10 Movies Everyone Should Watch This Christmas

One of my favourite things to do during the holiday season is to cosy up and watch as many Christmas movies as I can. They're always a ton of fun and help me to feel much more festive. With the holiday right around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to put together a spoiler-free recommendations list.

So, that being said, here are 10 movies for you all to check out during the countdown to Christmas!

"Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with St. Nick's father to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl in less than 2 hours." - IMDb

This one is perfect for the whole family and that's because people of any age can enjoy it. The casting is really good, it's genuinely funny, and it's a rollercoaster of a ride that has great pacing and actually builds the story up. It's easy enough to follow that children of any, if not most, age groups will have a fun time but it's also interesting enough that any adult will have just as much fun.

This is one of those movies that, no matter how many times you see it, will make you laugh and keep you entertained just as much as your first viewing.

The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about - IMDb

The newest watch on this list for me and it really had everything I could ask for. An interesting story that kept all of my attention and left no space for my mind to wander, a group of characters you can easily get behind and want to support, and so many funny moments that were littered with some emotional and uplifting scenes that all blended together perfectly. There are some scenes that are so completely wild that for half a second you want to question them but then ultimately just end up shrugging and going along with it.

Although, at the end of the day, just watch it for Kurt Russell as Santa.

Before ambitious heiress Ellen Langford can inherit her father's gift business, she must deliver a special Christmas card to her dad's former partner in Snow Falls, the hometown she never knew. When a snowstorm strands her at the town inn, she's forced to work for her keep, and in the process, finds romance and discovers the true gift of Christmas. - IMDb

You know those cheesy girl meets boy movies where together they discover the magic of Christmas? Yeah, it's one of those and it is perfect in every way possible. There are so many of your favourite tropes wrapped into one but it also manages to avoid being a total mess. The structure of the story works very well and it isn't overloaded with unnecessary things.

Really this is just a cute, entertaining, and cosy movie. It's set in a small town, has the trope of being forced to share a space and getting to know one another, and it's super wintery to top.

"Two women troubled with guy-problems swap homes in each other's countries, where they each meet a local guy and fall in love." - IMDb

This is such a wholesome, cosy, and fun movie to watch at Christmas time or just during the winter. You get to witness two love stories set in two different locations. Not only do we get to see those relationships develop but we also get to see our two main characters (played by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) go through their own, personal journeys. The plot is really fun and is split up perfectly so that you get a good amount of time with each character/relationship and both sides do connect in small ways.

There's also a nice soundtrack, a good amount of opposites between the two stories/locations, a talented cast, and a ton of heartfelt and enjoyable moments.

"An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation." - IMDb

Most definitely a classic and one you've probably heard a ton about. There are so many Christmas movies out there but if I had to pick one that everyone must see, this would be it. I think it's the one movie that is guaranteed to be loved by almost everyone. It's a simple plot but it's still filled with a lot of entertaining moments. The cast is brilliant, it's got some pretty iconic quotes and scenes, and you're guaranteed to have fun from start to finish.

"A father who can't keep his promises, dies in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman, who has the final chance to put things right with his son, before he is gone forever." - IMDb

Honestly, this is on the list because it's my favourite Christmas movie and I think it's just a bunch of fun. It's got a pretty emotional plot but it still manages to balance those serious moments with the more comedic ones. It's a laugh out loud kind of funny and although the special effects aren't always the best and it's unbelievably cheesy at times, you still find yourself having a fantastic time and embracing all of those things, realising that it's really all part of the charm.

"On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas." - IMDb

This entire movie is just so adorable, uplifting, and another one that's great for the whole family. Its visuals are beautiful too, which means the entire movie offers up something from start to finish. The messages of friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas are strong but it never feels like they're hitting you over the head with it, making the whole thing so much more enjoyable.

"A Chicago baker (V.Hudgens) is competing in a Christmas baking competition in Belgravia. There she bumps into the prince's fiancee. They look alike and switch for 2 days. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."" - IMDb

Another new watch for me. This was like The Lizzie McGuire Movie meets The Princess Diaries meets Parent Trap except it's set at Christmas. If you like any of those things then you'll love this! It's fun, wholesome, and the type that would fit into a series of Hallmark movies (in the best way possible). It's similar to the Christmas Inheritance in the sense that some characters make a temporary change to their life and discover so many things as a result of doing it.

"When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place." - IMDb

A classic, honestly. This movie is great for all the family and a ton of fun overall. I really loved the way the world of Santa worked in this movie and how simple yet enjoyable the plot was. It also has a fantastic cast of characters who are all really lovable and enjoyable to watch.

The second movie in the trilogy is also fantastic and I highly recommend that one as well. The third one isn't as good but if you enjoy the other two then I would suggest checking that one out as well.

Alternate title: the Christmas Twins

"A young boy empath who feels the pain and experiences of another is dismissed as having an imaginary friend. Then the two meet and the adventure begins as the discovery of their mutual history unfolds." - IMDb

This one is on the list because it's a personal favourite of mine but also because it's genuinely really good and I feel like it's completely underrated. I don't know many people who have seen it which is such a shame considering how talented the cast is and how interesting the story is. It's got a rollercoaster of a plot, lovable characters, and manages to keep you hooked from start to finish.

And there we have it! 10 Christmas movies to watch this holiday season. Hopefully you'll get the chance to sit down and enjoy at least one of these.

I also wanted to quickly recommend Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983). It is by far my favourite adaption of A Christmas Carol. It's super short at only 26 minutes long and there's just a special touch with the fact that it's a Mickey Mouse version. I don't want to say much more than that because with it being so short, you may as well experience it for yourself.