List of Christmas films


This is a list of Christmas-themed films.

Theatrical

This is a list of Christmas-themed films which received a theatrical release.
TitleYearDescription
3 Godfathers1948At Christmastime in the Old West, three outlaws find a woman dying in childbirth, and deliver the baby to civilization in a retelling of The Three Wise Men.
A Bad Moms Christmas2017A Christmas sequel to Bad Moms. The plot follows the three moms from the first film, Amy, Kiki and Carla, dealing with their own mothers, Ruth, Sandy and Isis, visiting during the Christmas holidays.
A Christmas Story1983Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift.
A Christmas Tale 2008The troubled Vuillard family is no stranger to illness, grief, and banishment, but when their matriarch requires a bone-marrow transplant, the estranged clan reunites just in time for Christmas.
A Madea Christmas2013Madea dispenses her unique form of holiday spirit on rural town when she is coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas.
A Merry Friggin' Christmas2014Boyd Mitchler and his family must spend Christmas with his estranged family of misfits. Upon realizing that he left all his son's gifts at home, he hits the road with his dad in an attempt to make the 8-hour round trip before sunrise.
All I Want for Christmas1991A brother and sister attempt to bring their divorced parents back together for Christmas.
All Is Bright2013While out of prison on parole, a man reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she has always wanted.
Almost Christmas2016A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since their mom died.
Arthur Christmas2011Santa's youngest son must deliver a bicycle to an overlooked girl before Christmas morning dawns.
3-D/CGI animated film.
Babes in Toyland1961Disney reinterpreted the Christmas tale about the residents of Toyland in Technicolor in this 1961 musical.
Bad Santa2003
Bad Santa 22016
Better Watch Out2016
Black Nativity2013A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives.
Carol2015An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman over the Christmas holidays in 1950s New York.
Christmas Eve1947To save her fortune from a designing nephew, Matilda Reid must locate her three long-lost adopted sons in time for a Christmas Eve reunion.
Christmas in Connecticut1945A food writer must entertain her boss and a returning war hero for the holidays.
Christmas with the Kranks2004
Deck the Halls2006Rival neighbors duke it out when one of them decides to light his house up so it can be seen from outer space.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas2000A live action film of the Dr. Seuss story.
Elf2003A man raised as an elf in the North Pole searches for his father in New York City.
Ernest Saves Christmas1988Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.
Female Trouble1974A spoiled school-girl runs away from home at Christmas, gets pregnant while hitch-hiking, and ends up as a fashion model for a pair of beauticians who like to photograph women committing crimes.
Fitzwilly 1967A butler helps finance his employer's charitable activities through a variety of illicit schemes, including a plan to rob Gimbels department store on Christmas Eve.
Four Christmases2008A couple struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day.
Fred Claus2007
Friday After Next2002Craig and Day-Day go after a fake Santa who robs their house on Christmas Eve.
Gremlins1984A boy inadvertently breaks 3 important rules concerning his new Christmas present and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town preparing for Christmas.
Holiday Affair1949A fired sales clerk and a young woman fall in love.
Home Alone1990
'1992
Home for Christmas2010Set in the small Norwegian town of Skogli, this film looks at those who are desperately trying to connect with their families.
How the Toys Saved Christmas1996The story follows some toys as they struggle to avoid the heartless Mr. Grimm, that plans to auction off the toys to the highest bidder, and to find their true homes.
I'll Be Home for Christmas1998A son in college has not been home since his mother died and his father remarried. His father offers his vintage car if he is home by a certain time for Christmas.
I'll Be Seeing You1944A traumatized veteran and a woman on a break from serving her prison sentence meet and fall in love during Christmas in this post-war drama.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue1947A hobo who occupies a vacant New York City mansion for the winter unknowingly gets involved with the owner's family.
It's a Wonderful Life1946A businessman is shown by his guardian angel on Christmas Eve what the world would be like if he were never born.
Jack Frost1998A father passes away but comes back to life in the form of a snowman.
Jingle All the Way1996A dad competes with others to get the sold out hot toy for his son.
Joyeux Noël2005A film set around the informal Christmas truce on the Western Front during Christmas 1914.
Just Friends2005While visiting his hometown during Christmas, a man comes face-to-face with his old high school crush whom he was best friends with—a woman whose rejection of him turned him into a ferocious womanizer.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang2005Set around Christmas, a thief and a P.I. team up to solve a murder.
Lady in the Lake1947Private detective Philip Marlowe gets mixed up in a case involving a missing wife and murder at Christmas time.
Last Christmas2019A depressed young woman who works in a Christmas supplies store keeps bumping into the same young man.
Less Than Zero1987College freshman returns home at Christmas time to find all his high school friends take drugs.
Look Who's Talking Now1993In the third film of the series, it's the pets who do the talking.
Love Actually2003
Love the Coopers2015When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.
Margie Claus2019The story begins when Santa Claus goes missing while delivering presents on Christmas Eve. His wife, Margie Claus, must then put together an unlikely rescue team and set off from the North Pole for the first time in decades to rescue Santa and save Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence1983During WWII, a British colonel tries to bridge the cultural divides between a British POW and the Japanese camp commander in order to avoid bloodshed.
Miracle on 34th Street1947An old man claims to be Santa and a lawyer defends him in court to stop him from being institutionalized.
Miracle on 34th Street1994A modern remake of the 1947 film.
Mixed Nuts1994A comedy centered around a suicide-prevention hotline called Lifesavers on Christmas Eve.
Mr. Soft Touch1949A returning war hero who is on the run from the mob learns that a gangster has taken over his nightclub and murdered his partner.
My Night at Maud's 1969Devout Catholic Jean-Louis falls in love with a fellow parishioner but encounters temptation at a Christmas dinner hosted by the seductive Maud.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation1989The Griswold family plans turn to disaster, this time at Christmas. The third film in the Vacation series.
Noel2004Five New Yorkers come together on Christmas Eve, seeking a miracle.
Noelle2019The story revolves Santa's daughter who is forced to take over the family business when her father decides to retire and brother ends up getting cold feet prior to his first big Christmas Eve flight.
Nothing like the Holidays2008A Puerto Rican family in Chicago gather for their possibly last Christmas together.
Office Christmas Party2016When the CEO tries to close her hard-partying brother's branch, he and his Chief Technical Officer must rally their co-workers and host an epic office Christmas party in an effort to impress a potential client and close a sale that will save their jobs.
One Magic Christmas1985An angel shows a young mother the true meaning of Christmas.
Period of Adjustment1962Two couples hash out their respective marital difficulties on Christmas Eve.
Pocketful of Miracles1961A New York gangster and his girlfriend attempt to turn street beggar Apple Annie into a socialite when she learns that her daughter is about to marry into royalty.
Prancer1989Refusing to give up her belief in Santa Claus, a child, Jessica Riggs, discovers a hurt reindeer in the woods, which she believes to be Prancer.
Rent2005Set around Christmas, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community.
Rocky IV1985Rocky challenges Drago to an unsanctioned 15-round fight in the Soviet Union on Christmas Day
Santa Claus1959Santa must stop Satan from ruining Christmas.
'1985The story of where Santa Claus came from and his attempts to save Christmas after his elf gets mixed up with an evil toy tycoon.
Santa with Muscles1996Due to an unusual series of events, a bodybuilder with amnesia thinks that he is Santa Claus.
Saving Christmas2014A man endeavors to "put Christ back into Christmas".
Serendipity 2001A man and a woman meet on Christmas Eve circa 1991 and reunite a decade later on the same day.
Six Weeks1982A 12-year-old girl dying from leukemia flies to New York City and assumes the lead role of Marie in The Nutcracker with the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center during Christmas.
Surviving Christmas2004A lonely millionaire pays a family $250,000 to spend Christmas with him by living in the home that he grew up in.
Susan Slept Here1954A bachelor screenwriter finds himself playing host to a teenage delinquent over the holidays.
The Bells of St. Mary's1945A priest and a nun who have a friendly rivalry must try to save their school from being shut down on Christmas.
The Bishop's Wife1947An angel helps a bishop to change his life and save his marriage before Christmas.
The Christmas Candle2013In 1890, an English village copes with the disappearance of a supposedly miraculous candle. Based on the novel by Max Lucado.
The Christmas Chronicles2018The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.
The Christmas Kid1967A corrupt sheriff, who was born on Christmas Day, decides to change his ways and go against the most powerful man in town.
The Family Man 2000A wealthy bachelor wakes up on Christmas to find that he has been transported to an alternate reality where he is a mere tire salesman, with a wife and kids. He is living in a middle-class suburban neighbourhood.
The Family Stone2005An uptight woman meets her fiancé's free-spirited family for the first time over the Christmas holidays and chaos ensues.
The Great Rupert1950A squirrel accidentally helps two dysfunctional families during Christmas.
The Grinch2018An animated film of the Dr. Seuss story.
The Holiday2006Two women swap homes at Christmastime after bad breakups with their boyfriends. Each woman finds romance and romantic comedy ensues, Starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black.
The Holly and the Ivy1952An English country vicar hosts his estranged adult children for Christmas.
The Ice Harvest2005A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money.
The Lemon Drop Kid1951A horseracing fan has a month to pay back the money that he borrowed from a gangster just before Christmas.
The Lion in Winter1968Christmas 1183 is the setting for palace intrigues with Henry II of England and family.
The Man Who Invented Christmas2017In 1843, author Charles Dickens sets out to write and self-publish a novel that he hopes will revive his career. He spends the next six weeks bringing Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and other characters to life in "A Christmas Carol."
The Night Before2015On Christmas Eve, three lifelong friends spend the night in New York City looking for the Holy Grail of Christmas parties.
The Night of the Hunter1955A religious fanatic marries a naïve widow whose children are reluctant to tell him where their father hid $10,000 he had stolen during Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas1993The mascot of Halloween, Jack Skellington grows tired of having to be scary on Halloween and decides to try celebrating/hosting Christmas
The Polar Express2004
The Preacher's Wife1996A remake of the bishops wife.
The Ref1994Bickering spouses annoy the cat burglar who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home before Christmas dinner with the family.
The Sure Thing1985A college student plans a cross-country trip to get laid, but ends up traveling with a young woman.They hate each other, so naturally...
This Christmas2007
Trading Places1983The lives of an upper-class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet.
Trail of Robin Hood1950Roy Rogers and friends come to the aid of a Christmas tree farmer.
Trancers1984Jack Deth comes down the line to 1985; Los Angeles, Christmas time. He confronts a Santa squid-faced Trancer; mosh pits to a punk rendition of Jingle Bells, and even meets The Three Wise Men.
Trapped in Paradise1994Three brothers plan a bank robbery on Christmas.
We're No Angels1955Three escaped prisoners hide out in the home of a kindly shopkeeper and repay his kindness by helping him and his family out of several crises.
While You Were Sleeping1995Lonely transit worker Lucy pulls her longtime crush, Peter, from the path of an oncoming train. At the hospital, doctors report that Peter is in a coma, and a misplaced comment from Lucy causes Peter's family to assume that she is his fiancée. When Lucy doesn't correct them, they take her into their home and confidence.
White Christmas1954As in Holiday Inn, musicians bring Irving Berlin's lyrics to a New England lodge, this time in Vermont.
Why Him?2016A holiday gathering threatens to go off the rails when Ned Fleming realizes that his daughter's millionaire boyfriend is about to pop the question.

A Christmas Carol Adaptations

TitleYearDescription
Scrooge1935Early film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, starring Seymour Hicks as Scrooge.
A Christmas Carol1938MGM's adaptation of Charles Dickens' story starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge.
Scrooge1951Dickens' ghostly tale on Christmas, starring Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Scrooge1970A musical adaptation of Dickens' tale, starring Albert Finney in the title role and Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley
A Christmas Carol1971Oscar-winning animated adaptation, with Alastair Sim and Michael Hordern recreating their roles as Scrooge and Marley's Ghost, narrated by Michael Redgrave; produced by Chuck Jones.
Mickey's Christmas Carol1983An animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' story starring Disney characters.
Scrooged1988A modern, dark-humored interpretation of Dickens' story, with Christmas spirits visiting a cynical, selfish TV exec, played by Bill Murray.
The Muppet Christmas Carol1992Jim Henson's creations tackle Charles Dickens' festive favorite.
A Christmas Carol2009Disney's animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' story starring Jim Carrey as Scrooge.

The Nutcracker Adaptations

Christmas Action Films

Christmas Horror Films

The Nativity franchise

The Santa Clause Trilogy

Short films

Made-for-television and direct-to-video

These are films that were made for television, or for the direct-to-video or direct-to-DVD market.

Family

A Christmas Carol Adaptations

TitleYearDescription
Carol for Another Christmas1964This modernization of A Christmas Carol was produced to promote American support for the United Nations.
An American Christmas Carol1979In this adaptation of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the "Scrooge" figure is a miserly businessman in Depression-era New England.
Rich Little's Christmas Carol1979Comedian Rich Little plays all of the characters, using his unique skills as an impressionist to apparently fill the cast with some of Hollywood's best-known stars.
A Christmas Carol1984Starring George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who makes excuses for his uncaring nature learns real compassion when three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve.
Ebbie1995A TV movie that brought the first portrayal of Scrooge as a female, with Susan Lucci as Elizabeth "Ebbie" Scrooge, owner of a huge department store, and some of her own employees doubling as the three Christmas Spirits.
Ms. Scrooge1997A TV movie starring Cicely Tyson as "Ebenita Scrooge", the managing director of a loan company, and Katherine Helmond as her deceased business partner Maude Marley.
A Christmas Carol1999A Hallmark Channel adaptation of the famous story. Starring Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge and Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit.
A Diva's Christmas Carol2000A TV movie that premiered on VH1, now on Lifetime, portraying Vanessa Williams in the Scrooge role as "Ebony" Scrooge, one third of a late-'80's pop trio called "Desire" and now an egotistical, arrogant, grouchy solo diva.
A Carol Christmas2003In a modern comic retelling of A Christmas Carol, Carol Cartman says "Bah, humbug" to the clichés of her fellow talk-show host, Dr. Bob, and especially to a live Christmas Eve show her producer has planned.
A Carol Christmas2003Another TV movie portraying Scrooge as an arrogant female celebrity, this time as a TV star named "Carol Cartman", played by Tori Spelling, with her own talk show. Also featured were Dinah Manoff as Marla, Carol's stage-mother type aunt, and two of the three Christmas Spirits portrayed by Gary Coleman and William Shatner.
A Christmas Carol2004Kelsey Grammer is Scrooge in this musical adaptation of the Dickens story.
It's Christmas, Carol!2012A workaholic businesswoman is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future in a modern update of A Christmas Carol.

Christmas animals

Children's

Adult/Horror Christmas films