TV

Christmas Movies: A Complete Holiday Streaming Guide

So, maybe there isn’t enough Christmas and holiday programming on TV for your liking. We get it. You can’t be stuck at the mercy of broadcasters and cable networks all the time, not when there are so many Christmas movies to watch, right?

Well, because we’re a little intense, we’re working on an index of every Christmas movie and other piece of seasonally appropriate holiday-themed film (including some lengthy TV episodes) available on U.S. streaming services. Just bookmark this page, scroll on through the alphabetical list, hit the links, and it can be Christmas whenever you need it to be! And if you spot some stuff that we missed, just let us know in the comments and we’ll see about getting it all added for you.

Also, be advised that we’re going with paid subscription services like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and their peers. There are also plenty of Christmas movies on free streaming services like Crackle and Tubi. It’s just too overwhelming to include them all, quite frankly.

Black Mirror: White Christmas (2014)

Netflix

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Those looking for Christmas cheer won’t find it here. Black Mirror isn’t necessarily known for its happy endings and it’s 2014 Christmas special, “White Christmas” is no different.

Still, there is an audience out there that definitely wants this level of Scroogery. Plus it stars Jon Hamm! “White Christmas” follows three seemingly disparate stories. Jon Hamm is Matt, a mysterious man with a mysterious job who viewers watch in three different environments: once as a gross pick-up artist helper, once as a digital “cookie” salesman, and once as an occupant in a cozy cabin on Christmas Day.

What do all of these have to do with Christmas? Watch and find out. Then weep for the collapse of humanity.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Special (1965)

Apple TV+

“A Charlie Brown Christmas Special” is one of the most enduring holiday classics in the pop culture canon. Originally airing in 1965 on CBS, it was an experiment from The Coca-Cola Company to see if Charles M. Schulz’s beloved Peanuts characters could carry their charm over to a new medium…and boy could they.

The half-hour picks up with Charlie Brown down in the dumps and unable to capture the Christmas spirit. Thankfully, his friends know just what to do. Soon ol’ Chuck is directing the school Christmas play and nabbing a pitiful Christmas tree with Linus. This is “A Charlie Brown Christmas Special’s” first year as primarily a streaming entity, though Apple TV+ is allowing it to air on PBS on Dec. 13.

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The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Netflix

If a Christmas movie is only as good as its Santa (surely someone out there abides by this rule), then Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles is one heck of a Christmas movie. This family film produced by Chris Columbus features Kurt Russell ascending to his final form as Hot Santa Claus. 

The plot follows two children who are struggling to believe in the magic of Christmas after the death of their firefighter father. But the spirit of the season seizes them when they encounter the ultimate stand-in father figure: Kurt Russell Santa. The Christmas Chronicles is your classic, by-the-book family holiday yarn with a fun actor at the center and elevated production quality. Its sequel is also available to stream on Netflix. 

Christmas Movies HBO Max - Doctor Who

Doctor Who Christmas Specials

HBO Max

If the British know one thing, it’s tea. If they know two things, it’s tea and Christmas specials. Many big-time U.K. television shows have their own excellent holiday specials. Decades-old sci-fi institution Doctor Who, however, takes the cake when it comes to Christmas excellence.

HBO Max has 12 seasons worth of Doctor Who Christmas specials dating all the way back to the modern continuation’s first Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. Each episode is an hour-long treat of Doctor Who and Christmas goodies and should the joy of watching them ever peter out, there are plenty of bonus materials to watch as well.

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Christmas Movies Streaming - Elf

Elf

HBO Max

Around the turn of the millennium, it seemed as though the Christmas movie canon was all set. After nearly 100 years of adapting the same concepts (snow, Santa, presents, cheer, peppermint, etc.) what could possibly be left to say? Thankfully director Jon Favreau and star Will Ferrell felt there was still some room on the Christmas movie bandwagon yet.

In this instant classic, Ferrell stars as Buddy – a human being who was raised by elves in Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. When he discovers his birth father is on the naughty list, he heads to New York City to lend him a helping hand…and lots and lots of syrup.

Elsa and Anna in Frozen (2013)

Frozen (2013)

Disney+

Frozen, an animated movie you might have heard of, technically takes place during summer. But it sure doesn’t feel that way after Queen Elsa freezes the fjord and belts songs about the snowmen she and her sister want to build. Indeed, there is hardly a more festive film for the holidays than this celebration of self-love and familial love. Rather than being the story of a princess falling for a prince, Frozen is about the love between two sisters, Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell), and how that bond can transcend fear, isolation, and lifelong trauma like losing your parents at an early age.

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Fairly sophisticated stuff for an animated movie, Frozen became a bona fide classic in large part due to its songbook by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, with “Let It Go” standing out as an anthem for self-empowerment and the realization of identity. And if you overlook the fact you heard that song probably five thousand times, it still has that same resonance, which is why children are drawn to its message, as well as Elsa’ irresistible ice powers brought to dazzling life. When you factor in Anna’s own awkward charm, the power the two radiate together is warming in any season.

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Home Alone (1990)

Disney+

Another holiday classic from Fox, Home Alone remains a millennial touchstone for this time of year, and a gift that keeps on giving. Yes, everyone remembers the end where Macaulay Culkin tortures two bumbling goons (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) as if they’re Elmer Fudd, but the movie has a lot more going for it than just slapstick sociopathy. Indeed, when Kevin McCallister isn’t being a sadist, this film has an earnest appeal about celebrating the fantasy of a kid living by himself at home.

When his parents leave Kevin McAllister home alone for Christmas—it was an accident!—he has a luxury house to himself that he lounges about as if it were a giant playground with free ice cream, pizza, and R-rated movie viewing parties. Things go a little pear-shaped though when crooks try to rob the joint, but he handles that in glib fashion, all while sweetly pining for his mother. In fact, as you get older, Catherine O’Hara’s trials and tribulations to get back home to her baby boy in time for Christmas are as amusing as Kevin’s hijinks. (John Candy! Polka music!! Polka Christmas music!?!) But probably the reason this is a real classic has a lot to do with John Williams’ eternally heartwarming score.

Christmas Movies Streaming Pooka

Into the Dark: Pooka! (2018)

Hulu

The concept of Hulu horror anthology series Into the Dark is a simple one. Starting in October, every month would see the release of a new horror movie, usually revolving around a theme or holiday within that month. So naturally December 2018’s entry, Pooka!, brings its chills to Christmas. Directed by Nacho Vigalondo from a script by Gerald Olson, Pooka! introduces one of the cutest creepiest critter since Gremlins.

Struggling actor Wilson Clowes (Nyasha Hatendi) takes on a job operating a giant fur suit of a toy company’s upcoming holiday season to, Pookah. Pookah has two modes, naughty or nice. Soon Wilson comes to find that the suit is starting to effect his overall mood and the naughty mode may last outside the confines of the suit.

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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Amazon

Now if you could only watch one Christmas movie every holiday season, it’s gotta be this one, right? It’s a Wonderful Life has been a winter staple ever since…shortly after its 1946 release. The film infamously took a little while for audiences to catch on they they were in the presence of a classic. And now it lives on Amazon for the time being as the go-to spot for holiday cheer.

If you haven’t watched this movie in a while, it can be surprising just how tenuously tied the whole thing is to Christmas. Though the story of George Bailey begins on Christmas Eve 1945, the movie takes audiences throughout the entirety of his life, Christmas Carol-style. But of course, in the end the angels have gotten their wings and Christmas is in full thrall. Certainly, It’s a Wonderful Life will be all over the traditional TV calendar, but it’s nice to know that it’s on streaming as well for those who just can’t wait.

Best Christmas Movies Netflix Klaus

Klaus (2019)

Netflix

Since the hallowed days of Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated Christmas specials, there hasn’t been much movement or innovation in the realm of animated Christmas movies. Klaus, written and directed by Sergio Pablos, seeks to change all that in Klaus.

This crisply animated feature serves as an alternative history version of the story of Santa Claus. Jesper (Jason Schwartzman) proves himself to be the worst student as a postal academy and is sent to the North Pole where his lack of letter-delivering abilities won’t do anyone any harm. There he discovers Klaus (J.K. Simmons), a mysterious carpenter who lives alone and likes to make handmade toys. Sounds pretty familiar. 

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Klaus is both a technical marvel and an effective little Christmas story.

The Santa Clause (1994)

The Santa Clause (1994)

Disney+

Tim Allen really was on top of the world in the 1990s, wasn’t he? The star of ABC’s popular Home Improvement sitcom, and just a year away from becoming a Pixar legend in Toy Story, Allen could get any family entertainment greenlit. Thus enters Disney’s The Santa Clause, a movie that posits “what if Tim Allen became Santa?” That’s pretty much what happens when Allen’s schmo-y Scott Calvin inadvertently is responsible for the death of the previous Santa who slips off his roof.

The consequence of Scott’s mistake is he puts on the red and white outfit to finish Santa’s sleigh ride that night, much to the delight of his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd). Little does he know that by donning the suit, he has entered into a “Santa Clause” which means he becomes the big guy—literally so as he gains 100 pounds of weight and a white beard overnight. It’s still amusing now, but our favorite bit will always be David Krumholtz as the no-nonsense North Pole elf from Brooklyn.

A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

Hulu

A Very Brady Christmas was a 1988 made-for-TV movie that brought together the entire original cast of The Brady Bunch save for Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady). Olsen was on her honeymoon at the time and I cant’ figure out if that’s a great reason or a weird reason to miss a once-in-a-generation TV event.

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A Very Brady Christmas centers on a very simple and very relatable concept: getting the whole family back together for Christmas. This is a hard enough logistical challenge for a “normal” family, and a damn near impossible one for a family with six kids. Will the Bradys be able to pull it off? Watch and find out!

And here’s the complete list, just in case you don’t like our choices!

5 Star Christmas
Netflix

8-Bit Christmas
HBO Max

12 Dates of Christmas
HBO Max

12 Days of Christmas Eve
Peacock

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The 12 Dogs of Christmas – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

12 Dog Days Till Christmas
Hulu

12 Pups Of Christmas
Hulu

1000 Miles from Christmas – Arrives Dec. 24
Netflix

Alien Xmas
Netflix

All Hallows Eve – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

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The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular Special – Arrives Dec. 8
Paramount+

Alone for Christmas
Peacock

American Rodeo: A Cowboy Christmas
Amazon

Angela’s Christmas
Netflix

Angela’s Christmas Wish
Netflix

Angels in the Snow
Hulu

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Arendelle Castle Yule Log
Disney+

Arendelle Castle Yule Log: Paper Edition – Arrives Dec. 17
Disney+

Back to Christmas
Hulu

Beyond Christmas
Amazon

Black Christmas
HBO Max, Peacock

Black Mirror: White Christmas
Netflix

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Blown Away Christmas
Netflix

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember
Paramount+

BoJack Horseman Christmas Special
Netflix

Boxing Day – Arrives Dec. 17
Amazon

A Boy Called Christmas
Netflix

A Bride for Christmas
Amazon

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A California Christmas: City Lights – Arrives Dec. 16
Netflix

Candified: Home for the Holidays – Arrives Dec. 1
Hulu

A Carol for Another Christmas
HBO Max

A Castle for Christmas – Arrives Nov. 26
Netflix

Charlie’s Colorforms City: Snowy Stories – Arrives Nov. 30
Netflix

Chico Bon Bon and the Very Berry Holiday
Netflix

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A Child’s Christmas – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Mid-Winter’s Tale
Netflix

Christmas…Again?! – Arrives Dec. 3
Disney+

Christmas with the Andersons
Hulu

Christmas Belle
Hulu

Christmas Break-In
Netflix

The Christmas Cabin – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

The Christmas Calendar
Hulu

Christmas is Canceled – Arrives Dec. 17
Amazon

A Christmas Carol (1938)
HBO Max

A Christmas Carol (2019)
Hulu

The Christmas Chronicles
Netflix

The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
Netflix

Christmas Comes Home – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Christmas Crush
Hulu

Christmas Cruise
Peacock

The Christmas Dragon
Amazon

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
HBO Max

Christmas Flow
Netflix

Christmas in the Heartland
Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+

Christmas on Holly Lane
Amazon, Hulu

Christmas Inheritance
Netflix

A Christmas Kiss II
Hulu

The Christmas Lodge
Amazon

Christmas Matchmakers
Peacock

A Christmas Movie Christmas
Hulu

A Christmas Miracle – Arrives Dec. 11
Peacock

Christmas on my Block – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Christmas Mystery
Peacock

A Christmas in New York
Paramount+

Christmas Perfection
Hulu

Christmas with a Prince
Amazon

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding
Netflix

A Christmas Princess
Peacock

The Christmas Project Reunion – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

A Christmas Proposal – Arrives Dec. 12
Paramount+

The Christmas Ride
Amazon

Christmas at Rosemont – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

A Christmas in Royal Fashion
Peacock

Christmas on Salvation Street – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

A Christmas Solo
Hulu

A Christmas Snow
Amazon

A Christmas Star – Arrives Dec. 12
Amazon

A Christmas Story
HBO Max

A Christmas Story 2
HBO Max

A Christmas Switch
Hulu

Christmas Takes Flight Arrives Dec. 19
Paramount+

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Christmas Time – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

A Christmas Tree Miracle
Hulu, Amazon

Christmas Twister
Peacock

A Christmas Village Romance – Arrives Dec. 16
Peacock

A Christmas Wedding Tail
Hulu, HBO Max

Christmas in Wonderland
Amazon

A Cinderella Christmas
Hulu

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
Hulu

Dash & Lily
Netflix

David and the Elves – Arrives Dec. 6
Netflix

Dear Santa
Amazon

A Dennis the Menace Christmas
HBO Max

Disney Channel’s Epic Holiday Showdown
Disney+

Disney Channel Holiday House Party
Disney +

Disney Holiday Magic Quest
Disney+

A Doggone Christmas
Amazon

A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale
Hulu

The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation
Peacock

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square
Netflix

Dragons: Rescue Riders: Huttsgalor Holiday
Netflix

Dreamworks Happy Holidays from Madagascar
Netflix

Dreamworks Holiday Classics
Netflix

Dreamworks Home For the Holidays
Netflix

Elf
HBO Max

Elf Day – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Elfette Saves Christmas – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Elf-Man
Amazon

 Elf Pets: Santa’s Reindeer Rescue
Netflix

The Elf Who Didn’t Believe – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Elmo Saves Christmas
HBO Max

Elves – Arrives Nov. 28
Netflix

Every Other Holiday
Hulu

A Fairly Odd Christmas
Paramount+

Father Christmas is Back
Netflix

Four Christmases
HBO Max

Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas
Netflix

A Frozen Christmas 2 – Dec. 1
Peacock

A Frozen Christmas 3 – Dec. 1
Peacock

Getting to the Nutcracker – Dec. 1
Peacock

Girlfriends of Christmas Past
Hulu

A Go! Go! Cory Carson Christmas
Netflix

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays – Arrives Dec. 3
Netflix

Grumpy Christmas – Arrives Dec. 22
Netflix

Happy Christmas
Paramount+

The Heart of Christmas
Hulu

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special
Disney +

Holidate
Netflix

Holiday Affair
HBO Max

Holiday Baggage – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

The Holiday Calendar
Netflix

Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas
Netflix

Holiday Road Trip
Peacock

Holiday Rush
Netflix

Holiday in the Wild
Netflix

Holly’s Holiday
Hulu, Peacock (Arrives Dec. 1)

Home Alone
Disney+

Home Alone 2
Disney+

Home Alone 3
Disney+

Home Alone 4 – Arrives Dec. 17
Disney+

Home Sweet Home Alone
Disney+

Home For Christmas
Netflix

How to Ruin Christmas
Netflix

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas
Hulu

Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas
Paramount+

Into the Dark: Pooka!
Hulu

Jingle All the Way
Amazon, Disney+

Jingle All the Way 2
Amazon, Disney+

Jingle Bell Princess – Arrives Dec. 4
Peacock

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Netflix

Joy for Christmas – Arrives Dec. 19
Amazon

Klaus
Netflix

The Knight Before Christmas
Netflix

LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
Disney+

Let it Snow
Netflix

London Mitchell’s Christmas
Hulu

A Loud House Christmas
Paramount+

Love Hard
Netflix

Man Who Invented Christmas
Hulu

The March Sisters at Christma
Hulu

Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special
Apple TV+

Married by Christmas
Hulu

Mercy Christmas
Paramount+

Merry Happy Whatever
Netflix

Merry Kissmas – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
Disney+

Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Disney+

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
Disney+

Mickey & Minnie Wish Upon A Christmas – Arrives Dec. 3
Disney+

Miracle on Christmas
Amazon

Mighty Express: A Mighty Christmas
Netflix

Mistletoe Mixup – Arrives Dec. 1
Amazon

The Mistle-Tones
Hulu

A Muppets Christmas
Disney+

My Dad is Scrooge
Hulu

My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood
HBO Max

My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas
Hulu

My Santa
Hulu, Peacock (Arrives Dec. 1)

Nailed It! Holiday!
Netflix

A Nanny for Christmas
Hulu

Naughty and Nice
Hulu

A Nasty Piece of Work
Hulu

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
HBO Max

Neo Yokio: Pink Christmas
Netflix

New Year, New You
Hulu

A New York Christmas Wedding
Netflix

Nickelodeon’s Ho Ho Holiday Special – Arrives Dec. 8
Paramount+

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Disney+

A Norman Rockwell Christmas Story
Amazon

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Disney+

Once Upon a Sesame Street Christmas
HBO Max

Operation Christmas Drop
Netflix

Prep & Landing
Disney+

Prep & Landing: Naughty v. Nice
Disney+

Prep & Landing: Operation Secret Santa
Disney+

Prince of Peoria: A Christmas Moose Miracle
Netflix

A Prince for Christmas
Peacock

A Princess for Christmas
Amazon

The Princess Switch: Switched Again
Netflix

The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star
Netflix

A Puppy for Christmas
Hulu, Peacock

Puppy for Hannukkah
Disney+

Rare Exports
Hulu

Robin Robin
Netflix

Rock N’ Roll Christmas
Hulu

Rodeo & Juliet
Hulu

A Royal Christmas Ball
Peacock

Santa Buddies
Disney+

The Santa Clause
Disney+

The Santa Clause 2
Disney+

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Disney+

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – Arrives Dec. 20
Peacock

Santa Pac’s Merry Berry Day
Netflix

Santa Girl
Netflix

Santa Inc. – Arrives Dec. 2
HBO Max

School of Chocolate – Arrives Nov. 26
Netflix

Scooby-Doo! Haunted Holidays
HBO Max

Second Chance Christmas
Hulu

The Secret of the Nutcracker
Hulu, Peacock (Arrives Dec. 1)

Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas – Arrives Dec. 3
Netflix

Single All the Way – Arrives Dec. 2
Netflix

Sonic’s Christmas Blast
Paramount+

So This is Christmas
Hulu

StarBeam: Beaming in the New Year – Arrives Dec. 14
Netflix

A StoryBots Christmas
Netflix

Sugar Rush Christmas
Netflix

Super Monsters: Santa’s Super Monster Helpers
Netflix

Super Monsters Save Christmas
Netflix

Super Monsters and the Wish Star
Netflix

Surviving Christmas
Paramount+

Tim Janis’ All Is Bright – Arrives Dec. 19
Peacock

Tiny Christmas
Paramount+

Trolls Yule Log – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

True: Winter Wishes
Netflix

The Truth About Christmas
Hulu

Trolls Holiday in Harmony – Arrives Dec. 3
Hullu

A Very Country Christmas
Amazon

A Very Murray Christmas
Netflix

Waffles + Mochi’s Holiday Feast
Netflix

A Wedding for Christmas
Peacock

A Winter Wedding
Hulu

WORST. CHRISTMAS. EVER. – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus – Arrives Dec. 1
Peacock

You Make It Feel Like Christmas – Arrives Dec. 4
Peacock

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