The Holdovers is a 2023 film starring Paul Giamatti about a prep school teacher forced to stay behind for the Christmas break to watch a group of students.Seacia Pavao/TIFF
If you love movies about Christmas, December is your golden month. There are hundreds of holiday movies hitting streaming libraries and broadcast schedules right now, from snowy romances to laugh-out-loud tales of family antics. But with just a week left before the big day, you may have exhausted the classics. So, here are a few more offerings to watch before Christmas Day.
If you love: Home Alone
The classic John Hughes movie about a kid being left behind for the holidays is an annual staple in many households, as is its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. (Anything after that doesn’t count.) If you want a movie with kid antics that embraces the holiday spirit and will make you laugh, check out:
Family Switch (Netflix)
Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms star as parents who magically switch bodies with their kids during the holiday season so they can reconnect and remember what it means to be a family. There are plenty of laughs and out-of-body experiences along the way, making it relatable for the whole fam.
8-Bit Christmas (Crave)
Neil Patrick Harris plays a father who tells his kids the story of that magical Christmas he had in the late 1980s, when he went on a mission to get the gift of all Christmas gifts: An original Nintendo gaming system. Adults will love the nostalgic vibes while kids will relate to the quest to earn themselves that awesome present.
If you love: A Christmas Story
Tradition, spirit, kid shenanigans and a memorable leg lamp are at the centre of Ralphie Parker’s Christmas in this 1983 staple, which is always worth a re-watch. For something with family values, wholesome laughs and a little bit of wacky humour, check out:
A Christmas Story Christmas (Crave)
This 2022 sequel brings Peter Billingsley back as a now-grown Ralphie. Here, he returns to his childhood home to reconnect with old friends and give his own kids the kind of holiday he had growing up. It’s full of the same magic with just a touch of nostalgia for fans of the original.
The Christmas Chronicles (Netflix)
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Kurt Russell’s take on Santa Claus in this story of siblings who have lost the meaning of Christmas. That is, until Santa takes them on a unique and incident-filled holiday joy ride, where they reconnect to save the Head Elf and Christmas itself.
If you love: Elf
Buddy the Elf, what’s your favourite colour? Everyone knows that classic line, and each year this 2003 movie inspires families everywhere to put maple syrup on their pasta or sing in public. For similar movies with laughs, a strong lead like Will Ferrell and lots of holiday spirit, check out:
Spirited (Apple TV+)
This 2022 musical stars Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in an updated version of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. There are lavish dance numbers and the songs are catchy, and it’s exactly the kind of comedy you think you’re going to get from these two actors.
A Boy Called Christmas (Netflix)
Tonally, this 2021 Christmas-origins movie is quite different than Elf, but it does feature a boy trying to find and connect with his father. Only, this kid has a pet mouse and a reindeer by his side as he discovers the magical village of Elfhelm.
If you love: It’s a Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s 1946 film has everything, from romance and family to hope and meaning. It’s hard not to feel uplifted after a watch, which is why it continues to be an all-time classic. Some other choices to make you feel good about family and give you some hope this holiday season:
The Family Man (Crave)
Nicolas Cage stars alongside Téa Leoni in this 2000 film about a rich investment broker who wakes up one Christmas Day to find out what his life would have been like had he married his true love and had a family. It’s considered a modern reimagining of It’s a Wonderful Life, although the ending isn’t quite as satisfactory.
The Holdovers (Netflix)
Paul Giamatti shines in this 2023 period film as a grumpy prep school teacher who is forced to stay behind and watch a group of students over the Christmas break. Slowly but surely, thanks to some unlikely bonds, he finds that being lonely isn’t so great after all.
If you love: Miracle on 34th Street
Whether you love the original 1947 film or the 1994 remake, this story of a family and lawyer fighting to prove that Santa Claus is the real deal is a celebratory watch full of magic and hope. If Santa is your thing and you love watching movies that make non-believers believe, check out:
Arthur Christmas (Crave)
This animated movie from 2011 doesn’t put Santa on trial, but it does answer the question of how he delivers his presents in just one night and what happens when he misses one. The film follows Santa’s son, Arthur, who makes it his mission to deliver a bike to an overlooked little girl.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Magic is at the centre of this gorgeously crafted holiday movie about a toymaker (Forest Whitaker) who loses his spark after a betrayal by his apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key). But when he dusts off an old invention and enlists the help of his granddaughter, things change forever.
If you love: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
When the excessive visiting and extended family time starts to get to you in December, nothing’s more cathartic than a viewing of this Chevy Chase staple. From the lights fiasco and moose mugs to a burnt-down tree and turkey, there are plenty of iconic moments throughout this movie. For other flicks about parents losing it at Christmas and overwhelming situational humour, check out:
Candy Cane Lane (Prime Video)
This 2023 film stars Eddie Murphy as a dad determined to win his neighbourhood’s annual Christmas decorating contest. So he strikes a deal with an elf to make it happen, not knowing that she’s about to make his 12 Days of Christmas display come to life with dangerous results.
Happiest Season (Netflix)
Clea DuVall directs this 2020 holiday rom-com in which a woman (Kristen Stewart) plans on proposing to her girlfriend over Christmas when they visit her parents, only to learn that her girlfriend still hasn’t come out to her family. This movie is all about acceptance and being true to yourself while not ruining the holidays, with some stellar performances from the cast – including Canadians Dan Levy and Victor Garber.
If you love: Love Actually
This 2003 film follows eight different but loosely connected couples over the holidays in London, England. It’s also permanently engrained in pop culture thanks to the many memorable scenes (and a pretty unforgettable song). While the outcomes vary, it’s a watch that leaves you with those warm and cozy holiday vibes. If you’re looking for more of the same, check out:
The Holiday (Crave)
Another classic in its own right, Nancy Meyers’s 2006 film starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black gives off the same bittersweet vibes and uplifting messages as Love Actually. It follows two women who house swap for the season to escape but wind up finding their true selves in the process.
The Family Stone (Crave, Disney+)
This star-studded film from 2005 revolves around an uptight businesswoman (Sarah Jessica Parker) visiting her boyfriend’s (Dermot Mulroney) family home for the holidays, only to realize she’s completely uncomfortable with their free-spirited ways. This is another bittersweet watch about family, love and acceptance, with Diane Keaton at the helm as the matriarch celebrating her last holiday.
If you love: Die Hard
There’s a contingent of viewers who will die on the hill that Die Hard is a Christmas movie because McClane (Bruce Willis) is in town to visit his wife and kids for the holidays and the plot revolves around an office Christmas party. So, if you want something with hints of Kris Kringle and lots of action, check out:
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Crave)
This holiday-set movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as a crook who stumbles into an audition for a mystery film and somehow wins the part. The movie hails from Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), is full of film noir tropes and co-stars Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan. There’s comedy and plenty of action set against the backdrop of Christmas.
Violent Night (Netflix)
Season’s beatings are at the heart of this holiday offering starring David Harbour as a disgruntled Santa Claus. When his stop at a rich family’s compound on the big night is interrupted by a gang of elite mercenaries, he switches to take-out mode and uses his magic to fight the bad guys to a bloody pulp.
If you love: The Santa Clause
Tim Allen stars in this movie about a single father who accidentally kills Santa on Christmas Eve and is forced to become the Jolly Old Elf in the process. The movie has inspired two sequels and a TV show, and is a fun family watch every year. Other flicks about an out-of-touch father reconnecting with his kids and the spirit of the holidays:
Jingle All the Way (Disney+)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad teamed for this antic-filled 1996 movie about an absentee father trying to make up with his son by getting him a sold-out toy at Christmas. It spoofs the ridiculous lengths parents will go to for their kids to have the best holiday ever, but more importantly it shows a dad realizing that time with his kid is short and he’d better make the most of it now.
Deck the Halls (Disney+)
Matthew Broderick stars in this 2006 movie about a father who loses it on his neighbour for decorating his house too brightly during the holidays. The neighbour, played by Danny DeVito, isn’t about to give up that easily, though, and a wild rivalry ensues. Before long, revenge takes over the holiday spirit, with both men’s families suffering as a result.