Best Christmas Movies of the 2010s, Ranked

It’s that time of year when it seems our evenings are best spent wrapped up in blankets with a warm drink in our hands, sitting in front of the TV to watch all the new holiday shows and movies. You might even have a fireplace to light up to make the room even warmer. Sometimes, however, instead of picking up something new, we settle into the coziness of a classic Christmas movie or simply one of our favorites.

Though the 2010s are still too recent to consider anything that came out than a classic, there’s no doubt that many influential movies were released in this decade. Many of these recent Christmas movies were quick to win over their audiences, bringing their own unique twists to the holiday in many ways, from variations to the typical heartwarming stories all the way into the Christmas horror genre. There’s no doubt several of these movies are now considered favorites of people all over.

Update November 27, 2023: This article has been updated with more details on some of the best Christmas movies released in the 2010s for anyone looking for something to watch this Christmas season.

8 Noelle (2019)

Noelle

Release Date

November 20, 2020

Director

Marc Lawrence

Cast

Anna Kendrick, Bill Hader, Shirley MacLaine, Billy Eichner, Michael Gross, Chelah Horsdal

Rating

G

Main Genre

Comedy

Runtime

100

Genres

Comedy, Family

Writers

Marc Lawrence

Tagline

Saving christmas together? Oh, joy.

In an interesting spin on the usual Christmas story, 2019's Noelle gives Santa and Mrs. Claus some children, who form the film's main characters. After their father’s death, Nick Kringle (played by Bill Hader) is set to take over as Santa, but is stressed and finding it difficult to finish his training. Knowing that there is a lot of pressure on his shoulders, his sister Noelle (Anna Kendrick) suggests he take a weekend off to relax, but when he doesn’t return, it’s up to her to find him and bring him home before Christmas is ruined.

What Makes it Great?

With a striking design, charming performances by its two leads, and a strong supporting cast that includes Billy Eichner, Shirley MacLaine, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, Nolle is an upbeat and whimsical tale filled with equal amounts of humor and heart. Though it might be too much on the cheesy side for some, for other the film's sickly sweetness is exactly what Christmas films are all about.

Stream on Disney+

7 The Grinch (2018)

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Release Date

November 8, 2018

Director

Yarrow Cheney, Scott Mosier

Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch

Rating

PG

Main Genre

Animation

Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic Christmas tale that has been told time and time again. The latest adaptation of the work, 2018's The Grinch, puts a 3D animated spin on the well-known story. In an attempt to get some peace and quiet, the Grinch (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) decides to steal the presents of the Whoville townsfolk by pretending to be Santa. However, he unexpectedly falls into the trap of little Cindy Lou Who, who touches his heart in a way no one else ever had before. A much longer version than the original animation, the movie expands on the Dr. Seuss story and brings the town to life in a way that only makes the story more believable.

What Makes it Great?

Though it struggles to justify its existence - after all, the 2000 Jim Carrey version already expanded the story of the 1966 original - The Grinch, nevertheless manages to charm with its family-friendly laughs, colorful animation, and genuine warmth. Furthermore, solid voice performances by Cumberbatch and his co-stars Rashida Jones, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Landsbury, and a catchy soundtrack, help to make this a fun and spirited adaptation of the classic children's book that also happens to be the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time.

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6 Krampus (2015)

Krampus

Release Date

November 26, 2015

Director

Michael Dougherty

Cast

Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Stefania Owen, Krista Stadler, Conchata Ferrell

Rating

PG-13

Main Genre

Horror

Krampus certainly won't be everyone's idea of a Christmas movie. After all, the story is actually a horror one rooted in folklore. In Europe, people are warned of Krampus, the mythical horned beast who punishes children for being naughty. Max Engel (Emjay Anthony), the youngest in a dysfunctional family, wants to send Santa a letter, as he still believes in him. With tension high among the gathered family members and his cousins making fun of him for his letter, an argument ensues as he claims to hate his family and Christmas.This unleashes the wrath of Krampus upon the Engel home, where everyone has to band together and function properly in order to save themselves from this demon.

What Makes it Great?

This film could easily be just another trashy B-movie. However, by cleverly mixing classic horror tropes with Christmas movie cliches, Krampus stands out as an original and entertaining scary film that can be enjoyed at both on Halloween and during the festive period. Moreover, with a cast made up of talented stars such as David Koechner, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and Seth Green, and with enough gore to put you off your Christmas dinner, Krampus is a creepy anti-Christmas delight that's perfect for those who like their holiday season to be spooky.

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5 The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

The Christmas Chronicles

Release Date

November 22, 2018

Director

Clay Kaytis

Cast

Kurt Russell, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Oliver Hudson, Judah Lewis, Lamorne Morris, Darby Camp

Rating

PG

Genres

Family, Comedy, Fantasy

Netflix's The Christmas Chronicles is another comedy focused around saving Christmas. When siblings Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis) Pierce notice Santa (Kurt Russell) in their home, they set up a trap to try to catch him both physically and on camera. The plan fails and Santa manages to get in without getting caught, but Kate still wakes up to find him in their house. Curious, the pair sneak into Santa’s sled and fly across the world with him until they reveal their presence and startle him. After crashing his sleigh and losing the presents, the kids must now help him recover everything quickly in order to save Christmas and ensure they won't be placed on the naughty list.

What Makes it Great?

Like other Christmas classics such as Santa Claus: The Movie and The Santa Clause, The Christmas Chronicles is an all-out celebration of the holiday, as well as the jolly red man himself. Kurt Russell feels like he was born to play Santa, and the fun he's clearly having is utterly infectious. While it might not entirely break the mold, the film offers up enough original ideas and stunning elements of production design to make it feel fresh and vibrant. Overall, it's a funny and light treat that will make you feel all warm inside. And with a sequel titled The Christmas Chronicles 2 released in 2020, and a third installment rumored to be on the way, it seems The Christmas Chronicles is just the beginning.

Stream on Netflix

4 The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)

Elevation Pictures

The biographical comedy-drama The Man Who Invented Christmas follows author Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens), who has found himself in some financial difficulties after the failure of his last three books. Intending to write another success, even if he has to publish it himself, Dickens seeks inspiration around London, eventually coming across a mostly unattended rich man’s funeral and a mean-spirited old man, both whom turn into the inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge. With only six weeks to write it if he hopes to publish for Christmas, he faces many struggles both with his work and in his personal life, including many people’s belief that the book still won’t succeed as few at the time celebrated Christmas.

What Makes it Great?

The Man Who Invented Christmas is definitely not a traditional holiday movie, but that's precisely what makes it great. By depicting the creation of A Christmas Carol and how it influenced Christmas as we know it today, the film manages to find a fresh and interesting perspective on the classic Dickens story. It also works as a film about the writing process and the power that ideas hold. Featuring an engaging central performance by Stevens and an inventive script, The Man Who Invented Christmas is a sweet, magical, and highly original take on a Christmas film.

Stream on Prime Video

3 The Night Before (2015)

The Night Before

Release Date

November 20, 2015

Director

Jonathan Levine

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Caplan, Helene York

Rating

R

Main Genre

Comedy

Make sure there are no kids around if you intend on watching 2015's The Night Before, because this Christmas comedy is rated R. Ever since his parents died, it’s become a tradition for Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to gather with his friends, Isaac (Seth Rogen)and Chris (Anthony Mackie), on Christmas Eve so that he wouldn’t be alone. However, Chris and Isaac believe they should soon end this tradition as they have careers and families to take care of now, while Ethan is still struggling to find his way in life. Therefore, for their last Christmas Eve together, they want to do something special, which sends them running around New York City in search of one of the biggest Christmas parties, the Nutcracker Ball.

What Makes it Great?

Filled with cameos and supporting turns from stars such as Mindy Kaling, Lizzie Caplan, Michael Shannon, James Franco, and Miley Cyrus, and littered with raunchy gags and wild set pieces, The Night Before is a hilarious and over-the-top festive comedy that is everything you'd expect from a Seth Rogen Christmas film. Despite an inconsistent tone and hammy melodrama, the movie delivers the right balance of warmth and laugh-out-loud moments to make it more than worth a watch. Add to that truly winning chemistry between the three leads and The Night Before is a real gift of a movie.

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2 Arthur Christmas (2011)

Arthur Christmas

Release Date

November 10, 2011

Director

Barry Cook, Sarah Smith

Cast

James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Ashley Jensen, Imelda Staunton

Rating

PG

Main Genre

Animation

Arthur Christmas is an animated sci-fi comedy centered on Arthur Claus (voiced by James McAvoy), the son of Santa. While everyone knows that Santa delivers presents to every single child, there’s never been a set explanation as to why or how he does this, especially in only one night. The movie reveals that he accomplishes this with a high-tech operation at the North Pole. Unfortunately, not every piece of technology is without its flaws, and Santa misses a single child one Christmas night, which Arthur discovers. Accompanied by his grandfather, an elf, and a team of reindeer, Arthur sets out to deliver the present personally and make sure she still gets to enjoy her Christmas.

What Makes it Great?

As this list implies, the best Christmas films are the ones that manage to do something that has never been done before. That's exactly what Arthur Christmas does, and that's what makes it a modern festive classic. Bursting with fresh ideas, big characters, and lots of emotion, it's a thrill ride of an adventure from beginning to end. It's also very funny, with the right level of humor to be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike. And with a cast of voice actors on top form, including McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, and Laura Linney, Arthur Christmas is a lively, jolly, and joy-filled Christmas extravaganza that will no doubt be watched by families for years to come.

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1 Klaus (2019)

klaus

Release Date

November 8, 2019

Director

Sergio Pablos

Cast

Joan Cusack, Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons, Jason Schwartzman, Mila Brener, Tucker Meek

Rating

PG

Main Genre

Animation

Klaus is a unique movie in this day and age, owing to the fact that it was animated with traditional techniques. Essentially, it’s an alternate origin story for Santa Claus, and is set in the fictional town of Smeerensburg, a town full of families constantly at odds with each other. Jesper (Jason Schwartzman), the son of the Royal Postmaster General, is a spoiled rich child who is sent to the town as a lesson, and given a year to set up a post office in the inhospitable town and deliver 6000 letters. Though this seems like an impossible task at first, when he meets Klaus (J.K. Simmons), an old woodsman and toymaker, the pair make an unlikely alliance and start delivering toys to the kids of the town, while changing their ways in the process.

What Makes it Great?

Upon its release in 2019, Klaus quickly became critically acclaimed and went on to earn many awards and nominations, including a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars. It's not hard to see why it was so well received. The film is a triumph of artistry, with each element of its make-up being delicately crafted with care and attention to create something that is uniquely beautiful. The animation is stunning, the music is enchanting, and the story is heartwarming, overall, making it a truly delightful watch. With so many films, both of the Christmas variety and otherwise, looking and sounding the same, Klaus stands out. If you're going to watch one Christmas film this holiday season, make it this one.

Stream on Netflix