The 25 Best Christmas Movies and Specials on the Web in 2019

Grab your favorite device to watch some of these festive flicks, all for free

An image of three friends wearing Santa hats while watching a laptop.

AleksandarGeorgiev / Getty Images

by Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau is a digital marketer, web content writer and copywriter. She has covered web trends for Lifewire and previously About.com, since 2011.
Updated October 16, 2019
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Premium streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have your fair share of popular Christmas movies, but you can do just fine by looking at what's freely available on the web, like on YouTube.

Whether you love romantic Christmas movies, animated Christmas movies, or inspiring and dramatic movies, there's something in the list below for everybody!

Some of the movies and specials shared below could be pulled offline anytime due to copyright violation. Video-sharing sites like Dailymotion are typically not authorized to host this type of copyrighted content, but users sometimes get away with uploading them if they're not caught or reported immediately.

01
of 25

Elf (2003 Comedy Film)

A still image of Elf.

It's hard not to be completely enchanted by the whimsical character of Buddy the Elf. As one of the most iconic holiday-themed movies of the 2000s, it's almost impossible to find this one anywhere online without a premium subscription to one of the top streaming services.

02
of 25

A Christmas Story (1983 Comedy Film)

A still image of A Christmas Story.

Set in 1940, the beloved story of Ralphie Parker and his Christmas wish for a Red Ryder BB Gun is one that practically every boy — young or old — can relate to on some level.

03
of 25

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 TV Animated Special)

A still image of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Even back in 1965, Charlie Brown knew Christmas was getting too commercial. Today, more than ever, we could all use an annual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, and Charles M. Schulz certainly delivers in this timeless animated classic.

04
of 25

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 TV Animated Special)

A still image of The Grinch.

From the catchy soundtrack to the captivating rhymes, the animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss's original tale How the Grinch Stole Christmas is among the most well known animated Christmas movies people continue to watch decades after it first aired.

05
of 25

Babar and Father Christmas (1986 TV Animated Special)

A still image of Babar and Father Christmas.

Based off the original children's books, this holiday-themed TV special of Babar the Elephant will delight both kids of today and adults who grew up watching the show.

06
of 25

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983 Animated Featurette)

A still image of Mickey's Christmas Carol.

This kid-friendly adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol features some of your favorite Walt Disney characters, including Donald Duck as Ebenezer Scrooge, Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit, and more.

07
of 25

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988 Family/Comedy Film)

A still image of Ernest Saves Christmas.

Kids who grew up through the late 80s will likely remember the funny kids' TV series Hey Vern, It's Ernest! and the infamous Christmas movie based off of the show in which Ernest scrambles to find a replacement Santa Claus.

08
of 25

A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978 TV Family Special)

A still image of A Special Sesame Street Christmas.

Although it only features three of the muppets (Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, and Barkley the dog), this Sesame Street Christmas special is one to remember. It takes inspiration from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, where Oscar takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

09
of 25

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978 Family Film)

A still image of Benji's Very Own Christmas Story.

The adorable and heroic four-legged star of his own movie collection got his own Christmas-themed flick that ended up being nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Children's Program. In this heartwarming movie, Benji gets to meat Kris Kringle and his elves for Christmas.

10
of 25

The Heart of Christmas (2011 Drama Film)

A still image of The Heart of Christmas.

Starring Candace Cameron Bure, this inspiring story of a child's battle with acute leukemia shows how people can come together even in the worst of times to find faith and spread love. This film is actually based on a true story.

11
of 25

Noel (2004 Drama Film)

A still image of Noel.

Follow the lives of five different people in this holiday flick who all come together to find the true meaning of Christmas. This movie stars some big name celebs, including Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Paul Walker, and Penelope Cruz.

12
of 25

My Santa (2014 Comedy/Family Film)

A still image of My Santa.

Watch as a single mother begins to fall in love with a Santa Claus who works at a mall. What she doesn't know is he's actually the son of the real Santa, and he's looking to find his very own Mrs. Claus!

13
of 25

12 Dog Days Till Christmas (2014 Family Film)

A still image of 12 Dog Days Till Christmas.

This movie is perfect for dog-loving adults and kids of all ages. A troubled teenager is forced to work at an animal shelter, then finds out he only has 12 days to find homes for all the dogs before the shelter closes by Christmas.

14
of 25

Santa Claws (2014 Family Film)

A still image of Santa Claws.

We weren't going to let cat lovers miss out on this movie list! In Santa Claws, a boy asks for a kitten for Christmas even though Santa Claus is allergic to cats. Before you know it, Santa is suffering a severe allergy attack and all the kittens have to band together to finish delivering his gifts.

15
of 25

Christmas In Wonderland (2007 Comedy/Family Film)

A still image of Christmas In Wonderland.

Starring Patrick Swayze in this fun holiday film, a family makes a big move from sunny Los Angeles to wintery Edmonton. When they go Christmas shopping at the West Edmonton mall, they find themselves embarking on a mission to help catch a bunch of Christmas criminals.

16
of 25

Christmas for a Dollar (2013 Drama Film)

A still image of Christmas for a Dollar.

Set in the Great Depression, Christmas for a Dollar tells the story of a struggling family dealing with the death of a wife and mother. Just when they expect no gifts for Christmas, the children's father gives them one dollar to spend on gifts for each other.

17
of 25

The Wizard's Christmas (2016 Animated Film)

A still image of The Wizard's Christmas.

Perfect for kids and the whole family, this exciting animated movie will wisp you away to a fantasy land where a wizard's apprentice is faced with the task of correcting what the Dark Wizard did on Christmas Eve many years ago.

18
of 25

Christmas in the Heartland (2017 Family Film)

A still image of Christmas in the Heartland.

Two teenage girls who are seemingly completely different become friends while seated next to each other on a plane. Both on their way to visit family they've never met for Christmas, they decide to switch places.

19
of 25

Paper Angels (2014 Drama Film)

A still image of Paper Angels

In this movie, the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program helps connect a man and a boy during difficult times in their lives. Through their hardships, they end up discovering the true meaning of Christmas.

20
of 25

Dear Santa (2011 Drama Film)

A still image of Dear Santa.

This one is for all the shopaholics out there. The wealthy parents of a young woman who can't control her spending finally decide to cut her off unless she changes her spending habits by Christmas. In an effort to change her ways, she ends up falling for the owner of a soup kitchen after reading his daughter's letter to Santa in which she asks for a new wife for her father.

21
of 25

Married by Christmas (2016 Romance Film)

A still image of Married by Christmas.

A workaholic has to find a fiancé by Christmas after she learns from her parents that the first of her siblings to marry will inherit the family business. With her sister planning to get married Christmas Eve, she has no time to waste!

22
of 25

Scrooge (1935 Drama Film)

A still image of Scrooge.

Based off of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, this 1935 version was the first to feature sound. The quality may not be so great, but it's still an incredible Christmas classic!

23
of 25

The Christmas Carol (1949 TV Drama Special)

A still image of The Christmas Carol.

This shorter, low-budget adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is another great TV special worth watching if you love to indulge in classic black and white masterpieces.

24
of 25

Miracle on 34th Street (1955 TV Drama Special)

A still image of Miracle on 34th Street

This Christmas special from the TV series The 20th-Century Fox Hour is based off the original 1947 film. The 45-minute adaptation features a department store Santa Claus who thinks he's real one.

25
of 25

Krampus: The Christmas Devil (2014 Horror/Thriller Film)

A still image of Krampus: The Christmas Devil

Even though Christmas is a cheery time of year, we weren't going to leave out all the horror enthusiasts! This chilling flick is certainly not for young kids. It features a devil who terrorizes a town by killing naughty children as the police try to hunt it down.