Every year the top streaming services release tons of shiny new Christmas movies, but in my opinion you just can’t beat the classics. After all, these films were not only audience favorites in their time, but have also stood the test of time decades later and continue to spread joy.
Before I dive into my picks, I should make one thing clear. When I say classic Christmas movies, I really mean it classic . I’m not talking about “Elf,” “Home Alone,” or even “Scrooged”; I’m talking about films released more than 50 years ago during the period commonly referred to as the Golden Age of Hollywood. Yes, that means these films are presented in black and white, but in my opinion monochrome never goes out of style.
So if you’re looking to enjoy some classic Christmas movies over the holidays, here are the ones that need to be on your watchlist and are just as fun today as they ever were.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE | Official Trailer | Paramount Movies – YouTube
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When it comes to classic Christmas movies, there is a choice all knows it will be seen somewhere. I’m talking, of course, about Frank Capra’s long-running hit “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But there’s a reason why this movie is a must-watch for millions of people (myself included) every winter: It’s pretty much the perfect Christmas movie. It’s funny, it’s charming, it’s tear-jerking, but ultimately it’s uplifting, what more could you want?
I consider this 1946 comedy my favorite Christmas film of all time and is about George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who considers taking his own life on Christmas Eve. Through flashbacks, we see George’s life from his youth to adulthood, and then George’s guardian angel shows him what the world would have been like if he had never existed. The theme may seem a bit dark for a Christmas movie, but trust me, you’ll shed tears of joy at the end. And then you’ll probably want to watch it again.
Regard It’s a Wonderful Life on Prime Video Now
“The Shop Around the Corner” (1940)
Another classic of the season starring James Stewart, “Shop Around the Corner” will look a little familiar to anyone who has seen the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan classic “You’ve Got Mail,” as the 1998 romantic comedy Material was adapted from the same source (a Hungarian play called Perfumerie by Miklós László). What really makes this film stand out is the lovability of its main characters. Stewart is reliably charismatic, but Margaret Sullavan is his equal.
Alfred Kralik (Stewart) and Klara Novak (Sullavan) are both employees in a leather goods store in Budapest and don’t like each other. In fact, you could say that Alfred and Klara loathe each other. But without realizing it, they secretly fall in love with each other as anonymous pen pals. “Shop Around the Corner” is bursting with charm and scores with the dramatic irony inherent in its core theme. It’s a seasonal treat and deserves to be as well-known as Stewart’s other holiday classics.
Regard “The Shop Around the Corner” on Fubo Now
“The Apartment” (1960)
The Apartment (1960) | Official Trailer | MGM Studios – YouTube
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Unlike the other films on this list, “The Apartment” doesn’t exactly claim to be a Christmas movie. One could probably argue that it is better to classify the film as a film set at Christmas rather than a traditional Christmas film. However, this Billy Wilder film is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time and has all the feel-good moments you could want from a celebratory film. Sure, you won’t find Santa Claus in The Apartment, but after watching it, your heart will beat faster.
Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon) is a man in a difficult situation. Since he allows his superiors to use his apartment for extramarital affairs, he has no control over his own home. Things get even worse when his manager, Mr. Sheldrak (Fred MacMurray), uses the apartment to meet elevator lady Fran Kubeilk (Shirley MacLaine), with whom Bud happens to be in love. Now he has to find a way to maintain his career and win the girl.
Regard “The Apartment” on Prime Video Now
“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) Trailer #1 | Movie Clips Classic Trailers – YouTube
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Often compared to It’s A Wonderful Life, “Miracle on 34th Street” is full of classic holiday iconography. If you demand that a funny Santa Claus be seen in your Christmas movies, this is the best choice for you. The popular film follows Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), a man who is assigned to fill in as Santa Claus during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Kringle proves to be so successful at the annual parade that he is soon hired as Santa Claus at Macy’s New York store on 34th Street, where he is extremely popular because of his kind-hearted nature. However, Kringle swears that he is not a department store Santa, instead claiming to be the real Santa Claus. This all leads to a court case to determine whether Kringle is actually Santa Claus or if he’s just a dodgy impostor.
Regard “Miracle on 34th Street” on Disney Plus Now
“White Christmas” (1954)
White Christmas (1954) Trailer #1 | Movie Clips Classic Trailers – YouTube
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A true Christmas classic starring Bing Crosby, “White Christmas” takes its name from the legendary Irving Berlin song of the same name (which was written for Crosby’s 1942 Christmas film “Holiday Inn”). This seasonal crowd-pleaser features a new version of this popular song as well as a variety of new songs from Berlin, with “Count Your Blessings” earning the film an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
In “White Christmas,” Crosby plays Bob Wallace, a singer who forms a successful duo with Phil Davis (Danny Kaye). The couple travels to Vermont to reunite with sisters Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. There they run to General Waverly (Dean Jagger), their old commander, and discover that he is on the verge of financial ruin by losing his charming country inn. To save the establishment, the foursome put on a festive music show to raise money and keep the inn running.
Regard “White Christmas” on Prime Video Now
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