10 Underrated Holiday Movies You Probably Haven’t Watched This Year (but Should!)
Hosting a holiday movie marathon is one of the most traditional (and fun!) activities you can do in December — and it’s a great excuse to hang with your roommates and friends. Sure, you need the classics, like The Holiday and Home Alone, but what about when you’re done watching Kevin McCallister craftily save his family’s home from intruders? That’s when you turn to the underrated Christmas movies you forgot about or didn’t even realize qualify as Christmas movies.
From a film following a group of high schoolers’ epic snow day to a rom-com about an engagement ring mixup that’s set in New York at Christmastime, there are so many cinematic gems waiting to be added to your lineup.
Something From Tiffany’s (2022)
A case of two men accidentally swapping little blue boxes leads to them asking some big questions in their respective relationships during the holiday season in New York.
The real love story kicks off when Ethan (Kendrick Sampson), who lost a Tiffany engagement ring in the switch, meets Rachel (Zoey Deutch), who’s dating Gary (Ray Nicholson) and accidentally receives the ring in the swap. Rachel, who has no idea Gary didn’t buy the ring and it wasn’t meant for her, gets to know Ethan after inviting him to her bakery, and the pair form an undeniable connection. It’s a sweet, funny film that’ll definitely get you in the holiday spirit.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Happiest Season (2020)
Meeting the parents goes slightly wrong when Abby (Kristen Stewart) finds out her girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), has been keeping their relationship a secret from her mom and dad. The couple pose as roommates for the weekend and navigate family holiday tensions. Schitt’s Creek fans will be happy to see Abby’s best friend, Adam (Dan Levy), show up to provide some moral support and comic relief.
Where to watch: Hulu
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
A history of stolen inventions and heartbreak leads to Journey, a young girl who’s also an inventor, visiting her grandfather, Jeronicus Jangle, in the days leading up to Christmas. While staying with Jeronicus, Journey finds an old toy, The Buddy 3000, that was dreamed up by her mom, Jessica. Journey gets it working, but Buddy is stolen by Gustafson, a toy tycoon who also stole Jeronicus’ other ideas. The family works together to finally right the wrongs.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Holidate (2020)
Technically this movie covers a lot of holidays, but it starts and ends on Christmas. Sloane (Emma Roberts) and Jackson (Luke Bracey) meet in line while returning gifts and — after their respective disastrous Christmases — they strike up a deal to be each other’s dates to every holiday until one of them gets a real partner. The fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes that unfold are predictable, but Roberts and Bracey have such great chemistry that you won’t even care.
Where to watch: Netflix
Let It Snow (2019)
The entire movie takes place after a snowstorm hits on Christmas Eve. Based on a 2008 novel by John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson, this movie is peppered with teenage love stories (including one with a pop star!), plenty of comedic relief, and quite a few problems that need to be solved in 93 minutes.
Where to watch: Netflix
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Amy (Mila Kunis), Kiki (Kristen Bell), and Carla (Kathryn Hahn) resume their roles in this Bad Moms sequel. Amy, Kiki, and Carla have their own moms — Ruth (Christine Baranski), Sandy (Cheryl Hines), and Isis (Susan Sarandon), respectively — in town for the holidays and try to deal with family dynamics while celebrating the holiday.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Night Before (2015)
Childhood friends (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie) who reunite on Christmas Eve every year celebrate their last holiday shindig with a night to remember. Centered on getting to the The Nutcracker Ball in New York City, the movie takes some wild turns before ending with a rushed cab ride to the hospital for the birth of Isaac’s (Seth Rogen) first baby.
Where to watch: Hulu
Snow Bride (2013)
The plot of this Hallmark movie is, of course, a little out there: Greta, a tabloid reporter, picks up her friend’s wedding dress, quickly pivots to driving to Big Bear to follow a lead on a story, and gets her car stuck in a snowstorm. She puts on the dress to stay warm, gets rescued by the subject of her potential story, Ben, and celebrates Christmas with him and his family under false pretenses, as one does. There’s a little fake-dating, some revenge — Ben’s brother brings home Ben’s ex-girlfriend as his new fling — and plenty of holiday happenings.
Where to watch: Hallmark+
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
You know Tim Allen as Santa Claus, but in this movie he’s a middle-aged dad who wants to go on a cruise for Christmas with his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis). His Christmas boycott quickly turns into a holiday decorating rush job when their daughter surprises them by coming home. The “free Frosty” scene is something you’ll never forget.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
One of the first scenes in the movie includes Mark (Colin Firth) wearing a Rudolph sweater, and one of the last scenes involves a snowman sweater, so I believe that automatically qualifies this as a Christmas movie. The film follows Bridget (Renée Zellweger) as she attempts to change some aspects of her life over the course of a year, which includes two romances — Mark and Daniel (Hugh Grant) — and a kiss outside in the snow that could certify this as a holiday movie on its own.
Where to watch: Max
