22 Christmas Films to Watch in the Run Up to the Big Day

It's December which means it is the season of hot chocolates, an overdose of the colours of green and red and most importantly it means Christmas films!

Last updated: 3rd Dec 2021

Originally published: 2nd Dec 2021

It's December which means it is the season of hot chocolates, an overdose of the colours of green and red and most importantly it means Christmas films! Yes, we all know a Christmas film obsessive and if you aren't one yourself then you probably have at least one favourite that you put on each year. With 22 days left to go until Christmas, we thought we would suggest one movie a day you could watch as a victory lap of the very best in Christmas films.

Home Alone

Home Alone is an undeniable Christmas classic, as a young Kevin McCallister is accidentally left at home when his family goes on vacation over Christmas. Left on his own, all sorts of chaos ensues including a run-in with a criminal duo who end up trying to break into the house.

You can find tickets to a screening of Home Alone here.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New york

The sequel that is debatably even better than the original, this time we have a similar scenario, Kevin isn't forgotten this time but he does board the wrong flight and ends up in New York all by himself. Luckily he has his dad's credit card and books himself into an expensive hotel, yet he soon has an encounter with some familiar faces.

You can find tickets to a screening of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York here.

Elf

Elf is one of those films that you can always find on the TV in the buildup to Christmas. You follow Buddy, an elf who clearly doesn't belong. He's much taller than anyone else and doesn't really fit in. Soon finding out that he's human, he sets off for New York to find his dad who isn't initially very accepting of Buddy's eccentric behaviour.

You can find tickets to a screening of Elf here.

The Santa Clause

After accidentally causing the demise of the man in the big red suit, divorced dad Scott is taken to the North Pole where he learns that he must take the place of Santa before the next Christmas. Thrust into the high-pressure position, he must grow into the role to make sure that Christmas isn't ruined.

You can find tickets to a screening of The Santa Clause here.

Krampus

Christmas is the most magical time of year but maybe not in this horror flick. Ancient European folklore warns of Krampus, a creature who punishes naughty children at Christmas. We follow a dysfunctional family who unleash the wrath of this demon and must work together to stop Krampus from killing them.

The Holiday

Starring Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black and Kate Winslet, The Holiday follows Iris who agrees to swap homes with the also unlucky Amanda for a much-needed break. Iris ends up in California, whilst Amanda finds herself strolling around an English village and soon both find romance in the festive season.

You can find tickets to a screening of The Holiday here.

Love Actually

In Love Actually, we follow nine different stories that intertwine. Each story explores the different complexities of love and is set over the Christmas period. Featuring actors such as Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman and more, this film has so many iconic scenes that have spawned plenty of memes. It's one of the best love stories ever.

You can find tickets to a screening of Love Actually here.

A Muppet Christmas Carol

There's always a Muppet take on everything so of course, they did their own take on the classic Christmas Carol story. All your favourite muppets are here with Kermit playing the role of Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit. Make sure you check out The Muppet's take on the three ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

A movie that has the weird unique selling point of being classed as both a Halloween and Christmas film as we follow Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved Pumpkin King. When he accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown, he plots to bring it under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus and taking over but it doesn't quite go to plan.

Die Hard

Is Die Hard a Christmas film? Well if it's on this list then it certainly is as it takes place during the festive season. When policeman John McClane (Bruce Willis) is visiting his estranged wife and two daughters on Christmas Eve he joins her at a Christmas party that is soon interrupted by terrorists. Very soon it's up to John to pick them off one by one, just like your standard Christmas films.

You can find tickets to a screening of Die Hard here.

Bad Santa

In this dark comedy, Willie T. Stokes and his partner reunite for a special festive con. Posing as a mall Santa, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve, however, with Willie being a depressed alcoholic his erratic behaviour soon gets attention from mall security. In a twist of fate, he becomes friends with a small boy who starts to reignite some sense of hope within him.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

This is of Jim Carrey's most iconic movie roles as he dons all the green makeup in the world to play The Grinch, the Dr. Seuss character that famously hates Christmas. Well with his trusty sidekick Max the dog, he's going to steal all the Christmas gifts from Whoville. There's only one obstacle in the way, a small Who called Cindy Lou Who.

You can find tickets to a screening of How The Grinch Stole Christmas here.

The Polar Express

Based on the beloved novel by Chris Van Allsburg, hop aboard The Polar Express a train to the North Pole that sees us following a young boy who doesn't quite believe in Santa. On the journey, he undergoes some self-discovery and comes to realise that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

Arthur Christmas

It's a well-established fact that every Christmas Santa delivers presents to every child on Earth. It requires a very complicated behind-the-scenes operation beneath the North Pole and it all has to run seamlessly. Well, when Santa misses one child someone has to save the day and it's up to Arthur, Santa's youngest son to make sure the forgotten present is delivered.

You can find tickets to a screening of Arthur Christmas here.

Gremlins

What are the rules for owning a Gremlin? Do not expose it to bright light, water or feed him after midnight (which must mean you can only feed it at midnight exactly right?). Of course, all of this happens and some highly mischievous Gremlins cause terror in a town on Christmas Eve.

You can find tickets to a screening of Gremlins here.

A Christmas Carol (1938)

The first cinema adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas novel. The mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas and is not unflinching in his disdain. Until one night he is visited by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future and his perspective is changed forever.

You can find tickets to a screening of A Christmas Carol here.

Scrooged

In what is a modern take on the classic story, Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a TV executive whose coldness and cruel nature has driven away the love of his life. Preceding to fire a staff member on Christmas Eve, he is then visited by ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his decisions.

You can find tickets to a screening of Scrooged here.

Little Women (2019)

Little Women may not seem to be a Christmas film from the marketing but it is very much set over the Christmas period although over the span of a decade. It follows four sisters as they live in different parts of the world, there's some crossed wires when it comes to love but when the shy sister Beth develops an illness the family is brought back together.

Jack Frost

After getting caught up in a deadly car crash on Christmas Day, touring musician Jack Frost is brought back to life a year later as a snowman giving him a second chance to connect with his son Chalie and wife Gabby. This is a Christmas film full of heart and with plenty of funny gags along the way.

You can find tickets to a screening of Jack Frost here.

The Grinch (2018)

We're back with The Grinch, the green goblin of Christmas yet again but this time in animated style with the character being portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. He's off to try and steal Christmas again, with the animated style bringing fresh hijinks to a memorable story with a brilliant message.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

As Christmas approaches, Clark Griswold is looking to have the perfect Christmas with his family so pesters his wife Ellen and children in order to make sure that everything is just right, It quickly goes South when his cousin Eddie and family show up which sets off a spiralling chain of events.

Black Christmas (1974)

We'll end the list on a dark note. Black Christmas follows a group of sorority sisters who begin to receive anonymous phone calls kind of like in Scream. Soon one of their friends goes missing and their is news of a local girl being murdered so they begin to suspect that a serial killer is on the loose. No one can figure out who the culprit is though.

If you're looking for more Christmas related events then take a look at our Thing's To Do page. Not sure what to do on NYE yet? Check out our New Years Eve Inspire Me page.