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The holiday season isn’t complete without a good movie marathon, and we’ve assembled the ultimate collection of 29 Christmas films that span generations, genres, and styles.

The Classics That Started It All

1. Home Alone (1990)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 66%

“An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.” - IMDb

Macaulay Culkin’s iconic performance as Kevin McCallister made this John Hughes-written comedy an instant classic. The booby traps, the “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal,” and that pizza order have become part of our cultural lexicon.

2. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 35%

Macaulay Culkin returns as Kevin McCallister, who mistakenly boards a plane to New York City while his family heads to Florida. The Wet Bandits are back (now calling themselves the Sticky Bandits), and Kevin must once again use his wit and creativity to stop them—this time in the Big Apple.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%

“The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.” - IMDb

Chevy Chase delivers one of his best performances as Clark Griswold in this John Hughes-penned comedy. From the Christmas light disaster to Cousin Eddie’s RV showing up, it’s quotable chaos at its finest.

4. White Christmas (1954)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

“A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.” - IMDb

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this classic musical that gave us the iconic title song.

5. Elf (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

“Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father.” - Rotten Tomatoes

Will Ferrell’s innocent and enthusiastic performance as Buddy the Elf has made this a modern Christmas classic. Jon Favreau’s direction perfectly balances heart and humor.

The Grinch Collection

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

The original animated TV special narrated by Boris Karloff remains the definitive adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic tale. “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!”

7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%

Jim Carrey brings his manic energy to the role of the Grinch in this live-action adaptation directed by Ron Howard.

8. The Grinch (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 58%

Benedict Cumberbatch voices the Grinch in this Illumination Entertainment animated version, offering a fresh take on the grumpy green character.

Heartwarming Classics

9. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%

Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge alongside the Muppets in this adaptation of Dickens’s classic tale. It’s both faithful to the source material and hilariously entertaining.

10. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

This Rankin/Bass stop-motion classic tells the origin story of Santa Claus. Mickey Rooney voices Kris Kringle in this beloved holiday special.

11. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Another Rankin/Bass gem featuring the unforgettable Heat Miser and Snow Miser. “I’m Mister White Christmas, I’m Mister Snow…”

12. The Polar Express (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%

Tom Hanks stars in multiple roles in this groundbreaking motion-capture animated film about a boy’s magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

The Santa Clause Trilogy

13. The Santa Clause (1994)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74%

Tim Allen becomes Santa Claus after a Christmas Eve accident in this family comedy that spawned a beloved franchise.

14. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%

Scott Calvin must find a Mrs. Claus or risk losing his job as Santa in this entertaining sequel.

15. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 18%

Martin Short joins the cast as Jack Frost in the final installment of the trilogy.

Family Fun

16. Jingle All the Way (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 20%

“Workaholic Howard Langston wants to make things up to his son, Jamie, and wife, Liz. He promises to get Jamie the hottest toy of the season, Turbo-Man.” - Rotten Tomatoes

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad create holiday chaos in this satirical look at Christmas shopping madness.

17. Love Actually (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%

Richard Curtis’s ensemble romantic comedy weaves together multiple love stories during the Christmas season in London. It’s become a holiday staple for rom-com fans.

18. The Holiday (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50%

Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swap homes for the holidays and find unexpected romance in this charming film.

19. Disney’s A Christmas Carol (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%

Jim Carrey brings motion-capture technology to Dickens’s classic tale in this Robert Zemeckis-directed adaptation.

20. Scrooged (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%

“In this modern take on Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life.” - Rotten Tomatoes

Bill Murray delivers a perfect performance in this darker, more cynical take on the Christmas Carol story.

21. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

“In this Christmas classic, an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle fills in for an intoxicated Santa in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day parade.” - Rotten Tomatoes

Edmund Gwenn won an Oscar for his portrayal of Kris Kringle in this heartwarming tale about belief and wonder.

22. The Family Stone (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%

An ensemble cast including Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, and Rachel McAdams navigates family dynamics during a chaotic Christmas gathering.

More Holiday Favorites

23. A Christmas Story (1983)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

“In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.” - IMDb

This nostalgic classic has become a staple of cable television marathons. “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

24. Four Christmases (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 25%

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn must visit all four of their divorced parents’ homes on Christmas Day in this comedy about family obligations.

Animated Adventures

25. Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

This beloved Rankin/Bass TV special brings the classic song to life as Frosty comes alive and befriends children.

26. Frosty Returns (1992)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A

The follow-up to the original Frosty special features the snowman returning to save winter.

27. Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Po struggles to host a traditional Winter Feast while balancing his kung fu duties in this DreamWorks special.

28. Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 38%

The lovable snowman Olaf searches for holiday traditions for Anna and Elsa in this Frozen short.

29. Merry Madagascar (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: N/A

The Madagascar crew accidentally crash-lands at the North Pole and must help Santa save Christmas.

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Happy holidays and merry watching!