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The Ultimate Christmas Movie Advent Calendar To Get You Through The Festive Season

From old classics to new favourites
Cameron Diaz in The Holiday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—which means it’s finally time to watch all of our favourite Christmas movies. 

In recent years, streaming services like Netflix have embraced the classic cheesiness of the movie genre, and honestly, we’re loving it.

We’re not alone, either, with 2024 marking the streaming site’s biggest drop of new Christmas films to date. What new Christmas movies are coming to Netflix in 2024, you ask? We’ve included a few of our favourite newbies in the calendar below.

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To commemorate the festive season, we’ve rounded up 25 of the best holiday films of all time (in our humble opinions), collating an advent calendar of Christmas movies to get you through the festive season.

From old classics to new favourites, see below for which Christmas movies to watch every single day of December.

The Best Christmas Movies In 2024: New & Classic

December 1: The Merry Gentlemen (2024)

Why not kick the festive season off with a bang? And by bang we mean a shirtless Chad Michael Murray. The Merry Gentlemen ticks all your classic Christmas movie tropes; big city girl returns to small hometown, a holiday miracle and a will-they-won’t-they romance, all with a spicy twist which revolves around a festive strip show. 

Watch it on Netflix here

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chad michael murray stars in christmas movie the merry gentlemen
It’s about time we got a Christmas movie of this calibre (Source: Netflix)

December 2: Last Holiday (2006)

When the usually shy Georgia—played by none other than Queen Latifah—learns she only has a week to live, she gathers her money, quits her job and flies to a fancy resort she’s always dreamed of visiting. The result? A Christmas movie that leaves you with the biggest smile on your face and a new attitude of living life to the fullest. 

Watch it on Prime Video here

christmas movie, the last holiday
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December 3: Four Christmases/Four Holidays (2008)

We can never turn down a Reese Witherspoon rom-com, and Four Christmases alongside Vince Vaughn is no different. In this easy-to-watch classic, Kate (Witherspoon) and Brad (Vaughn) struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas, and of course, hilarity ensues. 

Watch it on Prime Video here

reese witherspoon and vince vaughn in christmas movie four christmases

December 4: Something From Tiffanys (2022)

We love Zoey Deutch in just about anything, but particularly a Christmas movie. In this heart-felt romance, two couples find themselves intertwined when a festive proposal goes horribly wrong.

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Watch it on Prime Video here

soemthing from tiffany's is one of the best christmas movies

December 5: The Family Stone (2005)

What better way to relate to your own family Christmas chaos than with that of Sarah Jessica Parker’s? This classic film follows the holiday misadventures of the Stone family, when their eldest son, played by Dermot Mulroney, brings his traditional girlfriend, played by Parker, home with the intention of proposing to her with a cherished family heirloom. 

Watch it on Disney+ here

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christmas movies for 2024, the family stone

December 6: The Happiest Season (2020) 

Kristen Stewart in a Christmas movie? Yes, believe it and finally a great queer Christmas movie, at that. Abby (played by Stewart) is meeting her girlfriend’s family for the first time at Christmas, only ,she soon discovers they don’t know they’re dating (or queer) at all. The film also stars Dan Levy who brings his impeccable comedic wit and sass to the screen. 

Watch it on Binge here

Kristen Stewart and Dan Levy in Christmas movie, The Happiest Season
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December 7: Our Little Secret (2024)

Lindsay Lohan is quickly becoming the queen of Christmas movies, and her newest film may be her best festive flick yet. Our Little Secret instantly shot to the #1 spot on Netflix following its launch, and centres on two exes who must spend Christmas together when they learn their new partners are related. 

Watch it on Netflix here

lindsay lohan in christmas movie Our Little Secret

December 8: Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is an absolute must when it comes to festive films. While Kevin McCallister’s crazy adventure after being left home alone spawned multiple sequels, the original will always hold a special place in our hearts. There’s no surprises it’s often ranked among the best Christmas films of all time. 

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Watch it on Disney+ here

McCauley Caulkin in Christmas movie, Home Alone

December 9: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

It wouldn’t quite be Christmas without the Griswold family. Chevy Chase stars as Clark Griswold, who is planning for the perfect family Christmas until just about everything goes awry. The family’s hilarious adventure captures the highs and lows of the holiday season, ending with the Christmas cheer we all need. 

Watch it on BINGE here

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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

December 10: Christmas With The Kranks (2004)

For a good festive giggle in between all the romance-skewing genre, you can’t go past classic comedy, Christmas With The Kranks. When Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther (Tim Allen) decide to skip the festive season and head on a Caribbean holiday, their Christmas-loving neighbours are outraged.

Watch it on Binge here

Christmas with the kranks
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December 11: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for all. Don’t let the animation fool you, this movie is packed with incredible songs and a gripping tale, all bundled together with the magical world of Tim Burton. 

Watch it on Disney+ here

nightmare before Christmas

December 12: Elf (2003)

Can you really celebrate Christmas if you haven’t seen Elf? Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Elf, a human raised by elves in the North Pole who eventually moves to New York to find his real father. It’s hilarious, joyful and will have you feeling in the festive spirit in no time.

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Watch it on BINGE here

elf

December 13: The Holiday (2006)

While we know you’ve probably already watched The Holiday countless times, what’s one more ahead of the Christmas season? Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz star as two women who swap homes for two weeks before the holidays, with Winslet’s character ending up in Los Angeles while Diaz arrives at a cottage in Surrey, England. Both ladies find a romance, resulting in an unexpected holiday season.

Watch it on Prime Video here

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cameron diaz and jude law in christmas movie, The Holiday

December 14: Holidate (2020)

Is there a more classic tale than the friends who agree to be each other’s Christmas dates to get their respective families off their backs only to find themselve falling in love? No? We didn’t think so. It may be a little cheesy but this rom-com starring our own Luke Bracey and Emma Roberts is as fun as it is festive. 

Watch it on Netflix here

Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey in Christmas movie, Holidate
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December 15: The Santa Clause (1994) 

In the 1994 movie, Allen’s character Scott Calvin transforms into Santa after accidentally causing the real Saint Nick to fall off his roof. The classic comedy is a good, old-fashion Christmas film that’s going to make your holiday season feel just a little more magical. 

Watch it on Disney+ here

tim allen in the Santa Clause

December 16: The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

Somehow, Vanessa Hudgens has become our new favourite Christmas lead. In this Netflix film, a medieval knight is transported to the present day, where he falls for a high school science teacher who’s disillusioned by love. Cue the cheese!

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Watch it on Netflix here

knight before christmas starring Vanessa Hudgens

December 17: The Night Before (2015)

Expect the comedic genius we’ve come to expect from Seth Rogan in this Christmas comedy. For the last 10 years, lifelong buddies Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang, but, as one prepares to become a first-time father, the friends quickly realise it might be time to end their annual tradition.

Watch it on BINGE here

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Seth Rogen stars in Christmas movie, a night before

December 18: Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

If you’re in the mood for something classically Christmas-themed then the 1990s version of Miracle On 34th Street might be the film for you. The film, which follows a little girl and her mother who must prove a shopping mall Santa Claus is the real deal, is based on the 1947 film of the same name.  With young Mara Wilson in the role of Susan Walker and Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle, it’s a classic for a reason. 

Watch it on Disney here

Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle On 34th Street
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December 19: Bad Santa (2003) 

A dark comedy that will have you in stitches, Bad Santa chronicles the life of Willie—played by Billy Bob Thornton—who, instead of spreading Christmas cheer dressed up as Santa, tries to rob a mall alongside his elf partner Marcus. Their motive fails when the thief befriends an eight-year-old boy.

Watch it on BINGE here

bad santa

December 20: Office Christmas Party (2009)

In a story that’s maybe a little too relatable for some, this hilarious Christmas comedy follows an office holiday party that gets out of hand. It features a star-studded cast, including Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, Jennifer Aniston and Kate McKinnon. 

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Watch it on Netflix here

office christmas party is a good Christmas movie comedy

December 21: While You Were Sleeping (1995)

In the ’90s, rom-coms had the perfect formula and While You Were Sleeping is among the best ever made (in our opinion). Sandra Bullock plays transit worker Lucy, who rescues her lifelong crush who collapses on the train line. After he falls into a coma, she pretends to be his fiancé while falling for his brother. 

Watch it on Disney+ here

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while you were sleeping

December 22: A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)

With a trio like Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn, it’s hard not to be sucked into the hilarity of A Bad Moms Christmas. It’s a laugh-out-loud, often crude story of three under-appreciated and overburdened mums who rebel against the expectations their families hold on them for Christmas. As if that’s not bad enough, all three are surprised by a visit from their own mothers. 

Watch it on Prime Video here

bad moms christmas starring Mila Kunis
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December 23: The Polar Express (2004)

Based on the 1985 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, The Polar Express follows a young boy who boards a train on Christmas Eve, embarking on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole to meet Santa. His life takes a turn after he encounters special people that make his journey memorable. 

Watch it on Prime Video here

polar express

December 24: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

The Grinch is a holiday staple that should be considered mandatory Christmas watching. Based on Dr Seuss’s 1957 book of the same name, it follows the story of Grinch, who lives on the outskirts of Whoville, with a revenge-seeking plan to ruin Christmas for all citizens. 

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Watch it on Prime Video here

the grinch

December 25: Love Actually (2003)

Intertwining stories of love coupled with an epic performance of All I Want For Christmas Is You lands Love Actually as one of the top Christmas films of all time.  

Watch it on Prime Video here

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Hugh Grant in Christmas movie, Love Actually

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