The lights are up, the cocoa is hot, and it’s officially time to rotate the Christmas movie playlist. Whether you’re a sentimental traditionalist, a snarky cynic, or just looking for something the whole family won’t fight over, here are five stone-cold classics (and one modern masterpiece) that deserve a spot on your watchlist this December.
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Director: Frank Capra Why it still rules: Yes, it’s earnest. Yes, it makes grown adults cry every single time George Bailey runs through snowy Bedford Falls yelling “Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!” James Stewart’s everyman desperation colliding with Clarence the angel’s cosmic intervention is the ultimate reminder that no man is a failure who has friends. Bonus: it invented the “alternate reality” trope decades before Marvel. Perfect for: Anyone who needs an emotional reset after a rough year. - Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan Why it still rules: “Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho.” John McClane crawling through Nakatomi Plaza in a blood-stained tank top is the chaotic energy we all secretly bring to holiday gatherings. It’s got explosions, one-liners, and the most tense Christmas party in cinema history. Perfect for: People who argue (correctly) that it is, in fact, a Christmas movie. - Home Alone (1990)
Director: Chris Columbus Why it still rules: Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister turning his house into a sadistic booby-trap wonderland never gets old. Macaulay Culkin’s facial expressions, John Williams’ sparkling score, and Joe Pesci yelling about pizza make this the ultimate feel-good revenge fantasy. The wet bandits getting obliterated by paint cans and irons is pure holiday catharsis. Perfect for: Families who quote “Keep the change, ya filthy animal” year-round. - The Holiday (2006)
Director: Nancy Meyers Why it still rules: A cozy, aesthetically perfect rom-com that understands the assignment: gorgeous cottages, Kate Winslet being adorable in Surrey snow, Jude Law in a turtleneck saying “I’m in love with you,” and Jack Black proving he can do tender just as well as manic. It’s comfort food with a side of string-quartet covers of “Killing Me Softly.” Perfect for: Anyone who wants to feel warm, fuzzy, and slightly delusional about swapping houses with a stranger. - Klaus (2019)
Director: Sergio Pablos Why it still rules: This hand-drawn Netflix gem is the best new Christmas classic in decades. It’s the origin story of Santa Claus we didn’t know we needed—funny, gorgeous, and genuinely moving. Jesper’s transformation from selfish postman to accidental myth-maker, paired with that stunning 2D animation and a heartfelt message about kindness creating tradition, will wreck you in the best way. Perfect for: People who say “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” — turns out, sometimes they still do.
Honorable mentions if you have extra nights:
• Elf (2003) – for maximum quotability and sugar-high energy
• Love Actually (2003) – for better or worse, it’s the chaotic group-chat of Christmas movies
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) – 25 perfect minutes of melancholy jazz and aluminum trees
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – because Michael Caine acting opposite singing frogs is peak culture
So queue them up, string the lights, spike the eggnog (or don’t), and let the marathon begin. Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan—now pass the remote.
