The 21 Best Christmas Movies and Specials on the Web in 2020

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

by
Elise Moreau
Elise Moreau
Freelance Contributor
Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others.
our editorial process
Elise Moreau
Updated on August 14, 2020

Premium streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have plenty of popular Christmas movies, but you can also find a number of Christmas movies available for free on the web from sites like YouTube.

Whether you love romantic Christmas movies, animated Christmas movies, or inspiring and dramatic movies, there's something here for everyone!

Some of the movies and specials shared below may 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 21

A Christmas Story

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 kid—young or old—can relate to on some level.

02
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas

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, which people continue to watch decades after it first aired.

03
of 21

Babar and Father Christmas

A still image of Babar and Father Christmas.

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

04
of 21

Mickey's Christmas Carol

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.

05
of 21

Ernest Saves Christmas

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.

06
of 21

A Special Sesame Street Christmas

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.

07
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Noel

A still image of Noel.

Follow the lives of five different people 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.

08
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Scrooge

A still image of Scrooge.

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

09
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The Christmas Carol

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.

10
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Miracle on 34th Street

A still image of Miracle on 34th Street

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

11
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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.

12
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My Santa

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 21

12 Dog Days Till Christmas

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
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Santa Claws

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
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Christmas for a Dollar

A still image of Christmas for a Dollar.

Set during 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.

16
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The Wizard's Christmas

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.

17
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Christmas in the Heartland

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.

18
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Paper Angels

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.

19
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Dear Santa

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.

20
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Married by Christmas

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 on Christmas Eve, she has no time to waste!

21
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Krampus: The Christmas Devil

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.