Decider’s Ultimate 2017 Holiday Guide To Streaming Classic Christmas Movies

The holiday season can be quite hectic, so Decider is here to provide a stress-free guide on where to stream your favorite holiday movies!

Our 2017 holiday guide contains a little something for everyone. Are you a fan of the classics? We here at Decider know there’s no better cure for the bah humbugs than Jimmy Stewart’s surge of cinematic optimism known as It’s a Wonderful Life! Perhaps you’re into more modern fare? If you’ve been known to say “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?” a few thousand times, you might be interested to know when and where a certain Will Ferrell holiday gem will be streaming.

Decider’s holiday guide isn’t afraid to tackle the two biggest questions of the Christmas season: “Is Die Hard truly a Christmas movie?” and “Where can I stream Bad Santa 2?”

Not only will you learn where you can stream twenty-one of the most popular holiday films, but we also noted when and where they’ll be airing on television. There’s no way you’re missing a beloved Christmas classic on our watch!

Naughty? Nice? It doesn’t matter. Unlike a certain portly gent in a red and white suit with a penchant for double-checking lists and flying reindeer, the gift of where to watch your favorite holiday movies can be enjoyed by everybody.

Here’s where you can stream all your favorite Christmas classics!

'Elf'

Here’s the thing: When the calendar turns to December, Elf should be on television 24/7. The movie is a straight-up holiday DELIGHT. You already know the plot; you already know all the jokes; and you already know that this re-watchable classic is sure to put a smile (smiling’s my favorite!) on your face.

Best place to stream: Fandango Now and Daily Motion

Can I watch it on TV? Oh yeah. Elf is on Freeform non-stop. You can watch this beloved classic on Wednesday, December 13 at 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 14 at 1:30 p.m. …and then like 1,000 other times.

Where to stream Elf

'It's a Wonderful Life'

It’s a Wonderful Life is the perfect Christmas movie. If you need further proof, here’s an excerpt from my article aptly titled “‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is the Perfect Christmas Movie”:

“It’s a Wonderful Life is your ace in the hole whenever your faith in humanity is perilously close to running on empty. It’s a celebration of friendship, love, and everything that’s warm and fuzzy in the world. We need the uplifting spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life now more than ever. It radiates optimism and offers us a much needed reminder that people are inherently good and that the small kindnesses we’re all capable of on a daily basis add up. The noble, everyday heroics of George Bailey matter. Kindness matters. We may not be able to change the world, but we do possess the power to make our own little sliver of the globe a better place.”

Best place to stream: YouTube, Vimeo

Can I watch it on TV? Yes! It’s a Wonderful Life will air Saturday, December 9th at 8:00 p.m. on USA and December 24th at 8:00 p.m. on NBC.

Where to stream It's a Wonderful Life

'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'

Great. Now I have “You’re a meeeeaaaan one, Mr. Grinch” stuck in my head. But you know what? It’s worth it. Your heart will grow three sizes as you discover the true meaning of the holiday season after streaming this festive Dr. Seuss classic.

If you’re interested, the Ron Howard/Jim Carrey 2000 version of the film is available to stream on Netflix.

Best place to stream: Google Play

Can I watch it on TV? Yep! The animated classic will air December 24th at 6:35 p.m. on Freeform.

Where to stream How the Grinch Stole Christmas

'Home Alone'

Who didn’t want to be Kevin McCallister when they were little? He made his jerk of a family disappear, and he honorably defended his property from two bumbling dummies! He was only eight-years-old and he used an assortment of booby traps to transform his home into a house of hilarious horrors!

Kevin’s party idea (featuring a Michael Jordan cutout) was a truly brilliant scheme.

Best place to stream: Starz, YouTube

Can I watch it on TV? You can. A complete schedule can be found here!

Where to stream Home Alone

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'

There are so many quotable lines from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Written by John Hughes, Chevy Chase is a comedic tour de force as he desperately tries to keep it together amidst the never-ending avalanche of Christmas calamity.

You wouldn’t want to spend the holidays with the Griswold family, but they sure are fun to watch.

Ellen: What are you looking at?
Clark: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter’s morn… the clean, cool chill of the holiday air… an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer…

Best place to stream: Amazon Video

Can I watch it on TV? Christmas Vacation will air on Freeform throughout the holiday season. One example: Thursday, December 14th at 8:50 p.m.

Where to stream National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

'The Muppet Christmas Carol'

It’s time to play the music! It’s time to light the lights! It’s time to stream the Muppet Christmas Carol on your favorite device tonight! The terrifying Ghost of Christmas Past, Gonzo’s stylish vest, there’s just so much to love about this Muppet-ized version of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic.

Best place to stream: HBO GO, YouTube

Can I watch it on TV? Yes! The Muppet Christmas Carol will air at 11:00 a.m. and 7:55 p.m. on HBO Family on Christmas Day.

Where to stream The Muppet Christmas Carol

'A Christmas Story'

The Christmas Eve tradition returns for another year! What are the holidays without a little “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid”?

TBS’ 24-hour marathon is woven into the holiday season as families across the globe cozy up to the fire to watch young Ralphie’s simple quest for the perfect Christmas gift, a Red Ryder B.B. gun.

Best place to stream: Vudu, Daily Motion

Can I watch it on TV? Yep! TBS runs a 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story on Christmas Eve!

Where to stream A Christmas Story

'Love Actually'

Many people prefer Mariah Carey’s rendition of “All I Want For Christmas,” but give me Olivia Olson’s jubilant version any day of the week. Celebrating romance in various forms, Love Actually has become a cozy holiday favorite. Plus, who knew that Rick Grimes was such a romantic?

Related, did Love Actually predict Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s happily-ever after? Decider investigates!

Best place to stream: Amazon Video

Can I watch it on TV? It’s not scheduled to air from now until December 15th, but check here for information as we get closer to Christmas.

Where to stream Love Actually

'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

The world’s most endearing blockhead is back to inject us all with some holiday cheer! Even if you have a heart that’s more Grinch than George Bailey, Charlie Brown learning about the true meaning of Christmas is sure to make you smile.

“Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?”

Best place to stream: YouTube, Google Play

Can I watch it on TV? A Charlie Brown Christmas already aired on ABC, but you can still watch it via ABC on-demand!

Where to stream A Charlie Brown Christmas

'Die Hard'

“Die Hard is a movie set at Christmas. It is not a Christmas movie.” — Decider’s Brett White

Regardless of your thoughts on Die Hard, Brett makes some compelling points in his hilarious, must-read piece, “‘Die Hard’ Is Not A Christmas Movie: Don’t @ Me”:

“Saying Die Hard is a great Christmas movie is like if I said Star Wars was great historical fiction, or that Saving Private Ryan was a solid beach movie, or that Jurassic Park was the best vacation movie of all time. Technically, all of those films are in those genres, but no one would ever seriously make those claims.”

Best place to stream: MAX GO

Can I watch it on TV? Sure! Die Hard will air on Tuesday, December 12 at 1:00 a.m. on Cinemax.

Where to stream Die Hard

'The Santa Clause'

Before Elf, Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause was the modern Christmas movie you’d see all over your TV during the holiday season. For the uninitiated, the comedy centers around Allen’s character inadvertently killing Santa and becoming the new Kris Kringle. You might think accidental Santa murder is a weird plot for a film marketed towards children, but it works!

Best place to stream: Disney’s The Santa Clause (as well as the two sequels) will be available to stream on Netflix beginning December 12.

Can I watch it on TV? Yep. The Santa Clause will air Friday, December 15 at 9:00 p.m. on Freeform.

Where to stream The Santa Clause

'Bad Santa'/Bad Santa 2

Bad Santa may not be the best Christmas movie on this list but it’s certainly the raunchiest. Billy Bob Thornton plays a misanthropic con-man who pretends to be Old St. Nick in this deranged comedy.

Also starring Lauren Graham, the film has evolved into bit of a cult classic. It’s not a flick to watch with the entire family, but Bad Santa is a fun alternative to traditional holiday movies.

Best place to stream: Bad Santa and Bad Santa 2 are currently streaming on Netflix.

Can I watch it on TV? As of now it’s not scheduled to air, but VH1 aired the movie on November 30th and December 1st, so check your local listings.

'The Nightmare Before Christmas'

The Pumpkin King of Halloween Town celebrates the holidays in Tim Burton’s stop-motion classic The Nightmare Before Christmas! Elf and The Santa Clause are terrific Christmas streams, but sometimes you’re in the mood for something a bit more stylistically daring. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, it’s the perfect time of year to re-watch Tim Burton’s fun ’90s flick.

Best place to stream: Netflix

Can I watch it on TV? You bet! The Nightmare Before Christmas will air Tuesday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m. on Freeform. (and Christmas Day at 11:00 a.m. on Freeform)

Where to stream The Nightmare Before Christmas

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'/'Frosty the Snowman'

It doesn’t get much more Christmasy than Frosty and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Other than Santa, presents, and arguing with your family, these two beacons of holiday cheer are the most integral parts of the season. Whether you’re re-watching these specials or introducing them to a new generation, you don’t want to miss the magic of these two iconic characters.

Best place to stream: Both Rudolph and Frosty are streaming for free on YouTube!

Can I watch either of these specials on TV? Yep! They air back-to-back. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman air Saturday, December 9 at 8:00 and 9:00 p.m., respectively, on CBS.

Where to stream Frosty the Snowman

'Miracle on 34th Street' (1994)

I asked Decider’s resident Christmas movie expert Brett White to describe Miracle on 34th Street in three words and he responded “gentle, reverent, and cozy catalogue ’90s chic.”

When it comes to basking in the warmth of the holiday, it doesn’t get much better than a little girl proving that Santa Claus is real.

Best place to stream: Amazon Video

Can I watch it on TV? There’s no current listing for the 1994 version of the film, but the original 1947 edition will air three straight times on Sundance (from 3:00 to 9:45 p.m.) on Sunday, December 10.

Where to stream Miracle on 34th Street

'The Holiday'

I like The Holiday, but Decider’s Lea Palmieri loves the 2006 rom-com, as you can glean from her hilarious article, “Don’t You Dare Underestimate ‘The Holiday:’“

“Of course, this film isn’t only about the ending. It’s about the journey. It’s about walking through the snow in very expensive high heels and learning the definition of ‘meet cute’ from your adorable elderly neighbor (Eli Wallach). It’s about having brand new experiences, taking a chance on something new that might seem (and even be) utterly ridiculous, opening your eyes and bending your personality to the world around you.”

Best place to stream: Hulu

Can I watch it on TV? Yes! Wednesday, December 20 at 1:25 on Freeform.

Where to stream The Holiday

'Scrooged'

How tremendous is Bill Murray in Scrooged? Sure, he’s terrific in all of this classics — Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, Garfield — but he truly shines as a cynical T.V. exec in this modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

“It’s Christmas Eve! It’s… it’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we… we… we smile a little easier, we… w-w-we… we… we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be!”

Best place to stream: Amazon Video

Can I watch it on TV? You bet: Tuesday, December 5 on Freeform (9:00 p.m.), Christmas Eve on Freeform (11:55 p.m.), and Christmas Day on TCM (10:30 a.m.)

Where to stream Scrooged

'Serendipity'

If you’re a fan of love, fate, Christmas, or John Cusack, you’ll enjoy the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity. A love story filled with twists, turns, and cashmere gloves, Cusack and Kate Beckinsale test the resolve of romance and fate in this charming modern classic.

There’s nothing quite like Christmas in New York. If you can’t be there, you can still embrace the magic of the city with Serendipity.

Best place to stream: HBO GO

Can I watch it on TV? Serendipity will air on HBO Signature on Saturday, December 9th at 7:25 p.m.

Where to stream Serendipity

'Gremlins'

Gremlins is such a fun, unique film. I only discovered the weird, wonderful joys of this film earlier this year, and boy oh boy, am I glad I did. Gizmo is the adorable, heroic magwai we need in 2017. Part horror, part comedy, 100% Christmas entertainment, Gremlins will definitely give your children nightmares, but it’s worth the terror.

Best place to stream: Netflix

Can I watch it on TV? Gremlins isn’t scheduled to air on TV from now until December 15th. Check here for future airings.

Where to stream Gremlins