The holiday season is upon us again, and with the curtain falling on Halloween, it's time for the Christmas season to move to center stage. A lot of movies are about Christmas or take place during the holiday season, but only a few actually take place, in whole or part, on December 25th.
There is a whole range of movies that include Christmas Day in the plot somehow. Some of them take place wholly on Christmas Day, others conclude as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, while others have a whole story to tell about the season that finally culminates on that special holiday.
Updated December 15, 2022 by Kristy Ambrose: Christmas movies are the gift that keeps on giving. Big-budget studios and small, independent producers never tire of using the heartwarming angle of the holidays in their films, along with that convenient extra indoor time to watch movies that also comes at this time of year. There are always a few new Christmas Day movies to choose from and it's fun to dig up the forgotten vintage ones, too.
13 The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This movie gives the spotlight to two of the most popular holidays, or at least the two that get the most attention. It starts on Halloween and ends on Christmas morning, and other than being an engaging story of two rival celebrations it's also a stellar example of stop-animation and Tim Burton's directing talent.
The Nightmare Before Christmas tells the story of the King of Halloween, Jack Skellington, and his quest to experience the wonder of Christmas firsthand. He's bored of being dark and scary, and the lure of multicolored lights and gaily wrapped presents was too much to resist. Jack learns the hard way that it's not so easy to just swap holidays, but you still have to admire the effort.
12 Lethal Weapon (1987)
Even though Lethal Weapon often gets classified as a "peripheral" Christmas movie, there is a message here about the shallow glamor and crushing isolation that often goes along with what Riggs refers to as "the silly season" as he tries to talk a depressed and hysterical stockbroker off a ledge.
Director Richard Donner juxtaposes the cheer and glitter of Christmas against the desperation of the greedy criminals the protagonists come up against, and the effect wouldn't be the same on any other holiday. Not all of Lethal Weapon takes place on Christmas Day, but its satisfying conclusion does, and it's a deliberate part of the story's resolution.
11 A Christmas Story (1983)
A Christmas Story wouldn't be the same movie if the triumphant conclusion didn't take place on Christmas Day. After the viewers have watched the epic tale of Ralphie and his search for a Red Rider BB gun, it would be a disappointment if the ending came before they could find out if he got his coveted present or not.
True to the tone of the film, it's also interesting to see if Ralphie can actually handle this thing, or if he shoots his eye out. The ending, like every Christmas, isn't what anyone in the family expected but still has all the right feels.
10 The Santa Clause (1994)
Imagine the job of Santas Claus was determined by a binding, magical contract that's passed from person to person. In the land of lawsuits, it makes sense that a job as important as Santa's would come with insurance. So when Scott Calvin accidentally kills Santa Claus by knocking him off the roof on Christmas Eve, he has to take over, and that includes delivering gifts in time for Christmas Day morning.
Tim Allen stars in The Santa Clause, playing essentially the same character as he did in Home Improvement but as an estranged father with a slightly more bitter edge. Becoming Santa Claus to improve your relationship with your kid is a tall order that not many parents can fulfill, but at least fans can all live vicariously through this movie.
9 Scrooged (1988)
-taxi.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
The 1980s still has its reputation for wealth and excess, especially when it came to rising stars in various forms of media. Stockbrokers and real estate moguls were the movers and shakers of the time. So why couldn't Ebeneezer Scrooge be a television executive, living the life of highballs for brunch in New York?
The star-studded Scrooged, which includes Bill Murray and Karen Allen, brings the old story into the modern era, with no shortage of the homeless and downtrodden for Frank Cross, the modern version of Scrooge, to step on. Unlike the novel on which it is based, this movie ends at midnight on Christmas Eve, but for those kids that got to open one present when the clock struck twelve, that's close enough.
8 Tokyo Godfathers
The movie is inspired by the 1938 movie 3 Godfathers, a Western based on the Biblical story of the Three Wise Men. This time the setting is downtown Tokyo and the three wise men are homeless dumpster divers Gin, Hana, and Miyuki.
Tokyo Godfathers is part of a movie genre known as "tragicomedy" that's popular in anime. The story begins on December 24th and follows the protagonists over the course of two days with most of the action taking place on Christmas Day. Their quest is to find the family of, or at least decent caregivers for, the baby they found abandoned in a pile of trash.
7 It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Speaking of movies that end as soon as Christmas Day starts, this fan-favorite opens on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and ends at midnight. It's A Wonderful Life is everyone's favorite Christmas movie for a reason, following George Bailey's search for meaning at a time when it seems all hope is lost.
The oldest Baily brother had to give up his hopes and dreams for the people of his community, and one dark Christmas night it all feels like it was all for nothing. Clarence the Angel, who has been lampooned and parodied and million times since his lovable face first appeared in this movie, descends from heaven to teach him otherwise.
6 Four Christmases (2008)
-main-couple.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
It's the 21st century, and a generation of kids that were raised by divorced parents are getting ready to get married and start their own families. That's the basic sentiment behind Four Christmases and behind the laughter is a profound and heartwarming lesson about what's important in life.
There's no other time of the year when a couple would be expected to try and visit all of their divorced or estranged extended families in one day, but that's exactly what Brad and Kate are stuck with on Christmas Day. The ordeal tests them, but their experience turns out to be a positive one.
5 Elf (2003)
Will Ferrel had a few hit comedies, and Elf is one of the best. It takes place over the Christmas season and includes several of the usual seasonal stereotypes while also making fun of them. The movie takes it for granted from the start that the mythology about Santa Claus and his workshop at the North Pole is just a fact of life, with a Santa Claus who's portrayed as haggard but sympathetic by none other than Ed Asner.
Bob Newhart lends his comedic talents to the movie as the narrator, and it's a perfect fit for the tone of the film, which is always fun but has some real sentimental moments where it counts. By the time Christmas Day rolls around, Buddy's estranged father has discovered the true meaning of Christmas.
4 Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
One from the more obscure corner of the Christmas movie vault, Santa Claus: The Movie didn't get a lot of positive attention when it was released. However, the corny script and old-fashioned movie fun, complete with a scene-chewing villain in the form of John Lithgow, is more than decent even in the present day.
The movie has some unique ideas, like how automation would challenge the toy-making capabilities of elves and how to help a reindeer overcome a crippling fear of heights. For those interested in 1980s movie trivia, this was the last big-budget studio movie produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the same father-and-son team that made the Superman movies.
3 A Christmas Carol (1938)
There are several adaptations of the classic Christmas novel and ghost story, A Christmas Carol. This is one of the earliest, and the movie has stood the test of time despite its obvious age. It follows the same basic storyline of the book, adapting some scenes word for word, starting on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and ending on Christmas Day morning.
The story of Scrooge is one of Charles Dickens's most popular stories and the message is an eternal one. It's not just about getting into the spirit of the season, it's about getting a second chance.
2 Home Alone (1990)
Another wacky Christmas comedy from the 1990s that sprang from what's a horrifying premise, Home Alone isn't just a funny and touching movie that finished with everyone getting what they want on Christmas Day. It's also about forgiveness, understanding, and life-changing injuries.
Sooner or later everyone has to spend Christmas alone, but it's not a pretty choice to make. Luckily, Kevin finds out on Christmas Day morning that he doesn't have to celebrate alone this time.
1 Joyeux Noël (2005)
-tree.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
The battlefields of World War I will live on in infamy, but this is the true story of how music and Christmas stopped the war machine for a few scant hours in 1912. The movie describes the ceasefire as lasting for only a single night, but historically it lasted from December 24th to 26th.
It's been more than a century since this famous incident took place, and it's a surprise there aren't more movies about it. Joyeux Noël has a powerful message about the power of music, peace, and Christmas cheer.