25 Festive Flicks to Jingle All the Way
When I first met my husband and he proudly declared that Die Hard was his favorite Christmas movie, I definitely raised an eyebrow. Fast forward 10 years, and here I am… a true believer. Yippee-Ki-Yay! Luckily, he shares my love for the whole spectrum of Christmas movies — the magical ones, the cheesy ones, and the so-bad-they’re-good gems we can’t help but rewatch every year.
Every December, we dive into our shared list of go-to holiday flicks for family movie nights and those after-bedtime marathons that feel like a tiny holiday treat. Whether we’re laughing at the classic Todd and Margo lines in Christmas Vacation or getting teary-eyed over It’s a Wonderful Life, these movies never fail to bring that extra dash of holiday joy.
I ranked our list by age using Common Sense Media’s recommendations because, let's be honest, the rating system can be as confusing as untangling Christmas lights. Case in point: Gremlins is rated PG?! Stripe is the stuff of nightmares, and I still cover my eyes during the kitchen scene with Billy's mom. It's a classic, no doubt, but one Alex won't be joining us for anytime soon!
If I missed your must-watch Christmas classic, tell me! I’m always looking to add to our rotation. In the meantime, grab some popcorn, a warm blanket, your favorite drink, and get cozy. Here’s to the nostalgia of holiday movies, the fun of creating new traditions, and soaking up the real happy hours this season.
Movies we watch with our son:
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (NR) - CSM rated 3+
Frosty the Snowman (NR) - CSM rated 3+
A Charlie Brown Christmas (G) - CSM rated 3+
The Polar Express (G) - CSM rated 6+
Elf (PG) - CSM rated 7+
The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG) - CSM rated 7+
A Christmas Story (PG) - CSM rated 8+
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 2000 version (PG) - CSM rated 8+
The Santa Clause (PG) - CSM rated 9+
Home Alone (PG) - CSM rated 10+
Candy Cane Lane (PG) - CSM rated 10+
Movies we watch after Alex goes to bed:
Christmas with the Kranks (PG) - CSM rated 9+
It’s a Wonderful Life (NR) - CSM rated 9+
Scrooged (PG-13) - CSM rated 12+
Gremlins (PG) - CSM rated 12+
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13) - CSM rated 13+
Four Christmases (PG-13) - CSM rated 14+
The Holdovers (R) - CSM rated 15+
Die Hard (R)
Bad Santa (R)
The Ref (R)
Violent Night (R)
Movies I watch alone - ha!:
The Holiday (PG-13) - CSM rated 13+
The Family Stone (PG-13) - CSM rated 15+
Love Actually (R)
Plus obviously all of the so-bad-they’re-good Hallmark Holiday movies!
More magic made easy!
If you want to sprinkle a little extra magic on movie night, peek at our Santa’s Helpers Tableware Box. It’s a fun, zero-effort way to make your movie night snacks or meal feel merry and bright!
