The Top 10 Christmas Movies Of All-Time, Ranked
The ultimate Christmas movie watchlist.
As you’re gathering with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season, there’s no better activity to get into the Christmas spirit than watching a festive movie. But which one reigns supreme? We’re sure you (and everyone you know) have strong opinions on this.
That’s why we’ve decided to create the definitive ranking of the top 10 Christmas movies of all time, and yes, our opinion is 100% correct and we will not be taking questions at this time. Sorry not sorry.
10. Die Hard (1988)
Yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and anyone who argues otherwise is wrong. This debate comes up every year, and we here at Student Beans are pro-Die Hard as a Christmas movie. Yippee ki-yay!
9. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
There’s no doubt It’s A Wonderful Life is a classic Christmas movie, but it’s also kind of a downer to watch (even if there is a happy ending). Jimmy Stuart is an icon, but sometimes you’re looking for something a bit more cheerful.
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
It’s not really Christmas until you watch one Rankin and Bass movie. Rudolph is definitely the best of the bunch—special shoutout to Yukon Cornelius for being one of the most underrated characters of all time.
7. White Christmas (1954)
One of the lesser-known Christmas movies, White Christmas deserves more love than it gets. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are the perfect comedic duo, and the singing and dance numbers really make the film shine.
6. Elf (2003)
It’s hard to believe Elf turned 20 years old this year. But you can’t argue that it has fully cemented itself into the Christmas zeitgeist. Because who hasn’t wanted to answer the phone and say, “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”
5. A Christmas Story (1983)
Another iconic Christmas movie, A Christmas Story perfectly encapsulates what it feels like being a kid at Christmas time—the anticipation, hoping for a present you never think you’ll get, and everything in between.
4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Michael Caine playing the role of Scrooge so seriously while being surrounded by Muppets will never not be an iconic performance. There’s the ideal blend of drawing directly from Dickens’ original text, but with the flair only the Muppets can bring.
3. The Santa Clause (1994)
If you’re a child of the 90s or 2000s, you watched The Santa Clause every year, and it’s likely one of your favorite Christmas movies. There’s no denying Tim Allen’s charm as Santa. Plus, the film was super innovative for the time—thanks Disney!
2. The Grinch (1966, 2000, 2018)
Any version of The Grinch is good, in our opinion. There’s the classic 1966 classic version; the 2000s cynically hilarious live-action edition; or the 2018 animated version. They’re all great (but How The Grinch Stole Christmas is the best of the three).
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Could it really be anything else? It truly is not the Christmas season until you watch this movie at least once. There isn’t a better movie that perfectly sums up the Christmas experience. Enjoy the nostalgia.
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