The Christmas season is the time to celebrate, be around others, bask in the cheerful spirit, and be thankful and appreciative that another year has gone by. Most people enjoy their time off by shopping, others by eating, and more than one will find themselves going to the movie theater. The holidays are also the perfect time to enjoy movies, and there’s no shortage of Christmas gems, both classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and more modern offerings like The Holiday.
However, many of the best movies to watch during the holidays might not necessarily be tied to Christmas. In fact, more than a few great movies are perfect to enjoy during the season of giving without featuring a single elf, candy cane, or wrapping. This list is all about those, the movies that you wouldn’t believe fit the Christmas mood, but somehow do. They might be heartwarming comedies, inspiring dramas, or spirited adventures, but they all make for perfect viewing during this magical holiday.
‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (2014)
In 2014, Wes Anderson delivered what might arguably be his greatest effort thus far: the colorful, charmingly bleak The Grand Budapest Hotel. A large ensemble led by a never-better Ralph Fiennes lights the screen in the story of Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), a young lobby boy working at the titular hotel under the guidance of veteran, overly posh, and delightful concierge M. Gustave (Fiennes). When one of Gustave’s elderly lovers dies and leaves him a precious painting, the concierge finds himself in the middle of a sinister plot.
Meticulously crafted and exquisite to behold, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a treat for the eyes, coated in soft yet lush pastels that make the cinematic equivalent of a delicious pastry. Beneath the visuals, though, the film is a profound and unexpectedly somber yet utterly winning exploration of friendship, loyalty, duty, and the romanticization of a long-lost past. An instant all-timer of the 2010s, The Grand Budapest Hotel is an ideal choice for the holiday season, not only for its charming, opulent, picturesque setting but also for its tender thematic weight and irresistible humor.
‘Gosford Park’ (2001)
Robert Altman‘s Oscar-nominated, upstairs-downstairs murder-mystery Gosford Park is one of the greatest yet most questionably overlooked ensemble pieces of the 2000s. A who’s who of British talent — genuinely, this movie has an embarrassment of riches in the cast, from Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren to Emily Watson, Eileen Atkins, and Michael Gambon — stars in a story about a group of British aristocrats spending a weekend in a country house. When their host winds up dead, the guests become the suspects of the mysterious crime.
A whodunit that’s perfect from start to finish, Gosford Park is a masterclass in controlled chaos from one of cinema’s greatest talents. Altman expertly creates a wave of tangled storylines, each character bursting with life thanks to the strong writing and a cast of actors at the top of their game. As expected from a British period piece, Gosford Park boasts a cloudy and cold yet still somehow inviting atmosphere, perfect to enjoy during the holiday break. Moreover, its large collection of wildly distinct characters perfectly evokes the mess of going home for the holidays, especially for all those who belong to large clans.
‘Doctor Zhivago’ (1965)
The master of the epic movie, David Lean, directed the 1965 adaptation of Boris Pasternak‘s seminal 1957 novel, Doctor Zhivago. Oscar nominee Omar Sharif stars as Yuri Zhivago, a married physician and poet who enters a passionate but dangerous romance with the beautiful Lara Antipova, played by Oscar winner Julie Christie. Their story unravels against the violent background of World War I and the Russian Revolution.
Who doesn’t love a great love story? Doctor Zhivago is one of the best in cinema, powered by Sharif and Christie’s swoon-worthy chemistry and enhanced by the grand production values. Like Lean’s other epics, this one feels grand and immersive, a huge production the likes of which Hollywood used to adore during its golden age. It’s also very old-fashioned, to the point where contemporary reviews accused it of romanticizing the Russian Revolution. Yes, it’s very long — think Gone with the Wind — but it’s worth the effort to watch it, especially during the holidays, when you can enjoy its wintery landscape from the comfort of your couch, covered in a warm blanket.
‘Paddington’ (2014)
The most polite bear in the UK made a huge splash with his cinematic debut in 2014. Paddington follows the adventures of the kind and clumsy yet well-meaning bear (Ben Whishaw), who travels to London to begin a new life with a kind British family. The lucky clan is the Browns, whose lives change for the better with the bear’s arrival. However, their new dynamic is threatened by a ruthless taxidermist (Nicole Kidman).
Everybody loves a good heartwarming movie for Christmas, and no movie is more heartwarming than Paddington (except for, you know, Paddington 2). Paddington is one of the most unabashedly optimistic and enchanting characters in modern cinema, and his movies are so delightful, so positive and with such a sincere belief in the power of kindness that it’s simply impossible not to fall under their spell. Christmas is all about celebrating humanity’s best values, like selflessness, altruism, and togetherness, and Paddington is the perfect way to do it. The two sequels are also perfect, meaning you have enough Paddington for the holidays.
‘Anastasia’ (1997)
When thinking of cinematic animation, you’d probably immediately go to Disney or Pixar. However, other studios have truly spectacular animated gems in their collections. The now-defunct Fox Animation Studios delivered one of the greatest in 1997 with Anastasia, an animated musical that injects a healthy dose of magic and mysticism into the legend of Princess Anastasia Romanov. Meg Ryan leads an all-star cast that also includes John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Hank Azaria, and Christopher Lloyd.
Yes, the film plays fast and loose with real-world history, but no one is tuning into this gem looking for accuracy. Instead, we want magic, romance, and charm, and Anastasia delivers that and then some. The songs are iconic — “Once Upon a Time in December” could very well be the soundtrack for the holiday season as a whole — and the central romance between Anya and Dimitri is the stuff of cinematic dreams. With impressive animation, endearing characters, and a snowy, Russian setting that evokes the Christmases of yore, Anastasia is an outright perfect family movie, the ideal choice to watch on Christmas Day.
‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006)
Family can be complicated. How could it not? Think about it: a group of individuals with separate interests, thoughts, and ways of looking at life, all spending an extended period together… how can things not explode from time to time? Yet, it’s important to also remember the things that keep us together and the love we share with our family, even if we sometimes don’t want to be close to them. This central idea is the beating heart of the beloved 2006 indie Little Miss Sunshine, one of the most emblematic movies of the 2000s.
The Oscar-winning dramedy follows a dysfunctional family on a road trip to take their youngest, seven-year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin), to the titular beauty contest. The film is a sharply funny, insightful, and honest depiction of familial struggle, centering on imperfect characters rediscovering their love and the joys of being together. Now considered a genuine classic, Little Miss Sunshine is the perfect movie to revisit during the Christmas season, when tensions and stress might be high, and you need a gentle reminder that, at the end of the day, family—whatever form it comes in—is the most important thing in life.
‘Amélie’ (2001)
2001 was a great year for cinema, releasing multiple movies that are now considered classics. Perhaps the most heartwarming and life-affirming is the French fantasy romantic comedy Amélie, starring Audrey Tautou in her César and BAFTA-nominated breakthrough performance. Set in Montmartre, the film centers on quirky protagonist Amélie Poulain, who decides to improve the lives of those around her while dealing with her isolation.
One of the best and most prominent examples of magical realism in modern cinema, Amélie was a huge commercial and critical success. The film is a delightfully quirky depiction of modern Parisian life, bolstered by a truly enchanting performance from Tautou, who captures the whimsy and magic of live and romance with effortless gusto. At its core, Amélie is a story about how small acts of kindness can have seismic changes in life and the importance of finding magic in everyday life. Few films have ever captured the beauty and joy of day-to-day living with such honest appreciation as this incredible French gem.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
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The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is one of the most beloved of this century, largely thanks to James Gunn‘s honest, heartfelt approach and the performances of a fan-favorite cast led by Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña. The first film is widely considered the best, but the one that arguably fits the Christmas vibes the best (besides the holiday-themed Disney+ special, obviously) is the sequel, 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
The plot sees Star-Lord (Pratt) reconnecting with his long-lost father, while Gamora (Saldaña) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) try to mend their sisterly bond. Meanwhile, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) must deal with personal issues that are making him lash out at his fellow Guardians. Like the other movies in the trilogy, Vol. 2 is heavily focused on the true meaning of family and how we’re shaped by the bonds that tie us to those we love. However, this movie really goes all-out on its message about togetherness and the importance of letting go of grudges and pain from the past to truly move on with one’s life. The Fantastic Four might be Marvel’s First Family, but in all honesty, the Guardians are the best family.