What to Watch This Christmas: A 25-Day Holiday Movie Guide

DAY 1 – Top 3 Cozy Holiday Classics

1. A Christmas Story (1983)
   A nostalgic look at childhood Christmas dreams, disappointments, and traditions. Familiar, warm, and endlessly rewatchable.
2. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
   An angel intervenes in a struggling marriage and community. Romantic, soulful, and deeply rooted in love and faith.
3. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
   A man sees what the world would be like without him. A timeless reminder of impact, connection, and hope.

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DAY 2
Top 3 Holiday Rom-Coms

1. The Holiday (2006)
   Two women swap homes for the holidays and find unexpected romance. Cozy, charming, and comfort-watch approved.
2. Love Actually (2003)
   Interconnected love stories unfold during Christmas in London. Messy, emotional, and unapologetically sentimental.
3. Last Christmas (2019)
   A drifting woman finds love while confronting grief. Festive on the surface, heavier underneath.

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DAY 3
Top 3 Black Christmas Classics

1. The Preacher’s Wife (1996)
   A holiday staple centered on love, faith, and community healing.
2. This Christmas (2007)
   One family, one house, and all the unresolved issues coming home for the holidays.
3. Almost Christmas (2016)
   A family matriarch’s final Christmas brings chaos, laughter, and emotional reckoning.

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DAY 4
Top 3 Christmas Thrillers

1. Krampus (2015)
   A dark holiday horror rooted in folklore. Naughty kids and adults beware.
2. Better Watch Out (2016)
   A babysitting job turns into psychological terror. Twisty, tense, and unsettling.
3. Black Christmas (1974)
   A sorority house stalked during the holidays. A slasher classic with lasting influence.

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DAY 5
Top 3 Christmas Dramas

1. The Best Man Holiday (2013)
   Friendship, grief, and love collide during a Christmas reunion.
2. Joyeux Noël (2005)
   Based on true events, enemy soldiers share a Christmas truce during World War I.
3. Friday After Next (2002)
   A Christmas-set comedy with real emotional stakes beneath the jokes.

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DAY 6
Top 3 Magic-Forward Christmas Movies

1. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
   An origin story for Santa rooted in adventure and belief.
2. Prancer (1989)
   A young girl believes she’s found one of Santa’s reindeer. Quiet and heartfelt.
3. Klaus (2019)
   An animated reimagining of Santa’s beginnings. Beautiful, funny, and emotional.

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DAY 7
Top 3 Christmas Animation Favorites

1. The Polar Express (2004)
   A magical train ride to the North Pole fueled by belief.
2. Arthur Christmas (2011)
   Santa’s son races to save one child’s Christmas. Fast, funny, and sweet.
3. The Star (2017)
   The Nativity story told through animals. Family-friendly and gentle.

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DAY 8
Not Really Christmas (But They Still Count) — Part 1

1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
   A crime comedy set during Christmas. Fast dialogue and dark humor.
2. Fatman (2020)
   A gritty Santa thriller that leans hard into moral gray areas.
3. Violent Night (2022)
   Santa fights mercenaries. Absurd, violent, and unexpectedly festive.

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DAY 9
Top 3 International Christmas Films

1. A Boy Called Christmas (2021)
   Nordic folklore meets holiday fantasy.
2. The Claus Family (2020)
   A Dutch take on Santa’s legacy and responsibility.
3. Trolls Holiday in Harmony (2021)
   A musical holiday special celebrating togetherness.

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DAY 10
Top 3 Alternative Christmas Films

1. Gremlins (1984)
   Cute pets turn into chaos. A Christmas classic in disguise.
2. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
   A fairy tale about difference and belonging set during the holidays.
3. Carol (2015)
   A restrained love story unfolding over Christmas in 1950s New York.

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DAY 11
Top 3 Sitcom Christmas Episodes

1. Martin – “Holiday Blues” (1994)
   Holiday expectations meet relationship reality.
2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – “Christmas Show” (1990)
   Comedy with social awareness.
3. Everybody Hates Chris – “Everybody Hates Christmas” (2005)
   A kid’s-eye view of holiday realities.

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DAY 12
Top 3 Cozy Christmas Romance Movies — Part 2

1. Last Christmas (2019)
   Romance shaped by loss and healing.
2. Love Hard (2021)
   A modern holiday dating misadventure.
3. Holidate (2020)
   Two people agree to be each other’s plus-one for every holiday.

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DAY 13
Top 3 Christmas Movies for Kids & Families

1. The Polar Express (2004)
   Belief-driven holiday adventure.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
   Halloween meets Christmas in musical fantasy.
3. Arthur Christmas (2011)
   Modern animated holiday classic.

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DAY 14
Top 3 Sad but Beautiful Christmas Movies

1. The Family Stone (2005)
   Family tension and grief wrapped in tradition.
2. Prancer Returns (2001)
   Healing through belief and kindness.
3. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
   Melancholy, magical, and deeply human.

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DAY 15
Top 3 Festive Christmas Musicals

1. A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)
   A musical retelling of Dickens’ classic.
2. Spirited (2022)
   A modern, comedic spin on redemption.
3. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
   Beloved, heartfelt, and endlessly rewatchable.

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DAY 16
The Santa Clause Trilogy

1. The Santa Clause (1994)
   An ordinary man becomes Santa.
2. The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
   Marriage and magic complications.
3. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
   A chaotic but nostalgic conclusion.

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DAY 17
Top 3 Christmas “Life Rewrite” Movies

1. The Family Man (2000)
   A glimpse at the life you didn’t choose.
2. Scrooged (1988)
   A cynical executive confronts his past.
3. A Christmas Carol (2009)
   A darker animated redemption story.

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DAY 18
Classic Christmas Movies — 80s Edition

1. Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)
   Whimsical Santa lore.
2. Trading Places (1983)
   Class satire set during Christmas.
3. Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
   Goofy nostalgic fun.

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DAY 19
Top 3 Classic Claymation Christmas Specials

1. The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
   Memorable songs and stop-motion charm.
2. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)
   Santa’s origin, claymation style.
3. The Little Drummer Boy (1968)
   A solemn, music-driven holiday story.

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DAY 20
Top 3 New Christmas Movies on Netflix (2025)

1. A Merry Little Ex-Mas (2025)
   Unexpected reunions and modern holiday chaos.
2. My Secret Santa (2025)
   Romance and secrets collide.
3. Jingle Bell Heist (2025)
   A festive holiday caper.

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DAY 21
Top 3 Christmas Comedies

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
   Holiday chaos at its funniest.
2. Four Christmases (2008)
   Four families, one exhausting day.
3. Christmas With the Kranks (2004)
   Suburban pressure meets holiday expectations.

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DAY 22
Top 3 Animated Christmas Classics

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
   A timeless lesson on Christmas spirit.
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
   Belonging and acceptance.
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
   Quiet, reflective, and enduring.

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DAY 23
Not Really Christmas (But They Still Count) — Part 2

1. Batman Returns (1992)
   Gotham wrapped in Christmas darkness.
2. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
   Action thriller with holiday backdrop.
3. Lethal Weapon (1987)
   Buddy cop chaos at Christmas.

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DAY 24
Christmas Eve Picks

1. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
   A gentle romance built on mistaken identity.
2. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
   A visually rich fantasy inspired by the ballet.
3. The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
   A modern family-friendly Santa adventure.

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DAY 25
Most Christmasy Movies Ever

1. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
   Bigger, louder, and fully holiday-coded.
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
   Jim Carrey’s chaotic Grinch.
3. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
   Belief, magic, and Christmas spirit.