It’s the hap-happiest season of all. We bring nature inside as we adorn our living spaces with seasonally appropriate trees, and we light up the longer nights with bright and colourful lights. Music from generations long since passed is re-played and re-contextualised, and centuries old iconography is re-evaluated and repurposed.

There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and carolling out in the snow. If we’ve been good, we’ll receive gifts (thanks Santa!), and if we’re lucky we’ll eat so much food we can barely move. Almost certainly, we’ll watch a movie. From the Netflix Originals of the current era to the silver screen classics of wartime Hollywood, Christmastime movie watching doesn’t discriminate based on picture quality, colour or the lack thereof, acting powerhouses or barely trained actors – if it works, it works. And if it’s good, we’ll hold onto it forever.

In this Movie List from The Film Magazine, we’ve scoured the annals of Christmas movie history to bring you the very best of the best to watch this holiday season. These films are Christmas classics and beloved cult hits, some culturally significant and others often overlooked. These films are seasonal treats; two advent calendars worth of movie magic from the big-wigs in Hollywood and beyond.

Short films (those with a runtime of under one hour) will not be included here, nor will films that cross multiple seasons but feel like Christmas movies – sorry You’ve Got Mail and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Debatable Christmas movies like Gremlins have also been omitted because of their inclusion in our alternative list “10 Excellent Non-Christmas Films Set at Christmas“. Seasonal classic The Apartment has also been disqualified on the grounds that it covers Christmas and beyond, and is arguably more of a new year’s movie.

These are 50 Unmissable Christmas Movies as chosen by The Film Magazine team members. Entries by Mark Carnochan, Kieran Judge, Martha Lane, Sam Sewell-Peterson and Joseph Wade.

Follow @thefilmagazine on X (Twitter).

1. Remember the Night (1940)

Golden Era stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray (who would go on to star in The Apartment) spark an unlikely romance when Stanwyck’s Lee Leander steals a bracelet from a jewellery store and MacMurray’s John “Jack” Sargent is assigned to prosecute her over the Christmas holidays.

One of the era’s many beloved studio romantic comedies, Remember the Night features all the elements that would come to define the genre while encompassing some screwball comedy and classic transatlantic accents. The tagline read “When good boy meets bad girl they remember the night”, and it’s likely you’ll remember this seasonal treat too. JW

2. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Few things signal classic Hollywood Christmases like Jimmy Stewart, and 6 years before arguably his most memorable performance in the iconic Frank Capra Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life, he starred in a seasonal favourite that was just as beloved by critics, The Shop Around the Corner.

This holiday romance from Ernst Lubitsch (who also directed Heaven Can Wait) sees Stewart’s Alfred fall in love with his pen pal who, unbeknownst to him, is the colleague he most despises at his gift store job – You’ve Got Mail has got nothing on this. With some hearty moments and all of the circumstantial comedy of the best movies of the era, The Shop Around the Corner will make you laugh and fill your heart in that special way that only the best Christmas movies can. JW

3. Holiday Inn (1942)

Early sound pictures were revolutionised by famed tap dancer Fred Astaire, and by 1942 he was a certified movie musical megastar. In Mark Sandrich’s seasonal musical Holiday Inn, he teams with would-be Christmas icon and man with a voice as sooth as silk, Bing Crosby. The result is one of the most iconic and influential Christmas movies ever made.

The film’s outdated attitude towards race are cringe-inducing and inexcusable in a 21st century context (there’s a whole sequence featuring blackface), but its other dated sensibilities shine bright amongst more modern and commercial Christmas films; its wholesome aura, classic dance scenes, and era-defining songs making for an unmissable experience. To top it all, Bing Crosby sings “White Christmas” for the first time in this film, cementing it in history as a seasonal classic. JW

4. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Widely acknowledged as one of the holiday season’s best-ever films, Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris) illuminates his would-be wife Judy Garland in arguably her most established performance, bringing Christmas cheer to all without sacrificing any of the harsh realities facing the American people in the first half of the 20th century.

Featuring the original (and arguably the best) rendition of Christmas classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and being anchored by some heartbreaking story elements, Meet Me In St. Louis maintains its power and relevance 80 years on. It offers a Christmas movie that will forever mark the height of its sub-genre, as well as the two filmmaking careers (of Minnelli and Garland) that helped to define the era. JW

Recommended for you: There’s No Place Like St. Louis at Christmas

5. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

Remember the Night star Barbara Stanwyck is once again front and centre for a Golden Era Hollywood Christmas movie, this time playing a city magazine editor whose lies about being a perfect housewife are put to the test when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her house.

This is screwball comedy with all the spirit of the festive season is as romantic as it is funny, and prominently features the shadows of World War II to gift the film a unique emotionality that has ensured it is rewatched year on year. JW

Some Halloween films take the very essence of Halloween and run with them. Whether it be the spirit of magic, witches, or simply the film’s use of Halloween as a theme. The following is a collection for people who enjoy the spirit of Halloween and all the fun that comes with it, but don’t necessarily feel the need to watch a possessed doll butcher some teenagers. Here are the 7 best Halloween films for people who don’t like horror movies…

1. The Craft (1996)

The Craft does have its scary moments, but the film’s relevance for being a bonding sisterhood movie rather than an evil witch movie adds it to our list. Four young women (incl. Scream’s own Sidney, Neve Campbell), all outcasts at their high school, stumble onto the occult to try and make their lives better. The film’s moral message is a very heavy ‘be careful what you wish for’ story, and centres on power, having it, abusing it, and learning when to say enough is enough. While not ranking that highly upon its release, the film’s strong theme of people struggling to fit in has made it a cult classic sleeper hit in recent years and it remains 10th on the list of the highest grossing movies about witches since 1980. It also received bonus points for using what would go on to become the ‘Charmed’ theme song.

Recommended for you: 5 Horror Movies for People Who Don’t Like Horrors

2. Hocus Pocus (1993)

From the catchy tunes and campy performances right through to the fun take the film has on the subject of being a witch, Hocus Pocus is an undeniably quintessential Halloween movie. The film’s plot revolves around a trio of witch sisters being awoken from their centuries old curse in a haunted American town by a hapless teenage boy. The story flits between teenage rom-com and coming-of-age story, with a gaggle of witches thrown in. The passion for fighting for your family – from both sides of the cauldron – makes the film especially heart-warming, perhaps enough to put a spell on you. Calls from stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker (a.k.a The Sanderson Sisters) to make a sequel can only further love for the film, making Hocus Pocus an unmissable entry on this list.

3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

It’s just a step to the left…

Thematically, most Halloween films that aren’t scary are very, very camp, and Tim Curry’s turn as the sweet transvestite from Transylvania is no different. The film features a married couple who become stranded in Curry’s character’s mansion, an unfortunate circumstance that results in a lot of dream-like escapades that don’t make a whole lot of sense. In today’s times, the film seems fairly commonplace, but considering the climate of the 1970s, the film was fairly forward-thinking in terms of Dr Frank N Furter (Curry) and remains a classic all these years later. If nothing else, “The Time Warp” will definitely prime you for the inevitable repeated performances by anyone you witness on a night out around Halloween.

1. Jake Sully and Neytiri – Avatar

James Cameron’s Na’vi first filled our screens in 2009 and, courtesy of their their striped, blue skin, have been kind of hard to forget. With such a unique costume, you’ll definitely stand out in a crowd! There are 4 more films set to arrive in the next 7-8 years, too. But please spare a thought for those who will have to clean your blue body paint off every surface for weeks to come! (Trust me, I speak from experience…)

2. Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

How can you go wrong with these outfits? Tim Burton’s gothic take on the theatrical duo, set in Victorian London, is complete with gory side-effects and people pie. Todd is clad in the classic white shirt, waistcoat and notable hairstyle (bloodstains optional) but Helena Bonham Carter steals the show with her range of corsets, lace and full length skirts. A perfect idea for a couple’s costume, you’ll be sure to make a fabulously grizzly impression.

3. Holly Golightly – Breakfast at Tiffany’s

In one of the most iconic looks in film, Audrey Hepburn dazzles in this simple yet elegant, lengthy, black dress. Adorned with long black gloves, pearls, and of course a tiara, Hepburn’s look has become a timeless classic and would definitely be a graceful addition to any costume party.

4. Jack Skellington and Sally – The Nightmare Before Christmas

Another Tim Burton movie to feature on this list, and perhaps one for the more adventurous makeup artists out there. Both creepy and quirky, Jack and Sally have great costumes which aren’t too commonly seen around town on your average Halloween. And bonus? You could probably recycle the costumes and wear them at Christmas, too.

5. Cecilia Tallis – Atonement

Another elegant addition, the green dress Kiera Knightley rocked in the 2007 movie ‘Atonement’ was voted ‘Best Costume of All Time’ by Sky Movies and readers of ‘In Style’, so it’s not a surprise that it’s an excellent choice for any costume event. Slightly deviating from the classic style of the 1930’s, this bold colour choice, not often seen in films, has made its mark and definitely sticks in our memories.

6. Sam Lowry – Brazil

Perhaps less commonly known than some of the other films present on this list, this is one movie costume that, once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to forget. The lead character sports some fetching silver armour and a pair of wings in a daydream, and it’s perfect for surprising a film fan or two no matter where you may be heading this Halloween. Perhaps not the easiest costume for us to undertake ourselves this year, but armed with some feathers and a roll of tinfoil, what could possibly go wrong?!

7. Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette

With an enhanced take on the Rococo style, ‘Marie Antoinette’ is not short on amazing costumes. This film is an explosion of pastels, ruffles, bows, ribbons and big hair! There’s a dedication to complex costumes and it certainly paid off, with the film winning an Oscar for ‘Best Achievement in Costume Design’ in 2007. Perhaps this won’t be so easy to replicate, but if you can get somewhere close, you’re bound to impress.

8. Literally ANYTHING out of The Lord of The Rings – The Lord of The Rings Trilogy

Whether you’re a Dwarf, an Elf or a hairy-footed Hobbit, this trilogy has something for everyone! With ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ being nominated, and ‘The Return of the King’ winning an Oscar for its great costume design, it’s no surprise it’s a great go-to for any costume event. From Galadriel’s gowns to Elrond’s armour, from the Witch King to Aragorn, these movies demonstrate excellent detail and unique costumes, So, whether you pick one for yourself or make it a group theme, how could you possibly go wrong?

9. The Mad Hatter – Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter costume is an explosion of colour, fabric and detail. This quirky interpretation definitely leaves an impression and shows an attention to detail, from his ever-changing cotton socks, to the price tag in his hat, to the Hatter’s pin cushion ring. A fun costume to undertake, a trip to a local charity shop might be the best way to tackle this mix of materials.

10. Anna Valerious – Van Helsing

Based originally on the book by Bram Stoker, these characters are definitely more in line with the traditional Halloween costumes that we know and love. This gothic fantasy is filled with great costumes but Kate Beckinsale’s character definitely stands out. With a more refined look than that of Dracula’s brides, Anna shows us that a leading female can look amazing and dress practically all at once! With a loose blouse, corset and stylish jacket, Anna is the perfect choice to inspire us this Halloween.

Inspired? Let us know in the comments!

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