Top 10 Must-Watch Christmas Movies This Year

Centuries ago in Lapland, a young boy named Nikolas lost his family in a tragic accident. The villagers took him in, and every Christmas, Nikolas moved to a new home. To express his gratitude, he began crafting toys for the children of each household as a farewell gift. Over the years, the number of families welcoming Nikolas grew, and soon, almost every home had presents waiting on Christmas morning.

At the age of thirteen, Nikolas was sent to live with Iisakki, a grumpy old carpenter who forbade him from making gifts for Christmas. However, over time, Nikolas earned Iisakki’s trust. Together, they started reviving the Christmas gift-giving tradition. When Iisakki grew old and left, the tradition of Christmas presents was once again at risk. Fortunately, Nikolas found a way to continue spreading joy to children every Christmas, a tradition that endures to this day.

It’s A Wonderful Life is an Oscar-nominated film that has earned a spot in the list of the 100 greatest movies of all time. Based on the short story 'The Greatest Gift' by Philip Van Doren Stern, the film follows George Bailey, a kind-hearted businessman who, on Christmas Eve, is contemplating suicide.

Everything changes when he meets his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, who shows him the true value of life. This encounter gives George the strength to change his outlook and bring more joy to the people around him. Over 70 years after its release, the film continues to move millions of viewers, making them reflect on the beauty of life every time they watch it.

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic animated film directed by Henry Selick, based on a script by Tim Burton. The story follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who grows bored of celebrating Halloween just once a year and eagerly waits for the next season.

One day, Jack accidentally stumbles upon Christmas Town and is captivated by its festive beauty. Inspired, he decides to bring Christmas to his own town. The result is a quirky Halloween-inspired Christmas celebration, where everyone creates gifts in their own spooky style. Though it may be considered too dark for children, the film has garnered a loyal fan base across generations.

Detective Sean Archer (John Travolta) harbors intense hatred for Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), the man responsible for the death of his son. After years of investigation, Sean still cannot locate Castor.

Fueled by the pain of losing his child, Sean devises an audacious plan. He persuades the world’s top cosmetic surgeon to give him Castor's face, believing that by assuming his enemy's identity, he can infiltrate Castor’s world and track him down.

However, even though the procedure is carried out in complete secrecy, including from Sean’s wife, word somehow reaches Castor. The cunning criminal has outsmarted them with a brilliant countermove, and the game of cat and mouse turns into… mouse vs. cat.

Love the Coopers (2015) is a romantic comedy film set around the Christmas holiday, directed by Jessie Nelson.

The movie features a star-studded cast, including Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Ed Helms, Diane Keaton, Jake Lacy, Anthony Mackie, Amanda Seyfried, June Squibb, Marisa Tomei, and Olivia Wilde.

The story follows the annual Christmas reunion of the Cooper family, spanning four generations, filled with unexpected humorous moments and heartwarming connections between family members.

The Night Before (originally titled X-Mas) is a Christmas comedy film directed by Jonathan Levine, produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

The film stars Seth Rogen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan, and Jillian Bell. The plot revolves around an annual Christmas Eve reunion of three lifelong friends who encounter a series of hilarious and absurd situations. The film was released in the U.S. on November 25, 2015.

Targeted at family audiences, Almost Christmas, a comedy directed by Danny Glover, grossed $15.6 million from 2,376 theaters. This was a great success as Universal spent only $17 million on the production of the film.

The story centers around the bittersweet family reunion during Christmas of a family that was torn apart after the death of the mother. While the film received an A- grade from Cinema Score, it holds a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film follows Jeff and Kelly (Joe Swanberg and Melanie Lynskey), a young couple struggling with their toddler’s antics. Their chaotic lives are further disrupted when Jenny (Anna Kendrick) moves in with them, bringing a whole new set of complications into their small home.

The storyline is entirely spontaneous, lacking a strict structure, with the actors delivering their roles in a way that makes the improvised dialogues even more captivating.

The story feels so relatable that viewers can easily see themselves in the characters. Happy Christmas is highly regarded as a heartwarming film perfect for family viewing during the holiday season.

"Arthur Christmas" unveils an astonishing answer to the age-old question that every child asks during Christmas: "How does Santa deliver all those gifts in just one night?"

The secret lies in Santa's high-tech gift distribution center, hidden beneath the North Pole. At its heart, the movie is a family story, focusing on Arthur, who embarks on a critical mission that must be completed before Christmas nightfall.

With its leisurely pace, eight interwoven love stories unfold, never disrupting the flow of the film. Each romance brings its own unique flavor—romantic, humorous, and heartfelt—creating a beautiful symphony of love.

Love Actually became the highest-grossing romantic comedy during a holiday weekend in the UK, and topped the charts as the highest-grossing British film of all time.