Christmas movie magic isn’t just for kids. There’s something about the mix of good cheer, warm scarves, holiday miracles and secret wishes that make the Christmas a perfect backdrop for romance. So it’s no wonder that so many of the best Christmas movies of all time are rom-coms — you just can’t beat kisses in the snow. Of course, nobody understand this better than Hallmark, and they’ve set up a full schedule of Hallmark holiday movies for your viewing pleasure. But once you’ve made your way through the best Hallmark Christmas movies, there’s still plenty of romance to go around.
The best romantic Christmas movies have a lot of the same elements as the best rom-coms: There’s the quiet yearning, the mistaken identities, the sworn enemies who turn out to be true loves and the “fake” dates that turn out to be something more. But the whole thing is wrapped in a layer of twinkling holiday lights, cozy plaid and buffalo-checked costumes and wintry goodness that make the whole thing extra special.
Then, once you finish the Christmas romances, you can check out the funny Christmas movies, animated Christmas movies, underrated Christmas movies and even Christmas horror movies. The holiday marathon never ends!
Love Hard (2021)
Part of the fun of the holidays is getting something you didn’t expect — unless you’re on a dating app, and you realize you’ve been catfished. In Love Hard, an L.A.-based dating columnist flies to New York to meet someone from a dating site, only to find she’s been communicating with someone else — who says he’ll set her up with the guy of her dreams if she pretends to be his girlfriend for the holidays first. No way this can backfire, right?
A Castle for Christmas (2021)
Ready to get away for this holidays? In this film, a writer seeks to escape a stateside scandal by traveling to Scotland, where she becomes intent on buying a castle that has a connection to her grandfather. During the escrow period, she must live with the Duke who owns it. Of course, they start off at odds, but there’s still a chance for Christmas magic to do its thing. It comes to Netflix on November 26.
Single All the Way (2021)
Ah, the old fake-date-for-the-holidays premise — it seems so plausible, yet sets the stage for so much hijinx. In this one, best friends Peter and Nick pretend to be each other’s holiday dates, but their family has other plans. “You can expect pageantry, wine, hunky Santas, a little bit of deception, a whole lotta do-gooding, and Jennifer Coolidge,” star Michael Urie tells Entertainment Weekly. The movie comes to Netflix on December 2.
Happiest Season (2020)
This movie follows girlfriends Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart), who plan on spending the holidays with Harper’s family, only for Harper to admit that she hadn’t come out to her family yet. It’s for anyone who’s ever had to carry around a secret in front of their families.
Holidate (2020)
Tired of hearing her family’s pitying comments about her love life, Sloane (Emma Roberts) agrees to bringing a platonic plus-one (Luke Bracey) to every holiday event (a.k.a. a “holidate”) for a year. But how long can things stay platonic?
A California Christmas (2020)
He’s a rich son of a real estate tycoon sent to complete a land deal to buy a holdout farm. She’s the headstrong owner of the dairy farm that refuses to sell. When he arrives, she mistakes him for a new farmhand — and things only escalate from there. If these characters grab you, A California Christmas: City Lights comes out December 16.
Holiday in the Wild (2019)
After getting dumped by her husband, Kate takes their planned second honeymoon by herself — finding a newfound love for life (and a handsome pilot) on her way.
Last Christmas (2019)
A cynical and struggling Christmas store employee finds her life turning around after meeting a handsome and mysterious stranger. As with all Christmas strangers, he teachers her truths about herself.
Holiday Rush (2019)
This time, it’s a dad who has to learn to stop being so career oriented and slow down in his busy life to appreciate the little things. In this case, it’s a radio DJ who, after being laid off from his station, has to move his four kids in with his aunt. He wants to buy the local station there, perhaps with his producer, Roxy — could sparks develop?
The Knight Before Christmas (2019)
She’s a high school teacher, he’s a medieval knight transported to modern day Ohio — it’s not your average meet-cute, but it makes for a fun rom-com.
Let It Snow (2019)
This movie follows the intersecting lives and loves of the teens in a small Midwestern town during one snowy day. There are wacky adventures, to be sure, but romance also heats up for some of the ensemble.
The Princess Switch (2018)
A Christmas Prince (2017)
A Christmas in New York (2017)
Similar to Love Actually‘s storyline, A Christmas in New York tells the stories of six totally different couples celebrating the holiday in a fancy hotel. Each of them are battling their own problems, and in the process, discovering the meaning of love, family and happiness.
Christmas Inheritance (2017)
In order to take over her father’s company, a socialite heiress must return to the charming small town where she grew up. It’s a classic holiday-movie plot, but not an unenjoyable one.
Almost Christmas (2016)
This is one of those big, overstuffed movies that has a little of everything, including romance. The action starts when a man’s four adult children try to spend a week together, families in tow, under one roof.
Carol (2015)
A young woman working in a department store meets a glamorous older woman who comes in while Christmas shopping, and the two begin a secret affair in 1950s Manhattan.
Last Holiday (2014)
What would you do if you given just days to live? After she was diagnosed with a terminal illness, Georgia (Queen Latifah) jets off to Europe to live her best life. In doing so, she gets the attention of her crush Sean (LL Cool J), and their romance takes off at the most heartbreakingly inconvenient time.
The Best Man Holiday (2013)
A 15-year college reunion during the holidays has this group of friends realizing a lot about their true colors — and maybe they’ll make enemies and fall in love along the way. This ensemble movie has it all, from melodrama to comedy to romance.
Ghost of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Here’s a funny take on the classic tale of A Christmas Carol. Celebrity photographer Connor (played by Matthew McConaughey) is the ultimate bachelor — but right before his brother ties the knot, something strange happens. All of his past girlfriends haunt him and try to get him to discover the reason why all of his relationships failed.
Four Christmases (2008)
Brad and Kate (played by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) are an unmarried couple who, the product of two sets of divorced parents, have to attend four different family events on Christmas Day when their plans to go on vacation fail. Will the relationship survive?
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
The action in this film begins when a little girl asks a department-store Santa (Morris Chestnut) to help her grant the wishes of her divorced mom (Gabrielle Union). He thinks he knows just the man to help, too.
The Holiday (2006)
When two women, one from London and the other from Los Angeles, swap places and live in each other’s home throughout the holidays, they realize there’s more to life than the boy problems they had back at home. Watch when you some trans-continental romance.
The Family Stone (2005)
This drama features Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Keaton. When Everett brings his girlfriend Meredith home to meet the rest of his family, complications arise and they question their relationship. Things unfold in a hectic way that only happens around the holidays.
Just Friends (2005)
In this movie, Ryan Reynolds plays a man named Chris, an unpopular kid in high school. Fast forward 10 years, and Chris is killing it in the music industry — maybe now he’ll stand a chance with the girl he loves who friend-zoned him in high school.
Love Actually (2003)
You can’t talk about romantic Christmas movies without Love Actually: The film chronicles nearly 10 couples’ relationships, and how they intertwine. It’s the ultimate holiday rom-com, and it stars a stacked cast of celebrities like Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and Keira Knightley, to name just a few.
Elf (2003)
Sure, this comedy is about saving Christmas and father-son relationships — but it’s also about the romance between Will Ferrell’s Buddy and Zooey Deschanel’s Jovie. Who could forget their “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” duet?
About a Boy (2002)
Based on the book by Nick Hornby, About a Boy follows a carefree bachelor named Will who joins a single-parent support group to meet women, only to befriend the lonely son of one of the members. Will his deception ruin his relationship to the family? In addition to taking place at Christmastime, About a Boy has another holiday twist: Will is independently wealthy because he lives off the royalties for a super-popular Christmas song written by his father.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
This hilarious movie is about a woman named Bridget (played by Renée Zellweger) who tries to improve herself for the new year by keeping track of literally everything in her diary. Who can’t relate? It’s based on the novel of the same name by Helen Fielding.
Serendipity (2001)
John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale star in one of the most fantastical, hopeless romantic-type movies. Two people meet one night, think they’ll be together forever, then proceed to not see each other for 10 years. But that’s not where the story ends. Will fate bring them back together?
The Family Man (2000)
In a twist on It’s a Wonderful Life, The Family Man follows a business man named Jack gets to experience what his life would be like if he had stayed with his college girlfriend instead of forging ahead with a pressure-filled career. It’s the type of movie that makes us look back on all our life choices.
The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
A remake of the Cary Grant movie The Bishop’s Wife, this film is about a guardian angel, the charismatic Dudley (Denzel Washington), who comes to help a preacher who is losing control of his church. As Dudley helps the preacher, he also starts to fall for the preacher’s wife, Julia (Whitney Houston).
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
When Lucy (Sandra Bullock) saves her crush from getting hit by a train, he ends up in a coma and somehow gets mistaken as her fiancé at the hospital. Then in another chaotic turn of events, she realizes she’s falling for his brother instead — and deeply enjoying his family. How’s that for a holiday dinner dynamic?
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Here, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal play Sally and Harry: Two friends trying to figure out whether men and women can ever be just friends. The movie’s soundtrack even features a few of the best love songs and Christmas songs, like “It Had to Be You” and “Winter Wonderland” — just to name a few.
The Apartment (1960)
In this Best Picture-winner, Jack Lemmon plays Bud Baxter, a guy who gets ahead at work by letting his philandering bosses use his apartment for their affairs over the holiday season. Things become complicated when he starts to have feelings for one of the mistresses, Fran, played by Shirley MacLaine.
Babes in Toyland (1961)
Fairytale and Mother Goose characters run amok in this movie, making for lots of antic action, but the central story also revolves around the romance between Mary Contrary (Anette Funicello) and Tom Piper (Tommy Sands). Or, if you prefer, there’s the 1986 version with Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves (along with the 1934 Laurel and Hardy classic, which is less romantic).
White Christmas (1954)
Two World War II vets leave the Army to become entertainers, only to find themselves involved in romances with a pair of sisters. In addition to romance, there’s singing, dancing and lots of drama in this classic film.
Scrooge (1951)
Mostly people remember the ghosts and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol, but it’s Scrooge’s failed romance to his fiancée — torn apart because of money — that really tugs the heartstrings. There are many versions of this relationship put to screen, but this one between actors Alastair Sim and Rona Anderson is one of the best.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
One of the best Christmas movies of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life uses the story of George Bailey to show how communities are connected, and how one person impacts so many lives. But don’t forget that George and Mary have an all-time great movie romance, too.
The Holiday Affair (1949)
It’s a classic Christmas love triangle: a woman, played by Janet Leigh, has to decide between the successful lawyer (Carl Davis) and someone rougher around the edges (Robert Mitchum). But she has to decide by New Year’s Eve, since she has plans to marry the lawyer that day.
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Barbara Stanwyck stars as Elizabeth Lane, a journalist who presents herself as a consummate homemaker living on a farm in her columns. In reality, it’s all a fabrication, and she’s a city-dweller who doesn’t know how to cook. Things get dicey, then, when the head of the magazine announces that war hero will spend the holidays on her farm for a story (and even more complicated when he turns out to be played by the handsome Dennis Morgan).
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
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