From black and white to modern classics, there are a bevy of old favorite Christmas movies streaming free for you to watch at the click of a button.
Just in case there’s a hole in your Christmas movie collection, here is where you can find a pretty wide variety of Christmas movies streaming on some of the most popular sites out there, including Disney+, Netflix, Amazon, HBO Go, and those good old cable TV channels.
It’s important to note that Hulu has been left off this list because, unfortunately, they just don’t really have a lot of the good old classic Christmas movies.
Where to find Christmas movies streaming this holiday season:
Netflix
‘White Christmas’
With families coming together, you might need an old classic to turn on while presents are opening and eggnog is being consumed. This old standby may provide a wonderful atmosphere for the most Christmas-y of times.
‘The Grinch’
For families with older kids, there is nothing better than The Grinch. In what may be one of my most favorite performances to date, Jim Carrey does what he does in the most Jim Carrey of ways in this movie. This is a crowd-pleaser no matter who’s in attendance.
‘Christmas with the Kranks’
With a few laughs, a lot of hi-jinks, and a wonderful message to round it out, Christmas with the Kranks is one I love to turn on while I’m baking cookies or wrapping presents. It’s just funny enough to entertain my mind while I’m building a mini-fort around me out of perfectly packaged presents.
‘A Christmas Prince’
A new classic, this was the Netflix original everyone was raving about two years ago. If you missed it (like me) you still have all kinds of opportunities to check it out. But it might be the perfect choice if you’ve got a houseful of pre-teen cousins that get bored waiting for the adults to finish dinner.
Amazon
‘Holiday Inn’
If you’re not a Netflix person (or if someone recently changed the password and you’re locked out), Amazon is to the rescue! They’ve got a pair of oldie-but-goodies that will happily fill in for White Christmas. Holiday Inn is another one of those classics that will provide the perfect atmosphere for your Christmas party.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
And there’s got to be someone who needs to meet George Bailey. Whether it’s a niece, nephew, grandkids, or maybe just a modern movie snob of an uncle or something, It’s a Wonderful Life is a great way to introduce something old to a new crowd. And Amazon has both the black and white and color versions of this, so take your pick!
‘Jack Frost’
Most of the claymation movies are missing from this list. They’ll undoubtedly be played over and over again on different Christmas marathons, so keep an eye out as the Christmas season rolls on, but at least Jack Frost is here to fill the void!
‘Bad Santa’
If you’re looking for something downright adult, there’s always Bad Santa. Thanks, Amazon, for giving the adults something free to watch once all the kids go to bed.
Disney+
‘Miracle on 34th Street’
One of the most charming classics out there, Miracle on 34th Street is a must-watch for kids that are just ready to step out of cartoons and the claymation classics. Settle down on the couch with some cocoa and a blanket, and get ready to show them why it’s so fun to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade every year and wave at Santa as he goes by in his sleigh.
‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’
For a Christmas movie with a little morality to it, don’t forget Mickey’s Christmas Carol. The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge gets a Disney makeover here, but all the best parts are still there. Take a trip to Christmas past, present, and future and see how your actions affect more than just you.
‘Home Alone’
When the kids are too young for Bad Santa, and have maybe seen The Grinch a few too many times, Home Alone is definitely next on the list. A little scary, a little funny, and a lot heartwarming, it is chock full of enough memorable moments to have you quoting it decades later.
‘The Santa Clause’ (and its two sequels)
And the pinnacle of Disney’s Christmas offerings: the Santa Clause trilogy. The first one is so well done and funny, and the sequels tell a couple of very different tales. Whether you’re introducing these to a new generation or just popping it in to melt away from the shopping, cooking, and wrapping stress, there’s really just nothing else out there like The Santa Clause.
(Check out the full listing of Disney+ Christmas movies streaming here.)
HBO Go
‘Jingle All the Way’
If you’re lucky enough to still have access to that HBOGo account you borrowed to watch Game of Thrones last May, Jingle All the Way is just waiting for you with all the most charming Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger scenes you need. This one has always been my brothers’ favorite, so I’m so happy it’s just waiting out there for others to discover and enjoy.
‘Love, Actually’
Last, but most certainly never least, if you haven’t seen Love, Actually yet, there’s no excuse now. An ensemble cast that includes the likes of Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, and Martin Freeman (as well as many, many others) is one not to be missed. Keep your eyes peeled, because there is a literal smorgasbord of delightful British talent crowding up this picture.
Do you have cable?
If you have a cable subscription, don’t forget to try out all the instantly viewable options available at your fingertips thanks to networks like TBS, TNT, FX, and more.
A quick browse through my Roku apps showed that there are a TON of classic Christmas movies streaming, waiting to be watched at a moment’s notice, and I’ll bet most of these are probably available on your cable provider’s OnDemand system or through their app.
Here is a quick list of all the old Christmas favorites I could find, and where I found them. Merry watching, Happy Christmas, and wonderful holiday season wishes to all who celebrate.
TBS/TNT
A Christmas Story
AMC
Elf
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Polar Express
Four Christmases
Last Holiday
Ernest Saves Christmas
All I Want for Christmas
Freeform
Arthur Christmas
The Holiday
This Christmas
Deck the Halls
FX
Krampus