Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s tinsel on the tree, radio stations are playing carols on repeat and bank accounts are quickly dwindling. It must be Christmastime. But it wouldn\u2019t really be Christmas without a holiday movie marathon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From A Charlie Brown Christmas to Violent Night, these are the best Christmas movies to stream this year.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Compiled by Monique Westermann.<\/cite><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re celebrating with little ones, maintaining peace around the in-laws or flying solo, there\u2019s some festive entertainment tailored to you, from family favourites like A Charlie Brown Christmas <\/em>to offbeat \u201cnaughty\u201d hits like Bad Santa<\/em>.<\/p>\n But first, a trigger warning: neither Love Actually<\/em> (2003) nor It\u2019s A Wonderful Life<\/em> (1946) are on this list. It goes without saying these are both wonderful <\/em>films filled with holly jolly goodness \u2013 no need to rehash universal knowledge.<\/p>\n Now, without further ado, pour some eggnog, heat some fruit mince pies and settle in for a season of streaming.<\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n Following close on the heels of It\u2019s a Wonderful Life<\/em>, this 1947 holiday favourite is everything a Christmas classic should be: tenderly sweet, whimsical and thought-provoking.<\/p>\n Directed by George Seaton, it sees a young girl (played by Natalie Wood) and her mother (Maureen O\u2019Hara) defend a department store Kris Kringle who claims to be the real Santa Claus. It\u2019s a love letter to the child within \u2013 the part of us that will always allow space for magic.<\/p>\n \u201cFaith is believing things when common sense tells you not to,\u201d one of its characters says during the film. This message resonated enough with audiences that it inspired four remakes and a Broadway musical.<\/p>\n Apple TV+<\/em><\/p>\n Its Emmy and Peabody Awards speak for themselves \u2013 this 1965 animated TV special is a timeless Christmas tale that gets the OG Peanuts crew together, including Snoopy, Sally Brown and Pig-Pen.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s Christmas pageant, Charlie embarks on a mission to discover the meaning of Christmas beyond gifts, glitz and glam.<\/p>\n Paired with Vince Guaraldi\u2019s jazzy soundtrack, and the classic Christmastime Is Here<\/em> track, it\u2019s no surprise this film ended up in the Grammy Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n Stop-motion animated Christmas specials are a bit like Vegemite \u2013 you either love them or loathe them (think Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer <\/em>or Jack Frost<\/em>). But if you can see past the characters\u2019 dead eyes and robotic movements, films like The Year Without a Santa Claus<\/em> (1974) are feats of creativity.<\/p>\n Based on Phyllis McGinley\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Featuring musical gems such as The Heat Miser Song<\/em> and the unexpected feminist banger, I Could Be Santa Claus<\/em> (sung by Shirley Booth), it\u2019ll send you straight back to your childhood and remind you of the power of generosity.<\/p>\n Netflix<\/em>, Stan, Binge, SBS On Demand<\/em><\/p>\n You can\u2019t count the number of Charles Dickens\u2019 A Christmas Carol<\/em> iterations on one hand, so it makes sense that at least one would make the list (an honourable mention goes to 1992\u2019s The Muppet Christmas Carol<\/em>).<\/p>\n This 1988 black comedy follows Frank Cross \u2013 a cold-hearted television executive played with a dark edge by Bill Murray \u2013 who is visited by three Christmas spirits intent on imbuing him with more humility and respect for others during the festive season.<\/p>\n It may not fill you with the warm and fuzzies like A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/em> does, but it\u2019s a fascinatingly cynical modern take on the Christmas staple.<\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n Christmas movie purists are probably shaking their heads. \u201cJust because it\u2019s set during Christmas doesn\u2019t make it a Christmas film\u201d, some may mutter. But consider the moral of its story: reconciliation and the importance of family. These are prime Christmas themes.<\/p>\n John McTiernan\u2019s 1988 action blockbuster sees police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) save his wife\u2019s office Christmas party from a group of European terrorists. Endlessly quotable (\u201cYippee-ki-yay, motherf—\u201c) and gun-heavy, it fills you with as much adrenaline as yuletide cheer.<\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n What\u2019s better than Christmastime in New York? I\u2019ll wait.<\/p>\n Though the first Home Alone<\/em> 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 \u201cBig Apple\u201d.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s inspiring performance and a random cameo from former US president, Donald Trump, are enough to warrant a rewatch, but it\u2019s the film\u2019s depiction of a snow-covered, mistletoe-laden Manhattan that really secures its spot on the list.<\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n Tim Burton\u2019s 1993 stop-motion animation horror-fantasy film is a multipurpose wonder perfect for both Halloween and Christmas. It\u2019s about the king of \u201cHalloween Town\u201d, Jack Skellington, who discovers \u201cChristmas Town\u201d and decides to bring the holiday back home.<\/p>\n Its bittersweet messaging and hum-worthy songs tone down its creepy visual effects. If you find Rankin-Bass\u2019 specials a touch too sweet, this balance of horror and whimsy is an unbeatable alternative.<\/p>\n The Nightmare before Christmas is the perfect balance between scary and merry.<\/span>Credit: <\/span> Touchstone\/Photofest<\/cite><\/p>\n Disney+<\/em><\/p>\n How does Santa become Santa? It\u2019s a question most children ponder eventually. John Pasquin\u2019s The Santa Clause<\/em> (1994) offers a detailed answer by following Scott Calvin\u2019s (Tim Allen) journey to becoming Kris Kringle himself.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The first of three films and the inspiration behind Disney+\u2019s ongoing television series, it\u2019s as iconic as Home Alone <\/em>and as hilariously heartfelt as National Lampoon\u2019s Christmas Vacation<\/em> (which just missed a spot on the list).<\/p>\n Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video<\/em><\/p>\n Dr Seuss\u2019 mean, green, Christmas-hating Who has been a holiday staple since the 1966 television special. But it\u2019s arguably the 2000 live-action version starring Jim Carrey that lives in the hearts of every millennial.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Jim Carrey stars as The Grinch in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP\/Universal Studios<\/cite><\/p>\n It\u2019s a relatable watch for those who can be a bit Grinch-like themselves, and it\u2019s another warm and fuzzy sing-a-long for the Cindy Lou\u2019s of the world. And shout-out to every single outfit Christine Baranski wears in her role as the sultry love interest, Martha May Whovier.<\/p>\n Netflix, Stan, Binge, Paramount Plus<\/em><\/p>\n Forget Anchorman<\/em>, this has got to be Will Ferrell\u2019s best role. The 2003 Christmas comedy follows Buddy, a lovably clueless human who has grown up in the North Pole thinking he\u2019s an elf. When he discovers the truth, he ventures into New York City to find his real father.<\/p>\n Though the hijinks and punchlines are enough to warrant this film its spot in the Christmas movie Hall of Fame (I\u2019d be remiss not to mention the stomach-turning breakfast pasta scene), it\u2019s Ferrell\u2019s goofy performance of a well-meaning man with Peter Pan syndrome that wins viewers\u2019 hearts.<\/p>\n Stan<\/em><\/p>\n Christmas movies are often associated with feel-good innocence, perhaps a modest peck on the lips while under the mistletoe. But Bad Santa<\/em> (2003) throws the child-friendly antics out the door, replacing them with R-rated tidings.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\nMiracle on 34th Street<\/h3>\n
A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/h3>\n
The Year Without a Santa Claus<\/h3>\n
Scrooged<\/h3>\n
Die Hard<\/h3>\n
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York<\/h3>\n
Tim Burton\u2019s The Nightmare Before Christmas<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
The Santa Clause<\/h3>\n
How the Grinch Stole Christmas<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Elf<\/h3>\n
Bad Santa<\/h3>\n
Violent Night<\/h3>\n