Happy Huludays! Get in the Spirit With the Best Holiday Movies on Hulu
December 11, 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to cozy up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa and watch holiday movies.
Whether you’re looking for a festive fantasy, a holiday comedy, or a Christmas classic — Hulu’s got you covered with every type of holiday flick that could possibly be on your wishlist.
So start the fireplace and dig out your coziest set of holiday PJs, because we’re breaking down the best Christmas movies to watch this season on Hulu.
Best Christmas Movies to Watch on Hulu
Elf (2003)
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear — and by streaming Elf as many times as your heart desires. All Hulu subscribers can watch this quotable Will Farrell Christmas comedy streaming now.
Check out our Elf guide for even more from the cast on Hulu.
Watch: Elf
The Polar Express (2004)
All aboard the Polar Express! This enchanting animated Christmas movie will take you on a journey to the North Pole via the Polar Express, teaching important lessons about friendship and the magic of believing.
Be sure to check out the Hulu Polar Express guide for more.
Watch: Polar Express
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
We’re so glad it’s Christmas vacation, aren’t you? Join Clark, Ellen, Cousin Eddie, Uncle Lewis, and the entire Griswold family as they try to navigate the holidays together in one of the most quotable movies of all time.
All Hulu subscribers can stream Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation on–demand all season long.
Looking for more laughs this holiday season? Check out our list of the funniest Christmas movies streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Christmas Vacation
Home Alone (1990)
Kevin (or as his mom calls him, “KEVIN!”) is the youngest in a large family of siblings and cousins, meaning he’s often misunderstood and overlooked. So much so that Kevin is accidentally left home alone while the rest of the family jets off to Paris for Christmas. It’s a good thing the family outcast is also incredibly brave, clever, and resourceful — because it’s now up to Kevin to save the family home from two burglars dubbed the “Wet Bandits.”
Get into the holiday spirit with the ultimate Home Alone movie marathon on Disney+, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992),* Home Alone 3 (1997),* Home Alone 4 (2002),* Home Alone: The Holiday Heist (2012),* and Home Sweet Home Alone (2021).*
Watch: Home Alone*
*Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Home Alone 3, Home Alone 4, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist, and Home Sweet Home Alone are available with The Disney Bundle. Access content from each service separately.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
What lengths would you go to to make Christmas special for your kid? For Howard (Arnold Schwarzenegger), he’ll go as far as fighting mobs of angry shoppers, attempting a home robbery, and dressing up in a holiday parade to get his son the only thing he wants for Christmas — a Turbo Man action figure.
Watch: Jingle All the Way
Nutcrackers (2024)
Just as Mike (Ben Stiller) is about to close the biggest deal of his career, he’s informed of his sister’s sudden passing — leaving him no choice but to temporarily take care of his recently orphaned nephews in rural Ohio.
Laugh and cry along to the new Hulu Original Christmas movie, Nutcrackers, streaming now.
Watch: Nutcrackers
The Santa Clause (1994)
It’s every kid’s dream for their dad to be Santa Claus. But when that becomes Charlie Calvin’s reality, he finds it isn’t all candy canes and gumdrops.
Stream The Santa Clause now on Disney+, along with Santa Clause 2* (2002), Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause* (2006), and the Disney+ Original series, The Santa Clauses.*
Watch: The Santa Clause*
*The Santa Clause, Santa Clause 2, Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, and The Santa Clauses are available with The Disney Bundle. Access content from each service separately.
Four Christmases (2008)
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in this laugh-out-loud Christmas comedy film about a relatable (and arguably the worst) part of the holidays — having to go to multiple houses on Christmas day.
Follow along as their characters trek to four different houses for family celebrations, while attempting to keep their sanity, with Four Christmases streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Four Christmases
Why Him? (2016)
Laird (James Franco) isn’t who Ned (Bryan Cranston) had in mind for his perfect daughter, Stephanie (Zoey Deutch). After a horrifying first encounter via video chat, Stephanie invites her family to Laird’s house in San Francisco for Christmas to try and make amends.
Will the holiday spirit encourage Ned to trust his daughter’s instincts, or is Laird destined to eternity on Ned’s naughty list?
Watch: Why Him?
Christmas With the Kranks (2004)
Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) have had it with Christmas — which is surprising because the Kranks are known for extravagant decorations and over-the-top holiday cheer.
But with their daughter living abroad in Peru this year, they decide to ditch the pressure of a perfect Christmas and book a secret luxury cruise in the Caribbean instead. That is until their daughter decides to take a very last–minute flight home for the holidays.
Can Nora and Luther put together a classic Krank Christmas in less than 24 hours?
Watch: Christmas With the Kranks
A Timeless Christmas (2020)
In the Hallmark Christmas movie, A Timeless Christmas, the destiny of true love knows no bounds — not even the confines of time. When a man from the early 1900s finds himself 100 years in the future, he must decide whether to return home or stay in the future with the woman he’s falling head-over-heels for.
There’s nothing quite like a Hallmark romance at Christmas time, and we’re excited to be your streaming destination for Hallmark Christmas movies. Check out our list of the best Hallmark Christmas movies streaming on Hulu, including information on how to watch the Hallmark Channel live without cable.
Watch: A Timeless Christmas
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
Frosty the Snowman is a timeless holiday favorite that generations young and old can sing along to together. This beloved Christmas classic brings a jolly snowman to life with the help of a magic top hat — and a touch of Christmas magic, of course.
Watch: Frosty the Snowman
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
Jake (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is a college student eager to distance himself from his estranged family and small-town roots — even if that means missing out on holidays at home. But when his father promises him a vintage sports car as a Christmas gift, Jake reluctantly agrees to make the trip. However, things take an unexpected turn when he misses his flight and finds himself stranded in the desert.
Join Jake on his journey across the country, where he discovers valuable lessons about life, family, and the meaning of Christmas along the way.
Watch: I’ll Be Home for Christmas
Holiday in Handcuffs (2006)
After another breakup, Trudie (Melissa Joan Hart) makes an irrational split-second decision to kidnap a handsome stranger (Mario Lopez) and bring him home to her family for Christmas. What could possibly go wrong?
Watch: Holiday in Handcuffs
Jack Frost (1998)
After losing his dad, Jack, in a tragic car accident, Charlie makes a Christmas wish to bring his father back. With the help of a little Christmas magic and the snowman he built in his front yard, Charlie’s wish comes true in the most incredible way.
Watch: Jack Frost
Fred Claus (2007)
Did you know Santa has a sibling? Meet his older and much less merry brother, Fred (Vince Vaughn), who’s probably on the naughty list. Strapped for cash, Fred agrees to work for his brother in the North Pole — but what he learns from the experience is much more valuable.
Watch: Fred Claus
The Family Stone (2005)
An uptight girlfriend meets her new boyfriend’s quirky family for the first time — will it be a holiday love story to remember or a Christmas recipe for disaster? Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Craig T. Nelson, Luke Wilson, and Dermot Mulroney star in this heartwarming Christmas rom-com streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: The Family Stone
A Christmas Carol (1984)
Ebenezer Scrooge is a bitter old man who’s forced to take an introspective look at his past, present, and future when he’s visited by the ghost of his former business partner. This lively adaptation of Charles Dickens’ iconic Christmas story will inspire you to spread kindness and cheer this holiday season.
Watch: A Christmas Carol
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
A remake of the 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street (1994) follows Susan, a little girl who has lost faith in Santa Claus. That’s until she befriends a man named Kris, who claims to be the big man himself — but will Susan believe him?
Both the 1947 and 1994 versions of Miracle on 34th Street are available to stream now on Hulu.
Watch: Miracle on 34th Street (1994)* and Miracle on 34th Street (1947)*
*Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and Miracle on 34th Street (1947) are available with The Disney Bundle. Access content from each service separately.
The Nutcracker (1993)
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker tells a classic Christmas tale using live performance, emotional musical scores, and breathtaking ballet choreography. For a whimsical Christmas movie experience unlike any you’ve seen before, The Nutcracker is a must-watch.
Watch: The Nutcracker
Happiest Season (2020)
In this Hulu Original Christmas rom-com, Kristen Stewart plays Abby, a young woman preparing to propose to her girlfriend, Harper, while meeting her future in-laws over Christmas. But there’s one little problem — Harper’s conservative family thinks Abby is just her roommate.
With the help of Abby’s best friend (played by Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy), the couple navigates love, family, and the holidays while discovering the magic of being true to themselves.
Watch: Happiest Season
It’s a Wonderful Binge (2022)
The Hulu Original movie, The Binge (2020) is back with a holiday sequel. It’s a Wonderful Binge is set in the same dystopian future, where all drugs and alcohol are banned except for one day of the year — Binge Day. This year, the annual binge takes place on Christmas Eve, setting the stage for holiday songs, magical storybooks, and a lot of illegal substances.
Watch: It’s a Wonderful Binge
Die Hard (1988)
This Bruce Willis movie may have premiered in 1988, but one lingering question still remains all these years later — is Die Hard a Christmas movie? While it’s mostly an action thriller, it does take place at a holiday party on Christmas Eve, which is good enough for us to include it on this list.
Discover more of the best non-Christmas Christmas movies streaming now on Hulu.
Watch: Die Hard
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This is the classic Charles Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge as told with the help of Kermit, Ms. Piggy, and the entire Muppets crew. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a Christmas story with a message for the entire family to watch together.
Watch: The Muppet Christmas Carol*
*The Muppet Christmas Carol is available with The Disney Bundle. Access content from each service separately.
Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)
It’s the most wonderful time of year to fall in love, even if you’re spending the holidays on the warm and tropical shores of Hawaii, like Olivia (Lea Michele).
Every year since she was a kid, Olivia’s family has jetted to the islands as their Christmas tradition — but this year is different. Olivia is shocked to discover her childhood sweetheart, Jack (Charles Michael Davis) is also spending the holidays in Hawaii for the first time in years.
Will old sparks fly, or do Olivia and Jack find trouble in paradise?
Watch: Same Time, Next Christmas
I’m Glad It’s Christmas (2022)
Holly’s personal, five-year deadline of “making it” on Broadway is quickly approaching without any hope in sight. Could the magic of the holiday season bring Holly her dream role (and dream guy)? Find out in this feel-good holiday rom-com.
Watch: I’m Glad It’s Christmas
All I Want for Christmas (2022)
All Ivy wants for Christmas is for her recently divorced parents to get back together. With a little holiday magic and light-hearted laughter, Ivy’s wish may just come true with a twist of fate that’s only possible during Christmas. All I Want for Christmas is sure to be a future holiday classic that will warm even the coldest of hearts.
Watch: All I Want for Christmas
Santa Games (2022)
When the resident mall Santa decides to retire, the fight to take the reins creates chaos (and comedy) amongst a group of Santa ho-ho-hopefuls. If you’re looking for a new favorite Christmas comedy, Santa Games is sure to make the list.
Watch: Santa Games
A Merry Christmas Wish (2022)
Janie is an NYC advertising executive who returns to her hometown for the holidays to sell her family’s farm. But when she reconnects with a childhood friend at the town’s Winter Wonderland festival, she begins reconsidering her life in the big city.
Watch: A Merry Christmas Wish
A Country Christmas Story (2013)
Featuring country music legend Dolly Parton, A Country Christmas Story is a Lifetime TV movie about a small-town teenage choir girl with big dreams of becoming a country music star — a story similar to Dolly’s own life and humble beginnings.
Watch: A Country Christmas Story
The Mistle-Tones (2012)
Music, rivalry, and romance — what more could you ask for in a made-for-TV Christmas movie? Follow along on Holly’s journey as she fights to hold on to family traditions, only to be reminded of what really matters — the joy music can bring during the holidays.
Watch: The Mistle-Tones
