All the Best Christmas Movies to Watch on Amazon This Holiday Season
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
When it comes to Christmas shopping, Amazon is likely your go-to spot — so why not let it help you find the perfect holiday movie? With plenty of free options for Prime members, Amazon Prime Video offers everything from classics like It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas to modern favorites like The Nightmare Before Christmas and It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie.
Kids will adore the animated holiday selections, while adults can cozy up with picks best enjoyed after bedtime. You can even stream Lifetime and Hallmark favorites, often for less than $5 if you don’t have cable. So grab some cocoa, cookies and holiday cheer, and start streaming these festive Christmas movies on Amazon to make the season even brighter!
Eloise at Christmastime
The Plaza Hotel's favorite resident, Eloise, is stirring up some mischief this holiday season as the hotel owner’s Christmas wedding approaches. But when she uncovers something more suspicious than a simple celebration, what could possibly go wrong? Plenty of hijinks, heartwarming moments and festive holiday spirit, that's what!
RELATED: Best Christmas Movies and Holiday Films for Kids
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
A Christmas elf takes Santa’s sleigh for a joyride and crashes into a small town, leading to holiday chaos! Teaming up with Beethoven and his teenage owner, they embark on a mission to save Santa’s toy bag from greedy crooks trying to cash in. It’s a festive adventure full of laughs, holiday spirit and everyone’s favorite big-hearted dog.
RELATED: Funniest Christmas Movies for Family Holiday Fun
A Princess for Christmas
Outlander star Sam Heughan stars in this Hallmark holiday movie about a young woman navigating life after taking in her niece and nephew following her sister’s passing. When they visit the children’s grandfather, the Duke of Castlebury, for the holidays, she unexpectedly finds herself falling for the Duke’s son.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Originally a Christmas TV special that aired on ABC in 1970, this heartwarming story reveals how Santa Claus and beloved Christmas traditions came to be. As a bonus, old-school fans will delight in hearing the legendary Fred Astaire narrate this hopeful tale.
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Get the kids into the holiday spirit with this musical comedy that's perfect for the whole family! Join your favorite Muppets as they band together to save their beloved theater from being sold during tough times.
RELATED: The Best Christmas Movies on Disney+ for a Dose of Holiday Magic
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
An oldie and a goodie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation captures one family’s hilariously disastrous Christmas celebration. While our own holiday mishaps may not be as over-the-top, we can all relate to bad luck striking at the most inconvenient time during the festive season.
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
For those who love Halloween and Christmas, this dark fantasy follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, a world filled with monsters and spooky creatures. His adventure takes a turn when he stumbles upon other holiday-themed realms.
RELATED: The Best Christmas Movies for Kids on Netflix
Frozen
You might not be able to build your own snowman if your local area doesn't get any snow flurries this Christmas season, but at least with this beloved cartoon movie you can sing about it!
Home Alone
Even though you've grown up and realized that the injury comedy in this 1990 classic is a little extreme, something about Home Alone still feels essential year after year.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
This time, Kevin isn’t left behind, but he accidentally boards the wrong plane, landing in New York City while his family heads to Florida. To make matters worse, the two bandits from the first movie have escaped prison — and they’re out for revenge on Kevin.
Love Actually
This 2003 movie tugs on the heartstrings. The rom-com drama, which stars big names like Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, shows 10 different relationships and the different aspects of love within each of them.
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Gather the kids around to enjoy this sweet 2018 animated version of The Grinch. If you're looking for nostalgia, you can also rent the live-action version from 2000 starring Jim Carrey.
It's A Wonderful Life
With an iconic performance from Jimmy Stewart and a moving script, there's no It's A Wonderful Life has endured for nearly 80 years — and it's available to stream for free with Prime right now.
The Family Stone
An uptight woman named Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) travels home with her boyfriend Everett (Dermot Mulroney) for Christmas only to discover that she couldn't be more different than his outgoing, laid-back family.
The Holiday
Iris (Kate Winslet) and Amanda (Cameron Diaz), plagued by guy problems, switch homes in Los Angeles and England during the holiday season only to unexpectedly find some romance.
Elf
Will Ferrell doesn't miss a beat in this instant holiday classic from 2003 — Elf will always get the whole family laughing.
White Christmas
In this classic starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, a song-and-dance duo becomes close with a musical sister act. They work together to save a failing Vermont Inn operated by their former commanding officer.
The Polar Express
Tom Hanks plays four distinct characters in this magical Christmas film from 2004. The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy who's losing his faith in Christmas, until he embarks on a wild journey to the North Pole on a mysterious train.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
In Disney's updated take on the classic Christmas story, 14-year-old Clara uses a gift her late mother left her to embark on a magical journey to four different realms.
RELATED: 41 Best Disney+ Christmas Movies to Watch With the Whole Family
Black Christmas
Inspired by the 1974 movie of the same name, this holiday horror follows a group of sorority sisters who find themselves hunted by a masked assailant while staying on campus during Christmas break.
Last Christmas
This Emma Thompson-Paul Feig venture from 2019 mixes a somewhat high-concept script (inspired by the music of George Michael, features a major mystery) with the chemistry of Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding into a fun and original Christmas rom-com.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Jim Henson's 1992 rendition of the Charles Dickens' classic is one of the very best Muppets movies ever made.
Christmas with the Kranks
After years of overdoing it on Christmas and becoming empty nesters now that their daughter has joined the Peace Corps, the Kranks (led by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) decide to skip the holiday season and put the money toward a cruise. The only problem? Their neighbors absolutely won't allow it.
The Best Man Holiday
What happens when eight college friends reunite for Christmas nearly 15 years after graduating? Watch this 2013 rom-com featuring the likes of Taye Diggs and Regina Hall to find out.
The Preacher's Wife
Looking for a '90s throwback? This 1996 film featuring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston tells the story of a New York City pastor who is visited by an angel. Keep your ears perked, too: the movie was nominated for the Oscar for Best Music.
Die Hard
It wouldn't be Christmas without the annual conversation over whether this classic 1988 Bruce Willis action flick counts as a holiday film. (We think it does.)
Jingle All The Way
Arnold Schwarzenegger shows off his comedy chops in this 1996 family movie about a man desperate to get a sold-out toy for his son for Christmas.
Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You
Based off the hit song "All I Want for Christmas Is You," this 2017 animated film follows a little girl named Mariah who has her heart set on getting a puppy for Christmas.
Christmas Cartoons: 14 Christmas Cartoon Classics
Bring on the nostalgia! This two-hour mashup features all your favorite vintage Christmas cartoons, including Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jack Frost, Snow Foolin', Toys Will Be Toys, and more. Sit back, relax, and get ready for a walk down memory lane.
RELATED: 45 Animated Christmas Movies That Are Too Cute to Resist
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
This 2008 Hallmark favorite follows single working mom Jennifer (Brooke Burns) as she tries to find some Christmas cheer... and ends up falling in love with the handsome stranger that her uncle (Henry Winkler) brought home for the holidays.
Beyond Christmas
Much like It's a Wonderful Life, this 1940 Christmas flick starring Harry Carey is a little bit dark — but it's also really heartwarming.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
From Home Alone to this '80s buddy comedy starring John Candy and Steve Martin, nobody does holiday movies quite like John Hughes. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is technically a Thanksgiving movie, but the spirit of rushing to get home while someone gets on your nerves is universal.
Last Holiday
Queen Latifah charms in this 2006 Christmas comedy as a woman who takes a huge European vacation after discovering she only has weeks to live.
Christmas Comes to Willow Creek
This 1987 made-for-TV drama stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat as truck driver brothers who must transport a load of Christmas presents from California to Alaska.
One Special Night
James Garner, Julie Andrews, and a magical, snowy holiday — need we say more?
The Man Who Invented Christmas
This 2017 take on Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol stars the one and only Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey fame.
Christmas for a Dollar
This tale of finding Christmas joy during the Great Depression is based on a true story.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel is a gorgeous film, but Gillian Armstrong's 1994 version is also a wonderful treat at Christmas, with a star-studded cast that includes Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst and Christian Bale — and it's available to stream for free with Prime.
You Might Also Like
