Best Christmas Movies of the 21st Century Ranked

The holiday season is here once again, which means it’s time to revive the tradition of watching countless Christmas movies on loop. Even if you have your favorites locked down already, we’re here to break down the best of the best and where you can find them on streaming.

But with the classics long set in stone – and the century a quarter of the way through – now seemed like a good time to rank the best Christmas movies of the 2000s instead. So no Rankin/Bass TV specials, no It’s A Wonderful Life, no National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, no Home Alone and no A Christmas Story. And whether you think it’s a Christmas movie or Halloween movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas won’t be on here, either.

A quick disclaimer first: I have a strong personal distaste for Ron Howard’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 2000, so that has been left off the list. Without further ado, here are the Christmas movies you can add to your marathon if you’re looking to break out of the 20th century.

#10: Violent Night (2022)

Where to Stream: HBO Max

If you don’t believe that Die Hard is a Christmas movie – which is the correct stance, in my opinion – then you’re probably looking for an action movie that actually fits into the genre.

When mercenaries raid a rich family’s house, it’s up to a stranded Santa Claus to save the day. And who better to play a lethal St. Nick than David Harbour, right in the thick of his Stranger Things and Marvel Cinematic Universe popularity? Violent Night is far from a perfect film, but it’s exactly the kind of popcorn action flick that is fun to watch with friends around the holidays.

#9: Bad Santa (2003)

Where to Stream: Bad Santa

If the depressed version of Santa Claus from Violent Night wasn’t your style, how about a criminal mall Santa? Bad Santa, for as vulgar and off-putting as it can be, is pretty iconic when looking at modern Christmas movies. A core cast of Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Bernie Mac and Lauren Graham makes it quite the early 2000s time capsule, too.

It’s also worth noting that the original story for Bad Santa came from the Coen brothers, who had already made Raising Arizona and Fargo, and would eventually make No Country for Old Men. They didn’t write the screenplay or direct the final product, but you can feel the duo’s fingerprints all over the raunchy Christmas heist movie.

#8: Arthur Christmas (2011)

Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Freeform

One of the more charming animated Christmas movies of the century came from Aardman Features, the same studio behind Wallace & Grommit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep. Like each of those, Arthur Christmas is British to its core, from the cast to the tone and sense of humor.

Arthur Christmas is all about the modernization of the holiday, handling the themes of technology and corporatization far better than 2024’s Red One. The film follows Santa’s younger son, who does all that he can to deliver one lost present that fell through the cracks. It’s a great movie for kids, but also entertaining and thoughtful enough for adults, as well.

#7: Krampus (2015)

Where to Stream: Peacock, Shudder

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is a rare Christmas horror movie. Krampus plays into the camp that comes along with setting a scary movie during the most wonderful time of the year. With Adam Scott, Toni Collette and David Koechner leading the cast, Krampus can play up the funnier moments while spinning its mean-spirited tendencies into some solid scares.

Krampus is also rated PG-13, so it is one of those gateway movies that should be easier to get into for people who aren’t horror die-hards. Just be ready for the ending to make you mad.

#6: Love Actually (2003)

Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock

The impact of Love Actually reaches far beyond the Christmas movie genre. If it weren’t for this one, then other holiday-themed ensemble rom-coms like Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve never would have graced the silver screen. But on its own, Love Actually is still iconic, quotable and a must-watch for any rom-com scholars out there.

Love Actually also features arguably the most stacked cast in Christmas movie history. Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kiera Knightley, Bill Nighy and Rowan Atkinson are on the poster, but Andrew Lincoln, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, January Jones and Thomas Brodie-Sangster all appear, as well.

#5: The Night Before (2015)

Where to Stream: Peacock

The Seth Rogen comedy dominated the late 2000s and early 2010s, so it only makes sense that he and Evan Goldberg teamed up to put their spin on a Christmas movie. The film centers around three friends who have a tradition of partying together every Christmas Eve, but decide to call it quits once they reach their mid-30s. A pretty standard setup, although that brief logline doesn’t highlight all the wild twists and turns of their final night together.

There are trips, celebrity cameos and plenty more hallmarks of other Rogen-Goldberg collaborations, just with a fresh coat of holiday paint.

#4: Klaus (2019)

Where to Stream: Netflix

Only one Christmas movie has been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars since that award was introduced in 2001. That puts Klaus in a league of its own, and that’s before looking at the film itself. Klaus is about as warm and cozy as a movie can get, in spite of the snowy Norwegian setting. And J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, Rashida Jones, Joan Cusack and Norm Macdonald aren’t just A-list celebrities, they are also incredible voice actors.

Klaus is also the only Netflix original on this list, if you’re partial to Netflix Christmas movies.

#3: The Holiday (2006)

Where to Stream: Philo

While plenty of people hold up Love Actually as the best Christmas rom-com, The Holiday is my personal pick. It doesn’t go all-in on the ensemble structure, but it is built around two separate plot lines. Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, down on their luck heading into the holidays, swap homes for a couple of weeks to get away from their cheating ex-boyfriends. Unsurprisingly, both women spark new relationships with Jude Law and Jack Black all while the film revels in the quaint English countryside and poking fun at Hollywood love stories.

It feels wrong that The Holiday is the only Christmas movie in Nancy Meyers’ filmography, considering how well her visual style and production design fit into the holiday season.

#2: The Holdovers (2023)

Where to Stream: N/A

After tearing it up at the Telluride Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival, The Holdovers hit theaters in 2023 and instantly became a classic. The film is about the kids who are left behind at a New England boarding school during Christmas break with their miserly teacher, Mr. Hunham. Paul Giamatti is the perfect blend of grumpy and earnest in the leading role, while Dominic Sessa shines in his breakout performance.

The Holdovers stayed popular beyond the holiday season the year it came out thanks to its place in the Oscars race. The film was nominated for Best Picture, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress. But moving forward, The Holdovers’ legacy will be as an all-time Christmas dramedy, one that perfectly captures the Christmas spirit and 1970s New England alike.

#1: Elf (2003)

Where to Stream: HBO Max

Taking out the 21st century qualifier, there’s a good chance Elf would have topped this list regardless. Will Ferrell, working at the height of his powers, is the driving force behind Elf, turning it into one of the most iconic Christmas movies of all time. Jon Favreau’s authorial touch as the director and an incredible supporting performances from James Caan can’t go without their flowers, though. As for Zooey Deschanel, this may challenge New Girl as the best role of her career.

Elf’s place in pop culture is unquestionable. Buddy the Elf is endlessly quotable and a mascot in his own right. But as a film, Elf is overflowing with Christmas cheer without being too schmaltzy. It has more of a bite than most classic Christmas comedies, all without losing anything from its earnest core.

Honorable Mentions: Carol, The Polar Express, Happiest Season, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang