Nothing tops the comfort and joy that Christmas movies bring. The festive flicks bring obvious cheer, but it’s the experience itself, which makes it such a beloved holiday tradition for young and old alike. And while your family may already have your tried-and-true favorites (Home Alone is a given), consider adding something new to your list by taking a look at these Christmas movies on HBO Max.
On this list, you’ll find a range of the must-watch movies from Christmases long ago along with a few newer picks that your little ones will recognize. And while this list isn’t loaded with holiday rom-coms (head to Hallmark Channel or Lifetime for that), there are plenty of classics (Holiday Affair), funny Christmas movies (Elf) and even, a horror movie or two for anyone in need of a festive fright.
Although HBO Max doesn’t offer a free trial, think of the monthly subscription ($14.99/month) as a gift that keeps on giving, especially since you can go back to these movies (and hundreds more!) as many times as you’d like — even long after the season wraps.
Elf (2003)
It’s impossible to resist Buddy the Elf come Christmastime. Equally hilarious and heartfelt, this movie about a human raised by elves in the North Pole captures everything we love most about the holiday season: singing Christmas carols (loud for all to hear), quality family time and sugary sweet treats Jalshamoviez (think: breakfast spaghetti).
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A Christmas Story (1983)
No list is complete without A Christmas Story! TBS plays this holiday classic for 24 hours straight on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but here, you can watch it whenever, wherever. At this point, you probably know how the story goes, so let’s just say this movie gave us the infamous leg lamp and Red Ryder BB guns.
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A Christmas Story 2 (2012)
Did you know there was a sequel? The cast is totally different this time around, but the antics feel all too familiar. In this one, a teenage Ralphie wrecks his car before he even gets off the lot, so he rounds up all of his friends to earn money to fix it.
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Four Christmases (2008)
Like the name implies, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are forced to put their vacation plans on hold and spend the holidays with their families. That means, four houses in one day.
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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
We think Cousin Eddie would agree: The Griswolds are the gift that keeps on giving. We first met them on their journey to Wally World, but this time, Clark Griswold is trying to make his family’s Christmas the best one yet — but of course, things don’t go as planned.
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The Polar Express (2004)
All aboard! Step inside the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg by watching this animated feature, starring Tom Hanks as the conductor. Even if you’ve seen it a zillion times (we’re estimating here), you’ll still find something to learn about the power in believing, especially when Santa Claus is involved.
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RELATED: Best Christmas Animated Movies Ever Made
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
If you need any convincing that Santa Claus is the real deal, look no further. In this family-friendly classic, Kris Kringle goes on trial to prove his identity, reminding us all that “faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.”
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Deck the Halls (2016)
Deck the halls with lights, lights and more lights! After Danny (Danny Devito) makes it known that he plans to light up his house with enough twinkle lights to make it visible from space, Steve goes on a mission to outdo him. As expected, chaos ensues.
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Jack Frost (1998)
This one’s sure to tug at your heart strings. Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) has always put his rock n’ roll career ahead of his wife and son, Charlie (Joseph Cross) — until it’s too late. A year after his dad’s sudden death, Charlie plays a song on his old harmonica and his dad is magically brought back to life as a snowman.
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Fred Claus (2007)
Get to know the Claus family in a whole new way: In this movie, jolly old Saint Nicholas (Paul Giamatti) goes head-to-head with his naughty brother, Fred (Vince Vaughn). After landing himself in a bout of trouble, Nicholas sends Fred to the North Pole to pay off his debts.
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Black Christmas (2019)
Put aside the festive cheer (for now) and lean into the frights that the season brings. Quite literally the opposite of merry and bright, this scary Christmas flick follows four sorority sisters as they try to outsmart a campus killer on the loose.
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Scooby Doo: Haunted Holidays (2012)
Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy and friends as they try to escape from a snowman, who is wrecking havoc in the town. While in hiding, they learn that the snowman placed a curse on the toy store’s haunted clock tower way back when — and now, the snowman is trying to reclaim what’s his.
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A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011)
Now that Rusti and Cherri found a pawsome love of their own, they’re determined to do the same for their owners, Susan (Jennie Garth) and Jake (Brad Rowe). And while the two hit it off at first, things become complicated for the two pooches as they blend their families.
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Holiday Affair (1949)
There’s nothing more romantic than holiday love — and Connie (Janet Leigh) has more than enough to go around since both Steve (Robert Mitchum) and Carl (Wendell Corey) are vying for her heart. The million-dollar question: Will she lead with her head or her heart?
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Amanda Garrity
Associate Lifestyle Editor
As the Associate Lifestyle Editor for GoodHousekeeping.com, Amanda oversees gift guides and covers home, holidays, food, and other lifestyle news.
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