The holiday season is all about spreading joy, love, and spending quality time with loved ones. And what better way to bring everyone together than by watching some heartwarming Christmas movies?
With joyous carols, festive decorations, and a general outpouring of goodwill, the last decade has graced us with an abundance of Christmas movies that have contributed to the holiday cheer. From classic tales to modern favorites, there is an abundance of films that capture the spirit of the season.
Here, we present to you the 50 best Christmas movies from 2013 to 2022, perfect for creating unforgettable moments with your family and friends.
Tip: Be sure to see until the end of the article to find out how to watch movies for free!
The Best Man Holiday
In "The Best Man Holiday," college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, discovering how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited, culminating in a festive season that is both laughter-filled and emotionally charged. This sequel to the 1999 film "The Best Man" skillfully blends comedy and drama, exploring the complexities of friendships and the enduring power of love against the backdrop of holiday festivities.
A Madea Christmas
"A Madea Christmas" brings the beloved character Madea to the forefront of this holiday comedy as she heads to the countryside for a surprise visit with her friend and winds up bringing her unique blend of tough love and humor to a rural town preparing for its annual Christmas Carnival, leading to unexpected reunions and the joyous unwrapping of old secrets. Tyler Perry dons his iconic Madea costume once more to deliver festive laughter and life lessons in equal measure.
Northpole
"Northpole," a charming and imaginative Hallmark Channel original movie, transports viewers to the whimsical city where Santa's elves live and work, as a young boy and his mother strive to rekindle their town's Christmas spirit, communicating with an elf to save the Northpole, Santa's magical home, which is powered by the joy of the holiday.
The Santa Con
"The Santa Con" is a heartwarming holiday TV movie that follows a small-time crook who, after being sentenced to community service, finds himself playing Santa at the local mall, where he learns valuable lessons about second chances and the true meaning of Christmas as he embarks on a mission to make amends to the people he has wronged.
Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever
"Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever" spins a unique holiday tale centered around the Internet's most notorious feline, Grumpy Cat, who forms an unlikely friendship with a lonely 12-year-old girl, and together, they discover the true meaning of Christmas while experiencing a series of humorous adventures in a pet store during the holiday season, with Grumpy Cat providing her trademark sardonic commentary throughout.
Christmas Under Wraps
"Christmas Under Wraps," a festive Hallmark Channel movie, sees a driven doctor unexpectedly relocate to a small Alaskan town for her residency, where she learns to embrace the Christmas spirit and finds unexpected love, along with a big holiday secret that could change everything for the quaint community and her own future.
The Night Before
"The Night Before" is a raucous Christmas comedy that features three lifelong friends embarking on an annual Christmas Eve tradition of wild partying, as they set out to find the ultimate holiday party in New York City, only to realize they are growing apart and this night of debauchery might be their last hurrah as they confront their futures.
A Christmas Detour
"A Christmas Detour," a delightfully romantic Hallmark Channel movie, chronicles the story of two polar-opposite travelers who are both trying to make it to their respective Christmas destinations but find themselves waylaid by weather and end up on a spontaneous road trip, leading to unexpected detours of the heart and lessons about love and destiny.
Crown for Christmas
"Crown for Christmas" is a charming tale of a fired New York hotel maid who lands a seasonal job as a governess to a Princess and finds herself thrown into a fairy-tale-like scenario, complete with a European castle and a royal love interest, ultimately teaching her that the true essence of Christmas is more about who you are with than where you are.
Northpole: Open for Christmas
"Northpole: Open for Christmas," a whimsical sequel to "Northpole," follows a successful businesswoman who inherits a rundown hotel in her hometown and, with the help of a handyman and a Christmas elf, she discovers the magic of the holiday season as she works to restore the hotel's former glory and in the process, reconnects with her roots and possibly finds love along the way.
Office Christmas Party
"Office Christmas Party" delivers a wild ride as it follows the employees of a struggling branch of a tech company who throw an epic Christmas party to impress a potential client and save their jobs, but the celebration quickly spirals out of control, leading to chaotic and comedic mayhem.
A Christmas to Remember
"A Christmas to Remember" is a heartwarming Hallmark movie that centers on a stressed-out TV personality who suffers amnesia after a car accident and finds herself taken in by a friendly widower and his family over the holidays, offering her a chance to discover a simpler way of life and perhaps, the path to true love amid the charming setting of a small-town Christmas.
Broadcasting Christmas
"Broadcasting Christmas," a festive film that captures the competitive spirit of the season, follows two ex-lovers and rival television hosts who are pitted against each other for a coveted co-host position on a top morning show, leading to a series of on-air challenges that reignite old flames and remind them of what they've been missing in the pursuit of their ambitious careers.
My Christmas Dream
"My Christmas Dream" is a heartwarming holiday film in which an ambitious department store manager is determined to land a coveted promotion by creating the best holiday display, but when she enlists the help of a recently-fired employee and his son, she learns that the key to success might just be found in opening her heart to new possibilities, including the magic of Christmas and the warmth of love.
Journey Back to Christmas
"Journey Back to Christmas" is a touching Hallmark Channel movie featuring a World War II-era nurse who is transported to the future through the magic of a Christmas Comet and must rely on the help of a kind-hearted policeman and the community to navigate the modern world and discover a path back to her own time, all while learning the timeless impact of kindness and the Christmas spirit across generations.
A Bad Moms Christmas
"A Bad Moms Christmas" amps up the holiday chaos as the trio of under-appreciated and overburdened moms from the original "Bad Moms" film deal with the added pressure of their own mothers visiting for the holidays, resulting in a hilarious, no-holds-barred struggle to create the perfect Christmas amid skyrocketing expectations and outlandish family dynamics.
The Man Who Invented Christmas
"The Man Who Invented Christmas" is a biographical drama that delves into the life of author Charles Dickens, exploring the creative process and personal trials he faced while writing one of the most famous holiday tales of all time, "A Christmas Carol," ultimately showing how Dickens's vivid imagination gave birth to the enduring Christmas classic and the modern celebrations of the holiday season.
Christmas Inheritance
"Christmas Inheritance" tells the story of a young, privileged heiress who must deliver a special Christmas card to her father's former partner in a small town to inherit the family business, but when a snowstorm strands her in the quaint community, she is forced to reassess her materialistic lifestyle and discovers the true gift of Christmas through meaningful connections and acts of generosity.
Coming Home for Christmas
"Coming Home for Christmas" centers on a young woman who lands a job as a house manager for a sprawling Virginia estate and decides to bring the estranged family back together for one last Christmas celebration before the house is sold, but along the way, she finds herself navigating family dynamics, old loves, and new romances as she works to heal the family's past.
A Christmas Prince
"A Christmas Prince" is a romantic and enchanting Netflix original movie that sweeps viewers off to the fictional kingdom of Aldovia, where an aspiring young journalist is sent to cover a royal press conference and finds herself mistaken for the young princess's tutor, leading to a whirlwind of romance, mistaken identities, and a royal secret that could change everything during the Christmas season.
Engaging Father Christmas
"Engaging Father Christmas," a sequel to "Finding Father Christmas," continues the heartwarming story of Miranda as she returns to the charming town of Carlton Heath to spend the holidays with the family she never knew she had, and while there, she seeks a perfect Christmas proposal from her boyfriend, navigating the complexity of her newfound relationships and a mysterious visitor who could shake up her festive plans.
The Christmas Chronicles
"The Christmas Chronicles" is a Netflix holiday adventure that follows two siblings who, after inadvertently causing Santa's sleigh to crash on Christmas Eve, join forces with a charismatic Santa Claus, played by Kurt Russell, to save Christmas before it's too late, leading them on a night filled with unexpected happenings and a fresh take on the magic of the season.
The Princess Switch
"The Princess Switch" is a festive Netflix film featuring Vanessa Hudgens in a dual role as a Chicago baker and a European Duchess who stumble upon their uncanny resemblance to one another and decide to switch places, leading to unexpected romantic complications and plenty of Christmas cheer as they each walk in the other's shoes and learn about life from a different perspective.
Christmas at Pemberley Manor
"Christmas at Pemberley Manor" is a Hallmark Channel holiday movie that reimagines the Jane Austen classic "Pride and Prejudice" with a Christmas twist, where a New York event planner visits a small town to organize a holiday festival and unexpectedly finds love in a billionaire Grinch-like character who owns the estate that's perfect for her event, all amidst the festive backdrop of a charming Christmas setting.
A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding
"A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding" is the enchanting sequel to "A Christmas Prince," where viewers are welcomed back to the fictitious kingdom of Aldovia to witness journalist-turned-princess Amber marrying her prince, but as she grapples with her new role and questions surrounding the palace, Amber must find a way to protect her future family without losing herself in the royal spectacle of Christmas nuptials.
The Grinch
"The Grinch," an animated retelling of Dr. Seuss's classic tale, brings to life the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit, with Benedict Cumberbatch lending his voice to the iconic green curmudgeon in a modern twist on the beloved holiday parable of redemption and the transformative power of kindness.
Last Christmas
"Last Christmas" is a romantic comedy with a twist, inspired by the music of George Michael, where Emilia Clarke stars as a disillusioned Christmas store elf whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a mysterious man played by Henry Golding, leading to a series of events that ultimately guide her towards a new outlook on life, love, and the meaning of the holiday season.
Klaus
"Klaus" is a heartwarming animated film that reimagines the origins of Santa Claus through the story of a postman stationed in an icy town above the Arctic Circle who befriends a reclusive toymaker named Klaus, leading to an unlikely partnership that brings joy and laughter back to the community, and sets the legend of Santa into motion, all captured with stunning hand-drawn animation.
A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby
"A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby" continues the festive saga of Queen Amber and King Richard of Aldovia, as they prepare to welcome their first child while hosting royals from a distant kingdom to renew an ancient truce, but when the treaty vanishes, peace is jeopardized and Christmas joy turns into a royal whodunit that must be solved before the stroke of midnight.
Holiday Rush
"Holiday Rush" is a Netflix original film that centers on a widowed radio DJ who has spoiled his four children with a lavish lifestyle they can no longer afford, and after he loses his job right before Christmas, the family must downsize their lives and rediscover the true value of family, love, and the holiday spirit away from the materialistic comforts they've grown accustomed to.
Let It Snow
"Let It Snow" is a Netflix teen romantic comedy that interweaves several high school students' lives in a small town on Christmas Eve, as a snowstorm affects their friendships, love lives, and future plans, leading to an impromptu party at a local waffle house where hearts are broken and mended in a night of youthful Christmas adventure.
Noelle
"Noelle," a Disney+ original film, adds a dose of festive fun with Anna Kendrick starring as the title character, the daughter of Santa Claus, who embarks on a mission to find her brother Nick, the reluctant heir to the Santa mantle, after he disappears just days before Christmas, becoming an intrepid explorer of the world outside the North Pole while discovering her own potential along the way.
Holidate
"Holidate" is a Netflix original romantic comedy that puts a humorous spin on holiday singledom, following two strangers who, tired of being single during the holidays, agree to be each other's platonic plus-ones all year long, only to catch real feelings amidst the facade as they navigate the peculiar traditions of various celebrations together.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
"Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey" is a Netflix musical fantasy that tells an enchanting tale of a once-great toymaker whose prized invention is stolen by his apprentice; his equally inventive granddaughter arrives just in time for Christmas to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within, all wrapped up with showstopping songs, vibrant dances, and a heartwarming message about family and belief.
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two
"The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two," the sequel to the hit Netflix film, sees the return of siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce who, two years after their first adventure with Santa Claus, embark on a new journey to the North Pole where they team up with Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus to thwart a troublemaker's plans to cancel Christmas forever, delivering a holiday package of fun, fantasy, and family values.
The Princess Switch: Switched Again
"The Princess Switch: Switched Again" ramps up the holiday hijinks as it returns to Netflix with Vanessa Hudgens playing three look-alike characters, where in the midst of Duchess Margaret's coronation and a floundering romance, the double or rather triple duty of switching identities leads to unexpected complications and a royal dose of Christmas love and laughter.
Godmothered
"Godmothered" is a heartwarming Disney+ original film that follows a young, inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training who ventures out to prove her worth by tracking down a misplaced letter from a 10-year-old girl in distress, only to discover the girl is now a 40-year-old single mother who has given up on the idea of "happily ever after," prompting a magical intervention just in time for Christmas.
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
"Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" is a festive Netflix musical that features Dolly Parton as an angel who comes to the aid of the residents of a small town when a cold-hearted woman plans to sell the land right before Christmas, prompting the community to band together in the spirit of the season, showcasing a bounty of heartwarming songs and the transformative power of love and forgiveness.
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star
"The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star" is the third installment in the Netflix holiday rom-com series that reunites viewers with doppelgängers Duchess Margaret and Princess Stacy, along with their look-alike cousin Fiona, who this time must team up in a festive heist to retrieve a stolen priceless relic, leading to unexpected romance and holiday cheer
A Boy Called Christmas
"A Boy Called Christmas" is a magical retelling of the origin story of Father Christmas, chronicling the adventures of a young boy named Nikolas, accompanied by a headstrong reindeer and a loyal pet mouse, as he sets off on an epic quest in the snowy north to find his father and discovers his destiny to bring hope and happiness to the world, all narrated with whimsy and wonder in this Netflix family film.
Single All the Way
"Single All the Way" is Netflix's inaugural gay holiday rom-com that charmingly navigates the tale of Peter, who, dreading going home for Christmas single, convinces his best friend Nick to pose as his boyfriend, only to find himself caught in an unexpected love triangle when his family plays matchmaker, leading to heartfelt lessons about love and the importance of being true to oneself during the most wonderful time of the year.
A Castle for Christmas
"A Castle for Christmas" stars Brooke Shields as a best-selling author who travels to Scotland to escape the scandal surrounding her latest book, where she falls in love with a castle and clashes with the grumpy duke who owns it, played by Cary Elwes; amidst the charming Scottish traditions and the Christmas spirit, an unlikely romance blossoms as they both learn the castle's true value.
Christmas ...Again?!
"Christmas ...Again?!" is a Disney Channel original movie that follows the spirited journey of Rowena, a young girl who wishes to redo her family's disastrous Christmas Eve, only to find herself caught in a magical time loop, giving her multiple chances to repair the holiday festivities, mend family relationships, and understand the true meaning of the Christmas spirit along the way.
The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls
"The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls" revisits the Mitchell family in this Hallmark Channel sequel, where brothers Mike and Brandon compete to see who can create the best Christmas House to be featured on national television, reigniting sibling rivalry while bringing the family back together to celebrate the holidays and remind them of the true joys of Christmas.
Falling for Christmas
"Falling for Christmas" is a Netflix holiday rom-com marking the return of Lindsay Lohan to the screen as a newly engaged, spoiled hotel heiress who, after experiencing amnesia due to a skiing accident, finds herself in the care of a down-to-earth lodge owner and his precocious daughter in the days leading up to Christmas, leading to unexpected romance and a festive transformation of the heart.
The Noel Diary
"The Noel Diary," a touching Netflix original film adaptation of the novel by Richard Paul Evans, follows a best-selling author returning to his childhood home to settle his estranged mother's estate, where he discovers a diary and a mysterious woman seeking her birth mother, leading them both on a journey that uncovers heartfelt family secrets and the chance of new love during the holiday season.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who hates Christmas and refuses to help the poor. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that he will be condemned to an eternity of suffering if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is then visited by three other ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The ghosts show Scrooge the error of his ways and help him to see the true meaning of Christmas.
A Christmas Mystery
A Christmas Mystery is a 2022 American Christmas mystery film directed by John McTiernan and written by David Koepp. It is a remake of the 1985 film of the same name, which was based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. The film stars Tom Hanks as Hercule Poirot, David Schwimmer as Arthur Hastings, and Emma Thompson as Miss Marple.
A Hollywood Christmas
A Hollywood Christmas is a 2022 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and written by Marshall and John Hughes. It is a remake of the 1983 film of the same name, which was based on the 1982 novel of the same name by James Patterson. The film stars Tom Hanks as Jack Frost, Meg Ryan as Holly Golightly, and Bill Murray as Scrooge.
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In conclusion, the Christmas film industry has consistently delivered remarkable movies from 2013 through to 2022, and Christmas of 2023 is just around the corner, sparking high expectations for even more heartwarming films. From moving tales of love, friendship, faith, and hope, to hilarious and enchanting stories of magic and adventure, the Christmas movies released during this period have truly been exceptional.
These films provide a cozy and joyful way to delve into the holiday spirit, remind us of the true essence of Christmas, and foster unity among people. If there are any you've missed out on or wish to revisit, now is the ideal time to compile your must-watch list. Mind you, it's never too early or too late to immerse yourself in a cherished Christmas movie.
As we inch closer to the Christmas season of 2023, anticipations are high for the cinematic gems that await us. Over the past decade, these films have formed a significant part of our Christmas tradition, offering something for everyone. Here's to making the most of this splendid assortment of movies and to the promise of more captivating and heartwarming films in the coming holiday season!
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