34 of the Best ’90s Christmas Movies to Give You Extra Nostalgia
From the classics (Home Alone) to the deeply unsettling (also Home Alone).
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To be honest, movies made in the 1990s are kind of all over the place—and Christmas and holiday movies are no exception. The decade was filled with a bunch of auteurs making daring choices (aka everything Tim Burton made, but particularly the movie that's all about Halloween and Christmas simultaneously), some insta-classics (The Preacher's Wife, Muppet Christmas Carol), and some pretty wild setups that have aged *weirdly* but still give us the nostalgia feels (While You Were Sleeping, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and a whole bunch more). Seriously, go back to some of your old faves and remember how we just accepted Arnold Schwarzenegger as a normal salesman from Minnesota (Jingle All the Way). To be even more honest, the '90s production speed couldn't hold a candle to the streaming era. Throughout the entire decade, there are only 34 Christmas movies worth watching—by "Christmas movies" we mean there is a Christmas tree somewhere, sometime. In 2024, there were hundreds of Christmas movies released across various streaming networks. All in all, this list of festive movies is more than just nostalgic—it's historic.
Beyond the classics you know and love, there are a bunch of movies on here you probably missed the first time around—or haven't watched in actual decades. If you're here because you grew up on '90s movies, allow us to refresh your memory with some underrated classics and tell you where you can watch all your old faves. If you just like the '90s and wanna watch everything from that decade, we've got you covered for the next couple of weeks if you watch one every night. And, if you're here because you want something different for your holiday-viewing experience because you've already watched Elf 10,000 times, start at the top of this list and work your way down. Happy holiday viewing!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Halloween-Christmas crossover no one expected, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a gorgeous stop-motion piece of art that's aged better than anyone expected. Tim Burton is a vocal lover of the holidays (this is the first of two times he'll be on this list), and his deeply weird vision is surprisingly moving—who hasn't felt like Jack Skellington desperately wishing for Christmas but also not totally doing it right?
While You Were Sleeping
Christmas movie, or movie that takes place during Christmas? While You Were Sleeping sees Sandra Bullock's Lucy save a man from an oncoming train, but not before he falls into a coma. While unconscious, hijinx ensue, and his family mistakes Lucy for his fiance. A classic '90s rom-com, this basically started a nationwide obsession with Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, and falling in love in snowy Chicago.
Muppet Christmas Carol
We realize that there are more beloved Muppet movies out there, but this one is *it* for us. Michael Caine is giving it 110 percent here, which means you get some seriousness alongside the giggles. Also, it contains both the scariest scene (hello, Ghost of Christmas Future) and the most bittersweet scene (hello, Beaker and the scarf) in a Christmas movie ever.
Home Alone
The Christmas movie to end all Christmas movies came to us in 1990. Home Alone follows a kid abandoned by his family on Christmas who must protect his home against two Grinch-like burglars.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Same, same, but different. Home Alone 2 follows the same abandoned kid, this time left adrift in New York City. The film sees the return of our beloved burglars, plus a cameo from a pre-political Donald Trump. Ah, simpler times.
Batman Returns
Tim Burton is back, and with a newer, bleaker vision of the holiday season. Like some of its neighbors on this list, Batman Returns is a movie that takes place over the holidays, not a holiday movie. If you want a classic Burton look at the nightmare beauty of Christmas, wrapped in a cat woman suit and a cape, return to this movie during the holiday season.
The Preacher's Wife
Praise be! The best-selling gospel album of all time! If you're only familiar with the music, you should absolutely watch this Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Denzel Washington love triangle Christmas movie, in which Denzel plays a literal angel. If you grew up watching this, you know it's the corny, sweet, heartwarming goodness the holiday needs.
Jingle All the Way
This is...a weird movie, and not just because it features the message that Christmas is all about buying sh*t you don't need. Arnold Schwarzenegger is...improbably cast as a frustrated mattress salesman from Minneapolis, and it only gets weirder from there. But if you're watching it for the nostalgia factor or just to remember how wild it really was, go for it!
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Nothing says the '90s like Jonathan Taylor Thomas, heartthrob of millions of teen girls. This admittedly out-there premise features JTT as a noncommittal boarding school teen whose dad promises him a Porsche - if he makes it home in time for Christmas dinner. A weird, wacky road trip ensues (and life lessons are learned, obv).
To Grandmother's House We Go
If you loved the Olsen twins, this was probably a repeat watch in your house (guilty as charged). It's a deeply '90s TV movie that—fun fact—was the first time they ever portrayed separate characters. This one's a wild ride, quite literally, as the kiddos are just trying to get to grandma's and instead go on a bunch of adventures in a delivery truck. Just go with it, it's sweet.
Die Hard 2
This movie is a pretty obvious attempt to capture the magic of the original - which came out in 1988, so it doesn't make the list. It's also basically the same movie in an airport. But it's still fun to watch Bruce Willis grumble, "Just once, I’d like a regular, normal Christmas" to himself while getting into a bunch of action shenanigans.
The Long Kiss Goodnight
This is another action movie that didn't *have* to be set around Christmas—but it's more fun that way. Geena Davis is the coolest as a suburban housewife with amnesia. who turns out to be a hardcore assassin, alongside Samuel L. Jackson. This movie has an improbably happy ending, which, if that doesn't make it a Christmas movie, we don't know what does!
Mixed Nuts
This early Nora Ephron film is absolute chaos (which is probably why you've never heard of it), but you can't beat the star-studded cast of Steve Martin, Rita Wilson, Rob Reiner, and Adam Sandler, just to name a few. And they're doing all the slapstick simultaneously, which will at least make for an entertaining hour and a half.
Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas
Did you know there was a direct-to-video Beauty and the Beast holiday special? Because we sure didn't. But, basically, it takes place in the middle of the first movie, where the Beast hates Christmas (and joy, apparently), and Belle has to convince him to let the holiday spirit into his heart. Light holiday fluff right this way!
It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
The last "new" Peanuts special to air on CBS, over nine million households watched this—but it's also not as popular (or well-known) as the original 1960s Charlie Brown special. If you're hoping for more Peanuts content this holiday season and haven't watched this in a long time (or ever), this one's gonna hit you right in the feels.
One Special Night
All hail our queen Julie Andrews! This TV movie is making the correct choice by letting James Garner's character fall in love with her—the premise being that two strangers take shelter together during a winter storm. Corny, manufactured drama and romance ensue. If you happen to like Hallmark movies, this is an early draft of the romances you know and love.
Look Who's Talking Now
This movie kinda requires you to watch the first films in the three-part series and also...is not a great movie. But John Travolta and Kirstie Alley are trying their very best to make it work—and if you ever wanted to listen to Diane Keaton and Danny DeVito do the voices for two strange dog characters, then do we have the movie for you.
The Santa Clause
Dated in a kinda gross way? You bet. The protagonist kills Santa and that's not even the weirdest part. The Santa Clause is an important part of our childhood, if you grew up in the '90s. Maybe fast-forward to the fun, sweet parts and skip the fatphobia and problematic co-parenting!
The Santa Clause 2
Not technically ’90s, but spiritually very ’90s. This is Tim Allen in his peak family-comedy era, cozy suburban Christmas aesthetics, early-mall-culture whimsy, and that iconic red-sweater warmth that defined an entire generation’s holiday TV rotation.
Miracle on 34th Street
The '90s gave us a theatrical remake of the 1947 classic of the same name, this time starring Richard Attenborough as Santa (spoiler alert). Fun fact about this film: it premiered at Radio City Music Hall, featuring a Rockettes number and a performance from Kenny G.
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