The best festive films to stream this year

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There’s tinsel on the tree, radio stations are playing carols on repeat and bank accounts are quickly dwindling. It must be Christmastime. But it wouldn’t really be Christmas without a holiday movie marathon.

From A Charlie Brown Christmas to Violent Night, these are the best Christmas movies to stream this year.Credit: Compiled by Monique Westermann.

Whether you’re celebrating with little ones, maintaining peace around the in-laws or flying solo, there’s some festive entertainment tailored to you, from family favourites like A Charlie Brown Christmas to offbeat “naughty” hits like Bad Santa.

But first, a trigger warning: neither Love Actually (2003) nor It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) are on this list. It goes without saying these are both wonderful films filled with holly jolly goodness – no need to rehash universal knowledge.

Now, without further ado, pour some eggnog, heat some fruit mince pies and settle in for a season of streaming.

Miracle on 34th Street

Disney+

Following close on the heels of It’s a Wonderful Life, this 1947 holiday favourite is everything a Christmas classic should be: tenderly sweet, whimsical and thought-provoking.

Directed by George Seaton, it sees a young girl (played by Natalie Wood) and her mother (Maureen O’Hara) defend a department store Kris Kringle who claims to be the real Santa Claus. It’s a love letter to the child within – the part of us that will always allow space for magic.

“Faith is believing things when common sense tells you not to,” one of its characters says during the film. This message resonated enough with audiences that it inspired four remakes and a Broadway musical.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Apple TV+

Its Emmy and Peabody Awards speak for themselves – this 1965 animated TV special is a timeless Christmas tale that gets the OG Peanuts crew together, including Snoopy, Sally Brown and Pig-Pen.

Arguably ahead of his time, Charlie Brown (voiced by Peter Robbins) is disheartened by the commercialisation of the holiday season. But while helping prepare for the town’s Christmas pageant, Charlie embarks on a mission to discover the meaning of Christmas beyond gifts, glitz and glam.

Paired with Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy soundtrack, and the classic Christmastime Is Here track, it’s no surprise this film ended up in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The Year Without a Santa Claus

Disney+

Stop-motion animated Christmas specials are a bit like Vegemite – you either love them or loathe them (think Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Jack Frost). But if you can see past the characters’ dead eyes and robotic movements, films like The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) are feats of creativity.

Based on Phyllis McGinley’s 1956 book of the same name, it follows Mrs Claus and two elves as they try to cheer up Santa by proving people still believe in Christmas magic.

Featuring musical gems such as The Heat Miser Song and the unexpected feminist banger, I Could Be Santa Claus (sung by Shirley Booth), it’ll send you straight back to your childhood and remind you of the power of generosity.

Scrooged

Netflix, Stan, Binge, SBS On Demand

You can’t count the number of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol iterations on one hand, so it makes sense that at least one would make the list (an honourable mention goes to 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol).

This 1988 black comedy follows Frank Cross – a cold-hearted television executive played with a dark edge by Bill Murray – who is visited by three Christmas spirits intent on imbuing him with more humility and respect for others during the festive season.

It may not fill you with the warm and fuzzies like A Charlie Brown Christmas does, but it’s a fascinatingly cynical modern take on the Christmas staple.

Die Hard

Disney+

Christmas movie purists are probably shaking their heads. “Just because it’s set during Christmas doesn’t make it a Christmas film”, some may mutter. But consider the moral of its story: reconciliation and the importance of family. These are prime Christmas themes.

John McTiernan’s 1988 action blockbuster sees police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) save his wife’s office Christmas party from a group of European terrorists. Endlessly quotable (“Yippee-ki-yay, motherf—“) and gun-heavy, it fills you with as much adrenaline as yuletide cheer.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Disney+

What’s better than Christmastime in New York? I’ll wait.

Though the first Home Alone tends to get most of the praise, its 1992 sequel has become so iconic that tourists do tours of the filming locations when visiting the “Big Apple”.

It follows the overly confident Kevin McCallister, as he becomes stranded in New York City without his family before Christmas. The string of homemade traps, Macaulay Culkin’s inspiring performance and a random cameo from former US president, Donald Trump, are enough to warrant a rewatch, but it’s the film’s depiction of a snow-covered, mistletoe-laden Manhattan that really secures its spot on the list.

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

Disney+

Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion animation horror-fantasy film is a multipurpose wonder perfect for both Halloween and Christmas. It’s about the king of “Halloween Town”, Jack Skellington, who discovers “Christmas Town” and decides to bring the holiday back home.

Its bittersweet messaging and hum-worthy songs tone down its creepy visual effects. If you find Rankin-Bass’ specials a touch too sweet, this balance of horror and whimsy is an unbeatable alternative.

The Nightmare before Christmas is the perfect balance between scary and merry.Credit: Touchstone/Photofest

The Santa Clause

Disney+

How does Santa become Santa? It’s a question most children ponder eventually. John Pasquin’s The Santa Clause (1994) offers a detailed answer by following Scott Calvin’s (Tim Allen) journey to becoming Kris Kringle himself.

For adult viewers, it realistically grapples with the dynamic of a broken family and for child viewers, it brings the North Pole, elves and magic to the real world.

The first of three films and the inspiration behind Disney+’s ongoing television series, it’s as iconic as Home Alone and as hilariously heartfelt as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (which just missed a spot on the list).

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video

Dr Seuss’ mean, green, Christmas-hating Who has been a holiday staple since the 1966 television special. But it’s arguably the 2000 live-action version starring Jim Carrey that lives in the hearts of every millennial.

The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, becomes determined to steal Christmas from the cheerful townsfolk of Whoville, only to be reformed by Cindy-Lou, a young girl who believes in the spirit of the season.

Jim Carrey stars as The Grinch in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.Credit: AP/Universal Studios

It’s a relatable watch for those who can be a bit Grinch-like themselves, and it’s another warm and fuzzy sing-a-long for the Cindy Lou’s of the world. And shout-out to every single outfit Christine Baranski wears in her role as the sultry love interest, Martha May Whovier.

Elf

Netflix, Stan, Binge, Paramount Plus

Forget Anchorman, this has got to be Will Ferrell’s best role. The 2003 Christmas comedy follows Buddy, a lovably clueless human who has grown up in the North Pole thinking he’s an elf. When he discovers the truth, he ventures into New York City to find his real father.

Though the hijinks and punchlines are enough to warrant this film its spot in the Christmas movie Hall of Fame (I’d be remiss not to mention the stomach-turning breakfast pasta scene), it’s Ferrell’s goofy performance of a well-meaning man with Peter Pan syndrome that wins viewers’ hearts.

Bad Santa

Stan

Christmas movies are often associated with feel-good innocence, perhaps a modest peck on the lips while under the mistletoe. But Bad Santa (2003) throws the child-friendly antics out the door, replacing them with R-rated tidings.

Billy Bob Thornton plays a mean-spirited con artist who uses his role as a mall Santa to commit larceny. Leaning further into naughty territory than nice, it’s Christmas through the lens of a drunken haze. However, its ending still manages to pull on the heartstrings, no matter how badly they try to desecrate the traditional image of Santa.

Violent Night

Netflix, Binge

Death by sharpened candy cane? Or perhaps death by Christmas ornament? There are plenty of gruesome, yet creatively jolly, death scenes in Tommy Wirkola’s 2022 action comedy.

The story follows Santa Claus (David Harbour) as he fights a group of mercenaries, who have taken a wealthy family hostage.

A combination of Die Hard action and Elf merriness, it shines Kris Kringle in a whole new light – namely, an alcoholic with a heart of gold who can also pack a serious punch, putting the lyrics “he sees you when you’re sleeping” into a different perspective.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

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