The 20 Best Christmas Movies and Specials on the Web

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 October 22, 2021

Premium streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have plenty of popular Christmas movies. Still, many Christmas movies are 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 at any time due to copyright violations. Free video-sharing sites like Dailymotion are typically not authorized to host copyrighted content; however, users sometimes get away with uploading copyrighted content if they're not caught or reported immediately.

01
of 20

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

The Grinch leaning in an ice cave and pulling a whisker.

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

02
of 20

Babar and Father Christmas (1986)

Babar and Father Christmas.

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

03
of 20

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Mickey Mouse writing at desk in 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 and Mickey Mouse as Bob Cratchit.

04
of 20

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Ernest Saves Christmas.

If you grew up in the late 80s, you'll likely remember the funny kids' TV series Hey Vern, It's Ernest! and the infamous Christmas movie based on the show, in which Ernest scrambles to find a replacement Santa Claus.

05
of 20

A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)

Scene from "A Special Sesame Street Christmas."

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

06
of 20

Noel (2004)

Susan Sarandon in "Noel."

Follow the lives of five people who come together to find the true meaning of Christmas. This movie stars some big-name celebrities, including Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Paul Walker, and Penelope Cruz.

07
of 20

Scrooge (1935)

Scrooge character in "Scrooge"

Based on 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!

08
of 20

The Christmas Carol (1971)

Black and white scene from "The Christmas Carol"

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

09
of 20

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Scene from "Miracle on 34th Street"

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

10
of 20

Hearts of Christmas (2011)

Scene from "Hearts of Christmas"

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

11
of 20

My Santa (2013)

My Santa.

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

12
of 20

12 Dog Days Till Christmas (2014)

Scene from "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.

13
of 20

Santa Claws (2014)

Scene from "Sant Claws" with kittens in a box

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 the kittens have to band together to finish delivering his gifts.

14
of 20

Christmas for a Dollar (2013)

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.

15
of 20

The Wizard's Christmas (2014)

The Wizard's Christmas

This exciting animated movie will wisp you away to a fantasy land where a wizard's apprentice must correct what the Dark Wizard did on Christmas Eve many years ago. Perfect for kids and the whole family.

16
of 20

Christmas in the Heartland (2017)

Three women walking down street in "Christmas in the Heartland"

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

17
of 20

Paper Angels (2014)

Character from "Paper Angels" typing

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

18
of 20

Dear Santa (2011)

Scene from "Dear Santa"

This one is for the shopaholics. 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. While trying to change her ways, she falls for the owner of a soup kitchen after reading his daughter's letter to Santa, in which the daughter asks for a new wife for her father.

19
of 20

Married by Christmas (2016)

Executive holding paper and talking in "Married by Christmas"

A workaholic has to find a fiancé by Christmas after learning 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!

20
of 20

Krampus: The Christmas Devil (2013)

Two monsters in "Krampus: The Christmas Devil"

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

Was this page helpful?