It’s that time of year again, time to deck the halls, jingle all the way, and feast like never before. But let’s be real: nothing sleighs the holiday blues better than a good Christmas movie marathon. What’s more magical than popcorn, hot cocoa, and a cozy night reliving your favorite festive classics? Don’t tell me you were just going to sleep through it… Silent Night? Not when Home Alone is on the screen!
This year, NRTC is making sure your nights are anything but silent, with a curated list of iconic Christmas movies to keep you laughing, crying, and jingling all the way. Whether you’re surrounded by family, friends, or just rocking around the Christmas tree as a single pringle, these films will have you feeling holly, jolly, and reel-y entertained.
1. Home Alone
When it comes to Christmas comedies that sleigh every time, Home Alone jingles all the way to the top of the list. Directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes, this holly‑jolly classic stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, the boy who turns “Deck the Halls” into “Wreck the burglars.” With Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern bumbling as the Wet Bandits, every trap is a gift wrapped in slapstick cheer. Whether you’re sipping cocoa or munching popcorn, this film proves that Christmas spirit can be loud, proud, and hilariously booby‑trapped.
2. The Grinch ( How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
In the 2000 live‑action version directed by Ron Howard, Jim Carrey steals Christmas (and every scene) with his over‑the‑top antics, turning Whoville’s Silent Night into a slapstick riot of green fur and mean grins. Fast‑forward to 2018, and the animated reboot starring Benedict Cumberbatch gives the grouchy Grinch a smoother, sleeker look, proving that even in high definition, a heart can grow three sizes bigger. Together, these two versions deck the halls with laughter and lessons, reminding us that Christmas isn’t about presents under the tree, it’s about the joy that makes your heart glow brighter than a thousand fairy lights.
3. That Christmas
In That Christmas, directed by Simon Otto and written by Richard Curtis, the seaside town of Wellington‑on‑Sea faces the “worst snowstorm in history” right on Christmas Eve. Santa himself gets caught in the blizzard, while families juggle chaotic holiday plans, kids learn that life doesn’t always go as scripted, and unexpected love and laughter sparkle through the storm. With voices like Bill Nighy, Brian Cox, and Fiona Shaw bringing the characters to life, this animated gem sleighs audiences with multiple storylines wrapped up like gifts under the tree.
4. Winter Heist
In Winter Heist (Jingle Bell Heist), two struggling workers, Sophia (Olivia Holt) and Nick (Connor Swindells) decide to pull off the ultimate Christmas Eve robbery at one of London’s most iconic department stores. Directed by Michael Fimognari, this festive rom‑com wraps crime and comedy together like a bow on a gift. But as they hatch their naughty‑and‑nice plan, sparks fly faster than twinkly lights on Oxford Street, and suddenly the heist feels more like a meet‑cute under the mistletoe. With Lucy Punch and Peter Serafinowicz adding extra comic cheer, this film proves that sometimes the best loot isn’t in the cash register, it’s in finding love when you least expect it.
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Greg Heffley’s holiday season is anything but merry when his dad decides it’s time to toughen up. In this animated adaptation, starring Lila Bahng, Jabari Banks, and Jill Basey, Greg faces the ultimate Christmas “present”: the threat of military school. Determined to stay off the naughty list, he tries to be on his best behavior, but things snowball when his dad drags him to a wilderness camp. Between bug bites, campfire chaos, and father‑son clashes, this Wimpy Kid adventure sleighs audiences with laughs and lessons about family, resilience, and finding your own tune even if it’s off‑key caroling. It’s a stocking stuffer of comedy that proves sometimes the biggest gift is learning to survive the holidays with your parents.
5. Family Guy’s Hallmark Channel’s Lifetime’s Familiar Holiday Movie
Leave it to Family Guy to roast the holiday movie genre like chestnuts on an open fire. This parody special takes every Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas trope, snowy small towns, big‑city folks finding love, cookie‑baking montages, and crams them into one hilariously overstuffed stocking. With the Griffin family at the helm, expect Peter to sleigh with ridiculous antics, Stewie to unwrap sharp one‑liners, and Lois to keep the holiday chaos from turning into a total snowpocalypse. It’s a meta‑Christmas comedy that jingles all the way by poking fun at the very films we stream every December.
7. My Secret Santa (2025, Netflix)
Talk about a disguise that sleighs expectations! Directed by Mike Rohl, this rom‑com stars Alexandra Breckenridge as Taylor, a single mom who loses her job and secretly dons a Santa suit at a ski resort to pay for her daughter’s lessons. Alongside the charming resort manager Matthew (Ryan Eggold) and with support from Tia Mowry, Taylor unwraps more than presents. She discovers love, laughter, and the true gift of second chances. With secret identities and plenty of holiday cheer, My Secret Santa jingles all the way into our watch list.
8. Man v Baby (2025, Netflix)
Rowan Atkinson returns as Trevor Bingley in this slapstick sequel to Man v Bee, proving that Christmas chaos can be diaper‑deep. Created by Atkinson and William Davies, and directed by David Kerrit is a four‑episode miniseries. It sees Trevor house‑sitting a luxurious penthouse over the holidays, only to end up stuck with a lost baby. With bottles, bibs, and blunders piling up faster than snowflakes, Trevor’s misadventures turn “Silent Night” into “Sleepless Night.” Featuring Sunetra Sarker and Susannah Fielding, Man v Baby is a festive farce sleighing with laughter. Also, reminding us that sometimes the biggest gift is patience.
9. Oh. What. Fun. (2025, Prime Video)
Directed by Michael Showalter and based on Chandler Baker’s novel, this ensemble comedy proves that family drama can be the ultimate stocking stuffer. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Denis Leary, the film follows Claire (Pfeiffer), a mom overlooked during Christmas who goes missing. This forces her family to realize that without her, their holiday is anything but merry. With chaos, comedy, and heartfelt revelations wrapped like gifts under the tree, Oh. What. Fun. Jingles with the reminder that the true magic of Christmas is family, even when they forget to notice you.
10. A Merry Little Ex‑Mas (2025, Netflix)
Sometimes the past sneaks down the chimney, too. Directed by Steve Carr and written by Holly Hester, this romantic comedy stars Alicia Silverstone as Kate, who gave up her career to move to Winterlight with her husband Everett (Oliver Hudson). But after their divorce, Kate hopes for one last perfect family Christmas before selling her house, only to have her ex crash the festivities. With Jameela Jamil and Pierson Fodéadding extra sparkle, the film sleighs audiences with awkward reunions, rekindled sparks, and plenty of holiday hijinks. A Merry Little Ex‑Mas proves that sometimes the best gift isn’t under the tree, it’s learning to laugh at love lost and found.
