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20 Holiday Movies to Binge Watch Over the Break

20 holiday movies to watch over the break

If you have some time binge-watch holiday movies, then read on! We’ve listed the top 20 movies to watch this holiday season – classics and new releases.

What These Holiday Movies Have in Common

For the most part, each of these films have a little bit of humor, a dash of romance, and…a happy ending! We’ve included only positive rankings and reviews. If you’re looking for critic reviews (that may be more on the negative side), Rotten Tomatoes is the place to go.

The Best Holiday Movies for 2020

  • Elf

    "I know him! I know him!" If you've seen this 2003 film with Will Ferrell, that quote, among others, may remind you of this holiday classic. Buddy the elf seeks out his father in downtown New York City. Buddy aims to earn his father's love but ends up embarrassing him in various methods.

  • Holidate

    Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey play a couple, Sloan and Jackson, that agree to be eachothers date for the holiday. This one is a bit predictable, so we won't reveal any more than that.

  • Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

    David E. Talbert writes and directs this tale about a Cobbleton toymaker. This film features Forest Whitaker, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, and Keegan-Michael Key. Jangle's granddaughter is joined by one of Jangle's old robots to retrieve Jangle's best stolen inventions. It was released recently, on November 13, on Netflix.

  • A Christmas Story

    If you've ever heard, "you'll shoot your eye out, kid!" or seen a leg lamp...you already know. If you haven't seen this hit classic, TBS plays it for 24 hours straight on Christmas.

  • The Princess Switch: Switched Again

    Vanessa Hudgens stars in this part two of the Prince and the Pauper remake. It features Stacy, a baker-turned-princess, and Lady Margaret, the heiress to the Montenaro throne.

  • A Taste of Christmas

    Anni Krueger plays Natalie, who makes it her mission to help her cousin, Francesca, open her Italian restaurant on Christmas Eve. Gilles Marini plays Stefano, who thinks their deadline is impossible.

  • Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square

    Christmas on the Square is going to be released on Netflix on November 22nd. It features Dolly Parton and includes 12 new songs. Christine Baranski plays a grumpy wealthy woman who meets an angel (Dolly) who inspires her to change her demeanor.

  • The Christmas Chronicles

    The Christmas Chronicles is a Netflix original film that follows two children that go on a magical adventure with Santa Claus to save Christmas.

  • The Grinch (2018)

    This 2018 version of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch features Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the green grump. If you enjoyed any of the Despicable Me or minions films, you'll love this, too.

  • The Santa Clause

    Tim Allen, a divorced businessman, accidentally kills Santa and must take over for him on Christmas eve in this 1994 classic.

  • Happiest Season

    Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis play a same-sex lesbian couple as Abby and Harper, respectively. Abby plans to propose to Harper at Harper's family party, but finds out that Harper hasn't come out to her family.

  • Dear Santa

    This documentary is about the United States Postal Service's Operation Santa project. The USPS gathers kids' letters to Santa and sends replies and as many gifts as possible to kids in need. Dear Santa will be released on December 4, 2020.

  • The Christmas Setup

    Lifetime's first LGBTQ+ romance film follows the story of a New York lawyer and his high school crush, with his matchmaking mother looming close behind. While it's not available just yet, it will be on December 12th on Lifetime.

  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

    Not looking forward to seeing the in-laws this year? Set the tone for their visit by putting this on first thing. Clark wants to have a perfect Christmas, so he bugs his family to try and make sure everything is in line. However, much to his dismay, things go awry rather quickly as things go from bad to worse in this classic English comedy.

  • The Christmas House

    This Hallmark original features Jonathan Bennett and Brad Harder as a couple hoping to adopt their first child. Phylis (Sharon Lawrence) and Bill (Treat Williams) request their sons Mike Mitchell (Robert Buckley) and Brandon MItchell (Bennett) to return home for the holidays. It will be released on Hallmark on November 22nd.

  • The War with Grandpa

    This goofy family-friendly flick features Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour, and many others. When young Peter is forced to give up his bedroom to his grandpa, he decides to create a series of pranks to hopefully steer him away.

  • Blackbird

    Lily and Paul invite loved ones to their beach house for a final gathering before Lily decides to end her battle with ALS. While the couple had planned a loving holiday weekend, unresolved issues with Lily and her daughters Jennifer and Anna resurface.

  • Christmas with the Kranks

    Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis decide to skip out on Christmas by going on a cruise to the Caribbean. Their neighbors, however, are displeased as they all compete with over-the-top decorations.

  • Klaus

    This animated Netflix original follows the life of a postman who becomes friends with a reclusive toymaker, Klaus. The pair create the first of many holiday traditions.

  • The Christmas Chronicles 2

    Technically this isn't out until 11/24, 2020, but we had to put it on the list. This is the sequel to the 2018 film featuring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn as Santa & Mrs. Claus.

See Something We Missed?

Lastly, if you watch a holiday movie that was released this year, or a classic that you think should’ve been featured in this list, let us know in the comments below. If you’d prefer to keep it private, contact us!

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