The 10 best Christmas movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus

Sorry Scrooges, Christmas is officially here again, and that means it’s time for a cosy night in with the best festive movies.

We all have Christmas movies we watch annually, but in the age of streaming, it can be more effort working out which films are where than it is wrapping all the presents.

The last thing you want to do is end up in a time-consuming scrolling loop as you search through endless streamers for your favourite film.

But don’t stress, whether you’re switching on The Holiday or The Muppets Christmas Carol, we’ve found all the classics for you. Yes, we are counting Die Hard.

We’ve compiled our top Christmas films on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus for your Yuletide viewing cheat sheet.

Get your Christmas pyjamas on and switch on the tree lights – here’s where to find the best Christmas movies this year.

Christmas movies to watch on Disney Plus

If you’re looking for a classic or a family favourite to watch with the kids, Disney Plus is your best bet.

The streamer is stuffed like a Christmas turkey ready for your festive viewing.

Home Alone and Home Alone 2 (1990, 1992)

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals. A Christmas list wouldn’t be complete without Home Alone.

The franchise follows Kevin McCallister, whose loving parents managed to leave him behind for not one but two family Christmas celebrations.

Macauley Culkin stars as Kevin, a role which has earned him a spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and cemented him as an icon.

The 1990 original, written by John Hughes and directed by Harry Potter’s Chris Columbus, saw Kevin defend his Chicago home in from dim-witted burglars Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) after he is accidentally left behind in the chaos of his family leaving to go to Paris for Christmas.

In the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the action is moved to the Big Apple, where Kevin is once again pitted against Harry and Marv after being stranded in the city during his family’s journey to Florida.

The entire franchise is available on Disney Plus … yes, there’s more than two.

The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

This is an undeniable classic Christmas tale and possibly the best of the many, many Dickens adaptations we’ve seen.

With a film that’s high on comedy, camp, content and actual classic text (yes, narrator Gonzo does actually quote directly from the novella). Sir Michael Caine provides the festive cherry on top of the Christmas cake by playing it dead straight as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Otherwise, the cast is filled with all of our most favourite of Jim Henson’s furry creations, with Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife, and adorable nephew Robin as Tiny Tim.

You’ve got singing vegetables, Bean Bunny being adorable, and cheeses for us meeces. It’s Michael Caine in a Christmas film; that should be enough to have you rushing to your TV.

If you’re more traditional with your Charles Dickens adaptations, you can also watch A Christmas Carol (2006) on Disney Plus too.

Die Hard (1988)

We can argue until we’re blue in the face over this one, but we’re officially listing Die Hard as a Christmas movie.

While it’s true that the festivities don’t have much (if anything) to do with the plot, Die Hard does take place during the festive period and with the backdrop of the office party.

New York City police officer John McClaine (Bruce Willis) tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.

Alongside its highly quotable ‘Yippee ki-yay’, we get explosions, shootouts and Alan Rickman’s fabulous evil mastermind Hans Gruber, a merry Christmas indeed.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

He’s big; he’s mean, he’s oh so green; how could you celebrate your Whobilation without The Grinch.

Jim Carey’s turn of the century live action Dr Seuss classic is a must for many a Christmas, with the animated 2018 version also a hit with cinema-goers.

The cast includes a tiny Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou-Who, Jeffrey Tambor as Mayor Augustus and who could forget Christina Baranski as Martha May.

Sarcastic, hilarious, and a little bit naughty, The Grinch has birthed a million memes and the sheer amount of merchandise is testament to it’s undying popularity.

Christmas movies to watch on Netflix

Netflix loves an original, especially around Christmas, so if you’re looking for rom-coms or modern festive tales, then this is the place to be.

Are any of their newer films Oscar-worthy? Probably not, but if you need a so good it’s bad new movie to watch, this is the place.

The Holiday (2006)

A romantic comedy with a Christmas backdrop, what’s not to love about The Holiday?

The festive film sees two women, Amanda and Iris swap their very different houses in LA and Surrey to escape their bad relationships over Christmas only to end up having their own meetcutes (spoilers).

It boasts a stacked cast of Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black plus the adorable Miffy Englefield and Emma Pritchard as Jude’s cheeky but charming daughters.

The Holiday’s popularity has only grown and grown over the years, moving from a plucky outside choice to a firm favourite and annual must-watch.

Let It Snow (2019)

If you’re finding Love Actually a little harder to watch (which incidentally is also on Netflix this year), this Netflix original takes that classic Richard Curtis format and gives it a Gen Z overhaul.

Let It Snow is an often-forgotten Christmas film with lots of subplots for viewers to fall in love with, including a moving LGBTQ+ romance focusing on Yellowjackets’ Liv Hewson.

Along with Liv, the cast is bursting with young talent, including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s Kiernan Shipka, Marvel’s Jacob Batalon, and Miles Morales actor Shameik Moore.

We’d be remiss not to mention Joan Cusack, the voice of Jessie in Toy Story and the unforgettable Debbie in Adam’s Family Values, as the mysterious tin foil-wearing tow truck driver.

Snowy landscapes, feel-good moments and the pain of living in a small town at Christmas, this hidden gem is bound to make you feel festive.

Nativity! (2009)

Ever wish School of Rock was a Christmas film? Clearly, someone did and thus Nativity! was born (probably also with help from a few wise men).

Disillusioned primary school teacher Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) finds himself in the unfortunate situation where he’s bragged to a rival, and things have got out of hand.

The school nativity ends up as the most high-stakes theatrical event of the year, with Mr Maddens learning a few festive lessons along the way.

A great family all-timer with four instalments — bringing in David Tennant for the second and third film — all available on the streamer.

Christmas movies to watch on Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime knows at Christmas, we don’t need new originals— but those 90s/00s/2010s classics are definitely on our wish list.

Unfortunately, this year Amazon’s selection is a little limited unless you’re willing to pay – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some hidden gems here.

Deck The Halls (2006)

If you want a funny Christmas film to watch, you can’t go wrong with Danny Devito-led Deck The Halls for an offbeat festive classic.

Critically panned, the 2006 film sees Mathew Broderick’s Steve Finch go to war with new neighbour Buddy Hall (Danny) over excessive Christmas light decorations.

The pair’s antics escalate until the town Christmas tree ends up on fire – what could be more festive?

Despite its bad reviews, the comedy has become a staple for holiday viewing with a star-studded cast that includes Wicked legend Kristen Chenoweth and a cameo from the late Glee star Corey Monteith.

With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just six percent from critics and 30% from audiences, get festive with this film that’s so bad it’s become a cult classic.

Oh What Fun (2025)

Amazon’s new festive comedy, Oh What Fun, paints the all-American perfect family picture with a doting mum who is super dedicated to Christmas.

Michelle Pfeiffer is in this for some unknown reason but surely her starring role as Claire Clauster makes this worth a watch.

All Claire wants for Christmas is to win the ‘Holiday Mom competition’, but as her family ignores her efforts, she takes things into her own hands.

Chaos ensues as she makes her way to the taping of the Christmas special, leaving her family to fall apart without her.

So far, this sits at 32% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes – but maybe it’s one that’ll be a classic in the future.

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Is it really Christmas until you’ve seen It’s A Wonderful Life? A staple since the 40s, this really is one for all the family.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, and with it being set on Christmas Eve, it’s obviously one of the best Christmas films too.

When it’s all getting too much, family man George plans to end his life until his guardian angel helps him realise the effect he’s had on others with his seemingly small but impactful life.

It’s a heartwarming tale and one that will leave you with that real warm, fuzzy festive feeling.

A version of this article was first published on December 7, 2023.

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