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Cozy Up With the Best Holiday Movies

Posted on December 26, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Adrian González

Adrian González

a group of three people is sitting around a screen for a movie

Warm up your hot cocoa, we’re getting festive. (evgenyatamanenko / Getty)

Christmas may have come and gone but you can still hold on to that holiday cheer for a little while longer. Gather your new socks and blankets, and cozy up on the couch for some holiday movie binge watching.

The Classics

Let’s start off with the easy choices — I’m talking “Home Alone,” “Elf,” or “Love Actually.” These are best for when you don’t want to endlessly scroll for options, or when you just want a crowd pleaser. Here are a few other favorites.

  • “The Holiday” — Who knew Jack Black could be charming?
  • “Little Women” — You have three film adaptations from which to choose!
  • “The Nightmare Before Christmas” — We’re all a little bit of Jack Skellington.
  • “A Christmas Carol” — This one has a slew of film adaptations, including a Muppets version.
  • “Scrooged” — Or you could watch Bill Murray in the modern adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel.
  • “Carol” — One of the most beautiful on-screen affairs.

A Word About ‘Bad’ Holiday Movies

As an equal opportunity movie lover, I encourage you to watch whatever flicks you enjoy without an ounce of shame. There is simply no denying the hot-soup levels of comfort you can get from watching Hallmark movies and holiday rom-coms. Don’t let film bros tell you otherwise. One that I enjoy to an unreasonable degree is “Felíz NaviDAD,” starring Mario Lopez and his adorable dimples.

die hard screen shot of bruce willis in a building's air shaft

Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? (Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox)

Something Different

  • “Die Hard” — The debate on whether this is a Christmas movie rages on. Regardless, it’s a great time to watch.
  • “Black Christmas” — A 1974 gory horror classic.
  • “A Serious Man” — Comedy cringe a-la Coen brothers.
  • “The Lodge” — For the horror fans that want to partake in the holiday spirit.
  • “Santa Claus” — No, not the one with Tim Allen. I’m referring to the 1959 Mexican film, chock-full of weirdness.
  • “The Ice Harvest” — John Cusack as a conniving lawyer pulling a Christmas Eve con is quite enjoyable.
  • “Tangerine” — One of my favorites from 2015, this one follows a transgender sex worker in L.A. And it was all shot on an iPhone.

Happy watching!

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