Selecting the best Christmas movies of all time is not easy. There are hundreds of great Christmas movies. Regrettably, there are dozens of really bad Christmas movies as well. How does one objectively select the best holiday movies of all time?
Carefully.
Opinions abound about movies. Often critics love a movie that the average person despises. To determine the best Christmas movies of all time I used three criteria: The Rotten Tomatoes Score, the Audience Score, and the IMDb rating.
These movies have been filtered to be family-friendly. Raunchy movies were eliminated (adieu Bad Santa). Regrettably, there were none primarily about the birth of Christ that ranked in the top twelve. We still have some work to do in Hollywood.
It’s unfair to compare a classic movie from 1943 to a baby-faced movie that debuted in 2019. As such, I created two lists. The classic list contains movies that were released prior to 1969. The modern list is any Christmas movie that was released after 1969.
The best classic Christmas movie of all time is How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It had a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100, an Audience Score of 95, and an IMDb rating of 83. The overall average score for this class was 92.6% — a solid grade. The best modern Christmas movie of all time is Klaus. This movie crushed every category with an overall average score of 90.6%. It trailed only our winner and It’s A Wonderful Life in total scoring.
Here are the remaining Christmas movies as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes, Audience, and IMDb. If you’re enjoying Christmas on a budget here’s a great list of movies!
Enjoy!
The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time (Modern)
#1 Klaus, 2019, Rated PG
This animated masterpiece only recently debuted and has risen to the top of the list. It features the voices of Joan Cusack, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones, Jason Schwartzman, and Norm MacDonald.
Memorable quote — “A true selfless act always sparks another.”
Total Score — 272 points.
#2 The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993, Rated PG
This instant classic was nominated for seventeen total film awards and won six! The voice talents of Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Danny Elfman, and Paul Reubens are masterfully used.
Memorable Quote: “Just because I cannot see it, doesn’t mean I can’t believe it!”
Total Score — 265 points.
#3 Little Women, 2019, Rated PG
There are many renditions of this movie. The one released in 2019 features Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan, Floren Pugh, and Emma Watson.
Quote: “If the main character is a girl, make sure she is married by the end. Or dead. Either way.”
Total Score — 265
#4 A Christmas Story, 1983, rated PG
One of my favorites! It’s hard for me to believe that it’s not in the top three! The movie stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie, Melinda Dillon as the dutiful mom and wife, and Darren McGavin crushes it as the Old Man.
Quote: “I triple dog dare you!”
Total Score — 257
#5 Elf, 2003, rated PG
This funny and heartwarming movie has a stellar cast! Will Ferrel, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen, and Peter Dinklage all are brilliant in it.
Quote: “You sit on a throne of lies!”
Total Score — 234
#6 While You Were Sleeping, 1995, rated PG
This one is a Christmas-ish movie. It’s also a rom-com. The casting for this movie is nearly perfect. It features Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Boyle, Peter Gallagher, and Jack Warden plays Uncle Saul — the scene stealer.
Quote: “$45 for a Christmas tree and they don’t deliver? You order $10 worth of chow mein from Mr. Wong they bring it to your door.”
Total Score — 227.
#7 The Man Who Invented Christmas, 2017, Rated PG
This is the story that unfolds how Dickens wrote his classic, A Christmas Carol.
Quote: “No one is useless in this world…who lightens the burden of another — I know.”
Total Score — 226.
#8 Home Alone, 1990, rated PG
Another classic that gets lost in the shuffle. One of the all-time great mobster actors (Joe Pesci) playing a bumbling cat burglar? Yes, please!
Quote: “Say… is it true French babes don’t shave their pits?”
Total Score — 224.
#9 8-Bit Christmas, 2021, Rated Pg
This one has quickly garnered a ton of love! I haven’t seen this one yet but it looks super promising.
Steve Zahn and Neil Patrick Harris are two of my favorite actors as well.
Total Score — 224.
#10 The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, 2005, Rated PG
What a great book series! The movie is done quite well and the cast is brilliant. My favorite is James Cosmo (Braveheart) playing a tough-as-nails Saint Nick. Tilda Swinton was impeccable as the White Witch.
Quote: “Always winter but never Christmas.”
Total Score — 206
#11 The Santa Clause, 1994, Rated PG
A simple and fun Christmas movie. Don’t expect too much but it is entertaining.
Quote: “We shared a bowl of sugar, did some shots of brown liquor, played with my shotguns, field dressed a cat, looked for women… I read him a book!”
Total Score — 203.
#12 Family Man, 200o, Rated PG13
This is one of my favorites. It’s not your typical Christmas movie and probably not something for your kids. I love the movie because it does a good job of displaying contentment. We could all use a contentment reality check from time to time.
Jeremy Piven plays the “best friend” and if we all had friends like him our lives would be much better.
Quote: “I know we could both go on with our separate lives and we’d be just fine, but I’ve seen what we can be together, and I choose us.”
Total Score — 188.
The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time (Classics)
#1 How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966, Not Rated
This one surprised me with its super high scores. It aced the Rotten Tomatoes score.
Quote: “No one should be alone on Christmas.”
Total Score — 278.
#2 It’s A Wonderful Life, 1946, Rated PG
I truly expected this one to take the top spot. Upsets are possible! The Rotten Tomatoes score was what put it in second place.
Quote: “Isn’t it wonderful? I’m going to jail!”
Total Score — 274
#3 The Shop Around The Corner, 1940, Not Rated
I watched this one for the first time a couple of years ago. It’s a great film! Other Christmas movies seem to get more press but this one is a powerhouse.
Quote: “There might be a lot we don’t know about each other. You know, people seldom go to the trouble of scratching the surface of things to find the inner truth.”
Total Score — 271
#4 Miracle On 34th Street, 1947, Not Rated
When I think of the best Christmas movies of all time, this one comes to mind.
Quote: “Now wait a minute, Susie. Just because every child can’t get his wish that doesn’t mean there isn’t a Santa Claus.”
Total Score — 262
#5 Meet Me In St. Lous, 1944, Rated Passed
I’ve not seen this movie, yet. We will get it on our Christmas calendar for this year though.
Quote: “You’re the most deceitful, horrible, sinful creature I ever saw, and I don’t ever want to have anything to do with you again.”
Total Score — 262
#6 Holiday Inn, 1942, Rated Passed
Another Christmas movie that I have not seen. How have I missed a Christmas movie with music by Irving Berlin and stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire?
Quote: “A gentle smile often breeds a kick in the pants.”
Total Score — 259
#7 A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965, Rated G
Ahh, such a great animated classic. The scene where Linus describes the true meaning of Christmas gets me in the feels each and every time.
Quote: “Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy’s right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.”
Total Score — 257
#8 A Christmas Carol, 1951, Rated PG
The classic Dickens book has come to life on the silver screen many times. We’re sticking with the 1951 version but the others are good as well. Please read the book if you have not done so yet.
Quote: “Can you forgive a pig-headed old fool with no eyes to see with and no ears to hear with all these years?”
Total Score — 255
#9 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, 1964, Rated G
There was once a golden era of animated Christmas movies. Rudolph has definitely passed the test of time.
Quote: “A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child.”
Total Score — 253
#10 White Christmas, 1954, Not Rated
Another classic with a stellar cast and an awesome musical score!
Quote: “May all your Christmases be white. Merry Christmas!”
Total Score — 240
#11 The Bishop’s Wife, 1947, Not Rated
Another classic Christmas movie that I have not yet seen. It’s on the list!
Quote: “The main trouble is there are too many people who don’t know where they’re going and they want to get there too fast!”
Total Score — 239
#12 Christmas In Connecticut, 1945, Not Rated
We absolutely love this movie. The acting probably is not as sharp as the top three on the list but it’s festive and cozy. Uncle Felix is one of my favorite movie characters in any type of movie.
Quote: “I had a silk hat when I was in Budapest. It made me feel so fine, but I got fired with that silk hat.”
Total Score — 237
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