Top Christmas Movies for Thriller, Comedy, and Tearjerker Fans

‘Tis the season for spirited debates about what the best Christmas movie is. While classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Home Alone,” and “Love, Actually” are always popular, maybe you’re looking for something a little different this year. If so, here are some suggestions from Associated Press Film Writers Jake Coyle and Lindsey Bahr to cover all the Christmas movie moods.

For a movie that feels like Christmas without being a true Christmas movie, check out “Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014). Wes Anderson’s intricate designs and Russian doll-like narratives will make you feel like you’re unwrapping a present. Available for digital rental.

Feeling fancy? Watch “Metropolitan” (1990) on Criterion, MAX, Hulu, or Prime Video. Join a few privileged youths on the Upper East Side for an elegant evening in New York without needing a white tie or ball gown.

For the best performance next to felt, “A Muppets Christmas Carol” (1992) on Disney+ is a must-see. Michael Caine shines as Ebenezer Scrooge alongside your favorite Muppet characters in this Dickens classic.

Ready to have a Christmas cry? “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964) is a technicolor musical that will tug at your heartstrings, especially with its tearjerker snowy gas station scene. Available on The Criterion Channel.

Looking for the best Los Angeles Christmas movie? “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005) offers a quirky neo-noir black comedy with Robert Downey Jr. at Christmastime. Available for digital rental.

If you’re dreaming of a house swapping fantasy, “The Holiday” (2006) on Hulu and Prime Video is ideal. Follow along as Cameron Diaz finds romance in an English cottage in this delightful movie.

Need a great Christmas thriller that’s not “Die Hard?” Try “Three Days of the Condor” (1975) on Paramount+. This spy thriller questions the meaning of togetherness against a Christmas backdrop.

For a recent kids Christmas movie, “Klaus” (2019) on Netflix offers a fresh take on Santa Claus’s origin story. Dive into this gem that arrived among a sea of mediocre holiday films.

If you have little ones under five, “Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas” (2021) on Netflix is perfect for a sweet, funny, and not-at-all scary 30-minute adventure.

For a general holiday-period movie, “Nobody’s Fool” (1994) on Kanopy or for digital rental is a heartwarming tale that spans Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Paul Newman leads a cast of stellar performances in this small-town story.

For midcentury style and heartbreak, “Carol” (2015) is a lovely, tender Christmas movie available on Netflix, Paramount+, and MUBI. Dive into the romance and heartbreak of this beautiful film.

And for the ultimate TCM Christmas movie, check out “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945) with Barbara Stanwyck. This classic screwball comedy is timeless and worth a watch this holiday season.