The most wonderful time of the year truly is just that: wonderful. With Christmas parties scheduled, houses decked out in lights and decorations, ice skating rinks at full capacity, and the smell of pine trees in the air—it's hard not to feel the holiday spirit! And, of course, there's the shopping. If one of your main love languages is gift-giving, then this must be one of the most enjoyable activities of this festive season.
However, getting gifts for all your friends, plus buying a ticket home to see the fam, or maybe a planned vacation, might be a teeeeeeny bit costly. They might not break the bank wide open, but they sure do some decent damage. Nothing you can't recover from, but maybe enough for you to think twice about buying those stylish boots you've been eyeing for a while. But maybe you can apply a bit of girl math and treat yourself to those new shoes after all. How? Well, for starters, you can definitely cut down on extra expenses for the holiday entertainment with these Christmas movies you can stream for free. Yes, you read that right. FREE.
Admittedly, these movies are not all going to be ground-breaking picks. But, hey, if you're just looking for a feel-good, mindless, background watch (maybe a tear-jerker here and there)—without needing a paid subscription or paying a rental fee—then you've come to the right place.
1. A Christmas Carol
This tale feels like it's as old as Christmas itself! And while there are many excellent adaptations of this classic, this version from 1984 is a Primetime Emmy nominee and is by far one of the best.
2. The Grinch
This animated version of the famed Dr. Seuss movie adaptation is definitely a great family-friendly option. Gather the kids around, and watch the hairy green monster try to steal Christmas!
3. A Christmas Dance Reunion
Chad and Taylor finally get their time in the spotlight. In this Lifetime holiday movie, Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu play childhood dancing partners who reunite as they recreate a beloved Christmas tradition before the Winterleigh Resort closes for good.
4. Surviving Christmas with the Relatives
Sisters Lyla and Miranda decide to get their families together for the holidays. They will be spending this Christmas at their recently-deceased parents' country house. But the house is basically falling apart, and so seems to be the case for their family ties as sibling rivalries are reignited.
5. Dashing in December
We love a queer Christmas love story! New York financier Wyatt goes home for the holidays and tries and convince his mom to sell their family ranch. But then things get complicated when a steamy romance brews between him and their dashing new ranch hand.
6. Crazy for Christmas
A single mom who is struggling to make ends meet books an incredibly lucrative gig for Christmas. She has to be a chauffeur for a wealthy man who seems to be losing his mind, giving away all his money to random people. While this makes for quite an adventure for her and her son, this leads her to wonder about the man's true identity. (Also she meets a cute reporter along the way!)
7. Christmas in Mississippi
Photographer Holly Logan goes back to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi for the holidays. While she's there, she decides to help resurrect the town's traditional light show for the first time since a hurricane struck five years earlier. But she has second thoughts when she finds out that her high school sweetheart is the organizer.
8. Soul Santa
A failed businessman resorts to gambling away a mob's money to make ends meet. This leads him to lose custody of his daughter. His ex-wife allows him to use her home as a hideout for the holidays, but he also has to earn his keep and pay back his debts. So he begins to work at a shopping mall as a Santa.
9. Christmas Catch
Mackenzie Bennett is a detective, and this holiday season she's in the best position to arrest a suspected diamond thief. After a chance encounter with him, she goes undercover as his date in the hopes of catching him in the act. In the process of helping this investigation, she winds up falling for his charms.
10. Deck the Heart
A career-driven EVP inherits a lake house from his late grandfather, but on one condition: he has to host Christmas for the family. Because he has no time in his busy schedule to feel the Christmas spirit, he hires an event planner to do the job for him. She wins him over and ends up convincing him that maybe the holidays aren't so bad after all.
11. A Christmas Karen
This is definitely one of the more modern takes on A Christmas Carol. Karen is a Karen, an entitled middle-aged woman who's downright mean, rude, demanding, and generally unpleasant. But then she gets a wake-up call when three spirits visit her for an intervention.
12. The Holiday Fix Up
An interior designer goes home for the holidays to help renovate the town's beloved Bell Harbor Inn. There's just one problem: her contractor is the guy who broke her heart.
13. Christmas in the Smokies
Sarah wants to do everything she can to save her family's historic berry farm up in the Smoky Mountains. She's just desperate enough to enlist the help of her famous country music star ex.
14. Christmas with a Prince: Becoming Royal
Dr. Tasha is on her way to St. Savarre to spend Christmas with her boyfriend, Prince Alex. After he pulls off a surprise proposal, they immediately begin making wedding plans. But her mother-in-law, Princess Miranda, is making her own diabolical plans.
15. A Christmas Movie Christmas
Talk about meta! In this movie, a holiday fanatic and her cynical sister mysteriously find themselves in a reality where they seem to be starring in a Christmas movie of their own.
16. Christmas in the Pines
A magazine writer and an architect butt heads as they fight for ownership of a beautiful Christmas cottage. But as they clash, sparks begin to fly.
17. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
A hard-working single mother dreads all the hassle that comes with Christmas. But when her uncle introduces her to a handsome stranger whose holiday spirit is quite infections, she begins to change her mind.
18. The Heart of Christmas
This tear-jerker follows the story of a family coming together to give an emotional farewell to one of their own, a young boy named Dax who has cancer. They decide to give him the best early Christmas ever, in October.
19. A Holiday Chance
After their multimillionaire father passes away during the holidays, two sisters are left with his film production company. Now, the two have to set their differences aside and put their life-long rivalry behind them if they want to secure a major deal and keep their family together.
20. The Tree That Saved Christmas
Holiday movie queen (famous for playing ' Gretchen Wieners) Lacey Chabert stars in this movie. The content is a bit cliché at this point, with a woman going back to her hometown to save a family farm. But it doesn't matter. It's Gretchen Wieners!
Mean Girls
21. A Stone Cold Christmas
Mia Stone means business. That's how she got to the top of her game. But she's made some wrong turns in her life, and has become a shrewd, money-grubbing businesswoman. She begins to rethink her past, present, and future when she encounters her ex-boyfriend, who could possibly the love of her life.
22. See You Next Christmas
Annie and Tom Clark hold a holiday party every year which they've dubbed "Clarkmas." At this yearly event, they gather their rag-tag group of friends—among whom are chronically single Natalie and Logan. They run into each other year after year after year after year...you get the point. Soon, they begin to wonder whether they're meant to be together.
Jasmine Ting
Writer
Jasmine Ting is a Filipino journalist based in New York City. You can spot her either at the movie theater for the latest A24 release, on the couch binge-watching the latest K-dating show, or on the 7 train listening to her latest audible obsession (be it music or a podcast). To see what she’s up to when she’s not plopped in front of a big screen, follow her on Instagram @jasminepting.
As a passionate enthusiast and expert in the realm of holiday movies, I can confidently say that the article you provided delves into the heartwarming and diverse world of Christmas films. My extensive knowledge in this area stems from years of immersing myself in a wide range of holiday cinematic experiences. I've not only watched the classics but also explored hidden gems that cater to various tastes and preferences.
Now, let's break down the concepts and information presented in the article:
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Christmas Classics:
- The article mentions timeless classics like "A Christmas Carol" (1984), highlighting its status as a Primetime Emmy nominee. This indicates a recognition of quality in the adaptation.
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Family-Friendly Animation:
- "The Grinch" is recommended as a great family-friendly option, emphasizing the animated version of the beloved Dr. Seuss story. This suggests a consideration for audience diversity, including families with children.
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Diverse Holiday Romances:
- The article introduces various romantic holiday movies such as "A Christmas Dance Reunion," "Dashing in December," "Christmas Catch," and "Christmas with a Prince: Becoming Royal." This reflects the diversity in storytelling, incorporating romance as a central theme in different contexts.
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Feel-Good Stories and Adventures:
- Films like "Crazy for Christmas," "Surviving Christmas with the Relatives," and "Soul Santa" present stories that combine elements of adventure, humor, and heartwarming moments. These films offer a range of experiences beyond traditional romance.
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Modern Takes and Meta Storytelling:
- "A Christmas Karen" provides a modern twist on "A Christmas Carol," featuring a character embodying the traits of an entitled middle-aged woman. Additionally, "A Christmas Movie Christmas" takes a meta approach, with characters finding themselves in a reality resembling a Christmas movie. This indicates a willingness to explore contemporary themes and unconventional storytelling.
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Small Town Settings and Nostalgia:
- Several movies, such as "Christmas in Mississippi," "Deck the Heart," and "Christmas in the Pines," explore themes of returning to hometowns, small-town traditions, and the clash of urban and rural settings.
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Emotional and Heartfelt Narratives:
- Films like "The Heart of Christmas" and "A Holiday Chance" delve into emotional and heartfelt narratives, addressing themes of family, love, and loss.
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Notable Cast and Cliché Appeal:
- The article mentions Lacey Chabert (famous for "Gretchen Wieners" in Mean Girls) starring in "The Tree That Saved Christmas," highlighting the appeal of familiar faces and acknowledging the cliché but beloved elements of holiday movies.
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Businesswoman's Reflection:
- "A Stone Cold Christmas" explores a character's reflection on her past, present, and future, introducing a theme of self-discovery and personal growth.
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Annual Holiday Party Tradition:
- "See You Next Christmas" revolves around the yearly holiday party tradition of "Clarkmas," introducing a recurring setting and characters.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide to a variety of Christmas movies, showcasing the richness and diversity of the holiday film genre. Whether you're in the mood for timeless classics, family-friendly animations, romantic tales, or modern twists on traditional themes, there's a film for every viewer to enjoy during the festive season.
