Top Christmas Movies to Watch This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, many are looking to indulge in some classic and modern Christmas movies to get into the festive spirit. Here are some top picks across various platforms.

For those who cherish classic holiday films, ‘It's a Wonderful Life‘ (1946) remains a timeless favorite. Directed by Frank Capra, this comedy-drama follows George Bailey, played by James Stewart, as he considers his life’s worth on Christmas Eve. The film is known for its heartwarming and uplifting ending, making it a must-watch every winter.

Another classic, ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947), is a staple of holiday iconography. The movie tells the story of Kris Kringle, who claims to be the real Santa Claus and becomes embroiled in a court case to prove his identity. This film is available on various streaming platforms, including Disney Plus and Paramount+.

‘The Apartment‘ (1960), while not traditionally a Christmas movie, offers a festive and heartwarming tale. Starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, it follows the story of a man who allows his bosses to use his apartment for extramarital affairs, only to find himself falling for the elevator girl his manager is seeing. This film is available on Prime Video.

For those looking for more modern and romantic Christmas movies, Hallmark Channel offers several standout titles. ‘The Christmas Train‘ features a journalist who embarks on a cross-country train journey and finds romance along the way. The film boasts a delightful ensemble cast, including Dermot Mulroney, Danny Glover, and Joan Cusack.

‘Christmas at the Plaza‘ is another Hallmark favorite, set against the backdrop of the iconic Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. The movie follows a historian and a Christmas decorator as they work together and find love during the holiday season.

‘The Christmas Charade’, a newer release, brings a bit of action to the traditional Hallmark formula. It follows a librarian who gets involved in an undercover FBI operation and must pose as the girlfriend of an FBI agent at a Christmas Eve gala.

Prime Video also offers a range of holiday movies, including ‘Christmas with the Kranks’, where a couple must rush to prepare for Christmas after their daughter decides to come home unexpectedly, and ‘The Holiday’, a romantic comedy that explores various types of love among an intertwined group of Londoners.

For a mix of classic and modern, Freeform‘s holiday schedule includes films like ‘Home Alone‘, ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’, and ‘Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas’, along with more recent releases.