There are plenty of Christmas movies available to watch on streaming services during this holiday season. In fact, we’ve found more than 100 that are available to stream across popular subscription services including Disney Plus, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Prime Video, Showtime, and Starz. While most homes probably won’t have access to all of these streaming services, each one does offer a variety of festive movies to watch.
Before checking out the best Christmas movies to stream, it is important to point out that this list is focused on ones you can actually watch without having to pay for a live TV subscription or a rental. For example, while Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) is a highly popular movie at this time of the year, it is only available to purchase from places like Amazon Prime Video and Vudu. Likewise, Office Christmas Party (2016), The Grinch (2018), and The Holiday (2006), are all great Christmas movies, and all of them require a live TV subscription to watch this Christmas.
For those looking for Christmas movies on a specific streaming service, use the links below to jump straight to the service’s section. Otherwise, start by checking out our Christmas movie picks to watch during the holidays.
- 10 of the best Christmas movies (our picks)
- Best Christmas movies on Disney Plus
- Best Christmas movies on HBO Max
- Best Christmas movies on Hulu
- Best Christmas movies on Netflix
- Best Christmas movies on Paramount Plus
- Best Christmas movies on Peacock
- Best Christmas movies on Prime Video
- Best Christmas movies on Showtime
- Best Christmas movies on Starz
10 of the best Christmas movies (our picks)
While there are plenty of Christmas movies to watch on streaming services right now, below are ten of our favorites to help create a festive mood.
If you do see a movie on one of the lists below that you don’t have a subscription for, it is worth keeping in mind that some of these services offer new users a free trial.
Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone should need no introduction, or explanation as to why it is one of the best movies to watch this Christmas. Whether you watched the movie just last year, or years ago, there’s always room for Kevin in this Christmas go-to movie.
Home alone is available to watch on Disney Plus with plans starting at $6.99 per month. In fact, Disney Plus is home to pretty much every Home Alone movie, so it is possible to binge the film series with just one subscription this Christmas.
Love Actually (2003)
While Love Actually is less about Christmas than it is about relationships, it is as much of a Christmas movie as any other on this list. Not to mention, it features an all-star cast including Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson and Keira Knightley. It also paved the way for some iconic movie moments.
Love Actually is available to watch on Peacock with plans starting at $4.99 per month. If wanting to watch without the ads, it is worth considering upgrading to the $9.99 per month Premium Plus plan.
Die Hard (1998)
Okay, so there is the forever debate as to whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie However, we firmly sit on the side that not only is it a Christmas movie, it is one of the best Christmas movies ever. If you disagree, no problem and feel free to check out the other 100+ Christmas movies on this list.
Die Hard is available to stream on Starz with plans starting at $8.99 per month. In addition to the original Die Hard, Starz also carries others movies from the series including Die Hard 2 – which is also set at Christmas.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Many people will be traveling to spend Christmas with family and friends this year, and hopefully their reunions will go smoother than it does for the Griswolds in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo, this is always a good movie to check out at this time of the year.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is available to stream on HBO Max with plans starting at $9.99 per month. If wanting to watch without ads, it is worth considering upgrading to the $14.99 per month HBO Max Ad-Free plan.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
It’s a Wonderful Life is arguably one of the most well-known Christmas movies. In spite of originally being released in 1946, it is still a highly popular movie to watch at this time of year. Starring James Stewart, It’s a Wonderful Life tells the story of George Bailey and very much has an A Christmas Carol vibe to it.
It’s a Wonderful Life is available to watch on Prime Video. A standlone Prime Video membership costs $8.99 per month. However, anyone with Amazon Prime membership gets access to Prime Video at no additional cost, meaning this one can be watched for free.
Elf (2003)
Elf is a 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. Technically, Buddy is not an Elf, although he has spent most of his life growing up as one in the North Pole. In a bid to further understand who exactly he is, and where he comes from, Buddy travels to New York City.
Elf is available to watch on HBO Max. A standard HBO Max subscription costs $9.99 per month with ads or $14/99 per month without ads. There are also annual plans available to help save on the cost over 12 months.
Jingle All The Way (1996)
Jingle All the Way is another great movie to check out at Christmas. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, Jingle All the Way follows the battle between two fathers to secure one of the very last Turbo Man action figures on Christmas eve. Unfortunately for both fathers, that’s easier said than done.
Jingle All the Way is available to stream on Starz. The standard price of a Starz subscription is $8.99 per month. However, it is fairly common to find Starz is offering a limited-time deal when signing up.
Scrooged (1988)
There are many versions of A Christmas Carol to watch each Christmas, but Scrooged is certainly one of the more unique and popular options. Staring Bill Murray as Frank Cross, Scrooged brings the ghosts of Christmas past to more of a modern setting.
Scrooged is available to stream on Paramount Plus with plans starting at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. For those wanting to watch without ads, the Premium plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
Spirited (2022)
Spirited is a brand new Christmas movie for 2022. Starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, Spirited is yet another retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. However, this one is packed with more laughs and music than many of the other versions.
Spirited is available to stream on Apple TV Plus. The standard cost of an Apple TV Plus subscription is $6.99 per month. However, owners of eligible Apple devices may find they are able to get three months of Apple TV Plus for free.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Christmas with the Kranks is not exactly the best Christmas movie around, but if you’re looking for something fun to watch, it’s worth checking out. It also comes with a pretty impressive cast including Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd.
Christmas with the Kranks is available to stream on AMC Plus. A standard AMC Plus subscription costs $8.99 per month and not only unlocks access to AMC content, but also IFC Films Unlimited, Sundance Now, and Shudder content as well.
Christmas movies by streaming service
The movies listed above are our picks for some of the best Christmas movies to watch over the Holidays. However, many of them do require different subscriptions. If you’re only subscribed to one streaming service, then you probably want to know which Christmas movies are available to watch on that service.
Best Christmas movies on Disney Plus
When it comes to Christmas movies, Disney Plus is one of the better streaming services around. This is probably not that surprising considering it’s Disney.
- A Christmas Carol (2009)
- Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
- Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! (2011)
- Home Alone (1990)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
- Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (2011)
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
- Noelle (2019)
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
- The Santa Claus (1994)
For those new to Disney Plus, the cheapest plan costs $7.99 per month. This is an ad-supported plan with the ad-free subscription costing $10.99 per month. Disney Plus can also be bundled with Hulu and ESPN+ at a discounted price. Disney Plus no longer offers a free trial.
Best Christmas movies on HBO Max
HBO Max is another very good service for Christmas movies, and largely thanks to its vast library that includes the Warner Bros. movie catalog.
- 8-Bit Christmas (2021)
- A Christmas Carol (1938)
- A Christmas Story (1983)
- A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
- A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
- Arthur Christmas (2011)
- Elf (2003)
- Four Christmases (2008)
- Friday After Next (2002)
- Gremlins (1984)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
- Jack Frost (1998)
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Polar Express (2004)
- Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
For those new to HBO Max, plans start at $9.99 per month. If wanting an ad-free viewing experience, the $14.99 per month plan is required. HBO Max no longer offers a free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Hulu
Hulu is a little more limited on Christmas movies. However, the streaming service’s on-demand library does include some Hulu Original Christmas movies which you won’t be able to watch elsewhere.
- 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
- A Christmas Switch (2018)
- A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
- Arthur Christmas (2011)
- Black Christmas (2006)
- Girlfriends of Christmas Past (2016)
- Happiest Season (2020)
- Into the Dark: Pooka! (2018)
- Naughty & Nice (2014)
- Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
- The Lodge (2019)
- This Christmas (2007)
For those new to Hulu, plans start at $7.99 per month. If wanting to watch without the ads, the cost jumps to $14.99 per month. Hulu can also be bundled with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Hulu currently comes with a 30-day free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Netflix
Netflix has always been a good destination for movies, and Christmas-themed feature films are no different. Over the years, however, Netflix has moved more towards its own original Christmas movies.
- A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
- A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
- A Christmas Prince (2017)
- Deliver by Christmas (2022)
- El Camino Christmas (2017)
- Falling for Christmas (2022)
- Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
- Klaus (2019)
- Let It Snow (2019)
- Love Hard (2021)
- Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022)
- Single All the Way (2021)
- The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
- The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020)
- The Claus Family (2020)
- The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
- The Noel Diary (2022)
- White Christmas (1954)
If considering signing up to Netflix, plans start at $6.99 per month. The cheapest plan is an ad-supported subscription with the cheapest cheapest ad-free tier starting at $9.99 per month. Netflix no longer offers a free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Paramount Plus
Paramount Plus brings together content from multiple popular networks including CBS and Paramount Network. As a result, Paramount Plus can be a good option for both classic and modern Christmas movies.
- A Christmas Carol (1938)
- A Christmas Carol (1984)
- Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember (2001)
- Christmas in the Heartland (2017)
- Daddy’s Home (2015)
- Daddy’s Home 2 (2017)
- Last Holiday (2006)
- Mercy Christmas (2017)
- Scrooge (1970)
- Scrooged (1988)
- Tiny Christmas (2017)
Paramount Plus plans start at just $4.99 per month. Similar to other services, an ad-free subscription is available and costs $9.99 per month. Paramount Plus currently comes with a 7-day free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Peacock
Peacock is owned by NBCUniversal and the streaming service is home to many Universal Pictures movies and popular NBC shows. All of which makes it a good streaming service for households wanting to watch Christmas-themed content.
- 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)
- A Christmas in Vermont (2016)
- All About Christmas Eve (2012)
- Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure (2011)
- Better Watch Out (2016)
- Casper’s Haunted Christmas (2000)
- Christmas Time (2017)
- Fatman (2020)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
- Krampus (2015)
- Love Actually (2003)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
- The Christmas Train (2017)
Peacock offers two main plans for new users to choose from. The cheapest, ad-supported plan costs $4.99 per month and an upgrade to remove the ads increases the price to $9.99 per month.
Best Christmas movies on Prime Video
Prime Video offers a fairly substantial library of videos for subscribers to watch. However, not all of the videos available through Prime Video are free. Thankfully, all of the Christmas movies listed below are currently included with Prime.
- A Christmas Carol (1984)
- Arthur Christmas (2011)
- It’s A Wonderful Life (1947)
- Last Holiday (2006)
- Little Women (1994)
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
- No Sleep ‘Til Christmas (2018)
- Scrooge (1935)
- Scrooged (1988)
- Surviving Christmas (2004)
- The Snowman (1982)
- Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas (2013)
- Your Christmas or Mine? (2022)
Prime Video costs $8.99 per month when signing up to the standalone subscription. However, Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime membership at no additional cost. For those signing up for the first time, Amazon offers a 30-day Prime membership free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Showtime
Showtime is the home of many popular movies, including Christmas movies. In fact, it is particularly good for those in need of Christmas comedies.
- All Is Bright (2013)
- Angels Sing (2013)
- Bad Santa (2003)
- Bad Santa 2 (2016)
- Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
- Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
- Ernest Saves Christmas (1998)
- Go (1999)
- Lacy’s Christmas Do-Over (2021)
- Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
- The Green Knight (2021)
- Trapped in Paradise (1994)
While a Showtime subscription costs $10.99 per month, the price can vary when signing up through a third-party. It is also possible to bundle Showtime with Paramount Plus and save in the process. If signing up to Showtime directly, new users can take advantage of a 30-day free trial.
Best Christmas movies on Starz
Starz provides access to a varied library of movies, and while its list of festive movies isn’t as long as some other services, it does have some very popular Christmas movies.
- Black Christmas (2006)
- Christmas At Cattle Hill (2020)
- Deck The Halls (2006)
- Die Hard (1988)
- Die Hard 2 (1999)
- Happy Christmas (2014)
- Jingle All The Way (1996)
- Serendipity (2001)
- The Family Stone (2005)
- The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)
The standard price of a Starz subscription is $8.99 per month. However, Starz is nearly always running a promotion that reduces the cost of a subscription for a select number of months when signing up. Starz currently doesn’t offer new users a free trial.
If you still haven’t found the right Christmas movie to watch, it may be time to consider checking what live TV streaming services have to offer. Many Christmas movies will be shown live over the next few weeks and this includes movies that aren’t currently available to stream with the on-demand subscription services listed above.
