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The Best Christmas Movies of All Time

The Best Christmas Movies of All Time

For many people, watching movies is an integral part of the holiday season. For some, this means watching the same Christmas classics every year. Others are drawn to newer films, heading to the local theater or streaming the latest festive Hollywood release.

24/7 Tempo has identified the 45 best Christmas movies ever made — one for each day until Christmas — based on critics and audiences movie ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and user rating on Internet Movie Database.

The 45 films illustrate that there is a type of holiday film for everyone. Numerous genres are represented, ranging from action to comedy, romance, and horror. There are at least some surprises.

For example, “Die Hard” is not on the list and “Iron Man 3” is. (Bruce Willis has insisted “Die Hard” is not a Christmas movie, so we omitted it, and Marvel has officially declared the third installment of the Iron Man franchise is, so we included it.)

There is also an almost perfect split between older and newer films — 23 of the 45 movies on the list were released after 2000. The older holiday flicks were released between 1938 and the late 1990s, and most of them are ranked in the top 20 of the best Christmas movies ever.

In a rush to produce a hit movie, however, sometimes filmmakers miss the mark and make mistakes. For every now considered classic Christmas movie, there is a flop few movie fans remember — these are the worst holiday movies ever made.

Methodology

To determine the essential films to include in your Christmas movie marathon, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of November 2021. All ratings were weighted equally. Only movies with at least 25,000 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes were considered. Only films in which the Christmas season plays an important role in the plot, or were otherwise identified as Christmas movies by Box Office Mojo, the Countdown Until Christmas Christmas movie database, and Vulture magazine were considered. Information on directorial credits comes from IMDb.

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

45. A Christmas Carol (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (107,074 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 58% (776,271 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (202 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

44. The Nativity Story (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (11,199 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (82,860 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (131 reviews)
> Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke

Source: Courtesy of Castle Rock Entertainment

43. The Polar Express (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (187,388 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (242,647 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 56% (208 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

42. Last Holiday (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (30,260 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67% (373,020 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 55% (123 reviews)
> Directed by: Wayne Wang

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

41. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (33,761 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (55,621 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 60% (35 reviews)
> Directed by: Les Mayfield

Source: Getty Images / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

40. The Family Man (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (106,454 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 67% (194,742 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (129 reviews)
> Directed by: Brett Ratner

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

39. A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (67,373 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (44,231 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 68% (131 reviews)
> Directed by: Todd Strauss-Schulson

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

38. Last Christmas (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (60,337 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (6,408 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 47% (208 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Feig

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

37. The Night Before (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (69,089 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 61% (31,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (161 reviews)
> Directed by: Jonathan Levine

Source: Courtesy of Screen Gems

36. This Christmas (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (8,959 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (73,019 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 55% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: Preston A. Whitmore II

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

35. The Holiday (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (261,104 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (507,808 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 49% (158 reviews)
> Directed by: Nancy Meyers

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

34. The Santa Clause (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (103,793 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (369,626 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 72% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: John Pasquin

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

33. Serendipity (2001)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (107,595 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (228,259 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 59% (141 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Chelsom

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

32. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (76,551 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 70% (62,368 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (56 reviews)
> Directed by: Renny Harlin

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

31. Scrooged (1988)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (91,619 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (77,593 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (49 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Donner

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

30. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (64,222 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (1,557 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: Clay Kaytis

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

29. Love Actually (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (447,898 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (31,626,919 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 64% (224 reviews)
> Directed by: Richard Curtis

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

28. The Ref (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (23,990 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (27,017 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 72% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Ted Demme

Source: Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

27. Better Watch Out (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (34,252 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (4,614 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (65 reviews)
> Directed by: Chris Peckover

Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

26. The Best Man Holiday (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (15,359 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (52,758 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 70% (97 reviews)
> Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee

Source: Courtesy of Entertainment One

25. Happiest Season (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (31,005 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (948 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (204 reviews)
> Directed by: Clea DuVall

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

24. Batman Returns (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (285,285 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 73% (641,508 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (84 reviews)
> Directed by: Tim Burton

Source: Courtesy of Miramax

23. Bad Santa (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (138,068 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 75% (200,982 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (221 reviews)
> Directed by: Terry Zwigoff

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

22. Home Alone (1990)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (507,829 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (1,027,095 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 66% (58 reviews)
> Directed by: Chris Columbus

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

21. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (96,173 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (216,626 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (61 reviews)
> Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Source: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

20. Iron Man 3 (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (791,235 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (485,776 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (328 reviews)
> Directed by: Shane Black

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

19. Rise of the Guardians (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (163,799 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (124,361 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (161 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Ramsey

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

18. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (165,817 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (222,757 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 67% (46 reviews)
> Directed by: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema

17. Elf (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (238,718 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (909,911 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (194 reviews)
> Directed by: Jon Favreau

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

16. Gremlins (1984)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (207,647 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (451,959 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (72 reviews)
> Directed by: Joe Dante

Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

15. Arthur Christmas (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (54,530 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (15,497 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (169 reviews)
> Directed by: Sarah Smith & Barry Cook

Source: Courtesy of The Weinstein Company

14. Carol (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (122,012 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (29,764 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (313 reviews)
> Directed by: Todd Haynes

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

13. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
> IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (51,864 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (122,361 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 76% (51 reviews)
> Directed by: Brian Henson

Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

12. White Christmas (1954)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (36,513 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (50,190 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (43 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

11. Tangerine (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (29,198 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (11,401 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (160 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Baker

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

10. A Christmas Carol (1938)
> IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (6,690 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (56,582 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (13 reviews)
> Directed by: Edwin L. Marin

Source: Courtesy of MGM/UA Entertainment Company

9. A Christmas Story (1983)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (136,883 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (286,048 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (57 reviews)
> Directed by: Bob Clark

Source: Courtesy of Embassy Pictures

8. The Lion in Winter (1968)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (30,301 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (13,125 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (41 reviews)
> Directed by: Anthony Harvey

Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

7. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
> IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (44,085 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (47,635 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (47 reviews)
> Directed by: George Seaton

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

6. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
> IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (22,263 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (37,079 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (33 reviews)
> Directed by: Vincente Minnelli

Source: Courtesy of United Artists

5. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (85,564 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (24,773 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (77 reviews)
> Directed by: Charles Laughton

Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista International

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
> IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (309,910 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (968,895 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (97 reviews)
> Directed by: Henry Selick

Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

3. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
> IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (30,166 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (11,972 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (37 reviews)
> Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

2. Klaus (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (119,752 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (2,481 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (70 reviews)
> Directed by: Sergio Pablos

Source: Courtesy of RKO Radio Pictures

1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
> IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (422,428 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (219,179 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (87 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Capra

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