If you’re like me and love a good movie marathon, or if your Christmas is looking a bit more empty than years past and you need some ways to add some holiday spirit and just ways to pass the time, it’s time to break out the holiday movies. Here is a roundup of the best of the best to watch, whether you’re with family or not.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Rent on Amazon)

Grumpy. Isolated. Always at home. I am both describing the Grinch and you (probably). What we all need in 2020 is for our hearts to grow three sizes and find joy and community in Christmas, even though it’s looking a lot different this year.

2. Sparkle (Rent on Amazon)

This technically isn’t a Christmas movie, but I’ve made it an honorary Christmas movie because I love watching it this time of year and it is just such a feel-good movie that is perfect for a cozy day on the couch. Plus add on my love for the ‘50s outfits and hairstyles plus music from Jordin Sparks AND Whitney Houston… perfection!

3. This Christmas (Stream on Peacock)

This movie has everything: family drama and dance parties, not one but TWO Chris Brown performances, and Idris Elba playing the saxophone! In reality, Regina King has one Oscar for her performance in If Beale Street Could Talk. In my heart, she has a second Oscar for the way she destroys her cheating husband’s car. An ICON.

4. A Christmas Story (Watch on TBS or Stream on HBOMAX)

This movie perfectly captures how as a child, Christmastime is magical (looking into shop windows and daydreaming about what Santa will leave you under the tree). Simultaneously, it captures how as an adult, Christmastime is frustrating AF (broken heaters and neighbors’ dogs eating your Christmas dinner). You can catch this movie literally all day on TBS during their 24-hour marathon.

5. The Wiz (Stream on Peacock)

This classic adaptation includes Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and New York City. AKA it simply couldn’t get any better.

P.S. To make this a perfect viewing experience, you should watch this while wearing your Michael t-shirt from the Rich Auntie Shop ;)

6. The Best Man Holiday (Stream on Peacock)

The Best Man was an absolute classic. And what better way to revisit these iconic characters than with a holiday movie? I’m not saying my favorite scene in this movie is watching my faves perform “Can You Stand the Rain,” but I’m also not not saying that.

7. Almost Christmas (Rent on Amazon)

The holidays are hard when you’re grieving, and this movie proves that joy and sorrow run parallel. A family comes together for the holidays but insults, drama, and conflict are in the air. But of course there are so many sweet moments. Totally normal, right? Watching Danny Glover try and recreate his late wife’s sweet potato pie recipe will melt your heart.

P.S. If you’re struggling with grief this holiday season, check out this podcast episode I was a guest on back in November.

8. Friday After Next (Stream on HBOMAX)

If traditional Christmas movies aren’t your thing, this might be the one for you. Y’all know the plot… two cousins are robbed on Christmas Eve and the movie follows their determined quest to find the robber and get their rent money to their landlord. This will add some action to your holiday viewing, because sometimes you need a rated-R Christmas movie in the lineup.

9. The Preacher’s Wife (Rent on Amazon)

I really don’t know what else I need to say to convince you to watch this movie other than: Denzel Washington... Whitney Houston. You’re already on Amazon, right? Good.

10. Jingle Jangle (Stream on Netflix)

This is a recent addition to Netflix’s library of original movies. And OMG is this a treat and new favorite of mine. It’s a charming movie that will make you want to dance out all the crazy emotions this holiday season has you feeling.

**11. The Sound of Music (Stream on Disney+)**

Even if you haven’t seen this movie, you definitely know the Rodgers & Hammerstein music that accompanies it. Julie Andrews singing “My Favorite Things” is enough to turn around any bad mood.

**12. Elf (Stream on HBOMAX)**

Buddy the Elf has the sort of fierce and enthusiastic optimism about life, love, and the holiday spirit that we should all try and find and hold onto this holiday season. So watch this movie and then go embrace the magic of Christmas.

**13. Home Alone (Stream on Disney+)**

It was everyone’s biggest fear to be left home alone while your family goes on vacation and two strange men try and rob your home, right? Revisit this classic for the iconic shocked face Macaulay Culkin makes and the way he confidently declares “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.”

**14. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Stream on HBOMAX)**

There is no better example of how everything that can go wrong WILL go wrong sometimes. Christmas tree gets set on fire? Grandma accidentally wraps up the cat in a box? Unwelcome family shows up at your door for the holidays? Just a typical holiday.

**15. Christmas Comes Twice (Watch on Hallmark)**

If you’ve been glued to Sister, Sister ever since Netflix finally added it to its library and you can’t seem to pull yourself away from it to watch any Christmas movies, add this movie to your watch list and see Tamera Mowry find love.

**16. Scrooged (Rent on Amazon)**

You all probably know the classic A Christmas Carol story, with the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. This version has Bill Murray playing Scrooge for a little added humor.

**17. Merry Liddle Christmas (Rent on Amazon)**

Listen, maybe we all know how Lifetime Christmas movies play out. BUT, we’re also really emotionally invested in seeing Kelly Rowland find love at Christmastime.

**18. Polar Express (Stream on HBOMAX)**

Do you remember being a kid and just feeling so full of hope and always seeking out the magic in life? This is such a beautiful and heartwarming movie that may even give you a little cry. Plus, watching this is definitely an excuse to cozy up with some hot chocolate.

**19. Love Actually (Rent on Amazon)**

A perfect storm of holiday spirit, new love, and painful heartache. Love Actually has a trillion storylines and one of them is bound to tug at your heart strings. Maybe it will inspire you to tell someone that you love them!

**20. Die Hard (Rent on Amazon)**

Is it even the holiday season if you don’t see fifteen different debates online about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie? Personally, I don’t need confirmation that a movie is a Christmas movie in order to enjoy it at Christmas, so you do you!

P.S. If the Holiday season has you in a weird or “oh hell no” mood here are a few posts that might bring you some comfort.

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Spend the Day Watching These Holiday Movies on Christmas Day