance of learning from your mistakes, this is it. Because of this, it’s often considered not only one of the best Christmas movies ever, but one of the best Muppets movies of all time.

Best Line
“Bah Humbug!”

It’s a Wonderful Life

Summary
For many families, this is their best Christmas movie ever. Around the holiday season, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a channel that isn’t playing it. There’s a good reason for this. It’s one of the most heartwarming tales of all time.

George Bailey finds his life in tatters and decides the world would have been better if he had never been born. To show him how valuable he is, the angles decide to grant his wish. They show him an alternative timeline where he never existed. Through this, he realizes how important his impact has been on those he loves.

During the holidays, many people find that they have time to reflect on their year and the relationships with those close to them. This film reminds us that no matter who you are, you are important. It’s a heartwarming message, delivered by director Frank Capra. He would win a Golden Globe for Best Director because of his work on the film.

Best Line
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”

Miracle on 34th Street

Summary
There are have been multiple remakes of this iconic film. There have been two theatrical versions. Which one is the best is up for debate, as they are both beloved by audiences. Which one you want to watch over the holidays is up to you, or you could both.

They both tell the story of Kris Kringle. He claims to be the real Santa Claus. When he gets a job as a department store Santa, he quickly becomes the most popular one in town. However, when he finds himself in jail, he faces a seemingly impossible job. He needs to find a way of proving that he’s the real Santa Claus.

This is one of the best Christmas movies ever for a reason. It proves that Christmas isn’t a day, it’s a state of mind. With this superb message, delivered with tact, this film will likely continue to be a Christmas favorite for many years to come.

Best Line

“Christmas isn’t a day, it’s a state of mind.”

Trading Places

Summary
Set at Christmas, two millionaires are debating whether nature or nurture is most important. To settle this, they decide to have a bet. They will take one wealthy stockbroker, Louis Winthorpe, and one street conman, Billy Ray Valentine, and switch their lives around. Then, they’ll be able to see how they do in their new environments. Once they find out what the plan is, Louis and Billy decide to team up and take the millionaires down.

There are many reasons why this is one of the best Christmas movies ever. First, it features hilarious performances from Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. It also has a great supporting cast, which includes Jamie Lee Curtis.  It also raises some important social messages, especially about the greed of stockbroking firms and how wealth can give people control.

Interestingly, the influence of this film extends beyond the screen. When it first came out trading based on government reports in the commodity markets was legal. After the film pointing out some flaws in the system, the Eddie Murphy law was passed, banning this behavior.

Best Line

“I can see. I have legs.”

Krampus

Summary
Christmas horror movies are few and far between. With good reason. Christmas is the least threatening time of the year. Krampus uses traditional holiday tropes to great effect. Killer gingerbread men. A murderous jack in the box.

This film has it all. It’s based on the mythical story of Krampus, which is half-man, half-goat. He is sent to a family who has lost the Christmas spirit to punish them. At his disposal are a range of holiday-themed weapons. The family will need to work together if they want to have any chance of defeated Krampus.

While this might seem like an odd fit, everything works well. Because the film never takes itself too seriously, you’ll be able to laugh at the crazy Christmas carnage while fearing for the family. One of the biggest strengths of this film is its originality. There is always another surprise lurking around the corner.

If you’re looking for a fun mix of Christmas and Halloween, this could be the best Christmas movie ever for you.

Best Line

“It’s Christmas. Nothing bad is going to happen on Christmas.”

The Santa Clause

Summary
Spawning three movies and a ton of happy Christmas memories, The Santa Clause is one of the best Christmas movies ever from Disney. Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin. He’s a corporate executive who wants to spend Christmas with his son. When he spies a man on his roof, he shouts, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the roof. But when Scott puts on his coat, he starts transforming into Santa. Unable to control or reverse the process, he needs to learn how to be Santa. Worst of all, he needs to try and hide it from his family.

These movies continually strike a great balance between comedy and heartfelt moments. It also shows a lot of character progression, from Scott finding Mrs. Claus to helping his son find the right path. With so many fun, quotable moments this is a franchise that is sure to leave you filled with festive cheer.

Best Line

“Whoa, Dad. You’re flying.”

The Man Who Invented Christmas

Summary
Many of us are familiar with the story of A Christmas Tale. It’s become one of the best Christmas movies ever. There have been dozens of movie adaptations. However, you might not be as familiar with the life of the author, Charles Dickens.

This movie shows the real story of how Charles Dickens came to write the novella. After a string of unsuccessful novels, the pressure was on to create something that would be a hit. This would lead to the creation of A Christmas Carol. In the process, he will change the way that the holiday season is celebrated forever.

Though it didn’t receive as much attention as some of the other movies on this list, this is still a great film. Audiences will recognize a few familiar faces. Dan Stevens stars as Charles Dickens. Also, Christopher Plummer features as Ebenezer Scrooge. Between them, and the amazing true story, this film is sure to brighten your Christmas.

Best Line

“Get the name right and the character will appear.”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Summary
When you’re thinking about the career of comedic legend Chevy Chase, this film has to be close to the top of the list. In this film, he plays one of the characters that defined his career, Clark Griswold.

Clark is determined to create the perfect Christmas celebration for his family. However, in typical Griswold style, things quickly get out of style. Cousin Eddy arrives with his family in a camper van, much to the neighbor’s disgust. Just when things seem like they can’t get any worse, the boss decides to cancel the holiday bonus.

If you’re looking for something that will lift your spirits, this might be your best Christmas movie ever. Though the National Lampoon franchise spawned a lot of movies, this is often crowned as the pinnacle. There are dozens of enduring jokes and quotable moments. There’s plenty of slapstick to keep the kids happy, with enough innuendos to keep the adults laughing. It’s also a good reminder that your family isn’t that crazy.

Best Line

“Worse? How could things get worse? Look around Helen, we’re at the threshold of Hell.”

So tell us in the comments, what are YOUR best Christmas movies ever that we missed?
(Cough, The Grinch, Cough…)