Grab Your Cocoa: My Top 20 Essential Christmas Movies (The Old and The New)

Grab Your Cocoa: My Top 20 Essential Christmas Movies (The Old and The New)

I have a confession to make.

When December rolls around, I become a total sucker for a holiday movie. I know, I know. Many of them follow a formula. You pretty much know within the first ten minutes that the big city workaholic is going to fall for the small-town innkeeper and save the local bakery before Christmas Eve.

But you know what? I love it.

I love knowing there will be a happily-ever-after ending. I love the impossibly beautiful snowy scenery, the perfectly decorated sets, and the cozy vibes. There is just something about Christmas movies this time of year that puts you in the right mood. It’s comfort food for the soul.

So, tonight, I want you to pull a cup of hot cocoa, grab your softest, coziest blanket, light the fireplace (or put the Yule Log channel on TV), snuggle up, and pick something from my essential watch list.

It was hard to narrow it down, but here are my top 20 favorites—10 tried-and-true classics, and 10 newer releases from the last few years that have stolen my heart.

The Tried-and-True Classics

These are the ones I return to year after year. Some are vintage black-and-white masterpieces, and some are modern romantic comedy staples, but they all feel like home.

1. The Holiday This might be my ultimate cozy watch. Cameron Diaz and Jude Law are wonderful, but honestly, the real stars of this movie are the English cottage and Nancy Meyers' beautiful kitchen designs. It’s the perfect escape.

2. It’s a Wonderful Life Is it even Christmas if you haven’t watched George Bailey realize how much his life matters? It’s the definitive classic for a reason. It gets me every time.

3. Love Actually This movie just makes me smile and laugh. The interweaving stories, the airport arrivals gate footage, the iconic cue cards scene—it captures the messy, wonderful spectrum of love at the holidays.

4. Miracle on 34th Street Whether you watch the 1940s original or the 90s remake, the message remains pure magic. I choose to believe!

5. The Family Man This Nicolas Cage movie is such an underrated gem. It’s a "what if" story about a wealthy investment broker who gets a glimpse of the suburban family life he left behind. It’s incredibly sweet and grounding.

6. The Christmas Chronicles (Part 1) Okay, this isn't "old," but it instantly felt like a classic the moment it was released. Kurt Russell as a rugged, blues-singing Santa? Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus? It is pure fun and has so much heart.

7. Elf Because sometimes you just need to laugh until your sides hurt. Will Ferrell's childlike wonder as Buddy the Elf is infectious. "Smiling's my favorite!"

8. White Christmas The music, the costumes, the tap dancing! It’s old Hollywood glamour wrapped up in tinsel.

9. Serendipity While perhaps not strictly a "Christmas movie," the central romance revolves around a meet-cute during Christmas shopping in New York City, and the vibes are immaculate. A top-tier sappy romance.

10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Because we’ve all felt a little bit like Clark Griswold trying to create the "perfect" family Christmas against all odds.

The New Favorites (The Last Few Years)

Just because I love the classics doesn't mean I'm not watching the new releases! Here are 10 recent movies that have made it into my rotation (or are high on my list to watch this week!).

1. Champagne Problems (2025) This is my favorite new release of the year. It’s on Netflix and it’s about a woman heading to France to acquire a champagne brand before the holidays. It’s elegant, romantic, and full of bubbles.

2. We Met in December (2025) This one is brand new on Hallmark+. It’s a lovely "missed connections" story about two strangers who share a magical layover and spend the next year trying to find each other again.

3. The Noel Diary (2022) I absolutely loved this Netflix movie. It stars Justin Hartley as a best-selling author who returns home to settle his mother's estate and finds a diary that holds secrets to his past. As a writer myself, this story really connected with me.

4. Holiday in the Wild (2019) If you want a break from snow, try this Netflix romance set in Zambia. A woman (Kristin Davis) goes on a solo safari after her husband leaves her and ends up helping rescue an elephant. I want to take an African safari someday, so the scenery in this is a dream.

5. A Biltmore Christmas (2023) Hallmark really outdid themselves with this one. A screenwriter travels to the famous Biltmore Estate and accidentally travels back in time to the 1940s set of a classic film. The costumes and the setting are stunning.

6. Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays (2022) If you love Christmas music, this Disney+ special is a must-watch. It’s bright, energetic, and the acapella harmonies are incredible.

7. Spirited (2022) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell in a huge budget musical retelling of A Christmas Carol? Yes, please. The songs are surprisingly catchy and it’s very funny.

8. A Boy Called Christmas (2021) This is a beautiful fantasy film on Netflix that tells the origin story of Father Christmas. It features Maggie Smith and Kristen Wiig and is a truly magical watch for the whole family.

9. Last Christmas (2019) Featuring the music of George Michael and starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, this movie is set in London and is incredibly charming. It’s a little sad, but deeply romantic and uplifting.

10. Operation Christmas Drop (2020) Since I’m writing this from the beach, I have to include a tropical pick! This one is set on an Air Force base in Guam. It’s a fun change of pace from the usual snowy landscapes, but still has plenty of holiday spirit.

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Tell me in the comments: What is the ONE Christmas movie you absolutely have to watch every single year?